amber@northstarreporter.com
In response to community feedback and a commitment to enhancing student well-being, the School Committee has introduced a revised anti-bullying plan.
Last year, the school community expressed concerns about the clarity and accessibility of the district’s bullying policies. Parents and staff raised points of confusion regarding how to define bullying, reporting procedures and disciplinary processes. To address these issues, the district dedicated the summer and spring months to revising its anti-bullying strategies.
This initiative includes updates to the school district’s website and the creation of a new informational video designed to be more user-friendly for students and families. Parents can now easily navigate the school district website to find the “Bullying Prevention, Intervention, and Reporting” page where they can read about or report bullying.
Superintendent John Antonucci emphasized the district’s commitment to clarity.
“We are really trying to be as transparent as possible with families,” Antonucci said at the School Committee meeting on Sept. 10. “This plan will reaffirm our commitment that we will address any negative behavior in our schools.”
He expressed confidence in the website improvements, noting, “The enhancements were needed. I feel really good about it. It is easy to read, easy to understand…and our communication is much more clear.”
In addition to policy changes, the district has made significant strides in bolstering its safety protocols by appointing two Student Resource Officers (SROs), North Attleborough Police officers Matt Nettnay and Rob Geromini. Previously, the district had relied solely on Officer Lawrence “Jimmy” Morse to cover all eight schools.
“Student safety and wellness are our number one priority,” Antonucci explained. “It was too much for one SRO.”
Nettnay will be primarily assigned to North Attleborough High School, and Geromini to North Attleborough Middle School, they are both expected to visit and respond to all schools in town. The addition of a second SRO is expected to enhance safety measures, foster positive relationships between students and law enforcement, and support the creation of a trustworthy adult presence within the schools.
The district’s efforts reflect a broader commitment to improve school environments and ensure that all students have access to a safe and supportive learning experience. With these new strategies in place, North Attleborough aims to create a more transparent, effective and responsive approach to combating bullying and ensuring student safety.
