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Sexual Harassment / Title IX

Sexual Harassment / Title IX

(Refer to BOE Policy JGEC) 

Sexual harassment shall include conduct on the basis of sex involving one or more of the following: (1) A district employee conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the district on an individual’s participation in unwelcomed sexual conduct; (2) unwelcomed conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the district’s educational program or activity; or (3) sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking. 

Sexual harassment may result from verbal or physical conduct or written or graphic material and may include, but is not limited to: verbal harassment or abuse; pressure for sexual activity; repeated remarks to a person with sexual or demeaning implication; unwelcome touching; or suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning a student’s grades, participation in extracurricular activities, etc. 

The district takes all reports of sexual harassment seriously and will respond meaningfully to every report of discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment, of which the district has actual knowledge. Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to harassment should discuss the alleged harassment with the building principal, another administrator, the guidance counselor, or another certified staff member. All employee(s) receiving reports of sexual harassment from a student shall notify the Title IX Coordinator. The “Title IX Coordinator” is the individual designated at the district level who has responsibility to coordinate compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding discrimination on the basis of sex, and the Kansas Act Against Discrimination. The Title IX Coordinator’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: developing materials and ensuring professional development occurs for staff involved in Title IX compliance, creating systems to centralize records, gathering relevant data, contacting the complainant (and/or parents or guardians, if applicable) once the district has actual knowledge of alleged sexual harassment, coordinating the implementation of supportive measures, signing formal complaint to initiate a grievance process, and ensuring any remedies are implemented.Any employee who witnesses an act of sexual harassment or receives a complaint of harassment from another employee or a student shall report the complaint to their immediate supervisor, building administrator, or Title IX Coordinator. Employees who fail to report complaints or incidents of sexual harassment to appropriate district officials may face disciplinary action. District officials who fail to investigate and take appropriate corrective action in response to complaints of sexual harassment may also face disciplinary action. 

Complaints received will be investigated to determine whether, under the totality of the circumstances, the alleged behavior constitutes sexual harassment under the definition outlined above. Unacceptable student conduct may or may not constitute sexual harassment, depending on the nature of the conduct and its severity, pervasiveness, and persistence. Behaviors which are unacceptable but do not constitute harassment may provide grounds for discipline under the code of student conduct. 

Supportive Measures 

The district will treat the complainant and respondent equitably by offering supportive measures. These non-disciplinary and non-punitive measures will be offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, and without cost to the complainant or respondent. Supportive measures are designed to restore or preserve equal access to the education program or activity. 

Training materials and information regarding the formal complaint process related to Title IX can be found on the district website under "For Parents and Families" at www.usd253.org and in board policy JGEC.

  • Student Conduct/Discipline