Policy Series 0000 - Burnt Hills - Ballston Lake Central School District

Philosophy, Goals and Objectives

P0000: EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

The Board of Education is dedicated to establishing a system of education that will provide for the development of each student’s knowledge, power of understanding and judgment, according to her/his abilities and needs, as preparation for the learning and life situations that confront her/him as a student and as a member of society.

Since the learning environment has a strong impact on a student’s personal and social growth and on her/his ability to benefit from the school program, the Board of Education will strive to support a school atmosphere which nourishes intellectual development, self-realization, and social concern.

The Board encourages parents and teachers to offer their expertise in developing a school environment that is academically challenging, psychologically satisfying and socially fulfilling for students at all levels. The objectives of an educational program are best realized when mutual understanding, cooperation, and effective communications exist among the home, community and school.

MISSION STATEMENT

The District’s philosophy of education and goals statement are set forth in Board of Education Policy 0200 (Educational Philosophy) and P0210 (Philosophy and Goals Statement). The Mission Statement that follows was adopted by the Board of Education February 1997.

Mission Statement: The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District creates an educational environment that ensures opportunities for learning, personal growth, and social responsibility.

PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS STATEMENT

Preface: The philosophy and goals structure of a school system identifies the scope and purpose of the system. The primary purpose of this school system is to provide for the development of each student’s knowledge, powers of understanding and judgment, according to her/his abilities and needs, as preparation for the learning and life situations that confront her/him as a student and as a member of society.

We realize that the learning environment has a strong impact on the student’s personal and social growth and her/his ability to benefit from the school program. Therefore, an atmosphere which nourishes the student’s growth in intellectual development, self realization, and social concern should permeate all of the school’s activities.

We recognize that the school is only one of the agencies responsible for the educational growth and development of students. We also recognize that a statement of philosophy must have sufficient flexibility to be viewed as a living document subject to growth and modification.

The philosophy which follows results from a belief in the individuality of students and staff, the importance of their interpersonal relationships, and our understanding of the ways in which people learn.

Philosophy: The school recognizes the value and dignity of the individual, helping her/him to develop her/his unique abilities and build a positive self-concept. The school will take responsibility for the student’s acquisition, according to her/his ability, of basic communication and quantitative skills, of fundamental skills for learning how to learn, of a positive attitude toward the learning process, and of the knowledge needed to meet her/his goals. The school will also help to prepare the student for the responsibilities related to earning a living, consumer competency, and adapting to change.

Each student will be provided with learning experiences that help her/him develop a sense of responsibility for her/his actions. The school will provide each student with opportunities to be increasingly involved in determining the direction of her/his life and in selecting appropriate educational experiences.

We believe the individual should understand her/his responsibility to society and her/his role as a contributing member. The school will assist each student in developing the interpersonal skills necessary for social competency and in developing her/his capacity for humaneness. The school will provide opportunities for the development of cultural and leisure time pursuits and make provisions for fostering optimum physical and mental health.

We recognize that this statement of philosophy to be implemented effectively must be amplified with goals, program objectives, learning activities, and evaluation procedures.

This statement of philosophy for the district was adopted by the Board of Education as a result of the June 1972 recommendations of the Philosophy and Goals Committee, a 23-member Board-established committee with student, staff, and community representation. The Superintendent of Schools will be responsible for the implementation of this Philosophy Statement through a hierarchy of expanded goals, broad-based program objectives, departmentalized program objectives, and course- level objectives.

P0100: NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

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The Board of Education, its officers and employees, will not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of legally protected classes, such as, but not limited to: race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, national origin, creed, religion (including religious practices), marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability (physical or mental), predisposing genetic characteristic, military work or status, domestic violence victim status, or use of a guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog, as applicable. The district will provide notice of this policy in accordance with federal and state law and regulation.

This policy of nondiscrimination includes access by students to educational programs, counseling services for students, course offerings, and student activities, as well as recruitment and appointment of employees and employment pay, benefits, advancement and/or terminations.

Specific protections for students under the Dignity for All Students Act are addressed in policy 0115, Student Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention

Website Accessibility

Additionally, to promote the district website’s accessibility to staff, students, and members of the community with disabilities, the district will maintain a website that is accessible (or contains accessible alternatives) on perceivability, operability and understandability principles. The district’s
Communication Specialist is responsible for considering the following when developing or updating
the district website:

Adding the text equivalent to every image;
Posting documents in a text-based format such as HTML or RTF in addition to PDFs;
Avoiding dictating colors and font settings;
Including audio descriptions and captions to videos;
Identifying other barriers to access; and
Making other considerations when developing the district’s website.

A finding that an individual has engaged in conduct in violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or filing of a report with third parties in the manner prescribed by the district code of conduct, the law or applicable contract.

Nothing in this policy will be construed to prohibit a denial of admission into, or exclusion from, a course of instruction or activity based on a person’s gender that would be permissible under the law, or to prohibit, as discrimination based on disability, actions that would be permissible under the law.

Annual Notification

At the beginning of each school year, the district will publish a notice of the established grievance procedures for resolving complaints of discrimination to parents/guardians, employees, students and the community. The public notice will:

inform parents, employees, students and the community that education programs, including but not limited to vocational programs, are offered without regard to actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sex; sexual orientation, or gender (including gender identity and expression;
provide the name, address and telephone number of the person designated to coordinate activities concerning discrimination; and
be included in announcements, bulletins, catalogues, and applications made available by the district.

The Director of Human Resources has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the district’s non-discrimination policies. Contact information for the Director of Human Resources is available on the district’s website. Complaints of sexual harassment or discrimination are covered by policy 0110.

All complainants and those who participate in the investigation of a complaint in conformity with state law and district policies, who have acted reasonably and in good faith, have the right to be free from retaliation of any kind.

The Board authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to establish such rules, regulations and procedures necessary to implement and maintain this policy.

Cross-ref: 0110, Sexual Harassment | 0115, Student Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention | 5030, Student Complaints and Grievances | 5300, Code of Conduct | 9140.1, Staff Complaints and Grievances

Ref: Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 29 U.S.C. §§621 et seq. | Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§12101 et seq. | Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§2000d et seq. (nondiscrimination based on race,
color, and national origin in federally assisted programs) | Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§2000e et seq. (nondiscrimination based on race,
color, and national origin in employment) | Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§1681 et seq. (nondiscrimination based on sex) | §504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794 Individuals with Disabilities Education Law, 20 U.S.C. §§1400 et seq. | Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 P.L. 110-233 | 34 C.F.R. §§ 100.6; 104.8; 106.9; 110.25 | Executive Law §§290 et seq. (New York State Human Rights Law) | Education Law §§10-18 (The Dignity for All Students Act) | Education Law §§313(3); 3201; 3201-a | ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments, Website Accessibility Under Title II of the ADA (see Chapter 5 and Chapter 5 Addendum checklist), www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm

Revised January 2022 | Adopted October 2018

P0101: GENDER NEUTRAL SINGLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOMS

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All single-occupancy bathroom facilities in the district are designated as gender neutral. Signs designating gender neutral single-occupancy bathrooms must be posted on or near the entry door of that bathroom facility.

A “single-occupancy bathroom” is as defined in Public Buildings Law §145(d) as “a bathroom intended for use by no more than one occupant at a time or for family or assisted use and which has a door for entry into and egress from the bathroom that may be locked by the occupant to ensure privacy.”

The Superintendent of Schools or designee is directed to post appropriate signage to implement this policy consistent with applicable laws. Handbooks, directional signs, memos, safety plans, and maps will also be updated as necessary.

Ref: Education Law §409-m (single-occupancy bathrooms designated gender neutral) | Public Buildings Law §145(d)

Adopted January 2022

P0110: NON-DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX AND HANDICAP IN EDUCATION PROGRAM AND ACTIVITIES

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A. GENERAL

Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 stipulate that:

No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex or handicap be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

This district receives Federal financial assistance. The Board of Education believes that discrimination on the basis of sex or handicap in any education program or activity of this district is not to be permitted except where necessary to accomplish a specific purpose that does not impinge upon essential equality or fundamental fairness in the treatment of students or employees of this district. Accordingly, employees of this district are required by this policy to comply with the provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as such regulations are applicable to this district.

B. APPLICATION TO SPECIFIC EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES

This policy’s prohibition against discrimination by employees or other persons acting in the name and on the behalf of this district because of the sex or handicap of a student or employee, applies to all education programs and activities conducted by this district including, but not limited to, the following:

Educational Programs

a) Course Offerings: Applies to all course offerings and extra-class activities. This policy does not prohibit:

(1) grouping of students in physical education classes and activities by ability as assessed by objective standards of individual performance developed and applied without regard to sex or handicap;

(2) separation of students by sex within physical education classes or activities during participation in wrestling, boxing, rugby, ice hockey, football, basketball, and other bodily contact sports;

(3) separation of students by sex in classes dealing exclusively with human sexuality; and

(4) separation of persons based on vocal range or quality even though such separation may result in chorus or choruses of one, or predominately one, sex.

b) Athletics: Applies to all athletic programs or activities except where exceptions are identified in Commissioner’s Regulation 135.4c(7)ii(C1-4).

c) Counseling: Applies to all counseling and guidance activities at the elementary and secondary school levels.

d) Textbooks: Nothing in this policy shall be interpreted as requiring or prohibiting or abridging in any way the use of particular textbooks or curricular materials.

2. Other Activities or Facilities

a) Financial Assistance: Applies to awarding college scholarship funds, student loans, or other aid to students of this district.

b) Employment Assistance: Applies to all efforts to place students in employment. The district shall, as part of its work-study program or other efforts to secure employment for students, ensure that all employment opportunities are made available without discrimination on the basis of sex and refuse participation in its student employment program to employers who would practice such discrimination.

c) Toilet, Locker, and Shower Facilities: Separate toilet, locker, and shower facilities may be provided on the basis of sex. Such facilities shall be comparable to similar facilities provided for students of the other sex.

d) No rule on marital, family or parental status that treats one sex different from the other sex shall be applied or enforced.

3. District Employment Activities

Applies to all aspects of the district’s employment programs, including but not limited to, recruitment, advertising, process of application for employment, promotion, granting of tenure, termination, layoffs, wages, job assignments, leaves of absence of all types, fringe benefits, training programs, employer-sponsored programs, including social or recreational programs and any other term, condition or privilege of employment. Specifically, the following personnel employment practices are prohibited:

a) Tests. Administration of any test or other criterion which has a disproportionately adverse effect on persons on the basis of sex or handicap;

b) Recruitment. Recruitment of employees from entities which furnish as applicants only or predominantly members of one sex, if such action has the effect of discriminating on the basis of sex or handicap;

c) Compensation. Establishment of rates of pay on the basis of sex or handicap;

d) Job Classification. Classification of jobs as being for males or females;

e) Fringe Benefits. Provision of fringe benefits on basis of sex or handicap;

f) Marital and Parental Status. Any action based on marital or parental status; pregnancies are considered temporary disabilities for all job- related purposes and shall be accorded the same treatment by the district as are all other temporary disabilities. No inquiry shall be made by the district in job applications as to the marriage status of an applicant, including whether such applicant is “Miss or Mrs.” But, inquiry may be made as to the sex of a job applicant for employment if made of all applicants and is not a basis for discrimination.

g) Employment Advertising. Prohibits any expression of preference, limitation, or specification based on sex or handicap unless either is a bona fide occupational qualification for the particular job in question.

C. Policy Enforcement

1. designate a member of the administrative staff:

a) to coordinate efforts of the district to comply with this policy;

b) to develop, and ensure the maintenance of a filing system to keep all records required under this policy;

c) to investigate any complaints of violations of this policy;

d) to administer the grievance procedure established in this policy;

e) to develop affirmative action programs, as appropriate; and

2. provide for the publication of this policy on an ongoing basis to students, parents, employees, prospective employees, and district employee unions or organizations, such publication to include the name, office address and telephone number of the compliance administrator designated pursuant to this policy in paragraph C. 1., above.

D. Grievance Procedure

Any student or employee of this district who believes he or she has been discriminated against, denied a benefit, or excluded from participation, in any district education program or activity, on the basis of sex or handicap in violation of this policy may file a written complaint following the procedures specified in the administrative regulation accompanying this policy.

Grievance procedures for both students and employees provide for informal proceedings involving the building principal or other immediate supervisor in the case of employees not working in a school building. If an informal proceeding does not resolve the grievance, the grievant may submit a written complaint to his/her principal or supervisor and receive a written response within ten school days. If this response is unsatisfactory to the grievant, a written appeal may be submitted to the compliance administrator designated in C. 1. above. The Grievance Officer shall answer the appeal in writing within ten school days. A copy of the written complaint and the compliance administrator’s response shall be provided each member of the Board of Education. If the complainant is not satisfied with such response, he or she may submit a written appeal to the Board of Education indicating with particularity the nature of disagreement with the response and his or her reasons underlying such disagreement.

The Board of Education shall consider the appeal at its next regularly scheduled Board meeting following receipt of the appeal.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The Board of Education recognizes that harassment of students, staff and certain “non-employees” (which includes contractors, subcontractors, vendors, consultant and other persons providing services pursuant to a contract, or their employees) on the basis of sex, gender and/or sexual orientation is abusive and illegal behavior that harms targets and negatively impacts the school culture by creating an environment of fear, distrust, intimidation and intolerance. The Board further recognizes that preventing and remedying such harassment in schools is essential to ensure a healthy, nondiscriminatory environment in which students can learn and employees and “non-employees” can work productively.

Sex-based harassment can be comprised of two types of behavior: sexual harassment and/or gender-based harassment. Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature (see regulation 0110-R for examples). Gender-based harassment includes verbal, nonverbal or physical aggression, intimidation or hostility that is based on actual or perceived gender and sexual stereotypes (see regulation 0110-R for examples). Sexual or gender-based harassment of a student can deny or limit the student’s ability to participate in or to receive benefits, services, or opportunities from the school’s program.

The Board is committed to providing an educational and working environment that promotes respect, dignity and equality and that is free from all forms of sexual harassment. To this end, the Board condemns and strictly prohibits all forms of sexual harassment on school grounds, school buses and at all school-sponsored activities, programs and events including those that take place at locations outside the district, or outside the school setting if the harassment impacts the individual’s education or employment in a way that violates their legal rights.

Under various state and federal laws, students, employees and “non-employees” have legal protections against sexual harassment in the school environment as described above. The district’s Code of Conduct also addresses appropriate behavior in the school environment. Sexual harassment can occur between persons of all ages and genders.

In order for the Board to effectively enforce this policy and to take prompt corrective measures, it is essential that all targets of sexual harassment and persons with knowledge of sexual harassment report the harassment immediately. The district will promptly investigate all complaints of sexual harassment, either formal or informal, verbal or written. To the extent possible, all complaints will be treated in a confidential manner. Limited disclosure may be necessary to complete a thorough investigation. If the complainant reports that they feel unsafe at school due to the nature of the complaint, the district will determine if accommodations need to be made until the issue is resolved.

If, after appropriate investigation, the district finds that a student, an employee, “non-employee” or a third party has violated this policy, prompt corrective action will be taken in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement, contract, district policy and state law. Individual nondisclosure agreements may only be used as permitted by law, described in the accompanying regulation. Mandatory arbitration clauses are prohibited in all district contracts and agreements.

All complainants and those who participate in the investigation of a complaint of sexual harassment have the right to be free from retaliation of any kind.

The Superintendent of Schools is directed to develop and implement regulations for reporting, investigating and remedying allegations of sexual harassment. These regulations are to be attached to this policy. In addition, training programs shall be established for students and employees to raise awareness of the issues surrounding sexual harassment and to implement preventative measures to help reduce incidents of sexual harassment. Age-appropriate instructional materials will be incorporated into the curriculum to educate students so that they can recognize and reduce the incidence of sexual harassment.

This policy shall be posted in a prominent place in each district facility, on the district’s website, and shall also be published in student registration materials, student, parent and employee handbooks, and other appropriate school publications.

This policy shall be reviewed based on NYSSBA recommendations or as needed.

Renumbered from P4020 – September 2015 | Renumbered from P4040 – September 2015 | Renumbered from P4440 – September 2015 | Renumbered from P5020 – September 2015 | Revised October 2018

Exhibit 1: Service Animals at School Activities, Events & Programs Open to the Community E0110.1

Renumber from P4020 – September 2015 | Renumbered from P4040 – September 2015 | Renumbered from P4440 – September 2015 | Renumber from P5020 – September 2015 | Revised October 2018

E0110.1 Service Animals at School Activities, Events & Programs Open to the Community

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The Board of Education acknowledges its responsibility to permit an individual with a disability to be accompanied on school grounds by a service animal, if the service animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. There is no federal or New York state licensure required for a service animal. There is no NY state required training course to become a service animal either. NYS law specifically identifies a service animal as a dog. Other animals (wild or domestic), trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition. A therapy dog or an emotional support animal are not the same as a service dog, and are not afforded the same protections under law.

How do I know it is a Service Animal?

Most service dogs will be appropriately identified with “service dog” emblazoned on their harness, leash or vest. If it is not readily apparent that the animal is a service animal, you may ask limited questions to verify the role of the animal and ensure that it is a service animal. You may ask:

Is that a service animal?
Is that service animal required due to a disability?
What work or tasks has the service animal been trained to perform?

You may NOT ask for medical documentation or a doctor’s note related to the individual’s disability, licensure or certification that the animal is a service animal, or inquire into the nature of the person’s disability.

How do I interact with the Service Animal or Handler?

Each handler is different, so it is important not to make any assumptions. Typically, a service animal is seen as a working dog when they are on duty. Refrain from interacting with the dog, talking to the dog or petting the dog, unless you ask first and the handler says it is okay. Otherwise, communicate with the handler and essentially ignore the service animal.

What happens if the Service Animal is Allowed in and Becomes Out of Control?

Service animals must be under control of the handler at all times, and should be leashed or tethered (unless such devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents him or her from using these devices.) Individuals who cannot use such methods of securement must maintain control of the service animal through voice, signal or other effective commands. Service animals must be housebroken. The cost, care and supervision of the service animal are the responsibility of the handler. If the service animal is out of control and the handler does not take immediate effective action to control the animal, a building principal or other administrator or their designee may request the individual with a disability remove the service animal from the school building/property. If the service animal is excluded due to poor behavior or being out of control, the individual with a disability remains eligible to participate in the service, program or activity, and the district provide reasonable accommodations to enable them to do so, upon request.

Adopted March 2020

AR0110: SEXUAL HARASSMENT

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This regulation is intended to create and preserve an educational and working environment free from unlawful sexual harassment on the basis of sex, gender, and/or sexual orientation in furtherance of the district’s commitment to provide a healthy and productive environment for all students, employees (including all staff, applicants for employment, both paid and unpaid interns. exempt and non-exempt status, part-time, seasonal, and temporary workers, regardless of immigration status) and “non-employees” (i.e., contractors, subcontractors, vendors, consultant and other persons providing services pursuant to a contract, or their employees) that promotes respect, dignity and equality.

Sexual Harassment Defined

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and is unlawful under federal, state, and (where applicable) local law. Sexual harassment includes harassment on the basis of actual or perceived or self-identified sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and transgender status.

Sexual harassment includes unwelcome conduct which is either of a sexual nature, or which is directed at an individual because of that individual’s sex, gender, or sexual orientation, when:

submission to that conduct or communication is made a term or condition, either explicitly or implicitly, of an employee’s or “non-employee’s” employment or a student’s education (including any aspect of the student’s participation in school-sponsored activities, or any other aspect of the student’s education); or
submission to or rejection of that conduct or communication by an individual is used as the basis for decisions affecting an employee’s or “non-employee’s” employment or a student’s education; or
the conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with an employee’s or “non-employee’s” work performance or a student’s academic performance or participation in school-sponsored activities, or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment, even if the complaining individual is not the intended target of the sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, or verbal, nonverbal or physical aggression, intimidation or hostility that is based on actual or perceived gender and sexual stereotypes.

Unacceptable Conduct

School-related conduct that the district considers unacceptable and which may constitute sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, the following:

rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, attempted sexual assault, forcible sexual abuse, hazing, and other sexual and gender-based activity of a criminal nature as defined under the State Penal Law;
unwelcome sexual advances or invitations or requests for sexual activity, including but not limited to those in exchange for grades, promotions, preferences, favors, selection for extracurricular activities or job assignments, homework, etc., or when accompanied by implied or overt threats concerning the target’s work or school evaluations, other benefits or detriments;
unwelcome or offensive public sexual display of affection, including kissing, hugging, making out, groping, fondling, petting, inappropriate touching of one’s self or others (e.g., pinching, patting, grabbing, poking), sexually suggestive dancing, and massages;
any unwelcome communication that is sexually suggestive, sexually degrading or derogatory or implies sexual motives or intentions, such as sexual remarks or innuendoes about an individual’s clothing, appearance or activities; sexual jokes; sexual gestures; public conversations about sexual activities or exploits; sexual rumors and “ratings lists;” howling, catcalls, and whistles; sexually graphic computer files, messages or games, etc;
unwelcome and offensive name calling or profanity that is sexually suggestive or explicit, sexually degrading or derogatory, implies sexual intentions, or that is based on sexual stereotypes or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression;
unwelcome physical contact or closeness that is sexually suggestive, sexually degrading or derogatory, or sexually intimidating such as the unwelcome touching of another’s body parts, cornering or blocking an individual, standing too close, spanking, pinching, following, stalking, frontal body hugs, etc.;
unwelcome and sexually offensive physical pranks or touching of an individual’s clothing, such as hazing and initiation, “streaking,” “mooning,” “snuggies” or “wedgies” (pulling underwear up at the waist so it goes in between the buttocks), bra-snapping, skirt “flip-ups,” “spiking” (pulling down someone’s pants or swimming suit); pinching; placing hands inside an individual’s pants, shirt, blouse, or dress, etc.;
unwelcome leers, stares, gestures, or slang that are sexually suggestive; sexually degrading or derogatory or imply sexual motives or intentions;
clothing with sexually obscene or sexually explicit slogans or messages;
unwelcome and offensive skits, assemblies, and productions that are sexually suggestive, sexually degrading or derogatory, or that imply sexual motives or intentions, or that are based on sexual stereotypes;
unwelcome written or pictorial display or distribution (including via electronic devices) of pornographic or other sexually explicit materials such as signs, graffiti, calendars, objects, magazines, videos, films, Internet material, etc.;
other hostile actions taken against an individual because of that person’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status, such as interfering with, destroying or damaging a person’s work or school area or equipment; sabotaging that person’s work or school activities; bullying, yelling, or name calling; or otherwise interfering with that person’s ability to work or participate in school functions and activities; and
any unwelcome behavior based on sexual stereotypes and attitudes that is offensive, degrading, derogatory, intimidating, or demeaning, including, but not limited to:
1. disparaging remarks, slurs, jokes about or aggression toward an individual because the person displays mannerisms or a style of dress inconsistent with stereotypical characteristics of the person’s sex;
2. ostracizing or refusing to participate in group activities with an individual during class projects, physical education classes or field trips because of the individual’s sex, gender expression or gender identity;
3. taunting or teasing an individual because they are participating in an activity not typically associated with the individual’s sex or gender.

For purposes of this regulation, action or conduct shall be considered “unwelcome” if the student, employee or non-employee did not request or invite it and regarded the conduct as undesirable or offensive.

Sexual harassment could occur on school grounds, school buses and at all school-sponsored activities, programs and events, including those that take place at locations outside the district, or outside the school setting if the harassment impacts the individual’s education or employment in a way that violates their legal rights, including when employees or “non-employees” travel on district business, or when the harassment is done by electronic means (including on social media).

Determining if Prohibited Conduct is Sexual Harassment

Complaints of sexual harassment will be thoroughly investigated to determine whether the totality of the behavior and circumstances meet any of the elements of the above definition of sexual harassment and should therefore be treated as sexual harassment. Not all unacceptable conduct with sexual connotations may constitute sexual harassment. In many cases (other than quid pro quo situations where the alleged harasser offers academic or employment rewards or threatens punishment as an inducement for sexual favors), unacceptable behavior must be sufficiently severe, pervasive and objectively offensive to be considered sexual harassment. If the behavior doesn’t rise to the level of sexual harassment, but is found to be objectionable behavior, the individual will be educated and counseled in order to prevent the behavior from continuing.

In evaluating the totality of the circumstances and making a determination of whether conduct constitutes sexual harassment, the individual investigating the complaint should consider:

the degree to which the conduct affected the ability of the student to participate in or benefit from his or her education or altered the conditions of the student’s learning environment or altered the conditions of the employee’s or “non-employee’s” working environment;
the type, frequency and duration of the conduct;
the identity of and relationship between the alleged harasser and the subject of the harassment (e.g., sexually based conduct by an authority figure is more likely to create a hostile environment than similar conduct by another student or a co-worker);
the number of individuals involved;
the age and sex of the alleged harasser and the subject of the harassment;
the location of the incidents and context in which they occurred;
other incidents at the school; and
incidents of gender-based, but non-sexual harassment.

Reporting Complaints

Any person who believes he or she has been the target of sexual harassment by a student, district employee or “non-employee” or third party related to the school is encouraged to report complaints as soon as possible after the incident in order to enable the district to promptly and effectively investigate and resolve the complaint. Any person who witnesses or is aware of sexual harassment of a student, employee, or “non-employee” is also encouraged to report the incident or behavior to the district. Targets are encouraged to submit the complaint in writing; however, complaints may be filed verbally.

Complaints should be filed with the Principal or the Title IX coordinator.

Any school employee who receives a complaint of sexual harassment from a student shall inform the student of the employee’s obligation to report the complaint to the school administration, and then shall immediately notify the Principal and/or the Title IX coordinator. School employees receiving complaints of sexual harassment from employees and “non-employees” shall either direct the complainant to the Building Principal, or may report the incident themselves. Supervisory and managerial personnel are required to report complaints of sexual harassment received by staff, and will be subject to discipline for failing to report suspected or reported sexual harassment, knowingly allowing sexual harassment to continue, or engaging in any retaliation.

In order to assist investigators, targets should document the harassment as soon as it occurs and with as much detail as possible including: the nature of the harassment; dates, times, places it has occurred; name of harasser(s); witnesses to the harassment; and the target’s response to the harassment.

Confidentiality

It is district policy to respect the privacy of all parties and witnesses to complaints of sexual harassment. To the extent possible, the district will not release the details of a complaint or the identity of the complainant or the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed to any third parties who do not need to know such information. However, because an individual’s need for confidentiality must be balanced with the district’s legal obligation to provide due process to the accused, to conduct a thorough investigation, or to take necessary action to resolve the complaint, the district retains the right to disclose the identity of parties and witnesses to complaints in appropriate circumstances to individuals with a need to know. The staff member responsible for investigating complaints will discuss confidentiality standards and concerns with all complainants.

If a complainant requests that his/her name not be revealed to the individual(s) against whom a complaint is filed, the staff member responsible for conducting the investigation shall inform the complainant that:

the request may limit the district’s ability to respond to his/her complaint;
district policy and federal law prohibit retaliation against complainants and witnesses;
the district will attempt to prevent any retaliation; and
the district will take strong responsive action if retaliation occurs.

If the complainant still requests confidentiality after being given the notice above, the investigator will take all reasonable steps to investigate and respond to the complaint consistent with the request as long as doing so does not preclude the district from responding effectively to the harassment and preventing the harassment of other students or employees.

Investigation and Resolution Procedure

A. Initial (Building-level) Procedure

The Principal or the Title IX coordinator shall conduct a preliminary review when they receive a verbal or written complaint of sexual harassment, or if they observe sexual harassment. Except in the case of severe or criminal conduct, the Principal or the Title IX coordinator should make all reasonable efforts to resolve complaints informally at the school level. The goal of informal investigation and resolution procedures is to end the harassment and obtain a prompt and equitable resolution to a complaint. All persons involved in an investigation (complainants, witnesses and alleged harassers) will be accorded due process to protect their rights to a fair and impartial investigation. This investigation shall be prompt and thorough, and shall be completed as soon as possible.

Immediately, but no later than two working days following receipt of a complaint, the Principal or Title IX coordinator shall begin an investigation of the complaint according to the following steps:

Interview the target and document the conversation. Instruct the target to have no contact or communication regarding the complaint with the alleged harasser. Ask the target specifically what action he/she wants taken in order to resolve the complaint. Refer the target, as appropriate, to school social workers, school psychologists, crisis team managers, other school staff, or appropriate outside agencies for counseling services.
Review any written documentation of the harassment prepared by the target. If the target has not prepared written documentation, ask the target to do so, providing alternative formats for individuals with disabilities and young children, who have difficulty writing and need accommodation. If the complainant refuses to complete a complaint form or written documentation, the Principal or Title IX coordinator shall complete a complaint form (see exhibit 0110-E) based on the verbal report.
Request, review, obtain and preserve relevant evidence of harassment (e.g., documents, emails, phone records, etc.), if any exist.
Interview the alleged harasser regarding the complaint and inform the alleged harasser that if the objectionable conduct has occurred, it must cease immediately. Document the conversation. Provide the alleged harasser an opportunity to respond to the charges in writing.
Instruct the alleged harasser to have no contact or communication regarding the complaint with the target and to not retaliate against the target. Warn the alleged harasser that if he/she makes contact with or retaliates against the target, he/she will be subject to immediate disciplinary action.
Interview any witnesses to the complaint. Where appropriate, obtain a written statement from each witness. Caution each witness to keep the complaint and his/her statement confidential. Employees may be required to cooperate as needed in investigations of suspected sexual harassment.
Review all documentation and information relevant to the complaint
Where appropriate, suggest mediation as a potential means of resolving the complaint. In addition to mediation, use appropriate informal methods to resolve the complaint, including but not limited to:
1. discussion with the accused, informing him or her of the district’s policies and indicating that the behavior must stop;
2. suggesting counseling and/or sensitivity training;
3. conducting training for the department or school in which the behavior occurred, calling attention to the consequences of engaging in such behavior;
4. requesting a letter of apology to the complainant;
5. writing letters of caution or reprimand; and/or
6. separating the parties.
Parent/Student/Employee/“Non-Employee” Involvement and Notification
1. Parents of student targets and accused students shall be notified within one school day of allegations that are serious or involve repeated conduct.
2. The parents of students who file complaints are welcome to participate at each stage of both informal and formal investigation and resolution procedures.
3. If either the target or the accused is a disabled student receiving special education services under an IEP or section 504/Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations, the committee on special education will be consulted to determine the degree to which the student’s disability either caused or is affected by the discrimination or policy violation. In addition, due process procedures required for persons with disabilities under state and federal law shall be followed.
4. The Principal or Title IX Coordinator (i.e., the investigator) shall submit a copy of all investigation and interview documentation to the Superintendent.
5. The investigator shall report back to both the target and the accused, notifying them in writing, and also in person as appropriate regarding the outcome of the investigation and the action taken to resolve the complaint. The investigator shall instruct the target to report immediately if the objectionable behavior occurs again or if the alleged harasser retaliates against him/her.
6. The investigator shall notify the target that if he/she desires further investigation and action, he/she may request a district level investigation by contacting the Superintendent of Schools. The investigator shall also notify the target of his/her right to contact the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and/or a private attorney. Employees may also contact the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the New York State Division of Human Rights.
Create a written documentation of the investigation, kept in a secure and confidential location, containing:
1. A list of all documentation and other evidence reviewed, along with a detailed summary;
2. A list of names of those interviewed along with a detailed summary of their statements;
3. A timeline of events;
4. A summary of prior relevant incidents, reported or unreported; and
5. The final resolution of the complaint, together with any corrective action(s).

If the initial investigation results in a determination that sexual harassment did occur, the investigator will promptly notify the Superintendent, who shall then take prompt disciplinary action in accordance with district policy, the applicable collective bargaining agreement or state law.

If a complaint received by the Principal or the Title IX Coordinator contains evidence or allegations of serious or extreme harassment, such as employee to student harassment, criminal touching, quid pro quo (e.g., offering an academic or employment reward or punishment as an inducement for sexual favors), or acts which shock the conscience of a reasonable person, the complaint shall be referred promptly to the Superintendent. In addition, where the Principal or the Title IX coordinator has a reasonable suspicion that the alleged harassment involves criminal activity, he/she should immediately notify the Superintendent, who shall then contact appropriate child protection and law enforcement authorities. Where criminal activity is alleged or suspected by a district employee, the accused employee shall be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, consistent with all contractual or statutory requirements.

Any party who is not satisfied with the outcome of the initial investigation by the Principal or the Title IX coordinator may request a district-level investigation by submitting a written complaint to the Superintendent within 30 days.

B. District-level Procedure

The Superintendent shall promptly investigate and resolve all sexual harassment complaints that are referred to him/her by a Principal or Title IX coordinator, as well as those appealed to the Superintendent following an initial investigation by a Principal or Title IX coordinator. In the event the complaint of sexual harassment involves the Superintendent, the complaint shall be filed with or referred to the Board President, who shall refer the complaint to a trained investigator not employed by the district for investigation.

The district level investigation should begin as soon as possible but not later than three working days following receipt of the complaint by the Superintendent or Board President.

In conducting the formal district level investigation, the district will use investigators who have received formal training in sexual harassment investigation or that have previous experience investigating sexual harassment complaints.

If a district investigation results in a determination that sexual harassment did occur, prompt corrective action will be taken to end the harassment. Where appropriate, district investigators may suggest mediation as a means of exploring options of corrective action and informally resolving the complaint.

No later than 30 days following receipt of the complaint, the Superintendent (or in cases involving the Superintendent, the Board-appointed investigator) will notify the target and alleged harasser, in writing, of the outcome of the investigation. If additional time is needed to complete the investigation or take appropriate action, the Superintendent or Board-appointed investigator will provide all parties with a written status report within 30 days following receipt of the complaint.

The target and the alleged harasser have the right to be represented by a person of their choice, at their own expense, during sexual harassment investigations and hearings

External Remedies

In addition, targets have the right to register sexual harassment complaints with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR can be contacted at (800) 421-3481, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, or at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr./docs/howto.html.

Employee targets also have the right to register complaints with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the New York State Division of Human Rights (DHR). The EEOC can be contacted at (800) 669-4000, https://www.eeoc.gov/employees/howtofile.cfm, info@eeoc.gov, or at 33 Whitehall Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004 or 300 Pearl Street, Suite 450, Buffalo, NY 14202. The DHR can be contacted at (888) 392-3644, www.dhr.ny.gov/complaint, or at 1 Fordham Plaza, Fourth Floor, Bronx, NY 10458.

Nothing in these regulations shall be construed to limit the right of the complainant to file a lawsuit in either state or federal court, or to contact law enforcement officials if the sexual harassment involves unwanted physical touching, coerced physical confinement or coerced sex acts, which may constitute a crime. No district contract or collective bargaining agreement entered into after July 11, 2018 may include a binding arbitration clause for sexual harassment requiring arbitration before bringing the matter to a court.

Nondisclosure Agreements

The district may include nondisclosure agreements (to not disclose the underlying facts and circumstances of a sexual harassment complaint) in any sexual harassment settlement agreement or resolution only if it is the complainant’s preference. Any such nondisclosure agreement shall be provided to all parties. Complainants shall have twenty-one days to consider any such nondisclosure provision before it is signed by all parties, and shall have seven days to revoke the agreement after signing. Nondisclosure agreements shall only become effective after this seven-day period has passed.

Retaliation Prohibited

Any act of retaliation against any person who opposes sexually harassing behavior, or who has filed a complaint in good faith, is prohibited and illegal, and therefore subject to disciplinary action. Likewise, retaliation against any person who has, in good faith, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing of a sexual harassment complaint is prohibited. For purposes of this policy, retaliation includes but is not limited to: verbal or physical threats, intimidation, ridicule, bribes, destruction of property, spreading rumors, stalking, harassing phone calls, discipline,

discrimination, demotion, denial of privileges, any action that would keep a person from coming forward to make or support a sexual harassment claim, and any other form of harassment. Such actions need not be job- or education-related, or occur in the workplace or educational environment, to constitute unlawful retaliation. Any person who retaliates is subject to immediate disciplinary action, up to and including suspension or termination.

Discipline/Penalties

Any individual who violates the sexual harassment policy by engaging in prohibited sexual harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Disciplinary measures available to school authorities include, but are not limited to the following:

Students: Discipline may range from a reprimand up to and including suspension from school, to be imposed consistent with the student conduct and discipline policy and applicable law.
Employees: Discipline may range from a warning up to and including termination, to be imposed consistent with all applicable contractual and statutory rights.
Volunteers: Penalties may range from a warning up to and including loss of volunteer assignment.
“Non-employees” (i.e., contractors, subcontractors, vendors, consultant and other persons providing services pursuant to a contract, or their employees): Penalties may range from a warning up to and including loss of district business.
Other individuals: Penalties may range from a warning up to and including denial of future access to school property.

False Complaints

False or malicious complaints of sexual harassment may result in corrective or disciplinary action taken against the complainant.

Training

All students and employees shall be informed of this policy in student and employee handbooks, on the district website and student registration materials. A poster summarizing the policy shall also be posted in a prominent location at each school. All secondary school student body officers shall receive district training about the policy at the beginning of each school year. The district shall provide all existing employees with either a paper or electronic copy of the district’s sexual harassment policy and regulation, and shall provide the same to new employees before the employee starts his/her job.

In addition, age-appropriate curricular materials will be made available so that it can be incorporated in instruction K-12 to ensure that all students are educated to recognize and report sexual harassment.

All new employees shall receive training on this policy and regulation at new employee orientation or as soon as possible after starting their job, unless he/she can demonstrate that they have received equivalent training within the past year from a previous employer. All other employees shall be provided training at least once a year regarding this policy and the district’s commitment to a harassment-free learning and working environment. Principals, Title IX coordinators, and other administrative employees who have specific responsibilities for investigating and resolving complaints of sexual harassment shall receive yearly training on this policy, regulation and related legal developments.

Annual employee training programs shall be interactive and include:

an explanation of sexual harassment consistent with guidance issued by the NYS Department of Labor and the NYS Division of Human Rights;
examples of conduct that is unlawful sexual harassment;
information on federal and state laws about sexual harassment and remedies available to victims of sexual harassment;
information concerning employees’ right to make complaints and all available forums for investigating complaints; and
address the conduct and responsibilities of supervisors.

Principals in each school and program directors shall be responsible for informing students and staff on a yearly basis of the terms of this policy, including the procedures established for investigation and resolution of complaints, general issues surrounding sexual harassment, the rights and responsibilities of students and employees, and the impact of sexual harassment on the target.

Adopted November 2018

AR0110.1 Use of Gender Pronouns

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The District will respect the use of all pronouns for students and staff. The district understands and emphasizes the fact that this is a sensitive and personal issue and urges staff to approach it thoughtfully and respectfully. Please observe the following guidelines with respect to gender pronouns:

Soliciting Pronouns

As part of introductory activities (i.e. at the beginning of a new school year or semester) district staff are encouraged to give students an open-ended opportunity to share any personal information that they want to share, in writing or aloud, which could include their pronouns should the student so desire. District staff should not ask students to identify their pronouns, out loud or in writing, in any way where the student may feel pressured to respond.

Pronouns in District Forms

Official district forms should not include the collection of preferred pronouns. Official changes to preferred pronouns and other changes in district records must be requested through formal processes through the guidance department.

P0115: STUDENT HARASSMENT AND BULLYING PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

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The Board of Education is committed to providing an educational and working environment that promotes respect, dignity and equality. The Board recognizes that discrimination, such as harassment, hazing and bullying, are detrimental to student learning and achievement. These behaviors interfere with the mission of the district to educate its students and disrupt the operation of the schools. Such behavior affects not only the students who are its targets but also those individuals who participate and witness such acts.

To this end, the Board condemns and strictly prohibits all forms of discrimination, such as harassment, hazing and bullying on school grounds, school buses and at all school-sponsored activities, programs and events. Discrimination, harassment, hazing or bullying that takes place at locations outside of school grounds, such as cyberbullying, which creates or can be reasonably expected to create a material and substantial interference with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school or impinge on the rights of other students are prohibited, and may be subject to disciplinary consequences.

Definitions

Bullying. Bullying, under the amended Dignity for All Students Act, has the same meaning as harassment (see below). The accompanying regulation provides more guidance regarding the definition and characteristics of bullying to help the school community recognize the behavior.
Cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is defined as harassment (see below) through any form of electronic communication.
Discrimination. Discrimination is the act of denying rights, benefits, justice, equitable treatment or access to facilities available to all others, to an individual or group of people because of the group, class or category to which that person belongs (as enumerated in the Definitions section, under Harassment, below).
Hazing. Hazing is an induction, initiation or membership process involving harassment which produces public humiliation, physical or emotional discomfort, bodily injury or public ridicule or creates a situation where public humiliation, physical or emotional discomfort, bodily injury or public ridicule is likely to occur.
Harassment. Harassment has been defined in various ways in federal and state law and regulation. The Board recognizes that these definitions are important standards, but the Board’s goal is to prevent misbehavior from escalating in order to promote a positive school environment and to limit liability. The Dignity for All Students Act (§§10-18 of Education Law) defines harassment as the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation or abuse, including cyberbullying, that (a) has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being; (b) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety; (c) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or (d) occurs off school property and creates or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property. The harassing behavior may be based on any characteristic, including but not limited to a person’s actual or perceived:
- Race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles),
- color,
- weight,
- national origin,
- ethnic group,
- religion,
- religious practice,
- disability,
- sex,
- sexual orientation, or
- gender (including gender identity and expression).

For the purpose of this definition the term “threats, intimidation or abuse” includes verbal and non- verbal actions.

In some instances, bullying or harassment may constitute a violation of an individual’s civil rights. The district is mindful of its responsibilities under the law and in accordance with district policy regarding civil rights protections.

In order to streamline the wording of this policy and regulation the term bullying will be used throughout to encompass harassment, intimidation, cyberbullying and hazing behaviors.

Prevention

The school setting provides an opportunity to teach children, and emphasize among staff, that cooperation with and respect for others is a key district value. A program geared to prevention is designed to not only decrease incidents of bullying but to help students build more supportive relationships with one another by integrating the bullying prevention program into classroom instruction. Staff members and students will be sensitized, through district-wide professional development and instruction, to the warning signs of bullying, as well as to their responsibility to become actively involved in the prevention of bullying before overt acts occur.

Curricular material that raises awareness and sensitivity to discrimination or harassment and civility in the relationships of people of different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, sexes or gender expression or identities will be included in the instructional program K-12.

In order to implement this program, the Board will designate at its annual organizational meeting a Dignity Act Coordinator (DAC) [previously referred to as the Bullying Prevention Coordinator (BPC)] for each school in the district. One of the DAC’s will be designated as the district-wide coordinator whose responsibilities are described in the accompanying regulation. The role of each DAC is to oversee and enforce this policy in the school to which they are assigned.

In addition, the Superintendent will establish a district-wide Anti-bullying Task Force as well as Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committees in each school that will be overseen by the district-wide DAC. Committees will include representation from staff, administration, students and parents. The district-wide task force and the school-level committee will assist the administration in developing and implementing specific prevention initiatives, including early identification of bullying and other strategies. In addition, the program will include reporting, investigating, remedying and tracking allegations of bullying. The accompanying regulation provides more detail on the specific programs and strategies implemented by the district.

Intervention

Intervention by adults and bystanders is an important step in preventing escalation and resolving issues at the earliest stages. Intervention will emphasize education and skill-building.

Successful intervention may involve remediation. Remedial responses to bullying include measures designed to correct the problem behavior, prevent another occurrence of the behavior and protect the target. Remediation may be targeted to the individual(s) involved in the bullying behavior or environmental approaches which are targeted to the school or district as a whole.

In addition, intervention will focus upon the safety of the target. Staff is expected, when aware of bullying, to report it in accordance with this policy, refer the student to designated resources for assistance, or to intervene in accordance with this policy and regulation.

Provisions for students who do not feel safe at school

The Board acknowledges that, notwithstanding actions taken by district staff, intervention may require a specific coordinated approach if the child does not feel safe at school. Students who do not feel safe at school are limited in their capacity to learn and reach their academic potential. Staff, when aware of bullying, should determine if accommodations are needed in order to help ensure the safety of the student and bring this to the attention of the building principal. The building principal, other appropriate staff, the student and the student’s parent/guardian will work together to define and implement any needed accommodations.

The district recognizes that there is a need to balance accommodations which enhance student safety against the potential to further stigmatize the targeted student. Therefore, each case will be handled individually. The student, parent/guardian, and school administration will collaborate to establish safety provisions that best meet the needs of the targeted student. Follow-up discussion and/or meetings will be scheduled, as needed, to ensure that safety concerns have been adequately addressed and to determine when and if accommodations need to be changed or discontinued.

Incident Reporting and Investigation

Although it can be difficult to step forward, the district can’t effectively address bullying if incidents are not reported. Students who have been bullied, parents whose children have been bullied or other students who observe bullying behavior are encouraged and expected to make a verbal and/or written complaint to any school personnel in accordance with the training and guidelines provided. Staff who observe or learn of incident(s) of bullying are required, in accordance with State law, to make an oral report to the building principal within one school day and to fill out the district reporting form within two school days. Staff who are unsure of the reporting procedure are expected to ask their supervisors how to proceed. District employees may be deemed to have permitted unlawful discrimination or harassment if they fail to report an observed incident, whether or not the target complains.

At all times, complaints will be documented, tracked and handled in accordance with the regulations and procedures accompanying this policy, or, if applicable, P0100, Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination, or P0110, Sexual Harassment] and the district’s Code of Conduct. The building principal will prepare a yearly report for the Superintendent based on complaints filed.

An equitable and thorough investigation will be carried out by the building principal in accordance with the accompanying regulation. In addition, the results of the investigation will be reported back to both the target and the accused as specified in the accompanying regulation. If either of the parties disagrees with the results of the investigation, they can appeal the findings in accordance with the regulations that accompany this policy. Verified bullying incidents that meet the criteria established by the state will be included in the statewide reporting system when applicable, in accordance with law and regulation.

The Board will receive the annual School Safety and Educational Climate report (SSEC), as well as any other state-required report relevant to bullying and/or school climate, for each building and for the district as whole. Based on the review of the data, the Board may consider further action, including but not limited to modification of this policy and additional training.

Disciplinary Consequences/Remediation

While the focus of this policy is on prevention, acts of bullying may still occur. In these cases, offenders will be given the clear message that their actions are wrong and the behavior must improve. Student offenders will receive in school guidance in making positive choices in their relationships with others. If appropriate, disciplinary action that is measured, balanced and age appropriate will be taken by the administration in accordance with the district’s Code of Conduct, as applicable. If the behavior rises to the level of criminal activity, law enforcement will be contacted.

Consequences for a student who commits an act of bullying will be unique to the individual incident and will vary in method and severity according to the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the student, and the student’s history of problem behaviors, and must be consistent with the district’s Code of Conduct.

Non-Retaliation

Training

The Board recognizes that in order to implement an effective bullying prevention and intervention program, professional development is needed. The Superintendent, the districtwide DAC and the District Professional Development Team will incorporate training to support this program in new teacher orientation and the annual professional development plan, as needed. Training opportunities will be provided for all staff, including but not limited to bus drivers, cafeteria and hall monitors and all staff who have contact with students. The DACs will be trained in accordance with state requirements and will continue their professional development so as to successfully support this policy and program.

Dissemination, Monitoring and Review

This policy, or a plain language summary, will be published in student registration materials, student, parent and employee handbooks, and posted on the district’s website. A bullying complaint form will be available on the district’s website. The district will ensure that the process of reporting bullying is clearly explained to students, staff and parents on an annual basis.

Each year, as part of the annual review of the Code of Conduct, this policy will be reviewed to assess its effectiveness and compliance with state and federal law. If changes are needed, revisions will be recommended to the Board for its consideration.

The district will ensure that reporting of information to the public in conjunction with this policy will be in a manner that complies with student privacy rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Ref: Dignity for All Students Act, Education Law, §10 – 18 | Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq. | Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq. | Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000e et seq.; 34 CFR §100 et seq. | Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq. | §504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794| Individuals with Disabilities Education Law, 20 U.S.C §§1400 et seq. | Executive Law §290 et seq. (New York State Human Rights Law) | Education Law §§313(3), 3201, 3201-a | 8 NYCRR 100.2(c), (l), (jj), (kk); 119.6 | Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School Dist., 393 US 503, (1969) | Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., 594 U.S. (2021) | Pollnow v. Glennon, 594 F.Sup. 220, 224 aff’d 757 F.2d. 496 | Zeno v. Pine Plains 702 F3rd 655 (2nd Cir. 2012) | Cuff v. Valley Central School District F3rd 109 (2 nd Cir 2012) | Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education, 526 U.S. 629 (1999) | Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 524 U.S, 274 (1998) | Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998) | Burlington Industries v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742 (1998) | Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75 (1998)

Revised March 2023 | January 2022 | Approved June 2012 | Renumbered from P5030 – September 2015

AR0115: STUDENT HARASSMENT AND BULLYING PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION REGULATION

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The Board condemns and strictly prohibits all forms of discrimination, such as harassment, hazing, intimidation and bullying on school grounds, school buses and at all school-sponsored activities, programs and events. Discrimination, harassment, hazing or bullying that takes place at locations outside of school grounds, such as cyberbullying, which can be reasonably expected to materially and substantially interfere with the requirements of appropriate discipline in the operation of the school or impinge on the rights of other students are prohibited, and may be subject to disciplinary consequences.

Definitions

Bullying: Under the amended Dignity for All Students Act bullying and harassment are equivalent and used interchangeably. In order to facilitate implementation, provide meaningful guidance and prevent behaviors from rising to a violation of law, bullying is further understood to be a hostile activity which harms or induces fear through the threat of further aggression and/or creates terror. Bullying may be premeditated or a sudden activity. It may be subtle or easy to identify, done by one person or a group. Bullying often includes the following characteristics:
1. Power imbalance – occurs when a bully uses their physical or social power over a target.
2. Intent to harm – the bully seeks to inflict physical or emotional harm and/or takes pleasure in this activity.
3. Threat of further aggression – the bully and the target believe the bullying will continue.
4. Terror – when any bullying increases, it becomes a “systematic violence or harassment used to intimidate and maintain dominance.”(Barbara Coloroso, The Bully, The Bullied & The Bystander, 2003)
  There are at least three kinds of bullying: verbal, physical and social/relational.
Verbal bullying (which can be delivered orally, electronically or in writing) includes name calling, insulting remarks, verbal teasing, frightening phone calls, violent threats, extortion, taunting, gossip, spreading rumors, racist slurs,), anonymous notes, etc.
Physical bullying includes poking, slapping, hitting, tripping or causing a fall, choking, kicking, punching, biting, pinching, scratching, spitting, twisting arms or legs, damaging clothes and personal property, or threatening gestures.
Social or relational bullying includes excluding someone from a group, isolating, shunning, spreading rumors or gossiping, arranging public humiliation, undermining relationships, teasing about clothing, looks, giving dirty looks, aggressive stares, etc.The New York State Education Department provides further guidance on bullying and cyberbullying prevention on the following website: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/technology/internet_safety/documents/cyberbullying.html

2. Discrimination: Discrimination is the act of denying rights, benefits, justice, equitable treatment or access to facilities available to all others, to an individual or group of people because of the group, class or category to which that person belongs (as listed under Harassment as defined below).

3. Harassment: Harassment has been defined in various ways in federal and state law (including the penal law) and regulation. The Board recognizes that these definitions are important standards, but the Board’s goal is to prevent behaviors from escalating to violations of law and, instead, to promote a positive school environment and limit liability. The Dignity for All Students Act (§§10-18 of Education Law) defines harassment as the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation or abuse, including cyberbullying, that (a) has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being; (b) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their physical safety; (c) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or (d) occurs off school property and creates or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property. The harassing behavior may be based on any characteristic, including but not limited to a person’s actual or perceived:

Race (including traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles,
color,
weight,
national origin,
ethnic group,
religion,
religious practice,
disability,
sex,
sexual orientation, or
gender (including gender identity and expression).
For purposes of this definition, the term “threats, intimidation or abuse” includes verbal and non-verbal actions.

Hazing
Hazing is an induction, initiation or membership process involving harassment which produces public humiliation, physical or emotional discomfort, bodily injury or public ridicule or creates a situation where public humiliation, physical or emotional discomfort, bodily injury or public ridicule is likely to occur.

Prevention
Prevention is the cornerstone of the district’s effort to address bullying. The components of such an effort involve the following:

Following the principles and practices of “Educating the Whole Child Engaging the Whole School: Guidelines and Resources for Social and Emotional
Development and Learning (SEDL) in New York State – Adopted by the Board of Regents July 18, 2011.” District curriculum will emphasize developing empathy, tolerance and respect for others.
Learning about and identifying the early warning signs and precursor behaviors that may lead to bullying.
Gathering information about bullying at school directly from students (through surveys and other mechanisms); analyzing and using the data gathered to assist in decision-making about programming and resource allocation.
Establishing clear school wide and classroom rules about bullying consistent with the district’s code of conduct.
Training adults in the school community to respond sensitively and consistently to bullying.
Providing adequate supervision, particularly in less structured areas such as in the hallways, cafeteria, school bus and playground.
Raising parental awareness and involvement in the prevention program and in addressing problems.
Using educational opportunities or curriculum, including, if applicable, the Individual Educational Program (IEP), to address the underlying causes and impact of bullying.

Role of the Principal/Dignity Act Coordinator(s) (DAC)
The Board of Education will annually designate the building principal, who has been thoroughly trained in human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), and sex, as the Dignity Act Coordinator (DAC) for each school, accountable for implementation of this policy. In addition, the Director of Human Resources will be designated as the district-wide DAC who will be responsible for ensuring equivalency in programming across buildings. The principal will be responsible for coordinating and enforcing this policy and regulation in the school to which they are assigned, including but not limited to coordination of:

the work of the building-level committees;
professional development for staff members and,
the complaint process, and
management of the Dignity Act’s civility curriculum components.

Incident(s) Reporting
In order for the Board to effectively enforce this policy and to take prompt corrective measures, it is essential that all targets and persons with knowledge of bullying report such behavior immediately to the principal as soon as possible after the incident so that it may be effectively investigated and resolved. The district will also make a bullying complaint form available on its website to facilitate reporting. The district will collect relevant data from written and verbal complaints to allow for systematic reporting.

Staff who observe or learn of incident(s) of bullying are required, in accordance with State law, to orally report it to the building principal within one school day and to fill out the district reporting form within two school days. Staff who are unsure of the reporting procedure are expected to ask their supervisors how to proceed. District employees may be deemed to have permitted unlawful discrimination or harassment if they fail to report an observed incident, whether or not the target complains.

The district will thoroughly, promptly and equitably investigate all complaints, formal or informal, verbal or written. To the extent possible, all complaints will be treated in a confidential manner, although limited disclosure may be necessary to complete a thorough investigation.

In order to assist investigators, individuals should document the bullying as soon as it occurs and with as much detail as possible including: the nature of the incident(s); dates, times, places it has occurred; name of perpetrator(s); witnesses to the incident(s); and the target’s response to the incident.

Confidentiality
It is district policy to respect the privacy of all parties and witnesses to bullying. To the extent possible, the district will not release the details of a complaint or the identity of the complainant or the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed to any third parties who do not need to know such information. However, because an individual’s desire for confidentiality must be balanced with the district’s legal obligation to provide due process to the accused, to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation, and/or to take necessary action to resolve the complaint, the district retains the right to disclose the identity of parties and witnesses to complaints in appropriate circumstances to individuals with a need to know. The staff member responsible for investigating complaints will discuss confidentiality standards and concerns with all complainants.

If a complainant requests that their name not be revealed to the individual(s) against whom a complaint is filed, the staff member responsible for conducting the investigation will inform the complainant that:

the request may limit the district’s ability to respond to the complaint;
district policy and federal law prohibit retaliation against complainants and witnesses;
the district will attempt to prevent any retaliation; and
the district will take strong responsive action if retaliation occurs.

If the complainant still requests confidentiality after being given the notice above, the investigator will take all reasonable steps to investigate and respond to the complaint consistent with the request as long as doing so does not preclude the district from responding effectively to the bullying and preventing the bullying of other students.

Investigation and Resolution Procedure

A. Initial (Building-level) Procedure
Whenever a complaint of bullying is received whether verbal or written, it will be subject to a thorough preliminary review and investigation. Except in the case of severe or criminal conduct, the principal will make all reasonable efforts to resolve complaints informally at the school level. The goal of informal procedures is to end the bullying, prevent future incidents, ensure the safety of the target and obtain a prompt and equitable resolution to a complaint.

As soon as possible, but no later than three school days following receipt of a complaint, the principal or the principal’s designee will begin an investigation of the complaint by:

- Reviewing any written documentation provided by the target(s).
- Conducting separate interviews of the target(s), alleged perpetrator(s), and witnesses, if any, and documenting the conversations.
- Providing the alleged perpetrator(s) a chance to respond and notify them that if objectionable behavior has occurred, it must cease immediately. The individual will be made aware of remediation opportunities as well as potential disciplinary consequences.
- Determining whether the complainant needs any accommodations to ensure their safety, and following up periodically until the complaint has been resolved. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to:
  - A “permanent” hall pass that allows the student to visit a designated adult at any time;
  - Access to private bathroom facilities;
  - Access to private locker room facilities;
  - An escort during passing periods;
  - If the student feels unsafe in a specific class, an opportunity for individual tutoring or independent study until the case is resolved;
  - An opportunity for independent study at home with district-provided tutor until the case is resolved;
  - Permission to use personal cell phone in the event that the student feels threatened and needs immediate access to parent or guardian;
  - Assignment of a bus monitor.

The district recognizes that there is a need to balance accommodations which enhance student safety against the potential to further stigmatize the targeted student. Therefore, each case will be handled individually, and the student, parent/guardian, and school administration will collaborate to establish safety provisions that best meet the needs of the targeted student. Follow-up discussion and/or meetings will be scheduled, as needed, to ensure that safety concerns have been adequately addressed and to determine when and if accommodations need to be changed or discontinued.

Parents of student targets and accused students should be notified within one school day of allegations that are serious or involve repeated conduct.

Where appropriate, informal methods may be used to resolve the complaint, including but not limited to:

discussion with the accused, informing them of the district’s policies and indicating that the behavior must stop;
suggesting counseling, skill building activities and/or sensitivity training;
conducting training for the department or school in which the behavior occurred, calling attention to the consequences of engaging in such behavior;
requesting a letter of apology to the target;
writing letters of caution or reprimand; and/or
separating the parties.

Appropriate disciplinary action will be recommended and imposed in accordance with district policy, the applicable collective bargaining agreement or state law. The district will make every reasonable effort to attempt to first resolve the misconduct through non-punitive measures.

If a complaint contains evidence or allegations of serious or extreme bullying, or a civil rights violation, the complaint will be referred promptly to the Superintendent. The complainant will also be advised of other avenues to pursue their complaint, including contact information for state and federal authorities.

In addition, where the principal has a reasonable suspicion that the alleged bullying incident involves criminal activity, they must immediately notify the Superintendent, who will then contact the school attorney, appropriate child protection and, if appropriate, law enforcement authorities.

Any party who is not satisfied with the outcome of the initial investigation may request a district-level investigation by submitting a written complaint to the Superintendent within 30 days.

B. District-level Procedure

The Superintendent or designee will promptly investigate and equitably resolve all bullying complaints that are referred to them, as well as those appealed to the Superintendent following an initial investigation. In the event the complaint involves the Superintendent, the complaint will be filed with or referred to the Board President, who will refer the complaint to an appropriate independent individual for investigation.

The district level investigation should begin as soon as possible, but not later than three school days, following receipt of the complaint by the Superintendent or Board President.

In conducting the formal district level investigation, the district will endeavor to use individuals who have received formal training regarding such investigations or that have previous experience investigating such complaints.

If a district level investigation results in a determination that bullying did occur, prompt corrective action will be taken to end the misbehavior in accordance with the Remediation/Discipline/Penalties section of this regulation.

No later than 30 days following receipt of the complaint, the Superintendent (or in cases involving the Superintendent, the Board-appointed investigator) will notify the target and alleged perpetrator, in writing, of the outcome of the investigation. If additional time is needed to complete the investigation or take appropriate action, the Superintendent or Board-appointed investigator will provide all parties with a written status report within 30 days following receipt of the complaint.

Any party who is not satisfied with the outcome of the district-level investigation may appeal to the Board of Education by submitting a written request to the Board President within 30 days.

C. Board-level Procedure

When a request for review by the Board has been made, the Superintendent will submit all written statements and other materials concerning the case to the President of the Board.

The Board will notify all parties concerned of the time and place when a hearing will be held. Such a hearing will be held within 15 school days of the receipt of the request of the complainant.

The Board will render a decision in writing within 15 school days after the hearing has been concluded.

The district will retain documentation associated with complaints and investigations in accordance with Schedule LGS-1.

Retaliation Prohibited
Any act of retaliation against any person who opposes bullying behavior, or who has filed a complaint, is prohibited and illegal, and therefore subject to disciplinary action. Likewise, retaliation against any person who has testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing of a bullying complaint is prohibited. For purposes of this policy, retaliation includes but is not limited to: verbal or physical threats, intimidation, ridicule, bribes, destruction of property, spreading rumors, stalking, harassing phone calls, and any other form of harassment. Any person who retaliates is subject to immediate disciplinary action up to and including suspension or termination.

Remediation/Discipline/Penalties
Any individual who violates this policy by engaging in bullying will be subject to appropriate action, which may include disciplinary action. Remedial responses to bullying include measures designed to correct the problem behavior, prevent another occurrence of the behavior, and protect the target of the act. Appropriate remedial measures may include, but are not limited to:

Restitution and restoration;
Peer support group;
Corrective instruction or other relevant learning or service experience;
Changes in class schedule;
Supportive intervention;
Behavioral assessment or evaluation;
Behavioral management plan, with benchmarks that are closely monitored;
Student counseling;
Parent conferences; or
Student treatment or therapy.

Environmental remediation may include, but is not limited to:

School and community surveys or other strategies for determining the conditions contributing to the relevant behavior;
Modification of schedules;
Adjustment in hallway traffic and other student routes of travel;
Targeted use of monitors;
Parent education seminars/workshops;
Peer support groups.

Disciplinary measures available to school authorities include, but are not limited to the following:

Students: Discipline may range from a reprimand up to and including suspension from school, to be imposed consistent with the Code of Conduct and applicable law.

Employees: Discipline may range from a warning up to and including termination, to be imposed consistent with all applicable contractual and statutory rights.

Volunteers: Penalties may range from a warning up to and including loss of volunteer assignment.

Vendors: Penalties may range from a warning up to and including loss of district business.

Other individuals: Penalties may range from a warning up to and including denial of future access to school property.

Policy Dissemination
All students and employees will be informed of this policy in student and employee handbooks, on the district website and student registration materials. A poster summarizing the policy will also be posted in a prominent location at each school.

All employees will receive information about this policy and regulation at least once a year.

Principals in each school will be responsible for informing students and staff on a yearly basis of the terms of this policy, including the procedures for filing a complaint and information about the impact of bullying on the target and bystanders.

Training
Training needs in support of this bullying prevention and intervention program will be reflected in the district’s annual professional development plan, new teacher orientation, in curriculum and will be considered in the budget process. The DAC(s), administrative employees and other staff, such as counselors or social workers who have specific responsibilities for investigating and/or resolving complaints of bullying will receive yearly training to support implementation of this policy, regulation and on related legal developments.

P0150: HIV/AIDS

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The Board of Education recognizes the public concern over the health issues surrounding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The Board recognizes, based upon the current state of medical knowledge, that the virus associated with AIDS is not easily transmitted and there is no evidence that AIDS or the HIV virus can be transmitted by casual social contact in the open school setting.

The Board further recognizes the privacy rights of students diagnosed with HIV infection or AIDS and their right to a free appropriate public education; the rights of HIV infected employees to privacy and reasonable accommodations; the rights of all non-infected individuals to a safe environment free of any significant risks to their health; and the rights of all students to instruction regarding the nature, transmission, prevention, and treatment of HIV infection, pursuant to the Commissioner’s Regulation,Part 135.3.

No individual shall be denied access to any program or activity sponsored by or conducted on the grounds of the district, solely on the basis of his/her status as an HIV-infected individual.

Students

It is the policy of the Board that:

A student’s education shall not be interrupted or curtailed solely on the basis of his/her HIV status. HIV-infected students shall be afforded the same rights, privileges, and services available to every other student.
Superintendent will, upon securement of written authorization by family/student, refer the case evaluation for appropriate placement to a committee comprised of the District School Physician, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the infected student, and the student’s physician.
No student shall be referred to the Committee on Special Education solely on the basis of his/her HIV status. A student who is infected with HIV shall be referred to the Committee on Special Education (CSE) only when the student’s disability interferes with his/her ability to benefit from instruction. Such referral shall be made in accordance with Part 200 of Commissioner’s Regulations.
If a student who is HIV-infected requires special accommodations to enable him/her to continue to attend school, the student shall be referred to the appropriate multi- disciplinary team as required by §504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
No disclosure of HIV-related information involving a student shall be made without first obtaining the informed consent of the parent, guardian or student on the Department of Health (DOH) approved form.

Employees

It is the policy of the Board that:

No employees shall be prevented from continuing in his/her employment solely on the basis of his/her HIV status; such employees are entitled to all rights, privileges, and services accorded to other employees and shall be entitled to reasonable accommodations to the extent that such accommodations enable such individuals to perform their duties.
No disciplinary action or other adverse action shall be taken against any employee solely on the basis of his/her status as an HIV infected or a person with AIDS. Such action will only be taken where, even with the provision of reasonable accommodations, the individual is unable to perform his/her duties.
All employees shall have access to the district’s exposure control plan as required by the federal Office of Safety and Health Association (OSHA).
In accordance with OSHA regulations, training in universal precautions and infection control shall be offered to all employees and shall be provided to every employee with potential occupational exposure.

Confidentiality

Any information obtained regarding the HIV status of an individual connected to the school shall not be released to third parties, except to those persons who are:

named on an Authorization for Release of Confidential HIV Related Information form;
named in a special HIV court order; or
as indicated in Public Health Law §2782, when necessary to provide health care to the individual (i.e., to the school physician and the school nurse).

Any employee who breaches the confidentiality of a person who is HIV infected shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with applicable law and/or collective bargaining agreement.

To protect the confidentiality of an HIV infected individual, any documents identifying the HIV status of such individuals shall be maintained by the school nurse (or another authorized individual) in a secure file, separate from the individual’s regular file. Access to such file shall be granted only to those persons named on the Department of Health approved Authorization for Release of Confidential HIV Related Information form, or through a special HIV court order. When information is disclosed, a statement prohibiting further redisclosure, except when in compliance with the law, must accompany the disclosure.

HIV/AIDS TESTING

No school official shall require a student or employee to undergo an HIV antibody test or other HIV-related test. In accordance with OSHA regulations in the event of an incident involving the exposure one individual to potentially infectious body fluids of another individual, particularly blood or any other fluid which contains visible blood, an HIV test may be requested but NOT required. The request and refusal must be documented.

However, school officials shall not be precluded from requiring a student or employee to undergo a physical examination pursuant to Education Law §§903 and 913, when other illness administered without the individual’s informed consent as required by Public Health Law §27-F.

To implement this policy, the Superintendent of Schools is directed to establish an advisory council to make recommendations on the development, implementation, and evaluation of HIV/AIDS instruction as a part of comprehensive health education.

Revised May 2012 | Renumbered from P5420 – September 2015

P0200: SCHOOL DISTRICT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

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In furtherance of its educational philosophy, the Board of Education hereby establishes the following objectives:

to employ the best possible school staff, including both professional and support personnel;
to encourage the development of meaningful, interpersonal relationships among the students, the staff and community;
to insure that staff, students, and parents are afforded opportunities for meaningful participation in the development and evaluation of programs and policies;
to strive for maximum efficiency in the use of district resources to meet the goals and objectives of the various programs and services;
to encourage all students to develop intellectual curiosity, eagerness for lifelong learning, and a pride in their achievements and progress.

Reviewed February 2000 | Renumbered from P0300 – September 2015

P0220: DISTRICT GOALS FOR SCHOOL OPERATIONS

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Long term goals for school operations are essential to ensure that the Board of Education meet its responsibilities for maintenance and operation of the District’s schools. A long range plan for maintenance and operations that is continuously evaluated and updated will be developed by the Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, reviewed by the Superintendent of Schools, and reported to the Board of Education when a change in policy or other action is deemed necessary for the improved operation of the school system.

Board of Education policy-making with regard to school operations and maintenance should be guided by the development of long range plans and goal-setting. School operations goals should be consistent with instructional goals and objectives.

Reviewed February 2000 | Renumbered from P0330 – September 2015

P0310: EVALUATION OF SCHOOL BOARD OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES

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The Board of Education shall review the effectiveness of its internal operations at least once annually. The Superintendent of Schools and others who work regularly with the Board shall be asked to participate in this review and to suggest ways by which the Board can improve its functioning as a deliberative and legislative body.

An effective program of evaluation contains many features. The following conditions are crucial to evaluation that has as its primary purpose the improvement of school board leadership:

Board members should be involved in development of the standards by which they will evaluate themselves;
The evaluation should be a composite of the individual Board members’ opinions, but the Board as a whole should meet to discuss the results;
The evaluation should include a discussion of strengths as well as weaknesses;
The Board should not limit itself to those items that appear on the evaluation form. No form or set of guidelines could encompass the totality of a school board’s responsibilities; and
Each judgment should be supported by as much rational and objective evidence as possible.

When the Board has received the composite profiles from the evaluation, the Board members will discuss the results in detail and formulate a series of objectives for the ensuing year. These objectives will be stated in the form of behavioral change or productivity gains. Implied in this approach is an assumption that a board of education is capable of improvement. The chances that the Board will improve are enhanced if evaluation is carried out systematically in accordance with good planning, conscientious follow-through, and careful assessment of results.

Board operational procedures are presented in Series 9000 “School Board Governance and Operations”.

BOARD EVALUATION

The board believes that periodic, formal and informal evaluations of its operational procedures will improve the board’s performance, exemplify the kind of constructive evaluations the board encourages for all school personnel and programs, and promote a spirit of teamwork throughout the district. Formal evaluations also provide the board with suggestions useful to the board in establishing objectives it will strive to accomplish.

At least once each year, board members will evaluate their own performance, and that of the board as a whole, according to standards presented in the board’s self-evaluation instrument. All of this information should be used by the board each year when it establishes priorities or goals it will strive to accomplish during the coming year. How well the board accomplishes its priorities or goals will be a measure of its performance in any year.

PROCEDURES FOR BOARD OF EDUCATION SELF-EVALUATION

As a regular and scheduled activity, the Board of Education will evaluate its performance.

In the discharge of this responsibility, the Board shall be guided by the following principles:

1. The instrument to be used shall be developed by the Board and include the following areas of responsibility:

a. Educational Leadership

b. Board Operations

c. Relationship with Superintendent

d. Staff: Personnel Relationship

e. Student Relationship

f. Community Relationships

g. instructional Program

h. Business & Finance

i. Non-Instructional Program

j. Board Qualities

k. Performance on Board Goals

l. Overall Effectiveness

2. Each Board member should individually complete the evaluation instrument. The evaluation of record should be a composite of the separate inputs, prepared by the Board President or a designee.

3. The Board may request the Superintendent or other staff personnel to participate in the evaluation process.

4. All Board members as a group should meet to discuss the evaluation. This discussion should cover the strengths as well as shortcomings. This discussion may be conducted during an open Board meeting.

5. The evaluation should be conducted at least annually. A follow-up discussion may be conducted during the year to discuss progress of work on areas identified for improvement.

6. All Board members should prepare for the evaluation by performing a rigorous self- evaluation of his/her involvement and activities as a member of the Board.

7. Each judgment should be supported by as much rationale and objective evidence as possible. The opinion of one Board member should not be the sole basis for judgment on an appraisal item.

8. The evaluation process should be completed no later than the end of each school year (June 30).

9. The evaluation process should be considered as one input to the process of formulating plans and Board priorities for the following year or years.

10. The President of the Board, or his/her designee, will prepare annually a written summary report of the evaluation process and present it to the Board for their information.

The evaluation instrument agreed upon shall become a part of this document, and shall be available for review by any individual not later than August 1 of the year for which it has been adopted.

P0320: EVALUATION OF SUPERINTENDENT

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The Board of Education recognizes that student growth, district progress, and community satisfaction are all affected by the performance of the Superintendent of Schools. The Superintendent cannot function effectively without periodic feedback about his/her performance. Therefore, the Board recognizes its responsibilities to evaluate the Superintendent.

During each year of the Superintendent’s appointment, the Board and the Superintendent will meet to discuss a plan of performance review and accountability for that school year. The final plan adopted shall be at the sole discretion of the Board. Such evaluation shall occur at least annually, pursuant to the regulations of the Commissioner of Education, and will be discussed only during an executive session. The evaluation process is intended to provide the highest quality leadership for the school system.

Board procedures for Evaluation of the Superintendent are presented in Policy Series 9000 “School Board Governance and Operations”.

PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

As a regular and scheduled activity, the Board of Education will evaluate the performance of the Superintendent of Schools.

In the discharge of this responsibility, the Board shall be guided by the following principles:

The instrument to be used should be developed jointly and mutually agreed upon so that the Superintendent will know the basis upon which he/she will be evaluated.
Evaluation should be conducted at a scheduled time and place, with no other items on the agenda, in an executive session with all Board members present.
Each Board member should individually complete the Superintendent Evaluation instrument. The evaluation of record should be a composite of the separate inputs, prepared by the Board President or his/her designee.
All Board members as a group should meet to discuss the evaluation with the Superintendent; there should be a discussion of strengths as well as shortcomings. The initial discussion should take place without the Superintendent present.
The evaluation should be conducted at least annually. This ensures that, should there be a decision not to renew the Superintendent’s contract, there will exist a record of previously identified deficiencies.
Both parties should prepare for the evaluation: the Superintendent by conducting a rigorous self-evaluation; the Board by examining various sources of evidence relating to the Superintendent’s performance of duties.
Each judgment should be supported by as much rationale and objective evidence as possible. The opinion of one Board member should not be the sole basis for judgment on an appraisal item.
The evaluation process should be completed no later than the end of each school year (June 30).
The evaluation process should be considered by both Superintendent and Board as one input to the process of formulating plans and the Superintendent’s Goals for the following year or years.
There should be a discernible relationship between the performance of the Superintendent as evaluated by the Board and the compensation set in the Superintendent’s contract.
The President of the Board will prepare annually a written summary evaluation of the Superintendent’s performance during the school year.

The evaluation instrument mutually agreed upon shall become a part of this document, and shall be available for review by any individual not later than August 1 of the year for which it has been adopted.

Approved February 2000 | Renumbered from P0520 – September 2015 | Reviewed March 2008 | Renumbered from P9720 – September 2015