HB673

Schools have rules of behavior including bullying and if violated, students should be held accountable. This should be handled in the school with the help of the student's parents. Schools should not be required to send lists to the AG's office of the inappropriate behavior of school kids. Obviously, if a student commits a crime, law enforcement would get involved.

This attempt to control private schools is NOT the purview of the NH state government!!! They have decided to indoctrinate our atudents instead of teaching basic subjects and critical thinking! They are not in any position to question the quality of private education or homeschooling, which have FAR surpassed our public education reaults.....OPPOSE this control bill!!!!!

Dear Representatives, I am writing to express my opposition to HB 673, which mandates that school boards develop written policies on bullying and cyberbullying and report substantiated incidents of these behaviors every semester, rather than annually. While I fully support the goal of combating bullying and ensuring transparency, I believe the requirements of this bill impose an undue burden on schools, particularly school administrators. Currently, school districts already submit an annual report on bullying and harassment, including required data on incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, and acts against protected classes. This bill would require schools to report these incidents every semester, which would effectively double the reporting burden without providing significant additional benefit. Administrators and staff are already dedicating significant time to addressing student needs, including bullying prevention, and this bill would divert valuable time away from teaching and learning. The additional reporting requirements, including compiling detailed data every semester, would take away time from the critical work of school leaders—ensuring academic excellence, fostering a positive school climate, and supporting both students and staff. The increased administrative workload could overwhelm existing staff and take away from the core mission of education. We must prioritize efforts that directly impact student learning and well-being, not expand administrative duties. While transparency is important, this bill’s focus on more frequent reporting could be counterproductive. The existing annual reports are already comprehensive and comply with privacy regulations. Doubling the reporting requirements would strain resources, especially in districts already facing staffing shortages. The time spent on preparing these reports could be better used to implement and strengthen bullying prevention programs and provide necessary interventions for students. In conclusion, while I share the goal of increasing transparency around bullying and cyberbullying, HB 673’s additional reporting requirements would create an unnecessary administrative burden for school leaders and detract from the time we need to focus on teaching and supporting students. I urge you to reconsider the bill and find more efficient ways to address bullying without overburdening already stretched school resources. Thank you for your time and consideration.