Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
AR 5131.43
HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING
It shall be a violation for any student or staff member to harass, intimidate or bully another person while at school, traveling to and from school, or attending school-sponsored events. Moreover, it shall be a violation for any school staff member to knowingly ignore or tolerate harassment, intimidation or bullying at school or at school sponsored events.
For the purpose of this policy, school staff includes school employees, School Board members, agents, volunteers, contractors or other persons subject to the supervision and control of the school district.
Bullying Defined
Bullying is the repeated intimidation of others by inflicting or threatening physical, verbal, written, electronic, or emotional abuse, or damage to another’s property. Bullying may include, but is not limited to, conduct such as physical abuse, damage or theft of another’s property, social exclusion from activities, verbal taunts, name-calling, rumors, innuendoes, drawings, jokes, gestures, pranks, and put-downs relating to real or perceived differences, including another’s culture, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, body size, physical appearance, clothing, personality, age, socioeconomic, status, ability or disability or other distinguishing characteristics.
Intimidation Defined
Intimidation is defined as frightening or use of force to coerce the behavior of another person(s).
Hazing as a Form of Bullying
Hazing includes any act that endangers the health or safety of a person or subjects that person to physical discomfort or embarrassment because of the person’s participation or membership in, or as a condition of attaining or maintaining membership in or a position with or affiliation with, any classroom, grade level or school-sponsored activity or function. Hazing related to non-school sponsored activities is also prohibited if the hazing behavior occurs on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity or function. Hazing is considered a form of bullying and is prohibited by this policy regardless of whether the subjects of the hazing are, or profess to be, willing participants in the hazing activity.
Sanctions for Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying
Appropriate sanctions will be taken against students and/or employees who commit acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying. For students, the sanctions must be appropriate to the seriousness of the incident and may include detention, suspension, and/or expulsion in accordance with state law, district policy, administrative regulation, and student handbooks. For school staff, sanctions will be in accordance with state law, district policy, administrative regulation, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable codes of ethics.
Reporting Procedure
Note: A staff member or student who observes or receives a sexual image on a computer or personal electronic device should not forward that image electronically. The image should be secured and the device turned over to an administrator. Any sexual image of a minor requires reporting to OCS and/or law enforcement.
- Any student or staff member who believes he or she has been the victim of harassment, intimidation or bullying may report the alleged act to the school principal or designee. If a student is more comfortable reporting to a person other than the principal, the student may contact any school employee. The principal or designee will accept anonymous reports but formal disciplinary action may not be taken without corroborating evidence.
- Any school employee, or an employee of an entity under contract with the school district, who receives a report, witnesses harassment, intimidation or bullying, or has reliable information that a student has been subject to harassment, intimidation or bullying shall act immediately to protect the alleged victim, if necessary, and shall immediately report the incident to the student’s principal or designee for prompt investigation.
- Upon receipt of a report of harassment, intimidation or bullying, the principal or designee shall forward a timely written report of the incident and his or her response to the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinator or other individual identified by the Superintendent. That individual shall compile and maintain data on all incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying that result in suspension or expulsion. Such data shall be reported to the Department of Education and Early Development on an annual basis.
- The principal or designee shall by telephone and in writing notify the parents or guardians of the students involved of the alleged harassment, intimidation or bullying incident. The notice shall advise individuals involved of their due process rights.
Investigation and Corrective Action
- The principal or designee shall promptly and thoroughly investigate all alleged acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
- All involved in an alleged act of harassment, intimidation or bullying shall be advised by the principal of his or her due process rights.
- At the conclusion of the investigation, the principal shall take such disciplinary action deemed necessary and appropriate to end the misconduct and prevent its recurrence. The principal will act in accordance with the student conduct code, the teacher code of ethics, and paraprofessional code of ethics to discipline the offending party(ies).
- Incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying that involve criminal activity shall be reported to law enforcement.
False Report
Students and staff who knowingly or willfully make a false report of harassment, intimidation or bullying, or provide false information in connection with an investigation, will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension/expulsion for students and termination for staff.
Retaliation Prohibited
Retaliation or reprisal against any person who reports an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying, or cooperates in an investigation, is strictly prohibited. Any such retaliation or reprisals will result in suspension or expulsion of offending students, and disciplinary action up to termination for school employees.
KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Adoption Date: 3/26/08
Revision Date: 1/26/11
Revision Date: 8/22/2012
Revision Date: 02/08/2017