NEPN/NSBA Code: ACAD
HAZING
Maine statute defines injurious hazing as “any action or situation, including harassing behavior that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of any school personnel or a student enrolled in a public school.”
Injurious hazing also includes any activity expected of a student as a condition of joining or maintaining membership in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers a student, regardless of the student’s willingness to participate in the activity.
Injurious hazing activities of any type, either on or off school property, by any student, staff member, group, or organization affiliated with this school unit, are inconsistent with the educational process and shall be prohibited at all times.
“Harassing behavior” includes acts of intimidation and any other conduct that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a student or staff member.
“Acts of intimidation” include extortion, menacing, direct or indirect threats of violence, incidents of violence, bullying, statements or taunting of a malicious and/or derogatory nature that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of another person, and property damage or theft.
No administrator, faculty member, or other employees of the school unit shall engage in, encourage, permit, condone, or tolerate injurious hazing activities. No student, including leaders of students' organizations, shall plan, encourage, or engage in injurious hazing activities.
Students who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action which may include suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate measures. Administrators, professional staff, and all other employees who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
In the case of an organization affiliated with this school unit which authorizes hazing, penalties may include the rescission of permission for that organization to operate on school property or to receive any other benefit of affiliation with the school unit.
Persons not associated with this school unit who fail to abide by this policy may be subject to ejection from school property and/or other measures as may be available under the law.
These penalties shall be in addition to any civil or criminal penalties to which the violator organization may be subject.
The Superintendent shall assume responsibility for administering this policy. In the event that an individual or organization disagrees with an action or lack of action on the part of the Superintendent/designee as they carry out the provisions of this policy, that individual or organization may appeal to the School Committee. The ruling of the School Committee with the respect to the provisions of this policy shall be final.
This right to appeal does not apply to student suspensions of 10 days or less or to matters submitted to grievance procedures under applicable collective bargaining agreements.
A copy of this policy shall be included in all school, parent, and faculty handbooks or otherwise distributed to all school employees and students.
Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA Sec. 6553
Cross Reference: ACAA – Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students
ACAB – Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Employees
JICA – Weapons, Violence, and School Safety
Adopted: June 7, 2000
Revised: October 30, 2000
Revised: June 18, 2001
Revised: July 22, 2002
Revised: March 24, 2003
Reviewed: September 12, 2011
Reviewed: November 3, 2014
Reviewed: August 22, 2016
Revised: April 24, 2023