Policy 504.09
Harassment
The District is committed to an environment that is free from discrimination and unlawful harassment and intimidation for both employees and students.
Harassment Defined
Harassment consists of unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, written or physical, that is based upon a person’s protected status, such as sex, race, color, religion, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, child birth or related condition, or any other category protected by law. The District will not tolerate discriminatory or harassing conduct that affects or unreasonably interferes with educational progress, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.
Sexual harassment is defined as: unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature explicit or implied when (1) submission to such conduct is made either a term or condition of a student’s progress in school, (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by a student is used as the basis for decisions affecting the student, or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a student’s performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning environment. Sexual harassment may include explicit sexual propositions, sexual innuendo, suggestive comments, jokes, obscene language or gestures, displays of obscene material and physical conduct.
General Complaint Procedure
Students are encouraged to promptly report incidents of discrimination or unlawful harassment.
- If the student believes that he or she has experienced or witnessed such conduct within the District, he or she should immediately report the matter to a school counselor, the Principal or the Title IX Coordinator. Any staff member who receives a complaint should immediately report the matter to the Title IX Coordinator. All reports will be handled in a timely and confidential manner.
- Upon receiving a complaint of discrimination or unlawful harassment, a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation will be conducted. To the greatest extent practicable, the District will keep the complaint and the terms of resolution confidential. Upon receipt of a report of sexual harassment or abuse involving a student, the matter shall be promptly reported by the District to law enforcement authorities.
- Upon conclusion of the investigation, the District will take prompt and effective remedial action if it determines that discrimination or unlawful harassment has occurred. Anyone found to have engaged in discrimination or unlawful harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including employment discharge, suspension or expulsion if the offender is a student.
Students who report discrimination or unlawful harassment or participate in the investigation will not be subject to retaliation or reprisals as a result of reporting the matter or providing testimony. It is the policy of the District to encourage discussion of the matter and to help protect others from being subjected to similar and inappropriate behavior.
Disciplinary Action
Any employee or student found to have engaged in discrimination or unlawful harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including employment termination, suspension and/or expulsion if the offender is a student.
Formal Complaint Procedure (Title IX): An employee or student can allege sexual harassment by filing a formal complaint in writing to the Title IX Coordinator in person or by mail, or by Electronic mail.
Approved: November 10, 1992
Revised: September 12, 1996
Revised: April 10, 2006
Revised: September 14, 2015
Revised: December 14, 2020
Administrative Rules and Procedures to Implement Policy 404.05 & 504.09