The Board of Education declares that sexual harassment of students or employees is unacceptable and is strictly prohibited. The purpose of this policy is to eliminate demeaning and disruptive conduct and ensure a workplace free of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature where:

1. Submission to such conduct is either explicitly or implicitly made a term or condition of an individual’s employment or education.

2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for employment or education decisions affecting such individual.

3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s educational or work performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive employment or educational environment.  Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to:

1. Assault, inappropriate touching, intentionally impeding movement, continuing comments, gestures or written communications of a suggestive or derogatory nature.

2. Continuing to express sexual interest after being informed that the interest is unwelcome.

3. Implying or withholding support for an appointment, promotion, or change of assignment or suggesting that a poor performance report will be prepared. Within the educational environment,implying or actually withholding grades earned or deserved, suggesting that a poor performance evaluation will be prepared, or suggesting that a scholarship recommendation or college application will be denied.

4. Coercive sexual behavior used to control, influence or affect the career, salary and/or work environment, engaging in coercive sexual behavior to control, influence or affect educational opportunities, grades and/or the learning environment of a student.

5. Offering or granting favors of educational or employment benefits, such as grades or
promotions, favorable performance evaluations, favorable assignments, favorable duties or shifts, recommendations, reclassification, etc., in exchange for sexual favors. Anyone who is subjected to sexual harassment, or who knows of the occurrence of such conduct, should immediately inform the Superintendent or designee(s), who shall be named annually by the Superintendent. Complaints or allegations of sexual harassment will be investigated.  A substantiated charge against an employee of the District shall subject such employee to disciplinary action, which may include warning, censure, suspension or dismissal.  A substantiated charge against a student in the District shall subject that student to disciplinary action, which may include suspension or expulsion. All matters involving sexual harassment complaints will remain confidential to the extent possible.