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On March 12, 2019 Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Education Commissioner, announced his intention to form a Blue Ribbon Task Force on Bullying. Citing data that 28% of students in grades six through twelve experience bullying, Commissioner Watson stated, “Everywhere I go, parents want to discuss this issue. There are no easy answers.” While anti-bullying measures have been in place for many years, efforts to eradicate bullying in schools have not fully succeeded. This task force will research and identify current bullying trends, data, and prevention measures occurring across the state in an effort to better understand how to combat this problem.
The Blue Ribbon Task Force on Bullying is co-chaired by Dr. Rick Ginsberg, Dean of the University of Kansas School of Education, and Mr. James Regier, Superintendent of Whitewater-Remington USD 206. The task force will consist of 30 – 40 members representing a variety of stakeholder groups including, but not limited to; parents, State Board of Education, Kansas Legislators, educators, school mental health specialists, and a variety of experts from groups that are disproportionately impacted by bullying.
The task force will hear testimony from stakeholder groups as they convene meetings across the State of Kansas. Information from these meetings will be used to develop recommendations that will be presented to the State Board of Education in December of 2019.
Meeting Dates
May 28th, Orion Service Center, Clearwater
June 18th, Horace Good Middle School, Garden City
August 5, Smokey Hill Service Center, Salina
September 25th, Greenbush Service Center, Girard
October 30th, Joyce Focht Instructional Support Center, Wichita (not a public meeting/Workgroups work day 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM)
November 6th, Greenbush Service Center, Lawrence
December 2nd, Kansas Health Institute, Topeka
The Taskforce will meet from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm unless noted above
Zoom will be offered at every meeting by using the following link
https://ksde.zoom.us/j/5561856948
Myron Melton
Email : mmelton@ksde.org
Phone: (785)296-4941
Kent Reed
Email: kreed@ksde.org
Phone: (785)296-8109
Amy Martin
Email: admartin@ksde.org
Phone: (785)296-5608
The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.