BURLEY - Students and staff at Cassia County schools who engage in any type of bullying behavior could find themselves expelled from school or their employment terminated.

The Cassia County School District unanimously approved an amended policy on student harassment that includes new language against bullying someone over sexual orientation. It also includes a new policy titled "Prohibition Against Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying" that outlines the district's response to issues such as spreading rumors, cyber bullying and "sexting," which have become issues since the original policy was adopted in 2000.

"These reflect current things we experience in the community and other parts of the state," said district Superintendent Gaylen Smyer.

The new policies put in place guidelines that define cyber bullying as the use of any electronic communications device to convey a message in any format - including audio, video, text, graphics, or photographs - that intimidates, harasses or intends to harm another individual.

"Parental awareness will play a big role in this," Smyer said.

According to the policy, school administrators will report any conduct they believe is in violation of the law to local law enforcement and no retaliation will be taken by the district, employees or students for someone who reports harassment or bullying.

The district will maintain a written record that is submitted to the district with witness statements and investigative reports. Those records will be kept in district administrative offices and will not be purged by district personnel without board approval.

The prohibition extends not only to actions on school grounds but those originating at a remote location and carried out via technology. The policy also includes a section on district employees and staff members engaging in bullying behavior.