Harassment/ Sexual Harassment

HARASSMENT/SEXUAL HARASSMENT

Harassment by students, employees or third parties on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, handicap/disability or for participation in reports or investigations of alleged discrimination is a form of discrimination and is subject to this policy. A person who is not necessarily an intended victim or target of such harassment but is adversely affected by the offensive conduct may file a report of discrimination on his/her own behalf.

For purposes of this policy, harassment shall consist of unwelcome conduct such as graphic, written, electronic, verbal or nonverbal acts including offensive jokes, slurs, epithets and name-calling, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive objects or pictures, physical assaults or threats, intimidation, or other conduct that may be harmful or humiliating or interfere with a person's school or school-related performance and which relates to an individual's or group's race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy or handicap/disability when such conduct is:

  1. Sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive; and

  2. A reasonable person in the complainant's position would find that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment such that it deprives or adversely interferes with or limits an individual or group of the ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or opportunities offered by a school.


Sexual Harassment

The Owen J. Roberts School District can neither tolerate nor condone the existence of a hostile or offensive school environment in which sexual harassment and intimidation are present. The School District is committed to ensuring that the school environment is free of sexual harassment and other unlawful discriminatory practices. Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other inappropriate verbal, nonverbal, written, graphic or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

● Submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a student's status in any educational or other programs offered by a school; or

● Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for educational or other program decisions affecting a student; or

● Such conduct deprives a student of group of individuals of educational aid, benefits, services or treatment; or

● Such conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that a reasonable person in the complainant's position would find that it unreasonably interferes with the complainant's performance in school or school-related programs, or otherwise creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive school or school-related environment such that it unreasonably interferes with the complainant's access to or participation in school or school-related programs.

Federal law declares sexual violence a form of sexual harassment. Sexual violence means physical or sexual acts perpetrated against a person's will or where a person is incapable of giving consent due to the victim's use of drugs or alcohol. An individual may also be unable to give consent due to an intellectual or other disability. Sexual violence includes but is not limited to rape, sexual assault, sexual battery and sexual coercion.

Complaints of sexual harassment committed by students should be brought to the attention of a building principal. Allegations of sexual harassment by students will be investigated, with appropriate disciplinary actions for any improper conduct. In the event a victim of harassment is uncomfortable discussing the matter with a principal or if he or she is not satisfied with the manner in which it has been handled, he or she should file a formal grievance under the grievance procedures provided by School Board Policy 103. Grievance forms may be obtained from the Title IX Coordinator or High School Main Office and should be prepared by the grievant.

A complete copy of School Board Policy 103 are available at the Administration Building, from the high school Main Office or online here.