AC-R - Non-Discrimination Policy Including Harassment and Retaliation

DUDLEY-CHARLTON REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

POLICY - AC-R

Non-Discrimination Policy Including Harassment and Retaliation

The Dudley-Charlton Regional School District will respond promptly to any reports or complaints of discrimination, including harassment and retaliation, or other violations of civil rights, pursuant to our detailed response protocol. Where it is determined that discrimination or harassment has occurred, the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District will act promptly to eliminate the conduct and will impose developmentally- appropriate disciplinary, restorative, and/or corrective action.

Any member of the school community who is found, after investigation, to have engaged in any form of discrimination, including harassment or retaliation, against another member of the school community, will be subject to consequences determined appropriate by the administration. Such consequences may include restorative measures and corrective action, and/or student discipline or staff disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Definitions

"Discrimination" and "Harassment" are defined as unwelcome conduct, whether verbal or physical, that is based on any individual´s actual or perceived race*, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, religion, disability, age, genetic information, active military/veteran status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, homelessness, ancestry, ethnic background, national origin, or any other category protected by state or federal law, discrimination and/or harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• Display or circulation of written materials or pictures that are degrading to a person or group described above.
• Verbal abuse or insults about, directed at, or made in the presence of, an individual or group described above.
• Any action or speech that contributes to, promotes or results in a hostile or discriminatory environment to an individual or group described above.
• Any action or speech that is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent that it either (i) interferes with or limits the ability of an individual or group described above to participate in or benefit from employment or a program or activity of the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District; or (ii) creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational or working environment.

Harassment may include, but is not limited to, any unwelcome, inappropriate, or illegal physical, written, verbal, graphic, or electronic conduct, and that has the intent or effect of creating a hostile education or work environment by limiting the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from the district´s programs and activities or by unreasonably interfering with that individual´s education or work environment or, if the conduct were to persist, would likely create a hostile educational or work environment.

Harassment includes Sexual Harassment and Sex-Based Harassment which are more specifically addressed in File ACBB.

Retaliation means intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination against any person by the District, a student, or an employee or other person authorized by the District to provide aid, benefit, or service under the District´s education program or activity, for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX or other Federal or State law providing protection against sex discrimination including sexual and sex-based harassment, or because the person has reported information, made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing as provided under District´s , including in an informal resolution process, in grievance procedures and in any other actions taken by the District under § 106.44(f)(1) of Title IX.

Resources

(Items in ( ) are not approved by School Committee for Policy AC-R)

The following individual is designated as the District ADA, Title VI, Title IX, and Sexual Harassment Coordinator, and Grievance Officer for the School Committee, administration, faculty, staff, volunteers in the schools, and for parties who are contracted to perform work for the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District, and can be reached at:

(Kelly True, Assistant Superintendent)


68 Dudley-Oxford Road, Dudley, MA 01571


508.943.6888 x282

The following individual is designated as the District ADA, Title VI, Title IX, and Sexual Harassment and Civil Rights Coordinator for students in the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District.

(Kelly True, Assistant Superintendent)
68 Dudley-Oxford Road, Dudley, MA 01571
508.943.6888 x282

In addition, (Heather Harriman) is the District 504 Coordinator, and can be reached at:

68 Dudley-Oxford Road, Dudley, MA 01571
508.943.6888 x278

Inquiries concerning the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District’s policies and protocols, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations, and complaints may also be directed to the Superintendent. Inquiries about laws, statutes, regulations and compliance may also be directed to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor, Suite 900, Boston, MA 02109; (617) 289-0111; Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov; Website: www.ed.gov/ocr

*race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture, hair type, hair length and protective hairstyles. 

 

LEGAL REFS.:

• Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 Executive Order 11246, as amended by E.O. 11375
• Equal Pay Act, as amended by the Education Amendments of 1972
• Title IX
• Education Amendments of 1972
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
• No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. § 7905 (The Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act)
• M.G.L. 71B:1 et seq. (Chapter 766 of the Acts of 1972)
• Acts of 2022, Chapter 117
• https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2022/Chapter117

CROSS REF:

• ACE, Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
• ACBB, Harassment
• GBA, Equal Employment Opportunity
• IJ, Instructional Materials
• JB, Equal Educational Opportunities
• ACGA, Civil Rights Grievance Procedure
• ACGB, Title IX Sexual Discrimination Grievance Procedure