E. A per son who engages in an act that violates school policy
or law in order to be initiated into or affiliated with a student
organization shall be subject to discipline for that act.
F. The School District will act to investigate all complaints of
hazing and will discipline or take appropriate action against
any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor or
other employee of the school district who is found to have
violated this policy.
III. DEFINITIONS
A. “Hazing” means committing an act against a student, or
coercing a student into committing an act, that creates a
substantial risk of harm to a person, in order for the student
to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization,
or for any other purpose. The term “hazing” includes but is
not limited to:
1. Any type of physical brutality such as striking, branding,
electric shocking, or placing a harmful substance on the
body.
2. Any type of physical activity such as sleep deprivation,
exposure to weather, confinement in a restricted area,
calisthenics or other activity that subjects the student to
an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects
the mental or physical health or safety of the student.
3. Any activity involving the consumption of any alcoholic
beverage, drug, tobacco product or other food, liquid, or
substance that subjects the student to an unreasonable
risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physi-
cal health or safety of the student.
4. Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with
ostracism, that subjects a student to extreme mental
stress, embarrassment, shame, or humiliation; or that
adversely affects the mental health or dignity of the
student or discourages the student from remaining in
school.
5. Any activity that causes or requires the student to
perform a task that involves violation of State or
Federal law or of a School District policy or a school
regulation.
B. “Student Organization” means a group, club, or organization
having students as its primary members or participants. It
includes grade levels, classes, teams, activities or particular
school events. A student organization does not have to be an
official school organization to come within the terms of this
definition.
IV. REPORTING PROCEDURES
A. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of
hazing, or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct
which may constitute hazing, shall report the alleged act(s)
immediately to an appropriate School District official
designated by this policy.
2019-20 School Handbook
ahschools.us/policies
B. The building Principal is the person responsible for receiving
reports of hazing at the building level. Any person may
report hazing directly to the Student Services Coordinator
or to an Associate Superintendent.
C. Teachers, administrators, volunteers, contractors, and other
school employees of the school district shall be particularly
alert to possible situations, circumstances, or events which
might include hazing. Any person who receives a report of,
observes, or has other knowledge or belief of conduct which
may constitute hazing shall inform the building Principal
immediately.
D. Submission of a good faith complaint or report of hazing will
not affect the complainant or reporter's future employment,
grades, or work assignments.
V. SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION
A. Upon receiving a complaint or report of hazing, the School
District shall undertake or authorize an investigation by our
School District administration or a third party designated by
the School District.
B. The School District may take immediate steps, at its
discretion, to protect the complainant, reporter, students, or
others, pending completion of an investigation of hazing.
C. Upon completion of an investigation, the School District will
take appropriate action. Such action may include, but is not
limited to, warning, suspension, exclusion, expulsion, trans-
fer, remediation, termination, or discharge. Disciplinary con-
sequences will be sufficiently severe to deter violations and
to appropriately discipline prohibited behavior. School Dis-
trict action taken for violation of this policy will be consistent
with the requirements of the applicable bargaining agree-
ments, applicable statutory authority, including the Min-
nesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, and other School
District policies and regulations.
VI. REPRISAL
The School District will discipline or take appropriate action
against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor,
or other employee of the School District who retaliates against
any person who makes a good faith report of alleged hazing or
against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in an
investigation or a proceeding or hearing relating to such hazing.
Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation,
reprisal or harassment.
VII. DISSEMINATION OF POLICY
This policy shall appear in each building's student and staff
handbook and in the School District's Student Discipline Policy
Manual, and in the Administrative Policy Manual. It shall be
published annually in a format which shall be accessible to the
communities included in this.
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