The Board of Education recognizes that learning environments that are safe and supportive can increase student attendance and improve academic achievement. A student’s ability to learn and achieve high academic standards, and a school’s ability to educate students, is compromised by incidents of discrimination, harassment or bullying, including but not limited to
cyber-bullying, taunting and intimidation. Therefore, in accordance with the Dignity for All Students Act, Education Law, Article 2, the District will strive to create an environment free of discrimination and harassment and will foster civility in the schools to prevent and prohibit conduct which is inconsistent with the District’s educational mission.
The District condemns and prohibits all forms of discrimination, harassment or bullying of students based on actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex by school employees or students on school property and at school-sponsored activities and events that take place at locations off
school property. In addition, actions taken outside of school sponsored events, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property, may be subject to discipline.
Dignity Act Coordinator
At least one (1) employee at every school shall be designated as the Dignity Act Coordinator(s). The Dignity Act Coordinator(s) will be thoroughly trained to handle human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (identity or expression) and sex. The Board of Education shall appoint the Dignity Act Coordinator(s) and share the name(s) and contact information with all school personnel, students, and parents/persons in parental relation.
If a Dignity Act Coordinator vacates his/her position, another school employee shall immediately be designated for an interim appointment as Coordinator, pending approval from the Board of Education, within thirty (30) days of the date the position was vacated. In the event a Coordinator is unable to perform the duties of the position for an extended period of time, another school employee shall immediately be designated for an interim appointment as
Coordinator, pending return of the previous Coordinator to the position.
Training
Training will be provided each school year for all District employees in conjunction with existing professional development training to raise staff awareness and sensitivity of discrimination, harassment or bullying directed at students that are committed by students or school employees on school property or at a school function. Training will include ways to
promote a positive school environment that is free from discrimination, harassment or bullying, emphasize positive relationships, and demonstrate prevention and intervention techniques to assist employees in recognizing, discouraging and responding to discrimination, harassment or bullying, as well as ensuring the safety of the victims.
Instruction in grades Kindergarten through 12 shall include a component on civility, citizenship and character education. Such component shall instruct students on the principles of honesty, tolerance, personal responsibility, respect for others, observance of laws and rules, courtesy, dignity and other traits which will enhance the quality of their experiences in, and
contributions to, the community.
For the purposes of this policy, “tolerance,” “respect for others” and “dignity” shall include awareness and sensitivity to discrimination or harassment and civility in the relations of people of different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, genders and sexes.
DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS ACT 5311.9
Rules against discrimination and harassment will be included in the Code of Conduct, publicized District-wide and disseminated to all staff and parents. An age-appropriate summary shall be distributed to all students at a school assembly at the beginning of each school year.
Reports and Investigations of Discrimination and Harassment
The District will investigate all complaints of harassment and discrimination, either formal or informal, and take prompt corrective measures, as necessary. Students who have been bullied, parents whose children have been bullied or other students who observe bullying behavior are encouraged to make a verbal and/or written complaint to the building principal, Dignity Act Coordinator, or any school personnel in accordance with the training and guidelines provided. Staff who observe or learn of incident(s) of bullying are required, in accordance with State law, to make an oral report to the building principal or Dignity Act Coordinator within one school day and to fill out the district reporting form within two school days.
Complaints will be investigated by the building principal, Dignity Act Coordinator, or designee promptly and thoroughly. If, after an appropriate investigation, the District finds that this policy has been violated, the District will take prompt actions reasonably calculated to end the harassment, bullying or discrimination, eliminate any hostile environment, create a more
positive school culture and climate, prevent recurrence of the behavior, and ensure the safety of the student or students against whom such harassment, bullying or discrimination was directed.
Corrective action will be taken in accordance with District policies and regulations, the Code of Conduct, and all appropriate federal or state laws. If the behavior rises to the level of criminal activity, law enforcement will be contacted.
The Board will receive the annual School Safety and Educational Climate (SSEC) Summary Data Collection Form, the state-required report relevant to bullying, violent and disruptive incidents, and the school climate, for each building and for the district as whole. Based on the review of the data, the Board may consider further action, including but not limited
to modification of this policy and additional training.
The building principal will prepare an annual report for the Superintendent based on complaints filed.
Prohibition of Retaliatory Behavior (Commonly Known as “Whistle-Blower” Protection)
Any person who has reasonable cause to suspect that a student has been subjected to discrimination or harassment by an employee or student, on school grounds or at a school function, who acts reasonably and in good faith and reports such information to school officials or law enforcement authorities, shall have immunity from any civil liability that may arise from
making such report. The Board prohibits any retaliatory behavior directed at complainants, victims, witnesses and/or any other individuals who participated in the investigation of a complaint of discrimination or harassment.
Ref: Education Law §§10-18 and 801-a
8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) §§100.2(1)(2)
Adoption date: May 28, 2013
Reviewed: May 22, 2017
Revised: July 12, 2021