In its ongoing anti-bullying and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative this year, Lansing School Superintendent Chris Pettograsso updated the Board of Education Monday on a series of 'community conversations' the district is hosting on topics related to bullying.  Pettograsso said the first of the series was to be held yesterday.

"About a month ago we found out one of the barriers was that we are all coming with different levels of education around mental health, around what bullying means, around the dignity act," she said. "So we're providing a series of educational community conversations for the public.  Starting on January 17th we will have a New York State Dignity Act and anti-bullying presentation by Don Budman. He gave the same presentation for our committee."

Pettograsso said that another session is planned for February 7th, which will be 'Mental Health and Wellness 101' presented by the NYS School Mental Health Resource and Training Center. She added that the district is in the process of scheduling a March community conversation with Tompkins County Suicide & Crisis Services.  The 'conversations' are designed to take any stigma away from talking about bullying publicly, and "making it a big part of our daily conversation."

She also reported that members of her leadership team are meeting with the organizer of the Sophie Fund, a local organization that works on mental health initiatives for students in Ithaca, the greater Ithaca area, and Tompkins County.  She said possible outcomes include grants and resources the district may be able to tap.

District officials are also planning a 'unified sports' initiative in which students who are identified as having some type of learning disability or intellectual disability working on the court together with non-disabled students.  The first foray will be a basketball season in April and early May.

"They're working on the court together," Pettograsso said. "They're playing together.  It's not just about athletics. It's really about inclusion and not just inviting you to the dance, but having you participate.  It's the next level of really making sure we are inclusive school district."

Pettograsso says school officials have identified students who may be able to participate, and said that they want youth advisors to recruit for the team.

"Our Athletic Director, Coach, and High School Dean of Students are bringing a team of students to a summit at Owego Free Academy on February 1st  to learn about how to promote and get excited about it," she said. "We're really excited about the potential that will bring for us."

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