Monessen School District to hold anti-bullying program
MONESSEN – Monessen School District is taking a strong stand against bullying with a program that looks at the issue both inside the schools and in the community.
During the school board’s meeting on Tuesday, Superintendent Dr. Leanne Spazak announced that the district is scheduling an anti-bullying program on April 3. Presentations will be held during the day for elementary and middle school students, followed by a presentation for the public in the evening. The district is also inviting students from St. Sebastian and Madonna Catholic regional schools to participate in the program.
According to Spazak, the Sweethearts and Heroes program is designed to empower victims and bystanders so they can turn a negative experience into a positive one.
“We want to make sure our schools are safe, but we also want to address bullying in the community,” she said. “The more people we can get involved in this, the better.”
Sweethearts and Heroes, a New York-based organization, brings motivational speakers to schools to educate students, teachers and the public about the impact bullying has on schools, neighborhoods and individuals. During its presentations, Sweethearts and Heroes employs simple role playing to train students how to respond when bullying takes place.
The Sweethearts and Heroes program is one of several initiatives the district is undertaking to make its schools safer. At Tuesday’s meeting, board President Roberta Bergstedt announced that the district will soon complete installation of high-definition security cameras at Monessen Elementary Center. The cameras will provide security officers and staff with a clearer view of the school and grounds.
Bergstedt said that Monessen School District is ahead of the curve with many school security protocols.
“Last month, Dr. Spazak and I attended a meeting of the Pennsylvania School Board Association that brought together many other school districts to talk about safety and security,” she said. “We were surprised to learn that Monessen is more proactive and progressive at addressing security issues than many other school districts. It really showed how well we are doing. Our school board practices are much more efficient compared to some of the other districts.”