| Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
3362 - SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School District is committed to eliminating and preventing sexual harassment from all schools and facilities. Sexual harassment is improper, immoral, illegal, and will not be tolerated within the District. This policy is implemented to inform both students and personnel as to what sexual harassment is and what procedures are to be followed in dealing with sexual harassment within the District.
Definition of Sexual Harassment
Ohio and Federal laws define sexual harassment as unwanted sexual advances, or unwanted visual, verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Such offensive behavior includes, but is not limited to the following:
| A. | unwanted sexual advances, including propositioning, repeatedly asking someone out for a date after it is clear that the person is not interested; | |
| B. | explicitly or implicitly offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors; | |
| C. | making or threatening reprisals after a negative response to sexual advances; | |
| D. | non-verbal conduct: leering; making sexual gestures; displaying sexually and suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons, or posters; | |
| E. | verbal conduct: making or using derogatory comments, epithets, slurs, or jokes; making sexually based remarks about another person's or one's own body; | |
| F. | verbal abuse of sexual nature, graphic verbal commentaries about an individual's body, sexually degrading words used to describe an individual, suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations; | |
| G. | physical conduct; touching, assault, impeding or blocking movement. |
This sexual harassment policy is intended to protect against sexual harassment before it becomes actionable sexual harassment. The term "sexual harassment" is intended to mean sexual harassment in the broadest meaning of that term in current popular as well as legal usage.
What To Do If You Are Sexually Harassed
When unwelcome activities described above of a milder nature occur, the best thing to do is to say that you are uncomfortable with the behavior and ask that it cease. If the behavior does not cease, then recourse for staff should be sought through the Superintendent's office. Recourse for students should be through the school counseling office or any school administrator.
If you are subjected to behavior which you consider to be sexual harassment, staff are to promptly notify either a direct superior or the Superintendent within the District. If a student is complaining, then the student is asked to promptly notify a school counselor or administrator. You will be asked to put your complaint in writing and an investigation will be made into the matter. An investigation will be made by impartial and neutral people and appropriate sanctions will be imposed against any employee who is found to have engaged in sexual harassment while on or about District property, or in relation to some District activity. The investigation will include interviewing the alleged victim, alleged harasser, eye witnesses, and corroborative witnesses.
In addition to making your complaint with the Superintendent, you also have a right to file a complaint with the EEOC.
If for some reason or another you believe that this policy will not work in your situation, discuss the matter with the principal, Director, Superintendent, or any administrator.
R.C. 4112.02
29 C.F.R. 1604.11
Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000e-2(a)(1)