October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and the DCSD Notebook will have two chapters. This week's chapter features a panel of district and school leaders discussing what bullying is and what it isn’t; how schools work with families to investigate and address issues of bullying; resources available to parents; and the legal requirements that all schools face when dealing with these complex issues.

Next week’s chapter will be Part 2 of our bullying coverage. It will be a Parent University episode with host Amy Pfister interviewing a panel of DCSD leaders who also happen to be mothers of students who span the age range from elementary to high school. They will do an even deeper dive into the resources and efforts the district uses every day to make schools as safe and welcoming as possible.

Guests this week:

• Erin Kruse, executive director of schools for DCSD’s Castle Rock region
• Jarod Nicholson, principal of Mesa Middle School
• Trena Hand, the district’s health, wellness and prevention lead

Links and resources:

DCSD Bullying Prevention webpage

DCSD Bullying Reporting form

Safe2Tell – Report anonymously. Any time. Any day. Visit the website or call: 877-542-7233

FERPA – Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, mentioned in the episode, provides certain rights for parents regarding their children’s education records.