Reports, guides, handbooks Policy Handbook 2019-20 | Page 43

IV. REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT AND/OR DISCRIMINATION AGAINST STUDENTS A. Reporting a Complaint 1. Any student who believes she/he has experienced ha- rassment, violence or discrimination on the basis of his or her actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex/gender, marital status, familial status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status or veteran status should report the alleged acts immediately, or as soon as possible, to an administrator, counselor, or student services advocate in that school. 2. Any District employee who observes an act of harassment, violence or discrimination toward a student shall intervene to attempt to stop the act and shall report it to the appropri- ate person immediately, or as soon as possible. 3. Any District employee or student who witnesses or has knowledge or belief of conduct that may be harassment, violence or discrimination toward a student shall inform an administrator, counselor, or student services advocate immediately, or as soon after the incident as possible. A counselor or student services advocate must promptly report the information to an administrator. 4. The complaint (verbal or written) should be reported immediately, or as soon after the incident as possible; delays between the date of the alleged incident and the reporting date may make investigations more difficult. 5. The school board designates the Title IX Coordinator/ Equity Coordinator to monitor and receive student reports or complaints of harassment, violence and discrimination against students: Title IX Coordinator/Equity Coordinator Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] 6. The school board designates the 504 Coordinator to monitor and receive student reports or complaints of disability harassment, violence and discrimination: 504 Coordinator Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] 7. If the complaint involves an administrator, the complaint should be filed directly with the Title IX/Equity Coordina- tor, who will advise the Superintendent. If a complaint involves the Title IX/Equity Coordinator, the complaint shall be filed directly with the superintendent. If the complaint involves the superintendent, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board: Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] 8. If the complaint involves a school board member, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board chair: Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] 2019-20 School Handbook ahschools.us/policies 9. If the complaint involves the school board chair, the complaint shall be filed directly with the school board vice chair: Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] 10. Nothing in this policy shall prevent any person from reporting harassment, violence, or discrimination directly to the Title IX Coordinator/Equity Coordinator or to the superintendent: Superintendent, Anoka Hennepin School District Mailing address: 2727 N Ferry St., Anoka, MN 55303 Telephone: 763-506-1000 Email: [email protected] 11.Although the district encourages the reporting student to use the report form set forth in this policy, use of formal reporting forms is not required. Oral reports shall be con- sidered complaints as well. The form is available in the counseling and administrative office of each school, the district office, and on the district’s website at: ahschools.us/complaintform Alternative, accessible means of filing a complaint, such as through a personal interview or by tape recording, will be made available for individuals with disabilities. B. Investigation– Students 1. Upon receipt of a report or complaint, the district shall promptly undertake or authorize an investigation. The investigation will be completed within thirty days from receipt of the complaint, unless impracticable. 2. The investigation may, as appropriate, consist of personal interviews with the alleged target, the reporter (if some- one other than the alleged target), the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and others who may have knowledge of the alleged incident(s) or circumstances giving rise to the complaint. The investigation may also consist of any other methods and documents deemed pertinent by the investigator. 3. In determining whether alleged conduct constitutes a violation of this policy, the district will consider the age and level of understanding of the student(s) involved, the facts and surrounding circumstances, the nature of the behavior, past incidents or past or continuing patterns of behavior, the relationships between the parties involved and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred. Whether a particular action or incident constitutes a vio- lation of this policy requires a determination based on all the facts and surrounding circumstances. 4. The district may, at its discretion, take immediate steps, based on the severity of the allegations, to protect the parties involved in the complaint process pending completion of an investigation. 5. The intentional filing of a false report will be considered to be a violation of the student discipline policy. 41