The Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) is committed to providing a positive learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and promotes respect, dignity and equality among students. High standards are expected for both academic achievement and for behavior.

EPISD strives to ensure that all of its students and employees are free from bullying and harassment including violence in students' relationships. All charges of bullying, harassment, and dating violence are to be taken very seriously by our students, faculty, staff, administration and parents. We will make every effort to handle and respond to each and every charge and complaint filed by students and employees in a fair, thorough and just manner. Every effort will be made to protect the due process rights of all victims and all alleged offenders. Bullying is defined as written or oral expression or physical conduct that a school district's board of trustees or the board's designee determines: 1) To have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage to the student's property; or 2) To be sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive to create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student. In addition, "Cyberbullying" as defined in David’s Law means bullying arising from a pattern of acts or one significant act that is done through the use of any electronic communication device, including a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool.

Eagle Pass ISD Ongoing Measures to Prevent Bullying

1. In Eagle Pass ISD, campuses use The Pillars of Character education traits (Trustworthiness; Respect; Responsibility; Fairness; Caring; Citizenship) to reinforce positive social behaviors. The Pillars of Character are taught through lessons, activities and stories integrated continually into all facets of campus life. Counselors are required to provide lessons to students. Teachers are welcome to reinforce lessons provided by counselors to students throughout their daily instruction and interactions.

2. Impact Week is a district-wide initiative during the month of October, whose main goal is to build on social awareness and acceptance. Activities are conducted throughout the district to reflect on the following areas: 1) Verbal and Physical Bullying 2) Cyber-Bullying 3) Gender Equality 4) Self-Awareness: Your Life Matters!

3. In Eagle Pass ISD we are committed to providing the students with a safe environment, in which, they are able to excel in all areas of development. It is for this reason that all students are taught the four forms of mistreatment by counselors and/or teachers through character education activities:

Four Forms of Mistreatment

Exclusion: The target feels left out
Put-downs: The target feels bad or hurt
Bullying: The target feels afraid
Unwanted physical contact: The target's personal boundaries are violated

By identifying the specific ways in which students can be emotionally and or physically hurt, students can then be empowered with strategies for stopping and minimizing the mistreatment of others. Working with students to identify the four types of mistreatment and teaching them ways to peacefully resolve conflict takes them from being a bystander to being a problem solver. Campus counselors throughout the district use The Pillars of Character program to teach character education traits and activities which instill the values of Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship to address the Four Forms of Mistreatment. For more information contact your campus counselor or see the links below for other resources: