Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Tuesday Funds sought to upgrade youth prison 10 things to know for Monday Medford's second-hand law gets a second look Emergency Services, Feb. 24 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, Feb. 24 Man critically burned in trailer fire Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Grace to assume school governance AHS principal up for national award Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Environment Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow State News Oregon to launch investigation into Kitzhaber email leak Brown says she'll preserve Oregon death penalty moratorium Tentative deal reached in West Coast port labor dispute State Senate votes to dissolve Cover Oregon Psychic gets 8 years for con of timber heir Nation - World Obituaries "Billy" Geyer Gregory Paul Harlow Everett Raymond Evon "Bud" Pennington Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Harden's triple-double boosts Rockets LOCAL REPORT No. 8 Kansas victimized by K-State comeback LOCAL EVENTS Playoffs could use overhaul Varsity 541 College Sports No. 8 Kansas victimized by K-State comeback Raiders host Yotes in quarterfinal round Beavers a win away from outright Pac-12 title Comeback in Corvallis Bubble Breaker? Pro Sports Harden's triple-double boosts Rockets Playoffs could use overhaul A-Rod back, but avoids PED specifics Grizzlies overcome deficit to beat Blazers Hahn wins Riviera after playoff Community Sports Business Latest Stories Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action People in Business Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Silvio Calabi: Kia Soul mixes practicality with personality Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul People In Business People in Business People in Business Transportation Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Landgren cartoon: Old Man Winter Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Mark L. Hopkins: History speaks to us on our present economic situation Editorials Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Voter bill secures a fundamental right Our view: Will Brown reach out to rural Oregon? Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 24 Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Columns Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Lifestyle Latest stories Wry & Ginger: Nobody nose sternutation consternation Donna Knight: Going through priceless memories Shayne Looper: Whoever exalts himself will be humbled Dr. Elaine Heffner: Oscars and reality Food for Thought: Feed your creativity with Havarti Food Food for Thought: Feed your creativity with Havarti Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Fire and Smoke Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet ... Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding ... Medford's second-hand law gets a second look ... Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet ... Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding ... Medford's second-hand law gets a second look ... EDUCATION Medford, Ashland districts fall short of anti-bullying standards Medford, Ashland among those in lower tier Comment By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:31 PM By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:31 PM » Social News Medford, Ashland and Rogue River school districts have some of the least inclusive anti-bullying policies in the state, according to a report released last week by the Oregon Safe Schools & Communities Coalition. For the last three years, the Portland-based nonprofit, in collaboration with the Q Center, the Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association (OGALLA), Oregon Public Health Association and other public and private agencies from around the state, has reviewed the harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyberbullying policies of districts statewide and ranked them based on their compliance with Oregon’s anti-bullying laws. Of the 187 school districts included in OSSCC’s 2014 rankings, 154 districts, including Central Point, Eagle Point and Phoenix-Talent, had “substantially compliant” policies while 33 school districts, including Medford, Ashland and Rogue River had  policies in “need of updating and/or modification to achieve substantial compliance with current Oregon statutes,” the report said. The latter districts received a bronze star while the substantially compliant districts received a silver star if their policies contained at least 80 percent of the statutory requirements and a gold star if their policies also listed “gender identity” and “gender expression” as protected classes. According to the report, the number of gold star districts increased from 67 to 110 — 64 percent — between 2013 and 2014. Neola Young, the Q Center’s Safe Schools & Training Institute Manager, said the purpose of the report is to promote school safety, make people familiar with their districts’ anti-bullying policies and invite conversation with school administrators and boards statewide on how they can improve or better implement their policies. Medford spokeswoman Natalie Hurd was informed by Young that the district’s policy was “pretty good” but that “gender identity” and “gender expression” needed to be included in the enumeration of protected groups and that the district should compare its policy with Oregon School Board Association’s sample policy. Oregon’s Safe Schools Act, House Bill 2599, was passed in 2009 and amended in 2012 by Senate Bill 1555. Anti-bullying legislation is included in Oregon Revised Statutes 339.351-339.364. Medford’s policy on hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying and menacing was last updated in 2011 and does not address “teen dating violence,” as mandated by House Bill 4077, which was also passed in 2012. Young recommended that the district work with its attorney to ensure that its policies are in line with Oregon law. However, she declined to comment on what exactly needed correctlon in Medford’s policy. Medford schools Superintendent Brian Shumate said that the district has been diligent about policy revisions and does refer to OSBA’s recommendations. Julie Evans, director of elementary education, and Todd Bloomquist, director of secondary education, make a schedule of policies that need to be reviewed, revised and, subsequently, approved by the board, he said. “We've basically been approving two to three policies each board meeting,” Shumate said. Medford Board Chairman Jeff Thomas said the board members will look at the district’s hazing, harassment, intimidation, bullying and menacing policy at the next policy committee meeting. “We certainly want to make sure our policies are A-plus policies,” Thomas said. “But I want to make sure we are not writing policy based on the recommendation of an interest or lobbyist group. I want to write our policies so that they are compliant with state statutes and match the values of the community.” Oregon Department of Education Administrative Specialist Jenni Deaton said the OSSCC report was not conducted by ODE. If ODE determines that a district is not in compliance, the department will ask the district “to submit a corrective action plan detailing how the district plans to get back in compliance by the following school year,” Deaton explained in an email. Both Thomas and Shumate said school leaders were more than willing to work on the district’s policies if they are, in fact, out of compliance with state law. “We’re in a classification we don’t want to be in, and we are going to strive to move into the top classification quickly,” Shumate said.  Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 23, 2015 at 6:31 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501