Bullying/Intimidation
Students
shall be provided a safe learning environment.
It shall be a violation of this policy for any student to bully,
intimidate or create a hostile educational environment for another student.
Bulling and intimidation are defined as either physically harming a
student or damaging his/her property, or knowingly placing the student in
reasonable fear of such, or creating a hostile educational environment. The
policy addresses conduct taking place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored
activity, on school-provided transportation, or at any school bus stop
immediately before boarding and immediately following de-boarding.
Alleged
victims of the above referenced offenses shall report these incidents
immediately to a teacher, counselor, or building administrator.
Any allegations shall be fully investigated by a complaint manager set
forth in the preceding section.
The
privacy and anonymity of all parties and witnesses to complaints will be
respected. However, because an
individual’s need for confidentiality must be balanced with obligations to
cooperate with police investigations or legal proceedings, to provide due
process to the accused, to conduct a thorough investigation or to take necessary
action to resolve a complaint, the identity of parties and witnesses may be
disclosed in appropriate circumstances to individuals with a need to know.
A
substantiated charge against an employee shall result in disciplinary action up
to and including termination. A
substantiated charge against a student may result in corrective or disciplinary
action up to and including suspension.
There
will be no retaliation against any person who reports harassment or
bullying/intimidation or participates in an investigation.
However, any employee who refuses to cooperate or gives false information
during the course of any investigation may be subject to disciplinary action.
The willful filing of a false report will itself be considered harassment
and will be treated as such.
An
employee disciplined for violation this policy may appeal the decision by
contacting the Federal Rights Coordinator. Any student disciplined for violation
of this policy may appeal the decision in accordance with disciplinary policies
and procedures.
This
policy shall be published in the parent/student handbook distributed annually to
every student.
Building administrators are responsible
for educating and training their respective staff and students as to the
definition and recognition of discrimination/harassment and
bulling/intimidation.