Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

Two pilot Lima City Schools, Heritage Elementary and Lima West Middle School, are in their fifth year of program participation in the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. The schools have worked with staff, students and parents to identify and confront bulling situations and nurture a positive and caring school climate. Positive behavior changes have been noted by the school staff.

On December 29, 2006, a new law was signed by Governor Bob Taft that addresses the bullying issue. Under House Bill 276, school boards must now have anti-bullying language in the policies and bullying behaviors listed in their discipline proceedures. And, all school staff must be trained in bullying prevention as well as other violence prevention programming.

At this time, over thrty schools in Ohio and Michigan have been trained in the Olweus Program. A partnership with the WCO SERRC has brought together Gloria Wright-Murphy, WCO SERRC’s behavior specialist and Donna Dickman, PVFF Director as training partners. Grants have been received by the Weed and Seed Project, Honda of America, Project Safe Neighborhood, and the Anthem Foundation that will allow for more schools in the city of Lima and in Allen County to participate.

Throughout these schools, students will understand the new stance on bullying and the four rules the schools will adhere to:

• We will not bully others
• We will help students who are bullied
• We will include students who are left out
• When we know a student who is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home