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Sexual harassment of a student by an employee or volunteer does not include necessary or permissible physical contact
that a reasonable person would not construe as sexual in nature, such as comforting a child with a hug or taking the child’s
hand. However, romantic, and other inappropriate social relationships, as well as all sexual relationships, between students
and district employees are prohibited, even if consensual.
Gender-based harassment includes physical, verbal, or nonverbal conduct based on a student’s gender, the student’s
expression of characteristics perceived as stereotypical for the student’s gender, or the student’s failure to conform to
stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity.
Gender-based harassment can occur regardless of the student’s or the harasser’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or
gender identity. Examples of gender-based harassment directed against a student may include, but not be limited to,
offensive jokes, name-calling, slurs, or rumors; physical aggression or assault; threatening or intimidating conduct; or other
kinds of aggressive conduct such as theft or damage to property.
If a student believes he/she has been sexually harassed, the student or the student’s parents should report the incident to
any of the following district officials: principal, assistant principal, counselor, or the District’s Title IX Coordinator.
The district official will discuss the availability of supportive measures. Supportive measures are non-disciplinary, non-
punitive individual services offered to the complainant or respondent. These services must be offered “as appropriate, as
reasonably available, and without fee or charge” to restore or preserve access to the district’s education programs and
activities.
Parents may learn more about harassment in the Discipline Management Plan and Student Code of Conduct, “Harassment.”
Retaliation
Retaliation against a person who makes a good faith report of discrimination or harassment, including dating violence, is
prohibited. Retaliation against a person who is participating in an investigation of alleged discrimination or harassment is
also prohibited. A person who makes a false claim, offers false statements, or refuses to cooperate with a district
investigation, however, may be subject to appropriate discipline.
Examples of retaliation may include threats, rumor spreading, ostracism, assault, destruction of property, unjustified
punishments, or unwarranted grade reductions. Unlawful retaliation does not include petty slights or annoyances.
Reporting Procedures
Any student who believes that he or she has experienced dating violence, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation should
immediately report the problem to a teacher, counselor, principal, or other district employee. The report may be made by
the student’s parents. See Board Policy FFH (LOCAL) for the appropriate district officials to whom to make a report.
Upon receiving a report of prohibited conduct as defined by Board Policy FFH (LOCAL), the district will determine whether
the allegations, if proven, would constitute prohibited conduct as defined by that policy. If not, the district will refer to Board
Policy FFI (LOCAL) to determine if the allegations, if proven, would constitute bullying, as defined by law and that policy. If
the alleged prohibited conduct, if proven, would violate law and Board Policy FFI (LOCAL) as it relates to bullying, an
investigation of bullying will also be conducted.
The district will promptly notify the parents of any student alleged to have experienced prohibited conduct involving an adult
associated with the district. In the event alleged prohibited conduct involves another student, the district will notify the parents of
the student alleged to have experienced the prohibited conduct when the allegations, if proven, would constitute a violation as
defined Board Policy FFH (LOCAL).
Investigation of Report
Allegations of prohibited conduct, which includes dating violence, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, will be
promptly investigated. To the extent possible, the district will respect the privacy of the student; however, limited disclosures
may be necessary to conduct a thorough investigation and to comply with law.
If a law enforcement or other regulatory agency notifies the district that it is investigating the matter and requests the district
delay its investigation, the district will resume the investigation at the conclusion of the agency’s investigation.
During the course of an investigation, and when appropriate, the district will take interim action to address the alleged
prohibited conduct. If the district’s investigation indicates that prohibited conduct occurred, appropriate disciplinary action,
and, in some cases, corrective action, will be taken to address the conduct. The district may take disciplinary and corrective
action even if the conduct that is the subject of the complaint was not unlawful. A Stay Away Agreement and/or Safety Plan
may be enacted in an effort to ensure student safety and mitigate any further incidents.
All involved parties will be notified of the outcome of the district investigation within the parameters and limits allowed under