Michigan schools respond to new bullying legislation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Santa Barbara, California, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) February 11, 2012 -- In recent weeks, schools across Michigan have been re-drafting their bullying procedures and policies to meet the June 6th deadline set by the State. Some schools, including Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek have looked to outside sources for an affordable, digital solution to the new legislation: “Sprigeo is a great safety valve, kids who don’t report to an adult that they were being bullied, now have another option.” -- Assistant Principal Tony Howerton.

As talks of bullying and intimidation in schools sweep the nation, individual states are releasing laws that mandate schools to introduce rules to protect their kids from bullying. Michigan has jumped on board with its own laws, joining a host of other states that have adopted policies that protect students from harassment. Across the U.S statistics show that 160,000 kids skip school every day, afraid to face another day of bullying.

Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek in Hartland Michigan has 950 middle school age students, a number that can be daunting to any school official. With this in mind, Assistant Principal Howerton says: “Sprigeo has really helped us keep track of these types of incidents and get them resolved quickly and efficiently”.

With the introduction of “Matt’s Safe School Law, named after Matt Epling who took his own life after numerous bullying incidents, schools have six months to develop an anti-bullying policy. The new legislation requires a degree of uniformity, and accountability in regards to bullying incidents. This includes a procedure for reporting an act of bullying and requirements for teachers and administrators to have annual training on preventing and responding to bullying.

Sprigeo’s simple online anonymous report is standardized, based upon the toughest legislation in the country. All reports are captured in a secure online database in addition to being sent in an immediate email alert. This allows principals and district superintendents to track incidents, note action taken toward resolution, and record follow-up activity as well as download the latest statistics and summary reports for their area.

Sprigeo, Inc. was founded by Joe Bruzzese, an expert and frequent speaker on bullying. The company is located in Santa Barbara, CA and since introducing the software in the first half of 2011 has been adopted by schools in thirteen states.


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If you'd like more information about this topic, or to speak with Sprigeo.com’s CEO, Joe Bruzzese, please call 805-284-9435 or e-mail Sprigeo at team@sprigeo.com

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