Students

Anti-Bullying Policy

It is a fundamental belief in our schools that everyone deserves to be treated equally and with respect. All students and staff need to feel safe and accepted regardless of race, gender, abilities, religion, or nationality. To accomplish this, our schools have adopted a zero-tolerance policy on bullying. Physical bullying refers to hitting, pushing, kicking, or tripping, while non-physical bullying includes threats, intimidation, and harassment. Others include conveying a threat on behalf of someone, groups engaging in name-calling, gossiping, making fun of, or excluding someone. Whatever the type, bullying causes pain and stress to victims. Bullying is never justified or excusable as "just teasing" or "kids being kids." The victim is never responsible for being the target. Please do your part to make our schools a safe and welcoming place for all students.

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Petition and Complaint Procedure

Informal Complaint Process:

• Anyone may use informal procedures to report and resolve complaints of harassment, intimidation, or bullying. At the school level, procedures will be established for receiving anonymous complaints. Such complaints must be appropriately investigated and handled consistently with due process requirements. Informal reports may be made to any staff member, although staff shall always inform the complainant of their right to and the process for filing a formal complaint. Staff shall also direct potential complaints to an appropriate staff member who can explain the informal and formal complaint process and what a complainant can expect. Staff shall also inform an appropriate supervisor or designated staff person when they receive complaints of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, especially when the complaint is beyond their training to resolve or alleges serious misconduct. 

• Informal remedies include an opportunity for the complainant(s) to explain to the alleged perpetrator that the conduct is unwelcome, disruptive, or inappropriate either in writing or face-to-face; a statement from a staff member to the alleged perpetrator that the alleged conduct is not appropriate and could lead to discipline if proven or repeated; or a general public statement from an administrator in a building reviewing the district harassment, intimidation and bullying policy without identifying the complainant, parent, guardian, or because the district believes the complaint needs to be more thoroughly investigated.

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Formal Complaint Process:

• Anyone may initiate a formal complaint of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, even i f the informal complaint process is being utilized. Complainant(s) should not be promised confidentiality at the onset of an investigation. It cannot be predicted what will be discovered or what kind of hearing may result. Efforts should be made to increase the confidence and trust of the person making the complaint. The school will fully implement the anti-retaliation provisions of this policy to protect complainant(s) and witness (es). Student complainants and witnesses may have a parent or trusted adult with them if requested, during any school initiated the investigative process. The superintendent or designated representative may conclude that the school needs to conduct an investigation based on information in their possession, regardless of the complainant's interest in filing a formal complaint. The following process shall be followed: 

• All informal complaints shall be in writing. Formal complaints shall set forth the specific acts, conditions, or circumstances alleged to have occurred that might constitute harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The designated representative maydraft the complaint based on the report of the complainant for the complainant to review and sign. 

• Regardless of the complainant's interest in filing a formal complaint, the designated representative may conclude that the school needs to draft a formal complaint based on the information in the designated representative's possession.

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The designated representative shall investigate all formal, written complaints of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and other information in the designated representative's possession that the designated representative believes requires further investigation.

When the investigation is complete, the designated representative shall compile a full written report of the complaint and the result of the investigation. If the matter has not been resolved to the complainant's satisfaction, the superintendent shall take further action on the report. 

The principal or designee, who is not the designated representative, shall respond in writing to the complainant and the accused within thirty days, stating: whether the school intends to take corrective action; or that the investigation is incomplete to date and will be continuing; or that the school does not have adequate evidence to conclude that bullying, harassment, or intimidation occurred.

Corrective measures, deemed necessary, will be instituted as quickly as possible, but in no event more than thirty days after the superintendent's written response, unless the accused is appealing the imposition of discipline, and the school is barred by due process considerations or a lawful order from imposing the discipline until the appeal process is concluded.

If a student remains aggrieved by the superintendent or designee's response, the student may pursue a complaint with the school governing board. 

Students will be provided with age-appropriate information on the recognition and prevention of harassment, intimidation, or bullying and their rights and responsibilities under this and other school policies and rule at student orientation sessions and on other appropriate occasions, which may include parents. Parents shall be provided with copies of this policy and procedure and appropriate materials on the recognition and prevention of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.

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