BULLYING POLICY
File: JFCK

HARASSMENT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING

Students shall conduct themselves according to the rules and policies of the District, and shall conduct themselves in a respectful manner toward District employees and other students.

The District prohibits discrimination and/or harassment of students and by students, employees and others at school on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other applicable status protected by law. Sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination, which violates Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 2000de, et seq., and the Educational Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), 20 U.S.C. § 1681, et seq.

The District prohibits any form of harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation, or bullying of students on school premises, a school bus or other school related vehicle, a school bus stop, an activity or event sponsored by a school, whether or not it is held on school premises, and any other program or function where the school is responsible for the student.

Harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation, or bullying may occur adult to student, student to adult, student to student, or adult to adult and may occur against members of the same sex as well as against members of the opposite sex. Students who engage in harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation, or bullying shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension or expulsion.

The District shall investigate all reports or complaints of harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation, bullying, and violence, either formal or informal, verbal or written, in a prompt, thorough, and impartial manner. The District shall take disciplinary action against any student or school personnel found to have violated this policy. District Policy is implemented as outlined in the District’s Administrative Regulations JFCK-R.

The District’s Title IX Coordinator oversees compliance with all aspects of the Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying policy. The Title IX Coordinator reports to the Superintendent, and may be reached at the District Administration Building, 351 Monroe Avenue, Green River, WY 82935, (307) 872-8813.

The Special Services Director oversees compliance with this Policy in cases of discrimination or harassment based on disability. The Special Services Director may be reached at the District Administration Building, 351 Monroe Avenue, Green River, WY 82935, (307) 872-5505.

In cases where a complaint is made against the Title IX Coordinator or Special Services Director, the Superintendent shall oversee compliance with this Policy. The Superintendent may be reached at the District Administration Building, 351 Monroe Avenue, Green River, WY 82935, (307) 872-5501.

CONFIDENTIALITY

If a complainant and/or alleged target does not wish for his/her name to be shared, does not wish for an investigation to take place, or does not want a formal resolution to be pursued, the complainant and/or alleged target may make such a request to the building principal, who shall evaluate that request in light
of the duty to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment for all students, staff, and other third parties engaging in District activities. Note that the District’s ability to remedy and respond to a reported incident may be limited if the complainant and/or alleged target does not want the District to proceed with an investigation and/or the resolution.

RETALIATION

The District prohibits retaliation and shall discipline any individual who retaliates against an individual who reports alleged harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation, bullying, or violence, or an individual who testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation or proceeding relating to a complaint or report under this policy.
Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, harassment, threats and menacing behavior, coercion, or discriminatory acts taken against any person who reports, files a complaint, or participates in an investigation conducted pursuant to this policy.

FALSE ACCUSATION

A false accusation of harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation, or bullying under this policy can have a serious detrimental effect on innocent parties. Any student who is found to have made a deliberate or intentional false accusation, report, or complaint is subject to discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion. A finding that a claim under this policy is not substantiated after investigation does not equate to a false accusation, if the claim is made in good faith.

DISSEMINATION OF POLICY AND TRAINING

At the start of each school year, every teacher shall be required to review this policy with the students in his/her class and discuss that policy with them. The District shall provide students with age-appropriate information on the recognition and prevention of all forms of harassment, sexual harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and their rights and responsibilities under this and other District policies and rules.

This policy shall be included in the student manual or handbook and shall also be available to the public on the District’s website in a manner to be determined by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The District shall provide copies of the policy to parents in a manner and method to be determined by each building principal, which may include distribution of the student handbook to parents.

The District shall incorporate yearly training and education on this policy in its professional development programs and the policy shall be provided to volunteers and other non certified employees of the District who have significant contact with students.

DISCLAIMER

A. This policy shall not be interpreted to prevent an alleged target from seeking redress pursuant to any other applicable civil or criminal law. This policy does not create or alter any civil cause of action for monetary damages against any person nor shall it constitute grounds for any claim or motion raised by either the state or defendant in any proceedings, and the defense of immunity shall be retained by the District and may be asserted in any action arising under the Wyoming Safe School Climate Act.[1]

B. In the event of any ambiguity, this policy and associated administrative regulations should be interpreted in conformity with the Wyoming Safe School Climate Act, W.S. §§ 21-4-311 through 21-4-315.

Adopted: November 13, 2018
Revised: March 12, 2019