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Harassment and Discrimination
Harassment of any type is unacceptable because it undermines productivity in the work and academic environment. Harassment also degrades, intimidates, isolates and discriminates against individuals, and it creates an unreasonable interference with an individual’s work or academic performance.
Examples of Harassment:
v Unwanted physical contact
v Making a false, intimidating, hostile, or offensive statement about someone’s sex, color, national origin, physical appearance, sexual preference, political beliefs, or court record
v Making statements or jokes about a person because of a physical handicap or physical difference
v Displaying graphic, sexually explicit objects, posters or pictures that show children, women or men, racial groups, students, etc. in a degrading or humiliating manner
v Indecent exposure
v Persistent unwelcome requests for social/sexual encounters and favors
v Sexual crimes and rape
v Comments repeatedly emphasizing the sexuality, age, physical appearance, marital status, religion, etc. of an individual
v Obscene gestures, verbal/nonverbal suggestive behavior
The examples of harassment cited do not illustrate all forms of harassment and should be viewed as examples only
Procedure If You Have a Complaint
- Attempt to work out the problem with the individual(s) involved, by letting them know that their actions are not welcomed or wanted by you.
- If the harassed person is uncomfortable with this step, he/she should notify a teacher, counselor or administrator to get help in solving the problem.
- If the problem has not been solved, notify a school administrator.
Consequences for
Harassment and Discrimination
v Referral to administration.
v Phone call to parents/guardians to inform them that conflict resolution is occurring. Educational options are explained to parents/guardians and students, as well as consequences of unsuccessful resolution. Conflict resolution may occur with an administrator, a counselor, or a peer mediator.
v Parent/guardian and student administrative meeting.
v Educational options are restated.
v School Board Policy and high school procedures to enforce these policies are stated.
v Possible police involvement. Make a plan of action to improve behavior, which may include a modified educational program.
v Pre-Expulsion Conference.
v Modified program and/or alternative placement.
v Explicit warnings regarding future action.
v Recommendation to Board of Education for expulsion.
Board Policy
NON-DISCRIMINATION
ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY
The Oregon School District shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations which prohibit discrimination in its operations, including the following principles:
v Federal law prohibits discrimination with respect to religion, race, color, national origin, sex, age and handicap. State law defines discrimination to also include ancestry, color, pregnancy, physical, mental, emotional or learning disability, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, arrest or conviction record and military service
v The District shall not discriminate in its educational programs, activities or services
v The District shall not discriminate with respect to its employment and personnel operations, including the hiring, assignment, promotion, transfer, layoff, discipline, termination and reinstatement decisions
The District, its employees and students shall not engage in harassment of any type. All forms of harassment are prohibited whether or not such are in violation of federal or state regulations or laws, or not. Harassment undermines productivity in the educational process and has no place in our District.
The District, its employees, or students shall not retaliate against an employee or student who has made a complaint, made an allegation or testified with respect to discrimination or harassment outlined in this policy.
All students shall have equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from all curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other programs provided by the District, including the following areas:
v Admission or enrollment into any school, class program, activity or course
v Standards and rules of behavior
v Disciplinary actions
v Acceptance and administration of gifts, bequests, scholarships or other aids, benefits or services to pupils from private agencies, organizations or persons
v Methods, practice and materials used for testing, evaluation, counseling pupils
v Facilities
v School sponsored food services programs
v Instructional, library and media materials
v Graduation requirements
v Opportunities for participation in athletic programs or activities
This policy is meant to be a recitation of applicable federal and state regulations and laws for the purposes of informing individuals of and administering the policy. To the extent the above policy summary is inconsistent with or an incomplete recitation of federal or state law, federal and state control with respect to any complaints filed against the District with respect to these laws.
The District administration shall establish an informal and a formal complaint procedure to handle complaints of a violation of the above policy or federal or state law. In addition to, or instead of, filing a complaint through this policy, a person may choose to exercise other options, including the filing of a complaint with outside agencies or filing a private lawsuit.
Anyone having knowledge of an action which he/she believes violates the above policy or federal or state law should promptly report the incident to the appropriate contact, Ms. Leslie Bergstrom (608.835.4302) or Ms. Candace Weidensee (608.835.4004) Any complaint will be kept confidential to the extent that confidentiality is consistent with the District’s obligation and commitment to investigate, and every effort will be made, consistent with the rights of the parties under any collective bargaining agreement and applicable law, to preserve confidentiality of all affected parties during the course of the investigation. The complaint shall be investigated. The administration shall develop investigative procedures to govern to handling of investigations, including who should perform the investigation, the time frames within which it shall be completed and steps for appeal.
Any person violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action as permitted by and consistent with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, collective bargaining agreements and other Board policies.
The District shall provide notice of this policy to all employees, students and parents/guardians of students.
Adopted: July 27, 1987
Revised: October 10, 2005
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