School Climate & Culture

Our Commitment

Kalama School District is committed to cultivating an equitable, positive, and respectful school climate and culture for all students and staff.

When students learn and educators work in a safe and supportive environment, they are more likely to develop the social and emotional competencies they need to be successful.

District Approach

To achieve a safer, more equitable school environment, our district uses a combination of:

  • Proactive prevention

  • Purposeful response

  • Training & instruction

Read below to discover how this approach guides the specific actions our schools take.

Note: This page will be regularly updated as newly-developed action items take shape. New actions are represented below in italic text.

Data Dashboard

Proactive Prevention

Proactive Prevention in Action:

  • Support the creation of inclusive groups and activities for students

  • Organize assemblies and small group discussions centered around inclusion and understanding

  • Invite guest speakers to the school to discuss bullying, safety and the well-being of all students

  • Improve, increase and simplify the process for students and staff to report safety concerns (e.g. QR codes in buildings)

  • Increase communication and visibility around student and staff reporting options

  • Hire additional mental health counselors and a dean of students for grades 6-12

  • Establish a district-wide equity and inclusion statement

  • Refine and publish the equity statement along with a revised strategic plan

  • Use district-wide communications to provide families with resources and to encourage conversations at home

  • Revise the student handbook to highlight discrimination and HIB (Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying) issues, including the process and consequences

  • Communicate the student handbook more strategically so that behavioral expectations for all students and staff are better understood

  • Increase active adult supervision in "hot spots" where bullying occurs

  • Utilize stakeholder feedback to improve the effectiveness of dedicated class time for teaching and empowering students in bullying awareness and skills in prevention, appropriate intervention and reporting

Responding with Purpose

Responding with Purpose in Action:

  • Increase visibility of the district's support for vulnerable students by amending District Policy 3207 (calling out specific unacceptable, targeting behaviors)

  • Revise the existing HIB (Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying) reporting form and improve communication related to it

  • Implement a Climate & Culture dashboard and web portal (this page) to regularly inform parents and students about behavioral incident data and progress

  • Require admins to fill out an addendum to the HIB form if behavioral patterns are present or if violations involve vulnerable students

  • Bring the KSD Safety Committee (which includes law enforcement) into the standard HIB form review process for the purpose of examining trends and providing feedback

Training and Instruction

Training & Instruction in Action:

  • Schedule & conduct trainings for all teachers that focus on relationship building and Restorative Justice

  • Schedule & conduct suicide prevention and response training for all staff

  • Host regular, recurring listening sessions where all students (especially those in vulnerable groups) have the opportunity to share their views about school Climate & Culture with staff

  • Solicit new ideas and feedback by establishing an Climate & Culture parent workgroup (guided by Aug. 2022 Washington state Education Ombuds report)

  • Devote time during MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) meetings to discuss Climate & Culture issues that may not rise to the level of HIB reporting

  • Conduct Character Strong training for staff at the elementary school level

  • Conduct Character Strong training for staff at the middle and high school level

Report Bullying

Contact any Kalama School District staff member to make a verbal or written report.

To complete an official HIB (Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying) reporting form, click the button below.

Reporting Form
No bullies