Presenter: Beth C. Manes, Esq.
View the webinar’s corresponding slides here
Webinar attendees will learn the basics of the HIB law, and what types of incidents are covered, what schools should be doing when they are made aware of potential HIB, how are victims and accused students protected under the law. Beth Manes earned a B.A., cum laude, in Politics with a minor in Spanish, and her Law Degree from University of Michigan. Beth’s practice concentrates in Special Education Law, Special Needs Planning, Guardianships and Estate Planning.
Comments(24)
kteabo says:
December 12, 2019 at 12:50 pmWhat are the retrocessions for false claims?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:20 pmFiling a false HIB claim is likely a violation of the student code of conduct, and will be dealt with accordingly.
JSmith says:
December 12, 2019 at 12:56 pmIs there a link with HIB and violence from victims with disabilities?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:19 pmI don’t understand this question?
JInscho says:
December 12, 2019 at 12:57 pmWhat happens if the victim becomes the aggressor?
BManes, Esq says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:18 pmIt depends on what that aggression looks like. If there is a distinguishing characteristic, it could be HIB. However, it could also be treated as peer conflict, and discipline would be determined by the student code of conduct and district disciplinary policies.
PRostain says:
December 12, 2019 at 12:58 pmDo you see the victims with mental health disabilities becoming violent?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:18 pmWe don’t often see victims becoming violent. Also the category “mental health disabilities” is very broad. Some people with mental health disabilities have violent tendencies, but many do not. However, when we have seen it occur, the district has sought to discipline the victim, who became the aggressor.
PWilling says:
December 12, 2019 at 12:58 pmExample situation: bully has trauma due to mother’s death and targets peer (for past two years) who has an absent mother. The school has been intervening individually. Appropriate to file HIB report for this type of bullying?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:17 pmInteresting question. I would want more information before giving a firm answer, but I would say it is possible, the “absent mother” would be the distinguishing characteristic.
GGorgon says:
December 12, 2019 at 12:59 pmYou talked about manifestation determination for children with disabilities, what if my child doesn’t have an IEP or 504?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:16 pmIf your child has a disability that the district did not identify, then your child should still be treated as a child with a disability for disciplinary purposes. We would discuss whether the district should have known prior to the incident, or if perhaps the incident itself should have alerted them to a disability.
WDavis says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:00 pmYou said I can appeal to the board of education. What is that process like? Do I need a lawyer?
BManes says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:16 pmIt varies by district, some allow questioning, some only allow you to make a statement. You don’t necessarily need a lawyer, but you may want one depending on the facts of your case, and the severity of the proposed punishment. It is certainly prudent to consult with a lawyer to discuss the particulars of your case, and then decide whether you need representation at the appeal.
BStern says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:06 pmIf there is a power imbalance, do I still need to show that there was a distinguishing characteristic?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:15 pmYes, though the power imbalance itself may be the distinguishing characteristic.
ACliff says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:07 pmAre there any statistics on the reoccurrence of bullying by either the victim or the aggressor?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:15 pmThere is a website, bullyingstatistics.org, that may have that information. Another useful site is stopybullying.gov.
sgrainger says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:07 pmHave there been any studies done on bullying being a learned behavior – copied from siblings or parents?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:14 pmProbably, but I have not read any.
hhildebrandt says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:08 pmAre there any stats available on prevalence of HIB in middle school vs. high school?
BManes, Esq says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:13 pmThere is a website, bullyingstatistics.org, that may have that information. Another useful site is stopybullying.gov.
RCongo says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:09 pmAre there any repercussions for students who stand and watch or watch and don’t report?
BManes, Esq. says:
December 12, 2019 at 1:12 pmUnfortunately, no. We have not yet raised the expectations of our children.