Student safety is the highest priority, and we shall not tolerate the bullying of any student. No individual or group of students shall, through physical, written, verbal, or other means, harass, sexually harass, threaten, intimidate, retaliate, cyberbully, cause bodily injury to, or commit hate violence against any other student or school personnel. Parlier Unified Board Policy (BP) 5131.2 Anti-Bullying

Cyberbullying includes the creation or transmission of harassing communications, direct threats, or other harmful texts, sounds, or images. Cyberbullying also includes social media forums, internet websites, applications or platforms with free registration or ease of registration, sites that offer peer-to-peer instant messaging, comment forums/sections, and or websites offering image or video posting platforms. Cyberbullying also includes breaking into another person’s electronic account and assuming that person’s identity in order to damage that person’s reputation. 

School staff who witness an act of bullying shall immediately intervene to stop the incident when it is safe to do so. When appropriate, based on the severity or pervasiveness of the bullying, the Superintendent or designee shall notify the parent/guardian of the victim(s) and perpetrator(s) and may contact law enforcement. The Superintendent, principal, or principal’s designee may refer a victim, witness, perpetrator, or other student affected by an act of bullying to a school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, child welfare attendance personnel, school nurse, or other school support service personnel for case management, counseling, and/or participation in a restorative justice program as appropriate.

Any student, parent/guardian, or another individual who believes that a student has been subjected to bullying or who has witnessed bullying may report the incident to a teacher, the principal, the vice-principal, a compliance officer, or any other available school employee. Complaints of bullying shall be investigated and resolved in accordance with site-level procedures. When a student is reported to be engaging in bullying off campus, the Superintendent or designee shall investigate and document the activity and shall identify specific facts or circumstances that explain the impact or potential impact on school activity, school attendance, or the targeted student’s educational performance.

When a report of bullying is submitted, the principal or a district compliance officer shall inform the student or parent/guardian of the right to file a formal written complaint. The student who is the alleged victim of the bullying shall be given an opportunity to describe the incident, identify witnesses who may have relevant information, and provide other evidence of bullying.

When circumstances involve cyberbullying, individuals with information about the activity shall be encouraged to save and print any electronic or digital messages that they feel constitute cyberbullying and to notify a teacher, the principal, or other employees so that the matter may be investigated. If the student is using a social networking site or service to bully or harass another student, the Superintendent or designee also may file a request with the networking site or service to suspend the privileges of the student and to have the material removed.

If during the investigation, it is determined that a complaint is about nondiscriminatory bullying, the principal or designee shall inform the complainant and shall take all necessary actions to resolve the complaint.

Disciplinary actions for a student who commits an act of bullying of any type may include counseling, behavioral intervention, and education, and, if the behavior is severe or pervasive as defined in Education Code 48900, may include suspension or expulsion in accordance with the district policies and regulations.

Additional Resources

For additional information, please visit the California Department of Education at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/bullyres.asp This website provides Bullying prevention training materials and publications/resources for educators, parents, and community members for recognizing bullying behavior and approaches for determining how to respond.

The Four Pillars of Student Support

Category I: Equity & Human Rights 

• Hate-Motivated Behavior (BP 5145.9): PUSD has a zero-tolerance policy for behavior motivated by hostility toward a student's actual or perceived identity. We provide immediate emotional support for victims and proactive "human relations" programs to prevent conflict.

• Non-Discrimination (BP 0410): Direct links to our Title IX and UCP coordinators.

Category II: Bullying & Cyberbullying Prevention

• Anti-Bullying Policy (BP 5131.2): This policy prohibits bullying, intimidation, and "cyberbullying"—defined as any electronic act that creates a hostile environment.

• Off-Campus Nexus: In accordance with AB 772, PUSD asserts jurisdiction over off-campus social media activity if it results in a "substantial disruption" to school activities or targeted student safety.

• Stop It!: An anonymous form to report bullying or safety concerns.

Category III: Digital Wellness & Social Media Safety (New 2026 Mandates)

• Phone-Free Schools Act (AB 3216): To increase student focus and decrease digital harassment, PUSD has adopted policies to limit or prohibit smartphone use during the school day.

• Social Media Safety Guide: * Privacy: Tips on managing location settings and "Digital Footprints."

  • Mental Health: Resources for recognizing social media addiction and its link to anxiety.

  • Safety: Reporting "Burn Pages" or AI-generated deepfakes (AB 621).

Category IV: Child Welfare & Attendance 

• Attendance & SARB (BP 5113.1): Outlining the legal requirements for school attendance (EC 48200).

• Foster & Homeless Youth (BP 6173): Dedicated support for students in transition to ensure immediate enrollment and transportation rights.

Parlier Unified School District recognizes that suicide is a leading cause of death among youth and that the school environment is a critical network for prevention. In accordance with Board Policy 5141.52, PUSD has established comprehensive procedures to help identify students at risk and provide them with the necessary resources and support.

The PUSD Commitment to Safety

• Prevention: We train our staff across all 7 school sites to recognize the warning signs of suicide and emotional distress.

• Intervention: We have established a rapid-response protocol for students expressing suicidal ideation, ensuring they are never left alone and are connected to mental health professionals immediately.

• Postvention: We provide ongoing support for the school community following a crisis to promote healing and reduce the risk of contagion.

Lethal Means Safety: The Role of Safe Storage

Parlier Unified School District is committed to the safety of our students both on and off campus. Research shows that "means safety"—reducing a student's access to lethal objects during a period of crisis—is one of the most effective ways to prevent youth suicide. When a crisis occurs, time and distance between a person and a lethal method can save a life.

Why Safe Storage Matters

In many cases of youth suicide or school violence, the method used was a firearm accessed from the home. By ensuring that firearms are stored unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition, parents and guardians provide a vital "buffer" that allows for intervention and help-seeking during a mental health emergency.

PUSD Recommendations for Home Safety (BP 5142):

• Store Firearms Securely: Use a Department of Justice (DOJ)-approved cable lock, trigger lock, or a locked gun safe.

• Store Ammunition Separately: Ammunition should be kept in a different locked location from the firearm.

• Secure Medications: Prescription and over-the-counter medications should be kept in a locked cabinet or lockbox, as medicinal overdose is a common method of self-harm.

• Temporary Off-Site Storage: If a child is experiencing a mental health crisis, consider temporarily storing firearms outside of the home (e.g., with a trusted relative or a local storage facility) until the crisis has passed.

Resources for Parlier Families:

• Free Gun Locks: PUSD families can often obtain free firearm cable locks from the Parlier Police Department or the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

• Project ChildSafe: Project ChildSafe for more information on talking to your children about firearm safety.

• California Law (AB 452): Beginning in 2023, California schools are required to inform parents annually of their legal duty to safely store firearms in homes where children are present (Penal Code 25100).