Staff and wire reports

LB205, introduced by Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha, would force districts to set anti-bullying policies by next summer. It doesn't dictate specific actions school districts must take to prevent bullying, just that they have policies in place.

Howard has said that just 20 percent of school districts have specific policies on bullying. But bullying is addressed in most schools' codes of conduct.

Rod Foley, assistant principal at Walnut Middle School, said the middle school handbook has an anti-bullying section. But he could not confirm that anti-bullying is also part of the school district's policy manual.

Jim Werth, assistant superintendent for student services, could not be reached for comment Friday. Among Werth's duties is tracking changes in federal and state law and ensuring that the district's policies stay consistent with those changes.

Whether or not the district has words in its policy manual that comply with the new state law, it does have several programs that deal either directly or indirectly with the issue of bullying.

Walnut, Barr and Westridge middle schools all participated in the Purple Hands program, where students recite the pledge: "I will not use my hands or my words for hurting myself or others."

The pledge means students are promising not to use either verbal or physical force to control other people.

In addition to the pledge, school resource officers in all three middle schools work with students on a number of other classes that help teach respect for fellow students. Some of the programs include classes against sexual harassment and also classes urging students to stay out of gangs and away from drugs.

The Purple Hands Web site for the program, which is used by many schools nationwide, says people should respect everyone regardless of color of skin, age, gender, race, religion or nationality.

Students in a number of Grand Island elementary schools also recite the Purple Hands pledge each day.

Grand Island Senior High got involved with Rachel's Challenge during an assembly that featured Rachel Scott's father, Darrell, who spoke at a school assembly.

Rachel Scott was the first student killed at Columbine High School when two students armed with guns entered the school and began shooting at people in the building.

Among the motivations for the Columbine student shooters was the fact that they had felt they had been bullied and shunned by some students at the high school.

During the 2007-08 school year, students at Grand Island Senior High have become involved with the Friends of Rachel program that encourages students to look for the best in others, set goals, choose positive influences, practice small acts of kindness and start a chain reaction.

Several organizations, including the ACLU and the Nebraska Department of Education, support the anti-bullying bill, which now awaits Gov. Dave Heineman's signature.

On the Net:

Nebraska Legislature: http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov