HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS PROHIBITED
(Board Policy 7-20)

Statement of Policy

A learning environment that is free from any form of discrimination and harassment is essential and shall be maintained. No person, including a District employee or agent, or student, shall harass, intimidate, or bully a student on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, military status, unfavorable discharge from military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression,  ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, order of protection status, the status of being homeless, or actual or potential marital [or parental] status,  pregnancy, citizenship status, immigration status, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic. 

Harassment of students, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, is prohibited by Board Policy 7-190. This Policy applies to conduct in or connected to the District, whether it is physical or verbal, and whether it is committed by students, employees, or non-employees (such as parents, vendors, suppliers, or business invitees). A student who engages in harassment is subject to consequences pursuant to Board Policy 7-190. Student Behavior.

If the school becomes aware of aggressive behavior, bullying, harassment, and threats, it will take action to respond to situations that are likely to disrupt school. 

Criteria

District 113 will not tolerate harassing, intimidating conduct, or bullying, whether verbal, physical, sexual, or visual that affects the tangible benefits of education, that unreasonably interferes with a student’s educational performance, or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to: 

1. Name-calling, verbal kidding, mimicking, telling jokes, using derogatory slurs, 
2. Written graffiti or slogans, 
3. Innuendoes, 
4. Comments, verbal or written, spreading rumors, 
5. Pictures, drawings, or printed materials (electronic or hard copy), 
6. Stalking, 
7. Sexual violence, 
8. Causing psychological harm, 
9. Electronic bullying, 
10. Hazing or inappropriate initiation, 
11. Threatening or causing physical harm, 
12. Threatened or actual destruction of property, 
13. Wearing or possessing items depicting or implying hatred or prejudice of one of the characteristics stated above. 

Making an explicit threat on an Internet website against a school employee, a student, or any school-related personnel under circumstances described in Section 10-22.6(d-5) of the School Code is prohibited under this policy.

Sexual Harassment Prohibited

Sexual harassment is both against Board policy and may be a violation of the law. Sexual harassment of students is prohibited. All students are prohibited from harassing fellow students, staff, or others on school property, during school activities, or in any situation that creates a nexus to school.

Any person, including a district employee or agent, or student, engages in sexual harassment whenever he or she makes sexual advances, requests sexual favors, and/or engages in other verbal or physical conduct, including sexual violence, of a sexual or sex-based nature, imposed on the basis of sex, that:

1. Denies or limits the provision of educational aid, benefits, services, or treatment; or that makes such conduct a condition of a student’s academic status; or
2. Has the purpose or effect of:
3. Substantially interfering with a student’s educational environment;
4. Creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or work environment;
5. Depriving a student of educational aid, benefits, services, or treatment; or
6. Making submission to or rejection of such conduct the basis for academic decisions affecting a student.

The terms “intimidating,” “hostile,” and “offensive” include conduct that has the effect of humiliation, embarrassment, or discomfort. Examples of sexual harassment include touching, crude jokes or pictures, discussions of sexual experiences, teasing related to sexual characteristics, and spreading rumors related to a person’s alleged sexual activities. The term sexual violence includes a number of different acts. Examples of sexual violence include, but are not limited to, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, and sexual coercion.

Making a Sexual Harassment Complaint; Enforcement

The Sexual Abuse and Resource Prevention Guide developed in accordance with Public Act 102-0676, 105 ILCS 5/2-3.1881, offers essential information on where to seek help in cases of suspected, reported, or investigated sexual abuse. It emphasizes the importance of support for both victims and caregivers and underscores the role of education in prevention. 

If a student or parent complains of sexual harassment, or if a responsible employee observes the sexual harassment of a student, that employee shall explain to the student or parent the avenues for informal and formal resolution of the complaint, including a description of the complaint handling procedures outlined in Board Policies 2-260, Uniform Grievance Policy, 5-20, Non-Discrimination and Harassment, and 5-25, Employee Sexual Harassment and the Administrative Procedures implementing those policies. The complaint and any applicable investigations or consequences shall be in accordance with the aforementioned policies and procedures. A student may choose to report/talk to someone of their same sex. The employee who observed the behavior must also report what they observed to their supervisor, Dean of Students, or other Administrator. DCFS mandated reporting requirements must be considered and followed. Complaints will be kept confidential to the extent possible given the need to investigate. School officials will use discretion in determining consequences if a student comes forward in good faith to report an incident.

Students or parents may use the District’s complaint form on the website at: 

https://www.dist113.org/cms/lib010/IL01904711/Centricity/domain/40/700/7-20%20Harassment%20Complaint%20Form.pdf

The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the District’s current Complaint Managers are:         

• Tom Krieger - 1040 Park Ave. West, Highland Park, IL 60035    (224) 765-1005 
• Mirah Anti - 1040 Park Ave. West, Highland Park, IL 60035        (224) 765-1028

Students or parents with complaints of illegal discrimination should see the above referenced Board Policies and/or contact the Complaint Managers.

The Superintendent will use reasonable measures to inform staff members and students of this policy, such as, by including it in the appropriate handbooks. Any district employee who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in conduct prohibited by the policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including discharge. Any District student who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in conduct prohibited by this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to, suspension and expulsion consistent with the disciplinary policy, 7-190. If an investigation results in a finding that a person knowingly made a false accusation regarding prohibited conduct, that person will likewise be subject to disciplinary action up to and including discharge, with regard to employees, or suspension and expulsion, with regard to students. The initiation of a good faith complaint of sexual harassment or participation by a person in a subsequent investigation will not result in discipline and retaliation against said person for such initiation or participation is strictly prohibited.

HAZING

Board Policy (7-190 AP1)

Soliciting, encouraging, aiding, or engaging in hazing, no matter when or where it occurs, is prohibited. Hazing means any intentional, knowing, or reckless act directed to or required of a student for the purpose of being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any group, organization, club, or athletic team whose members are or include other students.

Students engaging in hazing may be subject to one or more of the following actions:

1. Removal from the extracurricular activities,
2. Conference with parents/guardians, and/or
3. Referral to appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Students engaging in hazing that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of another person may also be subject to:

1. Suspension for up to 10 days, and/or

      2. Expulsion for the remainder of the school term.