Harassment of students is prohibited, and will not be tolerated. This includes inappropriate conduct by other students as well as any other person in the school environment, including employees, Board members, parents, guests, contractors, vendors and volunteers. It is the policy of the District to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment for all of its students. This policy applies to all activities on school property and to all school sponsored activities whether on or off school property.

Harassment is defined as inappropriate conduct that is repeated enough, or serious enough, to negatively impact a student’s educational, physical or emotional well-being. This would include harassment based on any of the legally protected characteristics, such as sex, race, color, national origin, religion, height, weight, marital status or disability. This policy, however, is not limited to these legal categories and includes any harassment that would negatively impact students. This would include such activities as stalking, name-calling, taunting, and other disruptive behaviors.

Any student that believes s/he has been or is the victim of harassment should immediately report the situation to the teacher, the principal or assistant principal, or may report it directly to the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

If the investigation finds harassment occurred it will result in prompt and appropriate remedial action. This may include up to expulsion for students, up to discharge for employee, exclusion for parents, guests, volunteers and contractors, and removal from any officer position and/or a request to resign for Board members.

Retaliation against any person for complaining about harassment, or participating in a harassment investigation, is prohibited. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as harassment. Intentionally false harassment reports, made to get someone in trouble, are also prohibited. Retaliation and intentionally false reports may result in disciplinary action as indicated above.

The following definitions are provided for guidance only. If a student or other individual believes there has been harassment, regardless of whether it fits a particular definition, s/he should report it and allow the administration to determine the appropriate course of action.

1. verbal harassment or abuse;
2. pressure for sexual activity;
3. repeated remarks with sexual or demeaning implications;
4. unwelcome touching;
5. sexual jokes, posters, cartoons, etc.;
6. suggesting or demanding sexual involvement, accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one’s grades, safety, job, or performance of public duties.

Note: Any administrator, teacher, coach, other school authority who engages in sexual or other inappropriate physical contact with a student may be guilty of criminal "child abuse" as defined in State law. M. C. L. A. 722.621 et. seq.

Every reasonable effort will be made to maintain confidentiality during the investigation process. However, a proper investigation will, in some circumstances, require the disclosure of names and allegations.

Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.
42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.
The Handicappers’ Civil Rights Act, M.C.L.A. 37.1101 et seq.
The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, M.C.L.A. 37.2101, et seq.
Child Protection Act, M.C.L.A. 722.621 et seq.
Policies on Bullying, Michigan State Board of Education, 7-19-01

Revised 11/6/06