discuss their feelings of loss and their memories of the victim, both good and bad without penalty.
7. All school personnel shall be especially alert to signs of contemplated suicide among the victim’ s peers.
8. Teaching staff members, under the direction of the Principal, shall attempt to prevent social contagion by: a. Preventing glorification or romanticization of the suicide b. Helping pupils recognize the suicide is irreversible and permanent and does not truly resolve problems. c. Encouraging pupils to ask probing questions when a fellow pupil suggests suicide and to report such suggestions to a teaching staff member, and d. Discussing ways of handling depression and anxiety without resort to self-destruction.
9. Pupils who were close to the victim, and their parent( s) or legal guardian( s), shall be offered special counseling services and notified of available community mental health services.
Policy R 5350 Issued: March 14, 2012 Revised: December 11, 2013
INVESTIGATIONS, GENERALLY Upon receiving a report, the school principal or assistant principal will confer with the student who has allegedly been harassed as soon as is reasonably possible, but in no event more than two( 2) school days from receiving the report, in order to obtain a clear understanding of the basis of the complaint and to discuss what action the student is seeking. In certain situations, the District may request that District counsel or an outside consultant participate in the investigation.
At the initial meeting with the student, the school principal, assistant principal, or other assigned investigator, will explain the avenues for informal and formal action and provide a description of the grievance procedure. The investigator will also explain that whether or not the student files a formal grievance or otherwise requests action, the district will take steps to terminate the harassment and to prevent recurring harassment or retaliation against anyone who makes a harassment report or participates in an investigation. The investigator will also explain to the student that any request for confidentiality will be honored to the extent reasonably possible, so long as doing so does not preclude the school from responding effectively to the harassment and preventing future harassment. A complaint of harassment may involve matters that are distressing or personal and which the student may find difficult to discuss in detail. The investigator will therefore conduct the meeting( s) with the utmost sensitivity. A written record of the meeting( s) will be made, which may be presented as evidence at any subsequent disciplinary hearing.
Following the initial meeting with the student and any other persons with relevant information, the investigator will meet with the alleged harasser in order to obtain a response to the allegation. The investigator will complete the investigation within ten( 10) school days of the initial meeting with the student, unless such time is extended by the Superintendent / designee. Within five( 5) school days of completing the investigation, the investigator will determine whether the matter should proceed formally or informally. On the basis of the administrative investigation, and if the student requests that the matter be resolved in an informal manner and the investigator agrees that the matter is suitable for such resolution, the building administration may attempt to resolve the matter informally through conciliation.
If the person requests a formal grievance process, the investigator will transfer the record to the Affirmative Action Officer for formal resolution within seven( 7) school days of completing the investigation, and notify the parties.
After reviewing the record made by the investigator, the Affirmative Action Officer and / or the Superintendent’ s designee may consider additional information / evidence necessary to determine the need for consequences and other action to resolve the case. Within ten( 10) school days of receiving the record, the grievance officer will determine any sanctions or other actions deemed appropriate, including recommendations to the Board for disciplinary or other action.
Whether or not a formal grievance was filed, the district will take all steps necessary to end the harassment, to prevent harassment from recurring, and to prevent retaliation against anyone who reports harassment or participates in a harassment investigation.
61 | P a g e