A pastor who has spent years working with at-risk youth pressed the Lehighton Area School District’s school board Monday to add teeth to its proposed bullying policy, citing a Pennsylvania House bill that would require schools to notify parents within 24 hours of a bullying incident.

The remarks came as the board took up a mandated three-year review of Policy 249, the district’s bullying and cyberbullying policy. Pastor Mike Coulson of People’s EC Church said the policy as written lacks the specificity needed to hold anyone accountable when an incident occurs.

“The proposed first reading lacks substance as to exactly how the policy is to be enacted in situations,” Coulson said. “There isn’t really anything in detail about how that will be handled.”

He directed the board’s attention to House Bill 830, which the Pennsylvania House passed April 29 on a bipartisan vote. The bill, sponsored by state Reps. Jennifer O’Mara, D-Delaware County, and Danillo Burgos, D-Philadelphia, would require schools to notify parents and legal guardians within 24 hours whenever a student is involved in a bullying incident, either as the target or the aggressor, and to explain what steps the school will take in response. The bill was awaiting Senate action as of Monday’s meeting.

“I think it’s really important that there is something set in stone — this is what we’re going to do when there is a bullying incident,” Coulson said.

The district’s current Policy 249 directs that verbal and written complaints of bullying “shall be investigated promptly” and that “appropriate corrective or preventive action be taken when allegations are substantiated.” It does not specify a notification timeline for parents. The policy was last revised July 24, 2023, roughly three years before HB 830 passed the House.

Coulson grounded his request in personal experience.

“Unfortunately, in the age group of 10 to 14 years old, suicide is the second leading cause of death,” Coulson said. “It is something that has touched my life personally. My first friend that passed away to suicide was when I was 12. I’ve unfortunately had a lot of other friends since then, and that’s not counting those who have turned to substance abuse in a roundabout way, killing themselves through that.”

The district is required by state law to review its bullying policy every three years and include the results in its annual Safe Schools Report to the state. Policy 249, first adopted March 23, 2009, covers electronic, written, verbal and physical acts in school settings that substantially interfere with a student’s education, create a threatening environment or disrupt the orderly operation of the school. Consequences for violations range from counseling and parental conference to suspension, expulsion and referral to law enforcement.

Lehighton’s 2024-25 Safe Schools Report, filed with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, recorded two formal bullying incidents among its 2,119 students. The same report logged two attempted suicides.

Coulson’s appeal was for a policy specific enough that families know what to expect and staff know what is required of them.

“Whether it’s in this first reading or if it’s an amendment to a different school policy, I want us to lay out exactly what the school district is going to do in these situations so that there can be accountability from the staff and from the families at home to know how it’s going to be addressed and that it is followed through,” Coulson said.

Board President Alex Matika told Coulson that some of what he was describing was reflected in new language already in the proposed policy revision. The board passed the first reading of the policy as it can be changed before second reading approval and implementation.

“I’d actually like to take a little bit more time to review that House bill,” Matika said. “It’s the first time I’m hearing about it.”