Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with and disruptive to the educational process, and prohibited at any time in school facilities, on school property, and at any school-sponsored events. No administrator, faculty member, or other Board employee shall encourage, permit, authorize, condone, or tolerate any hazing activities. No student shall plan, encourage, or engage in any hazing.

Hazing is defined as any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes such as, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any school-sanctioned activity or organization. "Hazing" includes, but is not limited to, pressuring or coercing the student into violating State or Federal law, any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance, or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the student, and also includes any activity that would subject the student to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment, or other forced activity that could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the student. Hazing does not include customary athletic events or other similar contests or competitions or any activity or conduct that furthers a legal and legitimate objective. Permission, consent, or assumption of risk by an individual subjected to hazing shall not lessen the prohibitions contained in this policy.

Hazing in grades 9 through 12 is a criminal offense under Florida law.

Administrators, faculty members, and other employees of the Board shall be alert particularly to possible situations, circumstances, or events which might include hazing. If hazing or planned hazing is discovered, the students involved shall be informed by the discoverer of the prohibitions contained in this policy and shall be ordered to end all hazing activities or planned activities immediately. All hazing incidents shall be reported immediately to the Superintendent. Student by-standers who remain present during a hazing incident may be deemed to be participants. Student by-standers are expected to leave the area immediately and report the incident. Students, administrators, faculty members, and other employees who fail to abide by this policy may be subject to disciplinary action and may be held personally liable for civil and criminal penalties in accordance with law.

The Superintendent shall distribute this policy to all students and Board employees, and shall incorporate it into building, staff, and student handbooks. It shall also be the subject of discussion at employee staff meetings or in-service programs.

Administrators, staff members, and volunteers shall not intentionally remain ignorant of hazing or potential hazing activities.

F.S. 1001.43, 1006.135

Adopted 7/17/07
Revised 11/2/10