Anti-Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying Complaint Procedures/Investigation Process
Building principals, assistant principals, and the District Anti-HIB Coordinators are responsible for conducting investigations concerning claims of aggressive behavior and/or bullying. The investigator(s) shall be a neutral party having had no involvement in the complaint presented.
Any student, employee, or third party who has knowledge of conduct in violation of Policy 5517.01 or feels s/he has been a victim of aggressive behavior and/or harassment, intimidation, and bullying in violation of Policy 5517.01 is encouraged to immediately report his/her concerns.
Teachers and other school staff, who witness acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, as defined above, shall promptly notify the building Anti-HIB Coordinator and/or his/her designee of the event observed, and shall promptly file a verbal or written report concerning the events witnessed.
Teachers and other school staff who receive student or parent reports of suspected harassment, intimidation, and bullying shall promptly notify the building Anti-HIB Coordinator and/or his/her designee of such report(s). If the report is a formal, written complaint, such complaint shall be forwarded promptly (no later than the next school day) to the building principal or his/her designee. If the report is an informal complaint by a student that is received by a teacher or other professional employee, s/he shall prepare a written report of the informal complaint which shall be promptly forwarded (no later than the next school day) to the building Anti-HIB Coordinator or his/her designee.
In addition to addressing both informal and formal complaints, school personnel are encouraged to address the issue of harassment, intimidation, or bullying in other interactions with students. School personnel may find opportunities to educate students about harassment, intimidation, and bullying and help eliminate such prohibited behaviors through class discussions, counseling, and reinforcement of socially appropriate behavior. School personnel should intervene promptly whenever they observe student conduct that has the purpose or effect of ridiculing, humiliating, or intimidating another student even if such conduct does not meet the formal definition of "harassment, intimidation, or bullying."
All complaints will be promptly investigated by the following procedures:
Step I
Any complaints, allegations, or rumors of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or retaliation shall be presented to the Building HIB Coordinator/District HIB Coordinator (s). Students may also report their concerns to staff members, who will be responsible for notifying the appropriate administrator (HIB Coordinator) or Board of Education official. If the complaint has been filed online or via the Safety Phone Line, the District HIB Coordinators will promptly contact the Building Coordinator to inform them of the complaint/allegation to initiate investigative procedures. Information may be initially presented anonymously. All such information should include the specific nature of the offense (e.g., the person(s) involved, the number of times and places of the alleged conduct, the target of the suspected harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and the names of any potential witnesses). Complaints or allegations against a building principal shall be filed with the Superintendent/District HIB Coordinator(s). Complaints against the Superintendent shall be filed with the Board President.
Step II
The Building HIB Coordinator/District HIB Coordinator/Board official receiving the complaint shall promptly investigate. Parents will be notified, before the investigation, of the nature of any complaint involving their student (Offender and Victim) and given the process and possible timeline of the investigation. The administrator/Board official will arrange such meetings as may be necessary with all concerned parties within five (5) work days after receipt of the information or complaint. The parties will have an opportunity to submit evidence and a list of witnesses. All findings related to the complaint/allegation will be reduced to writing, embedded in the investigation tool/form. When the investigation is concluded and a determination has been made regarding if the allegation has been verified/nen-verified, the HIB Coordinator conducting the investigation shall notify the offender/victim and parents as appropriate, in writing and via phone call regarding the results of the investigation and if deemed necessary a consequence, if warranted, is determined.
A copy of the notification letter, or the date and details of the notification to the
victim/offender, together with any other documentation related to the incident (underlying documentation), including interventions or disciplinary action recommended, shall be forwarded to the District HIB Coordinator.
Step III
If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision at Step II, s/he may submit a written appeal to the Superintendent or District HIB Coordinator (s). Such appeal must be filed within ten (10) work days after receipt of the Step II decision. The Superintendent or designee will arrange such meetings with the complainant and other affected parties as deemed necessary to review and discuss the appeal. The Superintendent or designee shall provide a written decision to the complainant’s appeal within ten (10) workdays of the appeal being filed.
If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision at Step III, a written appeal may be filed with the Board. Such appeal must be filed within ten (10) work days after receipt of the Step III decision. The Board shall, within twenty (20) work days, conduct a hearing at which time the complainant shall be allowed to present the complaint. The Board shall provide a written decision to the complainant within ten (10) work days following the completion of the hearing.
Documentation related to the incident, other than any discipline imposed or remedial action taken, will be maintained in a file separate from the student’s education records or the employee’s personnel file.
