Harassment, Hazing, Bullying & Title IX

Addressing harassment, hazing and bullying

If you suspect or believe you have been harassed, hazed or bullied, please tell an adult. Ms. Smith and Mr. Touchette will serve as the official Intake Coordinators for incidents of harassment, hazing, and bullying and adult staff members may help you to connect with one of these individuals, or the Principal or Assistant Principal. We want you to have a safe and welcoming school experience and we know that if you are being mistreated, this will be difficult. Following this initial intake, the administration will move forward with an investigation. More information can be found by visiting the SSD website and navigating to the “Hazing, Harassment, and Bullying Prevention” section for families or by following this link.

Harassment

Harassment of students is prohibited. It is the policy of the Springfield School District to maintain a learning environment that is free from harassment of students. The District prohibits any form of unlawful harassment as defined below on the basis of a student’s race, color, religion or creed, national origin, sex or gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, place of birth, age, or physical or mental condition (including disability or handicap). It is a violation of this policy for any student, teacher, administrator, or other school staff, through conduct or communication, to unlawfully harass a student on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, place of birth, age, or physical or mental condition (including disability or handicap). In addition, harassing behaviors, whether or not they constitute “unlawful harassment,” are prohibited, and may also result in disciplinary and/or corrective action.

Hazing

“Hazing” means any act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with others, against a student in connection with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization which is affiliated with the District; and which is intended to have the effect of, or should reasonably be expected to have the effect of, humiliating, intimidating or demeaning the student or endangering the mental or physical health of the student. Hazing also includes soliciting, directing, aiding, or otherwise participating actively or passively in the above acts. Hazing may occur on or off school grounds.

Students who have reason to believe that an incident of hazing might or did occur should report to any coach, teacher, school nurse, school counselor, or school administrator. Staff members who have received such a report from a student or who otherwise believe that an incident of hazing might or did occur shall report to the administration of the school, or to the Superintendent. The report may be in writing or made orally. If the report is made orally, the receiver shall make a written record of the report.

Bullying

“Bullying” means any overt act or combination of acts directed against a student by another student or group of students and which:

• Is repeated over time;

• Is intended to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate the student; and

• Occurs during the school on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity or before or after the school day on a school bus or school-sponsored activity.

• OR does not occur during the school day on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored activity and can be shown to pose a clear and substantial interference with another student’s right to access educational programs.

Unlike harassment, bullying need not target a protected characteristic.

Title IX

Definition: In accordance with Title IX, the Board policy C12 prohibits sexual harassment and discrimination on the basis of sex. Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct, Board policy, and applicable federal, state, and local law and regulations.

Reporting Procedures:

Any report of sex-based discrimination or harassment will be taken seriously, addressed promptly and with sensitivity. A student may report an incident of sexual discrimination or harassment verbally or in writing to any District employee. All reports shall be directed immediately to the Title IX Coordinator. All non-students can report any incident of sex-based harassment to the Title IX Coordinator. Reports can be made at any time by phone, email, or by completing and submitting the Discrimination/Harassment Incident Reporting Form. Additionally, if the person who received a complaint of sexual harassment is a mandated reporter and has reasonable cause to suspect that a student is the victim of child abuse, the incident should immediately be reported to the appropriate agency as directed by state law. This mandated reporting obligation is in addition to a report being made to the Title IX Coordinator.

Retaliation/Confidentiality

This policy prohibits retaliation against an individual who files a complaint in response to conduct that s/he reasonably believes violates this policy, or against an individual who participates or cooperates with an investigation. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible to effectively respond to a reported incident of sexual harassment.

This Title IX policy runs concurrently with and parallel to all applicable laws, regulations, and existing district policies and procedures to the extent allowable under law.

Related Policies

If a reported incident does not fall under the scope of Title IX, the reported incident will be reviewed and appropriate steps taken under other applicable District policies, such as:

B5 Prevention of Employee Harassment (link)

C10 Prevention of Hazing, Harassment and Bullying of Students (link)

C12 Prevention of Sexual Harassment as prohibited by Title IX (link)

Springfield School District Policy C12 Section M Reads as follows:

“Sexual harassment” prohibited under Title IX and by this Policy is conduct on the basis of sex, occurring in an education program or activity of the District, against a person in the United States, that satisfies one or more of the following:

1. A school district employee conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the District on an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; OR

2. Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, AND objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the District’s education program or activity; OR

3. Or any conduct which would satisfies one or more of the following definitions:

   1. Sexual assault: Any sexual act(s) directed at another person without consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is unable to lawfully give consent because of age or cognitive ability. Consent to a sexual act exists where words, actions or other non-verbal conduct objectively communicates a desire to participate in the sexual act(s). Consent to some sexual act(s) does not indicate consent to all sexual acts. Consent may be withdrawn at any time by objectively communicating through words, actions or other non-verbal conduct AND/OR

   2. Dating Violence: Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or an intimate nature with the victim. The existence of the relationship shall be considered with reference to the length of the relationship, the type of relationship and the frequency of the interactions between the persons involved in the relationship. AND/OR

   3. Domestic violence: Felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child, by a person who is cohabitating with or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner or any other persons protected under 15 V.S.A. section 1101 from domestic abuse. AND/OR

   4. Stalking: A course of conduct by a person directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress. Limitation in Scope. For purposes of this policy conduct shall not be deemed to satisfy Title IX’s definition of “sexual harassment” if the conduct occurred either (1) outside of the United States and/or (2) includes locations, events or circumstances over which the District did not exercise substantial control over both the respondent and the context in which the harassment occurred.

Retaliation

It is unlawful for any person to retaliate against someone who has filed a complaint of harassment, hazing, or bullying or against someone who assists or participates in an investigation, proceeding or hearing related to the harassment complaint. It is also important to know that a person can violate this even if the original complaint is not sustained.