104 - Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Policy
104 - Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment PolicyThe Forest City Community School District is committed to providing all students, employees, and volunteers with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassing behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of school employees to maintain a safe and civil environment, and the ability of students to learn and succeed.
Bullying and/or harassment of or by students, employees, and volunteers is against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the board.
Accordingly, school employees, volunteers, and students shall not engage in bullying or harassing behavior while on school property, while on school-owned or school-operated vehicles, while attending or participating in school-sponsored or sanctioned activities, and while away from school grounds if the conduct materially interferes with the orderly operation of the educational environment or is likely to do so.
Complaints may be filed with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee pursuant to the regulation accompanying this
policy. The superintendent is responsible for implementation of this policy and all accompanying procedures. Complaints will be investigated within a reasonable time frame.Within 24 hours of receiving a report that a student may have been the victim of conduct that constitutes bullying and/or harassment, the district will notify the parent or guardian of the student.
If as a result of viewing surveillance system data or based on a report from a school district employee, the district determines that a student has suffered bullying or harassment by another student enrolled in the district; a parent or guardian of the student may enroll the student in another attendance center within the district that offers classes at the student’s grade level, subject to the requirements and limitations established in Iowa law related to this topic.
A school employee, volunteer, or student, or a student’s parent or guardian who promptly, reasonably, and in good faith reports an incident of bullying or harassment, in compliance with the procedures in the regulation, to the appropriate school official designated by the school district, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability relating to such report and to participation in any administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from or relating to the report.
Retaliation Prohibited
Individuals who knowingly file false bullying or harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation may be subject to discipline by appropriate measures.
Any student found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. Any school employee found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, termination of employment. Any school volunteer found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, removal from service and exclusion from school grounds.
Definitions
For the purposes of this policy, the defined words shall have the following meaning:
- “Electronic” means any communication involving the transmission of information by wire, radio, optic cable, electromagnetic, or other similar means. “Electronic” includes but is not limited to communication via electronic mail,internet-based communications, pager service, cell phones, and electronic text messaging. “Harassment” and “bullying” mean any repeated or potentially repeated electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or other ongoing conduct toward an individual based on any trait or characteristic of the individual which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:
- Places the individual in reasonable fear of harm to the individual’s person or property.
- Has a substantial detrimental effect on the individual’s physical or mental health.
- Has the effect of substantially interfering with the individual’s academic or career performance. Has the effect of substantially interfering with the individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
- “Trait or characteristic of the individual” includes but is not limited to age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, socioeconomic status, or familial status.
- “Volunteer” means an individual who has regular, significant contact with students.
Publication of Policy
The board will annually publish this policy. The policy may be publicized by the following means:
- Inclusion in the student handbook,
- Inclusion in the employee handbook
- Inclusion in the registration materials
- Inclusion on the school or school district’s web site,
1
Legal References:
20 U.S.C. §§ 1221-1234i.
29 U.S.C. § 794.
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d-2000d-7.
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 2 et. seq.
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.28;
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6).
Morse v. Frederick, 551 U.S. 393
Cross References:
102 Equal Educational Opportunity
502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
503 Student Discipline
506 Student Records
Approved:12-13-93
Reviewed: 7-10-23
Revised:7-10-23
104.E1 - Discrimination, Anti-Bullying, and Anti-Harassment Complaint Form
104.E1 - Discrimination, Anti-Bullying, and Anti-Harassment Complaint FormDate of complaint:______________________________________________
Name of Complainant:___________________________________________________________
Are you filling out this form for yourself or someone else (please identify the individual if you are submitting on behalf of
someone else):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Who or what entity do you believe discriminated against, harassed, or bullied you (or someone else)?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date and place of alleged incident(s):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Names of any witnesses (if any):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Nature of discrimination, harassment, or bullying alleged (check all that apply):
_____Age _____Physical Attribute _____Sex
_____Disability _____Physical/Mental Ability _____Sexual Orientation
_____Familial Status _____Political Belief _____Socio-economic Background
_____Gender Identity _____Political Party Preference _____Other – Please Specify:
_____Marital Status _____Race/Color
_____National Origin/Ethnic Background/Ancestry _____Religion/Creed
In the space below, please describe what happened and why you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated
against, harassed, or bullied. Please be as specific as possible and attach additional pages if necessary.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________
104.E2 - Witness Disclosure Form
104.E2 - Witness Disclosure FormName of Witness:_____________________________________________________
Date of Interview:_______________________________________________
Date of initial complaint:__________________________________________
Name of Complainant (include whether the Complainant is a student or employee):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Date and place of alleged incident(s):
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Nature of discrimination, harassment, or bullying alleged (check all that apply):
_____Age _____Physical Attribute _____Sex
_____Disability _____Physical/Mental Ability _____Sexual Orientation
_____Familial Status _____Political Belief _____Socio-economic Background
_____Gender Identity _____Political Party Preference _____Other – Please Specify:
_____Marital Status _____Race/Color
_____National Origin/Ethnic Background/Ancestry _____Religion/Creed
Description of incident witnessed:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Additional information:
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________
104.E3 - Disposition of Complaint Form
104.E3 - Disposition of Complaint FormDate:__________________________________________
Date of initial complaint:__________________________________________
Name of Complainant (include whether the Complainant is a student or employee):
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date and place of alleged incident(s):
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name of Respondent (include whether the Respondent is a student or employee):
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nature of discrimination, harassment, or bullying alleged (check all that apply):
_____Age _____Physical Attribute _____Sex
_____Disability _____Physical/Mental Ability _____Sexual Orientation
_____Familial Status _____Political Belief _____Socio-economic Background
_____Gender Identity _____Political Party Preference _____Other – Please Specify:
_____Marital Status _____Race/Color
_____National Origin/Ethnic Background/Ancestry _____Religion/Creed
Summary of Investigation:
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________
104.R1 - Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Investigation Procedures
104.R1 - Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Investigation ProceduresFiling a Complaint
An individual who believes that the individual has been harassed or bullied may file a complaint with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee. The complaint form is available on the school website. If the complainant is a school employee, after the filing the complaint with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee, the employee may separately notify the parent or guadian of the student alleged to be harassed or bullied.
An alternate investigator will be designated in the event it is claimed that the superintendent or superintendent’s designee committed the alleged bullying or harassment or some other conflict of interest exists. Complaints shall be filed within 180 days of the event giving rise to the complaint or from the date the Complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence. The Complainant will state the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested. The Complainant shall receive assistance as needed.
Investigation
The school district will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of bullying or harassment upon receipt of a written complaint. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee (hereinafter “Investigator”) will be responsible for handling all complaints alleging bullying or harassment.
The investigation may include, but is not limited to the following:
- Interviews with the Complainant and the individual named in the complaint (“Respondent”)
- A request for the Complainant to provide a written statement regarding the nature of the complaint;
- A request for the Respondent to provide a written statement;
- Interviews with the witnesses identified during the course of the investigation;
- A request for witnesses identified during the course of the investigation to provide a written statement; and
- Review and collection of documentation or information deemed relevant to the investigation.
The Investigator shall consider the totality of circumstances presented in determining whether conduct objectively constitutes bullying or harassment as defined in Board policy. Upon completion of the investigation, the Investigator shall issue a report with respect to the findings, and provide a copy of the report to the appropriate building principal or Superintendent if the investigation involves the building principal.
The complaint and identity of the Complainant, Respondent, or witnesses will only be disclosed as reasonably necessary in connection with the investigation or as required by law or policy. Similarly, evidence uncovered in the investigation shall be kept confidential to the extent reasonably possible.
Decision
The investigator, building principal or superintendent, depending on the individuals involved, shall inform the Complainant and the accused about the outcome of the investigation. If, after an investigation, a student is found to be in violation of the policy, the student shall be disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include suspension and expulsion. If after an investigation a school employee is found to be in violation of this policy, the employee shall be disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include termination. If after an investigation a school volunteer is found to be in violation of this policy, the volunteer shall be subject to appropriate measures, which may include exclusion from school grounds.
Individuals who knowingly file false bullying and/or harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation may be subject to discipline by appropriate measures, as shall any person who is found to have retaliated against another in violation of this policy. Any student found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. Any school employee found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, termination of employment. Any school volunteer found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, exclusion from school grounds.
Approved: 12-13-93
Reviewed: 7-10-23
Revised: 7-10-23