Eagle View to implement bullying prevention program

Dave Endicott, principal at Eagle View Elementary School, presented to the school board Monday, June 18, a program for bullying prevention that Eagle View will implement this fall.

"We have bullying as an issue at our school," Endicott said. He cited instances in the state where children had committed suicide and bullying was a factor.

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) advertises itself as a whole-school, systems-change program. It works at four levels: school wide, in the classroom, for bullied individuals and in the community.

The school will hold a training session Aug. 13-14 where Bonnie Johnson, a retired principal from the Anoka-Hennepin district, will not only train teachers but bus drivers, watchdogs, cooks and custodians.

"Research shows that this program after the first year has a 20-60 percent reduction in the number of bullying incidents at the school," Endicott said.

The program will cost approximately $6,000-$8,000 for materials and training, Endicott said.

"We're doing everything we can to keep this outside the general fund budget," he added.

The Pequot Lakes Parent-Teacher Association has already donated $5,000 to the program, and Lakes State Bank has donated another $500. Members of the PTA and administration will hold brat sales outside Pequot Lakes Supervalu to raise funds.

Endicott said the program deals with many types of bullying, including cyber bullying, verbal bullying and physical bullying.

He hopes the program will develop a consistent approach to bullying across the board at the school.