Iowa schools to participate in federal anti-bullying survey

Iowa is one of 11 states that will be receiving $14 million in federal funds during the next four years to help improve school safety.

The Safe and Supportive Schools initiative will survey 35 high schools around the state this spring to learn about how safe students feel in schools. The results will be used to help fund programs to alleviate student concerns at the schools needing the most improvement. The students will continue to be surveyed every year of the grant so results can be adequately measured.

Several Eastern Iowa districts were chosen by the Iowa Department of Education to participate, including high schools in Clear Creek Amana, Solon, Bettendorf, Davenport, Dubuque and Waterloo. The Cedar Rapids school district still is in talks with both the state and federal departments of education to participate in the survey at at all of its high schools.

There was some confusion regarding whether or not Cedar Rapids, as it was not originally listed among the schools participating by the state education department.

The district is still in talks with the state regarding the program, while at the same time it is applying directly to the federal government for a school safety grant with the same name. , according to Terry O'Malley, associate superintendent for Cedar Rapids.

A representative with the Iowa Department of Education confirmed that the list of survey participants was not finalized and that more might be added.

O'Malley was among several local school officials who said they doubted their schools would be considered among those most needing improvement, but that the survey was worth pursing for the extra data.

“By and large, I think our students are engaged, but you can't ignore information. It will give us something to act on.” said Mark Moody, principal at Clear Creek Amana High School.