Harassment of employees and students by employees will not be tolerated in the school district. School district includes school district facilities, school district premises, and non-school property if the employee or student is at any school sponsored, school approved or school related activity or function, such as field trips or athletic events where students are under the control of the school district or where the employee is engaged in school business.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to, sex, race and color, national origin, religion and creed, age, marital/parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, or socioeconomic status or familial status. Harassment by Board members, administrators, employees, parents, students, vendors, and others doing business with the school district is prohibited. Employees whose behavior is found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to the investigation procedure which may result in discipline, up to and including, discharge or other appropriate action. Other individuals whose behavior is found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate sanctions as determined and imposed by the superintendent or Board.
Sexual harassment shall include, but not be limited to, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
• submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment;
• submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual; or
• such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.
Other types of harassment may include, but not be limited to, jokes, stories, pictures or objects that are offensive, tend to alarm, annoy, abuse or demean certain protected individuals and groups.
It shall be the responsibility of the Board members, administrators, licensed and classified employees, students and others having business or other contact with the school district to act appropriately under this policy. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent and investigator to inform and educate employees or students and others involved with the school district about harassment and the school district's policy prohibiting harassment.
All members of the Columbus School District, including, but not necessarily limited to, the Board, the administration, the faculty, the staff, and the students, are expected to conduct themselves at all times so as to provide an atmosphere free from sexual harassment. Any person who engages in sexual harassment while acting as a member of the school community will be in violation of this policy and subject to the procedures outlined below.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the investigator, to develop administrative rules regarding this policy.
Approved: November 18, 2013
Reviewed:
Revised: