CREATE AN EXPLORATORY TEAM
The ideal person to get the ball rolling is a school or district administrator, who should create an exploratory team that includes teachers, counselors and/or other school staff, parents, students and one or more representatives of local  youth-serving organizations.

The formation of an inclusive team to carry out the following tasks sends a strong message that bullying is a problem that must be addressed in partnership. The group’s assignments would be to:

• Design and conduct a School/Community Climate Survey
• Create a School/Community Climate Snapshot
• Share information and encourage feedback
• Take stock of needs, priorities and options

Ideally, the exploratory team will evolve over time into a formal Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee whose 10-12 members would include a school/district administrator; a teacher from every grade level; parents and students; a counselor, school nurse or mental health professional; and community or neighborhood representatives.

The coordinating committee would be responsible for designing, developing and steadily enlarging support for an integrated system of bullying awareness, prevention and intervention. The group should meet regularly, and be led by a committed chairperson with strong organizational skills and an ability to facilitate discussion, problem solving and decision making.