School Bullying Council

A piece of legislation aimed at cracking down on school cyber-bullying and other harrassment is being delayed by a key panel of lawmakers amid concerns it might cost the state extra money.

Lawmakers have already approved a bill to establish voluntary guildelines for Maine schools to follow. A new proposal, LD 1237, sponsored by South Portland Democratic Rep. Terry Morrison, aims to do more by mandating school districts to adopt policies to prevent bullying–particularly online harrassment, or cyber-bullying.

As the bill made its way through the Legislature, however, a fiscal note was attached to it indicating that the proposal will cost the state a significant amount of money to implement. Some lawmakers are concerned this could kill the bill.

But Morrison denies that his proposal, which he describes as a curriculum change, will cost extra money.
“This curriculum change could be done within the existing the funding, because school boards change curriculums all the time,” he says.

LD 1237 is one of many bills the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee will be considering next week.

This story was reported by Tom Porter

http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineHeadlineNews/tabid/968/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3479/ItemId/16828/Default.aspx

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — The family of a Lewiston teen who almost died in a fight is speaking out about cyber bullying.

Dax Catalano is recovering from a skull fracture and a blood clot in his brain. According to the Lewiston Police website, nineteen year-old Jacob Estes continued to beat Catalano after he stopped defending himself. Police say he then kicked Catalano in the head and fractured his skull. Estes was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Catalano says Estes had been threatening him on Facebook, but he didn’t take the threats seriously. His parents want to warn other parents to monitor kids’ activity on Facebook.

“Even if you can’t get your kids to give you their password be their friend,” Maureen Catalano said. “That’s the only way I found out from Dax is because my husband is a friend of Dax on his page. So you’re able to monitor that way if you’re not able to monitor their page. At least be their friend and be aware of who is on their page.”

Dax Catalano was scheduled to be discharged from the hospital Sunday. Jacob Estes remains in custody at the Androscoggin County Jail on five thousand dollars cash bail.

NEWS CENTER

http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=150630&catid=3