FILE:  JCEA

Cf:  GAEAA

STUDENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The Acadia Parish School Board disapproves of and does not tolerate sexual harassment by employees to students, by students to employees, or by one student to another student.  No employee or student, either male or female, should be subject to unsolicited and unwelcome sexual overtures or conduct, either verbal or physical.  Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments of a socially acceptable nature.  It refers to behavior that is not welcome, that is personally offensive, and therefore interferes with the purposes of the employee and/or student in the academic, extracurricular, and co-curricular atmosphere.  Sexual harassment includes any type of sexually coercive or oppressive conduct, including, but not limited to, threats, comments, jokes or overtures of a sexual nature.  Sexual harassment also includes quid pro quo claims which occur when an employee makes sexual advances toward a student which threaten or imply retaliation if the student resists, or rewards if the student acquiesces. 

If the victim of the alleged sexual harassment is a minor student and if the alleged harassment falls within the definition of abuse as found in School Board's policy JGCE, Child Abuse  then all school employees with knowledge shall be considered mandatory reporters and the allegations must be reported to child protection or law enforcement as provided by state law and the School Board policy on child abuse.  Such reporting must be made in addition to any procedures for handling sexual harassment complaints.

COVERAGE

This policy applies to all employees and volunteers, to the elected members of the School Board, and to all students of the Acadia Parish School District.  It applies at school, school sponsored events, and in situations which are related to the school.

COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Complaints of sexual harassment which take place at school or at a school related function or arising out of the school setting should be made to the principal of the school. Should the claim of sexual harassment be brought against the principal of the school, the complaint should be brought directly to the Superintendent or his/her designee.

After notification of the complaint, a confidential investigation will immediately be initiated to gather all facts about the complaint. 

After the investigation has been completed, a determination will be made regarding the resolution of the case.  If warranted, disciplinary action will be taken up to and including involuntary termination of an employee and/or expulsion of a student.  Any disciplinary action regarding an employee will be placed in the employee's personnel file which will reflect the action taken and the grounds therefor.  Any disciplinary action taken in regard to a student will be maintained as any other student disciplinary violation.

NONRETALIATION

Retaliation against any employee or student who brings sexual harassment charges or who assists in investigating such charges shall be prohibited.  Any employee or student bringing a sexual harassment complaint or assisting in the investigation of such a complaint will not be adversely affected, discriminated against or punished because of the complaint.

Ref:    20 USC 1681 (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)

29 CFR 1604.11 (Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Sex - Sexual Harassment)

La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§14:41, 14:42, 14:42.1, 17:81

Acadia Parish School Board