502.11 - Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy

Code No. 502.11

ANTI-BULLYING/HARASSMENT POLICY

The school district is committed to providing all students with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school district community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassment of or by students, staff, and volunteers is against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the board. Bullying and/or harassing behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of school district employees to maintain a safe and civil environment, and the ability of students to learn and succeed. Therefore, school district employees, volunteers, and students shall not engage in bullying or harassing behavior while on school district property, while on school district owned or school district operated vehicles, while attending or participating in school district sponsored or sanctioned activities, and while away from school district grounds if the conduct materially interferes with the orderly operation of the educational environment or is likely to do so.

Complaints may be filed with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee pursuant to the regulation accompanying this policy. Complaints will be investigated within a reasonable time frame.

A school district employee, volunteer or student or a student’s parent or guardian who promptly, reasonably, and in good faith reports an incident of bullying or harassment, in compliance with the procedures in the regulation, to the appropriate school district official designated by the school district, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability relating to such report and to participation in any administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from or relating to the report.

Retaliation Prohibited

Individuals who knowingly file false bullying or harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation may be subject to discipline by appropriate measures.

Any student found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. Any school district employee found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, termination of employment. Any school district volunteer found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, removal from service and exclusion from school grounds.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, the defined words shall have the following meaning:

• Electronic means any communication involving the transmission of information by wire, radio, optic cable, electromagnetic or other similar means. Electronic includes, but is not limited to, communication via electronic mail, internet-based communications, pager service, cell phones, and electronic text messaging.

• Harassment and bullying mean any repeated or potentially repeated electronic, written, verbal or physical act or or other ongoing conduct toward a student based on any trait or characteristic of the student which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:

• 1) Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property. • 2) Has a substantial detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health. • 3) Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s academic performance.

• 4) Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by a school district.

• Trait or characteristic of the student includes but is not limited to age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, socioeconomic status or familial status.

• Volunteer means an individual who has regular, significant contact with students.

Publication of Policy

The board will annually publish this policy. The policy may be publicized by the following means: • Inclusion in the student handbook,

• Inclusion in the employee handbook

• Inclusion in the registration materials

• Inclusion on the school district or school district’s web site,

• Copies available at the central administrative office at: 1505 Washington Street, Ruthven, Iowa 51358

Approved: 4-10-23 Reviewed: 11-15-23 Revised:

dawn.gibson.cm… Fri, 04/14/2023 - 13:19

502.11E1 - Complaint Form

Date of complaint:	_____________________________________________________
Name of Complainant:	_____________________________________________________
Are you filling out this form for yourself or someone else (please identify the individual if you are submitting on behalf of someone else):	_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Who or what entity do you believe harassed or bullied you (or someone else)?	_____________________________________________________
Date and place of alleged incident(s):	_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Names of any witnesses (if any):	_____________________________________________________

Nature of harassment bullying alleged (check all that apply):

Age	Physical Attribute	Sex
Disability	Physical/Mental Ability	Sexual Orientation
Familial Status	Political Belief	Socio-economic Background
Gender Identity	Political Party Preference	Other – Please Specify:
Marital Status	Race/Color
National Origin/Ethnic Background/Ancestry	Religion/Creed

In the space below, please describe what happened and why you believe that you or someone else has been harassed or bullied. Please be as specific as possible and attach additional pages if necessary.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________

dawn.gibson.cm… Fri, 04/14/2023 - 13:27

502.11E2 - Witness Disclosure Form

Name of Witness:	_____________________________________________________
Date of interview:	_____________________________________________________
Date of initial complaint:	_____________________________________________________
Name of Complainant:	_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Date and place of alleged incident(s):	_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Nature of harassment or bullying alleged (check all that apply):

Age	Physical Attribute	Sex
Disability	Physical/Mental Ability	Sexual Orientation
Familial Status	Political Belief	Socio-economic Background
Gender Identity	Political Party Preference	Other – Please Specify:
Marital Status	Race/Color
National Origin/Ethnic Background/Ancestry	Religion/Creed

Description of incident witnessed: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Additional information: _________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________

dawn.gibson.cm… Fri, 04/14/2023 - 13:25

502.11E3 - Disposition of Complaint Form

Date:	_____________________________________________________
Date of initial complaint:	_____________________________________________________
Name of Complainant:	_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Date and place of alleged incident(s):	_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________
Name of Respondent (include whether the Respondent is a student or employee):	_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Nature of harassment or bullying alleged (check all that apply):

Age	Physical Attribute	Sex
Disability	Physical/Mental Ability	Sexual Orientation
Familial Status	Political Belief	Socio-economic Background
Gender Identity	Political Party Preference	Other – Please Specify:
Marital Status	Race/Color
National Origin/Ethnic Background/Ancestry	Religion/Creed

Summary of Investigation: _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________

dawn.gibson.cm… Fri, 04/14/2023 - 13:23

502.11R1 - Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy - Investigation Procedures

502.11R1

ANTI-BULLYING/HARASSMENT POLICY – INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES

Filing a Complaint

A student who believes they have been bullied and/or harassed may file a complaint with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee. The complaint form is available The complaint form is available through the building offices or on the school website under Board Policies (https://ruthven.iowaschoolfinance.com/policy/50211e1-complaint-form). An alternate will be designated in the event it is claimed that the superintendent or superintendent’s designee committed the alleged bullying and/or harassment or some other conflict of interest exists. Complaints shall be filed within 180 days of the event giving rise to the complaint or from the date the Complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence. The Complainant will state the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested. The Complainant shall receive assistance as needed.

Investigation

The school district will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of bullying or harassment. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee (hereinafter Investigator) will be responsible for handling all complaints alleging bullying or harassment.

The investigation may include, but is not limited to the following:

Interviews with the Complainant and the individual named in the complaint (Respondent)

A request for the Complainant to provide a written statement regarding the nature of the complaint; A request for the Respondent to provide a written statement;

Interviews with witnesses identified during the course of the investigation;

A request for witnesses identified during the course of the investigation to provide a written statement; and Review and collection of documentation or information deemed relevant to the investigation.

The Investigator shall consider the totality of circumstances presented in determining whether conduct objectively constitutes bullying or harassment as defined in board policy. Upon completion of the investigation, the Investigator shall issue a report with respect to the findings and provide a copy of the report to the appropriate building principal or superintendent if the investigation involved the building principal.

The complaint and identity of the Complainant, Respondent or witnesses will only be disclosed as reasonably necessary in connection with the investigation or as required by law or policy. Similarly, evidence uncovered in the investigation shall be kept confidential to the extent reasonably possible.

Decision

The investigator, building principal or superintendent, depending on the individuals involved, shall inform the Complainant and the Respondent about the outcome of the investigation. If, after an investigation, a student is found to be in violation of the policy, the student shall be disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include suspension and expulsion. If after an investigation a school district employee is found to be in violation of this policy, the employee shall be disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include termination. If after an investigation a school district volunteer is found to be in violation of this policy, the volunteer shall be subject to appropriate measures, which may include exclusion from school grounds.

Individuals who knowingly file false bullying and/or harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation may be subject to discipline by appropriate measures, as shall any person who is found to have retaliated against another in violation of this policy. Any student found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject

to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. Any school district employee found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, termination of employment. Any school district volunteer found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, exclusion from school grounds.

Approved: 4-10-23 Reviewed: Revised: 11-15-23

dawn.gibson.cm… Fri, 04/14/2023 - 13:22