Administrative Procedure - Harassment of Students Prohibited

Students

This procedure informs: (1) the Building Principal of specific steps to prevent harassment of students, and (2) staff members of the appropriate response to allegations of harassment.

Actor Action

Building Principal or Designee Informs staff members and students that the District prohibits harassment of students. Distributes or references School Board policies 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure; 2:265, Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedure; and 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited, using various methods. Takes measures to prevent harassment of students, which may include:

1. Conducts regular harassment awareness training for all school staff, including administrators, teachers, and school counselors, and ensures all new employees are trained.

2. Conducts regular age-appropriate harassment awareness training for students.

3. Provides a means for students to learn and discuss what constitutes harassment and how to respond to it in the school setting.

4. Surveys students to determine if harassment is occurring at school.

5. Conducts regular harassment awareness training for parents/guardians.

6. Works with parents/guardians and students to develop and implement age-appropriate, effective measures for addressing harassment.

7. Determines when extra supervision and precaution should be taken, such as when: two or more students seem to be in conflict with each other; there have been previous incidents of harassment, sexual assaults, threats, or bullying around perceived sexual orientation; or a specific student has had multiple disciplinary violations.

8. Has a process in place to: (1) inform a staff member when a student that he or she supervises has a history of violent or sexually inappropriate behavior, and (2) keep such a student constantly supervised.

9. Regularly trains staff members regarding: (1) their classroom and non-classroom supervisory responsibilities, e.g., during a school-sponsored event, before and after school, while students wait for the school bus, between classes, during lunch, and at recess, (2) behaviors that may be an indicator of sexual or physical violence against another student, and (3) what to do when they observe an unusual and disruptive student.

10. Identifies areas in the school building that are isolated, e.g., restrooms, locker rooms, hallways while classes are in session, stairwells, and empty rooms, and takes extra steps to make them safe.

11. Immediately notifies the police and relevant parents/guardians when an assault or attempted assault has occurred.

Nondiscrimination Coordinator and/or Complaint Manager(s) Thoroughly and promptly investigates allegations of harassment by:

1. Distributing Board policies 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure; 2:265, Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedure; and 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited, to any person upon request;

2. Following Board policies 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure; 2:265, Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedure; and 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited;

3. Notifying a student’s parents/guardians that they may attend any investigatory meetings in which their child is present;

4. Keeping the complaining parents/guardians informed of any investigation’s progress; and

5. Keeping confidential all information about an investigation and the statements of students and other witnesses. The Superintendent shall be kept informed of an investigation’s progress, unless the Superintendent is the subject of the complaint. If a complaint contains allegations involving the Superintendent, the Board President shall be kept informed of an investigation’s progress.

All District Staff Members Immediately reports to the Ill. Dept. of Children and Family Services any situation that provides you with reasonable cause to believe that a child may be an abused child or a neglected child. See Board policy 5:90, Abused and Neglected Child Reporting.

Promptly notifies the Superintendent or Building Principal that you made a report. If a report contains allegations involving the Superintendent, only notifies the Building Principal who shall contact the Board President. If a report contains allegations involving the Building Principal, only notifies the Superintendent.