(1) The Legislative Assembly finds that:

(a) A safe and civil environment is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards.

(b) Harassment, intimidation or bullying and cyberbullying, like other disruptive or violent behavior, are conduct that disrupts a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate its students in a safe environment.

(c) Students learn by example.

(2) The Legislative Assembly commends school administrators, faculty, staff and volunteers for demonstrating appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, refusing to tolerate harassment, intimidation or bullying and refusing to tolerate cyberbullying. [2001 c.617 § 1; 2005 c.209 § 32; 2007 c.647 § 2]