By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
Two days into the new school year, the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District (SBCISD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved a 25-page handbook last week that defines ways to prevent student bullying and outlines intervention methods.
The SBCISD Bullying Prevention Handbook states that nearly one-third of students surveyed report experiencing bullying, either as a target or a perpetrator, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. It also shows that the frequency of bullying was higher among sixth through eighth graders than among ninth and tenth graders.
One less worry for educators and administrators due to House Bill 1481 is the use of personal communication devices during school hours. They’re no longer allowed. However, they’re still one of the matters that SBCISD recognizes as a component of possible bullying.
“I know our students are adapting to a new law regarding their cellphone use, but it’s been positive,” SBCISD Superintendent of Schools Fred Perez said during the meeting. “It was mentioned that kids are talking to each other again, and I heard some students were passing notes in class. There are still some who remember those days.”
In the “roles and responsibilities” section of the SBCISD handbook, updates were made that put both parents and staff in control when bullying is suspected.
A parent should be “proactive in monitoring your child’s use of technology, including social media, messaging apps, and online gaming platforms,” the section reads.
School staff should “closely observe students during passing times, recess, and lunch.”
Counselors, too, must “take an active and leading role in promoting bullying prevention.”
Some warning signs of bullying include children with cuts, bruises, or scratches; those needing extra money; children who are reluctant to go to school; and those showing significant mood changes, such as becoming more angry, sad, depressed, fearful, quiet, or passive.
San Benito CISD, on its website and at each of the school’s main campuses, has a Bullying Incident Reporting/Complaint Form in two languages: English and Spanish.
The form allows for the alleged aggressor and witnesses to be identified, and the date(s), time(s), and location(s) to be known.
Among the types of alleged harassment listed on the form are: verbal, written, physical, electronic, racial, sexual, religious, and disability.
On the form, some inappropriate behaviors observed by adult witnesses could include: name-calling, stalking, gestures, property damage, writing or graffiti, threats, taunting or ridiculing, touching, spitting, demeaning comments, stealing, flashing a weapon, shoving or pushing, hitting or kicking, cyberbullying, and intimidation or extortion.
According to SBCISD, up to five bullying incidents can be documented. After the first incident is reported, interviews are conducted and a conclusion is administered; the parents are also contacted and the incident is documented.
A meeting with a child and parents occurs during the second through fifth incidents.
When the second incident is reported, a counselor, psychologist, or police liaison is invited (if needed).
After a third incident, an alternative classroom is assigned; the fourth incident results in, in-school suspension; the fifth incident results in a disciplinary warning for a calendar year.
Actions taken could include off-campus suspension, in-school suspension, denial of bus privileges, and Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) placement.
SBCISD provides access for all students to make an anonymous report through its STOPit app. This information can be found on each campus website.
SBCISD Board President Ariel Cruz-Vela acknowledged the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, saying she liked seeing children return after a summer that saw school and district administrators preparing for these first days.
“Some (children) are more excited than others, of course; our teachers are excited about having their students back,” Cruz-Vela said.
She also mentioned the work maintenance, children’s nutrition, and transportation departments’ efforts.
“Their faces are among the first (our students) see when they’re in school, so I want to thank them for their work,” Cruz-Vela said.
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