Reports, guides, handbooks Policy Handbook 2021-22 | Page 44

X . DISSEMINATION OF THE POLICY
1 . Each school will ensure that this policy is discussed at the start of each school year with all staff and with each student in a manner appropriate to his / her age and level of understanding and the principal or a designee will document the date it was discussed in each classroom .
2 . This policy , including possible consequences for a violation , will be in the student handbook of every school .
3 . This policy will be conspicuously posted throughout each school and other District buildings in areas accessible to students and staff . Posters will be made available to each school for duplication .
4 . This policy will be sent to every home by mail at the start of each school year as part of the district publication , Back to School News . If a newsletter is sent to the homes of students , a summary of this policy / procedure will be included in that newsletter at least once each year .
5 . This policy shall be given to each district employee and independent contractor at the time of entering into the person ’ s employment contract . XI . REVIEW OF THE POLICY This policy will be reviewed by the Board or its designee on an annual basis for effectiveness and appropriateness and , if necessary , will be revised to conform with applicable state and federal law .
Policy in Practice : The Language of Harassment The district is committed to creating an inclusive and positive climate in all of our schools so all students feel comfortable , safe and ready to learn . The language of harassment has no place in our schools . The language of harassment is addressed in section III B , paragraph six of the Anoka-Hennepin School District discipline policy . It is language that creates a hostile , offensive or intimidating school environment . It is communication of any kind ( words , writing , symbols ) that is intended to or has the effect of hurting , demeaning , degrading , abusing , insulting and / or intimidating another person or groups of people , related to a person ’ s race , color , creed , religion , national origin , sex / gender , marital status , disability , status with regard to public assistance , sexual orientation , age , family care leave status , or veteran status . Such communication , even a single incident , may constitute a violation of the law . Some examples of different kinds of harassment in schools are : Race , Color , Religion or National Origin Harassment
• Students anonymously insert offensive notes into African-American students ’ lockers and notebooks , use racial slurs , and threaten African-American students who try to sit near them in the cafeteria .
• A student posts on a Facebook page “ the Mexicans in our school should all go home .” The next day a loud argument involving two students discussing “ racist Facebook posts ” occurs in the hallway at school .
Sexual Harassment
• Shortly after enrolling at a new high school , a female student has a brief romance with another student . After the couple break ups , other male and female students begin routinely calling the new student sexually-charged names , spreading rumors about her sexual behavior , and sending her threatening text messages and e-mails .
Sexual Orientation / Gender-Based Harassment
• Over the course of a school year , a high school student is called names ( including anti-gay slurs and sexual comments ) both to his face and on social networking sites . He is threatened and ridiculed at school because he does not conform to stereotypical notions of how teenage boys are expected to act and appear ( e . g ., effeminate mannerisms , nontraditional choice of extracurricular activities , apparel , and personal grooming choices ).
Disability Harassment
• Classmates mock student with a learning disability while in school and on the school bus . Harassment is banned not just at school during school hours , but also before or after school hours on all school property , including the school bus , school functions , or school events held at other locations . The policy also applies to any off-campus conduct that causes or threatens to cause a substantial and material disruption at school , or interferes with the rights of students or employees to be free from a hostile school environment taking into consideration the totality of the circumstances on and off campus . Some examples of off-campus conduct that spill over into school are as follows :
• A student alleges that she was sexually assaulted by another student off school grounds and that , upon returning to school , she was taunted and harassed by other students who are the assailant ’ s friends .
• While at home , a student posts a song that contains statements about a fellow student ’ s sexual orientation on Facebook for his 1,000 “ friends ,” many of whom are students at his school . The song goes “ viral ” and is the primary topic of conversation at school for weeks , and results in the harassed student staying home and missing school .
An example where off-campus conduct does not have a continuing effect at school ( so that the school is not in a position to impose consequences ):
• At a neighborhood party on a Saturday night , two students got into racial name-calling and a fight broke out between the students . There were no repercussions at school following the incident .
The district ’ s discipline policy addresses and gives consequences for such language , but we as a community have to work together to stop this type of harassment . Parents and district staff need to let all of our students know that such language is wrong and it should not be tolerated . In order to create an inclusive and positive learning community students , parents and district staff must work to end the language of harassment through education and appropriate consequences . After an investigation an administrator will use his / her discretion to determine if there has been a violation of policy concerning the language of harassment . If there has been such a violation , disciplinary action or consequences , as set forth below , may follow . An administrator , with the superintendent ’ s designee , may use
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