NEW YORK, NY September 03, 2008 —The city's taking a swing at bullies in schools, with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and Council Speaker Christine Quinn announcing a set of initiatives they hope will curb mean girls and rough boys.

Schools will be required to track and monitor all bias incidents and investigate them promptly. Students will also be able to file harassment complaints online. Speaker Quinn, who says she works closely with students who are harassed because they're gay, says bullying can destroy the learning experience.

QUINN: You're sitting in your seat and your mind is elsewhere. You're worried about what's going to happen as you walk down that hall. Are you going to make it to the bathroom? Are you going to make it to the next classroom? What's going to happen when they end school?

REPORTER: Community groups say they're happy to see the city taking new initiatives, but they are reserving judgment until they see whether the new system is effective.