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104 Anti-Bullying/Harassment/Sexual Harassment Policy

 

Code No. 104

ANTI-BULLYING/HARASSMENT/SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY

The Grinnell-Newburg School District understands the importance of the emotional wellbeing and the physical safety of every student in the district. To that end, the board considers all bullying and harassment of students to be unacceptable, and these behaviors will not be tolerated. Communication and interactions between students should be respectful and kind.

 

Description of Bullying & Harassment

The board considers bullying and harassment to be any behaviors that adversely impact another student. These behaviors include any electronic, written, verbal, or physical acts or conduct toward a student which are based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and which causes harm or fear of harm in that student.

Bullying behaviors may look like, but are not limited to:

Verbal bullying: speaking or writing harmful things either in person or electronically
Social bullying: harming the victim’s relationships or social standing
Physical bullying: harming another person’s body or things
Sexual harassment: unwelcome and inappropriate sexual remarks or physical advances
Discrimination: Unjust or prejudicial treatment based on a persons difference(s) unfair or unequal treatment of an individual (or group)based on certain characteristics
Hazing: requiring the performance of certain tasks or rituals in order to be accepted into a group

Often there is a power imbalance between the bully and the bullied student. And although bullying generally happens repeatedly, the board acknowledges the negative impact even one harassing interaction can cause to a student’s wellbeing.

 

Bullying of a Protected Class

Bullying of a protected class includes behavior done to degrade an individual on the basis of the student’s actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity,gender expression, or genetic information or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
 
Bullying of a protected class will be considered “hate-motivated” harassment and will be treated as such.

 

Scope of the Policy

This policy is in effect while students or employees are on property within the jurisdiction of the board; while in school-owned or school-operated vehicles; while attending or engaged in school-sponsored activities; and while away from school grounds when the misconduct directly affects the good order, efficient management and welfare of the school or school district.

 

Reporting Bullying and Harassment

Any student, staff member, or volunteer who witnesses or experiences bullying behavior can report the incident here. Any person who promptly, reasonably, and in good faith reports an incident of bullying or harassment under this policy to a school official, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability relating to such a report and to the person's participation in any administrative, judicial, or other proceeding relating to the report. Individuals who knowingly file a false complaint may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

 

Investigation, Procedures, and Prevention

The school or school district will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of bullying or harassment. The Superintendent or designee will be responsible for handling all complaints by students alleging bullying or harassment. The Superintendent or designee will be responsible for handling all complaints by employees alleging bullying or harassment.

It also is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the investigator and principals, to develop procedures regarding this policy. The current bullying and harassment procedures can be found here.

 

The superintendent also is responsible for organizing training programs for students, school officials, faculty, staff, and volunteers who have direct contact with students. The training will include how to recognize harassment and what to do in case a student is harassed. It will also include proven effective harassment prevention strategies. The superintendent will also develop a process for evaluating the effectiveness of the policy in reducing bullying and harassment in the school district. The superintendent shall report to the board on the progress of reducing bullying and harassment to the board.

 

Retaliation

Retaliation against any person, because the person has filed a bullying or harassment complaint or assisted or participated in a harassment investigation or proceeding, is also prohibited. Individuals who knowingly file false harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation shall be subject to discipline by appropriate measures, as shall any person who is found to have retaliated against another in violation of this policy. Any person found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion.

 

Discipline and Remediation

Disciplinary actions for bullying and harassment may include, but are not limited to:
warnings; counseling; loss of opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities, school social events or graduation exercises; loss of school bus transportation; community service; in-school suspension; short term suspension; or transfer to another school among others. The specific consequences should be consistent, reasonable, fair, age appropriate and match the severity of the incident. If necessary, counseling will be provided for the target and/or the student perpetrating the bullying or harassment.

Legal References:     
20 U.S.C. §§ 1221-1234i (2012).
29 U.S.C. § 794 (2012).
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d-2000d-7 (2012).
42 U.S.C. §§ 12001 et. seq. (2012).
Iowa Code§§ 216.9; 280.28,280.3 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6).
Morse v. Frederick, 127 S.Ct. 26!8  (2007)

Cross References:         
502    Student Discipline           
503    Student Records
506    Student Rights and Responsibilities

Approved:  04/23/08

Reviewed: 02/26/14

Revised: 04/14/2021