Pupil Non-Discrimination & Anti-Bullying and Harassment Statements

The Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including gender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability (Protected Classes) in any of its student program and activities (as defined in Wis. Stat. § 118.13). Reference: po 2260 Nondiscrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity

Reporting Procedures

Students and District employees are required, and all other members of the District community and Third Parties are encouraged to promptly report suspected violations of this policy to an administrator, supervisor, or other District official so that the Board may address the conduct. Any teacher, administrator, supervisor, or other District employee or official who receives such a complaint shall file it with the District’s Compliance Officer within two (2) days. Complaint Form

The Board designates the following individuals to serve as the District’s CO's:

Jennifer Shohoney

Director of Pupil Services

920-675-1062

206 South Taft Avenue

Jefferson, WI 53549

shohoneyj@sdoj.org 

Ryan Bandt

Director of Business Services

920-675-1044

206 South Taft Avenue

Jefferson, WI 53549

bandtr@sdoj.org

The Board is committed to providing a safe, positive, productive, and nurturing educational environment for all of its students. The Board encourages the promotion of positive interpersonal relations between members of the school community. Bullying toward a student, whether by other students, staff, or third parties is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. This prohibition includes physical, verbal, and psychological abuse. The Board will not tolerate any gestures, comments, threats, or actions which cause or threaten to cause bodily harm or personal degradation. This policy applies to all activities in the District, including activities on school property, including at any of the school buildings or other property used exclusively or in part, whether leased or owned by the District, for the purpose of school-related functions or events; or while traveling to or from school or to and from school-sponsored functions or events; in transporting vehicles arranged for by School District officials. The policy applies as well during activities that occur off school property if the student or employee is at any school-sponsored, school-approved, or school-related activity or function, such as field trips or athletic events where students are under the supervision of school authorities, or where an employee is engaged in school business, or where there is otherwise a connection to the school such that the conduct at issue affects or is intended to affect the student’s educational environment. (see also Policy 3362.01 and Policy 4362.01 - Threatening Behavior Toward Staff Members)

Definitions:

“Bullying” is deliberate or intentional behavior using words or actions, intended to cause fear, intimidation, or harm. Bullying may be a repeated behavior and involves an imbalance of power. Furthermore, it may be serious enough to negatively impact a student's educational, physical, or emotional well-being. The behavior may be motivated by an actual or perceived distinguishing characteristic, such as, but not limited to: age; national origin; race; ethnicity; religion; gender; gender identity; sexual orientation; physical attributes; physical or mental ability or disability; and social, economic, or family status; however this type of prohibited bullying behavior need not be based on any of those particular or other particular characteristics. It includes, but is not necessarily limited to such behaviors as stalking, cyberbullying, intimidating, menacing, coercing, name-calling, taunting, making threats, and hazing.

Some examples of Bullying are:

1. Physical – hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, pulling, taking and/or damaging personal belongings or extorting money, blocking or impeding student movement, unwelcome physical contact.

2. Verbal – taunting, malicious teasing, insulting, name-calling, making threats.

3. Psychological – spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, coercion, or engaging in social exclusion/shunning, extortion, or intimidation.

4. "Cyberbullying" – the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager text messages, instant messaging (IM), defamatory personal websites, and defamatory online personal polling websites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others." 

Cyberbullying includes, but is not limited to the following:

1. posting slurs or rumors or other disparaging remarks about a student on a website or on weblog;

2. sending e-mail or instant messages that are mean or threatening, or so numerous as to drive up the victim’s cell phone bill;

3. using a camera phone to take and send embarrassing photographs of students;

4. posting misleading or fake photographs of students on websites.
    

"Harassment" includes, but is not limited to, any act which subjects an individual or group to unwanted, abusive behavior of a nonverbal, verbal, written, or physical nature on the basis of sex (including transgender status, change of sex, or gender identity), race, color, national origin, religion, creed, ancestry, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability, or any other characteristic protected by Federal or State civil rights laws. Harassment is prohibited by Policy 5517 – Student Anti-Harassment.

Complaint Procedures

Any student who believes they have been or are the victim of bullying should immediately report the situation to the building principal or assistant principal, or the District Administrator. The student may also report concerns to a teacher or counselor who will be responsible for notifying the appropriate administrator or Board official. Complaints against the building principal should be filed with the District Administrator. Complaints against the District Administrator should be filed with the Board President.

SUSO Statement: SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT (SUSO) The SPEAK UP, SPEAK OUT (SUSO) Resource Center is a comprehensive, one-stop place to turn with important school safety concerns. It offers a 24/7 threat reporting system, threat assessment consultation, critical incident response, and general school safety guidance. The program is supported by more than $2 million in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance. SUSO uses "See Something, Say Something, Do Something" language and encourages students to look out for each other and for the community. SUSO strives to build safe communities by igniting empowerment, support, and protection and stresses that speaking up works and saves lives. Students, parents, school staff, or any community members can submit a school safety concern or threat via the SUSO website, mobile phone application, or toll-free number. Resource Center staff work around-the-clock to respond to tips and to deploy a response locally by communicating directly with school administrators, law enforcement, and counselors.