| P 1310 Freedom from Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation

It is the policy of the Board of Education to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The District strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation against employees, students, or others, as provided in Board Policy/Regulations 1300 and 1310. These policies shall extend not only to students with regard to educational opportunities and freedom from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, but also to employees with regard to employment opportunities, and to individuals with whom the Board does business.

It will be the policy of the District to continually evaluate its practices and procedures to ensure fair and equitable educational and employment opportunities and freedom from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation for all of its students and employees.

For the purposes of this Policy, the term “school personnel” includes Board members, school employees, agents, volunteers, contractors, and any other persons subject to the supervision and control of the District.

Compliance Officer

The Board will designate an individual to act as the compliance officer, and ensure that the compliance officer’s name, business address, and telephone number, as well as the District’s Board Policy 1300 are published to patrons, employees, and students on an annual basis.

The Board designates the following individual to act as the District’s compliance officer:

Asst. Princiapl/Director of Special Education
101 E Adriatic Street
Kingsville, MO 64061
(816) 597-3422
Fax: (816) 597-3702

In the event the compliance officer is unavailable or is the subject of a report that would otherwise be made to the compliance officer, reports should instead be directed to the alternative compliance officer:

Principal
101 E Adriatic Street
Kingsville, MO 64061
(816) 597-3422
Fax: (816) 597-3702

It shall be the compliance officer’s responsibility to assure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

The compliance officer will act to promptly investigate all complaints, either formal or informal, verbal or written, of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Discrimination

It is the policy of the Board of Education to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The District does not and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law in the educational programs, activities, and vocational opportunities offered by the District.

The District assures that it will comply with:

This Policy/Regulation and state and federal law.
The Missouri Human Rights Act, MO. Rev. Stat. § 213.010 et seq., which prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability and age. The Act also makes it unlawful to retaliate against any individual for filing a complaint of discrimination and/or harassment or for participating in an investigation into a complaint of discrimination and/or harassment.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq., which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. 794, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance. The provisions of Title IX apply to students with regard to educational opportunities and freedom from harassment, employees with regard to employment opportunities and freedom from harassment, and to individuals with whom the District does business.
The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended 42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq., which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
The Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, by which the District will provide equal access to District facilities and related benefits and services and will not discriminate against any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, or any other youth group designated in applicable federal law.
The National School Lunch Act, and other requirements of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), as it relates to school nutrition programs for which the District receives federal financial assistance, including the National School Lunch Program, the Special Milk Program, the School Breakfast Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.
All regulations, guidelines, and standards lawfully adopted under the above statutes by the United States Department of Education.

Harassment

It is the policy of the Board of Education to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law. The District’s prohibition against harassment extends not only to students with regard to educational opportunities, but also to employees with regard to employment opportunities, and to individuals with whom the Board does business.

It shall be a violation of District policy for any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel of this District to harass or unlawfully discriminate against any other student or staff member through conduct or communication of a sexual nature. Furthermore, it shall be a violation of this Policy for any person who is not an employee or student of the District to harass a staff member or student of the District through conduct or comments of a sexual nature while such employee is engaged in the performance of duties for the District or while such student is under District supervision.

It shall also be a violation of District policy for any teacher, administrator, or other school personnel of this District to tolerate harassment or sexual harassment of a student because of the student’s race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, national origin, as defined by this Policy, by a student, teacher, administrator, other school personnel, or by any third parties who are participating in, observing, or otherwise engaged in activities, including sporting events and other extracurricular activities, under the auspices of the District.

Retaliation

The District prohibits retaliation against any person who files a complaint of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, and further prohibits retaliation against any person who testifies, assists, or otherwise participates in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing relating to such discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The District will discipline or take other appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel who retaliates against any such person.

Consequences and Remedies

When the District receives a report of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation, the District will take appropriate interim measures to protect the alleged victim(s). If, after investigation, it is determined that discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation in violation of Policies 1300 and 1310 did occur, the District shall take prompt, effective, appropriate action reasonably calculated to end the harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation and to protect individuals from further such harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation.

The District will discipline or take other appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, or other school personnel who is found to have violated this Policy. Patrons, contractors, visitors, or others who violate this Policy may be prohibited from District property or otherwise restricted while on District property.

Grievances

It is the policy of the District to process all grievances in a fair and expeditious manner. Regulation 1310 provides mechanisms for the resolution of grievances/complaints by employees, patrons, and/or students under this Policy.

Students with Disabilities

This policy and corresponding regulation do not pertain to the identification, evaluation, or placement of students under Section 504. The topics of the identification, evaluation, and placement of students under Section 504 are addressed in the following separate District policies and regulations: Policy 2110 – Equal Education Opportunity, and Policy and Regulation 6250 – Instruction for Students with Disabilities.

Forms

Discrimination/Harassment/Retaliation Grievance Report Form

Grievance Investigation Documentation Form