The Board of Education believes that hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational process and prohibits all such activities at any time in school facilities, on school property, and at any District sponsored event.

Hazing is a harmful, dangerous, humiliating, coercive, painful or other injurious process which is required, permitted, established or performed for the initiation into, or for the holding of any membership, office or position in, any school club, class, group, or other organization. As an example, any process which requires the consumption of alcohol, or which requires infliction of physical pain for initiation into any school district club or organization is a violation of this policy. Inappropriate initiation processes include by way of example and not limitation, the use of any of the following:

Any person who requires any other person to participate in any hazing activities, or any person who participates in any hazing activities prohibited by this policy as initiate, assistant or otherwise, are in violation of this policy, regardless of any permission, consent, or assumption of risk by the individual subjected to the improper hazing.

Any student who believes that s/he has been or is the victim of hazing should immediately report the situation to the building principal or assistant principal, or to the Superintendent. The student may also report concerns to a teacher or counselor who will be responsible for notifying the appropriate administrator or Board official.

Every student is encouraged, and every staff member is required, to report any situation that they believe to be aggressive behavior directed towards a student. Reports may be made to those individuals identified above.

All complaints about hazing that may violate this policy shall be promptly investigated and documented.

If the investigation finds an instance of hazing has occurred, it will result in prompt and appropriate remedial action. This may include action against the club or organization involved in the hazing; as well as discipline up to and including expulsion for students involved; up to and including discharge for employees, exclusion for parents, guests, volunteers, and contractors, and removal from any officer position and/or a request to resign for Board members. Individuals may also be referred to law enforcement officials.

The complainant shall be notified of the findings of the investigation, and as appropriate, that remedial action has been taken.

Retaliation against any person who reports, or is thought to have reported, files a complaint, or otherwise participates in an investigation or inquiry concerning allegations of hazing is prohibited and will not be tolerated. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board policy and independent of whether a complaint is substantiated. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as hazing. Making intentionally false reports about hazing for the purpose of getting someone in trouble is also prohibited, and will not be tolerated. Retaliation and intentionally false reports may result in disciplinary action as indicated above.

Administrators, faculty members, and other employees of the District shall be particularly alert 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. 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 as provided by law.

The Superintendent shall distribute this policy to all students and District 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.