Peach County Schools

Dear Peach County Families,

Recently, our district conducted a thorough review of how we respond to reports of bullying. This review allowed us to reflect on our current practices to ensure that we have strong practices in place, and to identify ways we can continue to strengthen our support for students.

As a result of this review, we want to share a few important insights. 

In many situations reported as bullying, our investigations determine that the issue involves mutual conflict between students rather than behavior that meets the definition of bullying. Additionally, we are seeing that many of these conflicts begin outside of the school day, often through social media or other electronic communication, and then carry over into the school environment.

Georgia law provides a clear definition of bullying. For behavior to be considered bullying, it must include:

• An imbalance of power between those involved

• Repeated actions or a strong likelihood that the behavior will continue

• Conduct that is severe, persistent, or pervasive

While not all conflicts meet this definition, please know that we take all student concerns seriously. When issues arise, our staff works to address them promptly, support students, and promote positive, respectful relationships.

We are also noticing an increase—particularly among middle and high school students—in concerns connected to social media use. In some cases, students may have multiple or less visible accounts, making it more difficult for adults to monitor activity. For this reason, we strongly encourage families to stay actively involved in their child’s online presence and to maintain open, ongoing conversations about responsible digital behavior.

If you have concerns about your child about bullying behavior, we encourage you to:

• Contact your child’s school, especially if the situation is impacting the school learning environment

• Communicate with other parents when appropriate to help resolve concerns early

• Reach out to local law enforcement for serious situations occurring outside of school, particularly those involving online activity

The most positive outcomes occur when schools and families work together. When concerns are shared, we appreciate receiving specific details and all available evidence, as this helps us conduct a thorough and accurate review.

As part of our efforts to better support families, we have created a dedicated webpage where all information related to bullying is available in one convenient location. You can access this resource under the Parents tab at peachschools.org. Additionally, families can access the GaDOE Parent ProTech resource at https://app.parentprotech.com/1020/peach-county/en/signup?source=admin. QR codes are now available in each school office to provide quick and easy access to these resources.

We remain committed to continuously partnering with our students, families, and community members to address student behaviors that may impact the learning environment. By working together, maintaining open communication, and focusing on what is best for all children, we can ensure our schools remain safe, supportive, and focused on learning.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for helping us create safe, supportive learning environments for all students.

Thank you for your continued support.