PolicyDescriptor Code: JCAC

Harassment  

It is the policy of this school district to prohibit any act of harassment of students or employees by other students or employees based upon race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age or disability at all times and during all occasions while at school, in the workplace or at any school event or activity.  Any such act by a student or employee shall result in prompt and appropriate discipline, including the possible termination of employment or suspension or expulsion of the student. 

Sexual harassment may include conduct or speech which entails unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, taunts, threats, comments of a vulgar or demeaning nature, demands or physical contact which creates a hostile environment for a student or employee.  There may be other speech or conduct which employees or students experience as inappropriate or illegal harassment which should also be reported; harassment can take many forms and it is not possible to itemize every aspect of the harassment forbidden by this policy. 

Any student, employee, applicant for employment, parent or other individual who believes he or she has been subjected to harassment or discrimination by other students or employees of the school district as prohibited by this policy should promptly report the same to the principal of their school or to the appropriate coordinator designated in policy JAA/GAAA, who will implement the Board's discriminatory complaints procedures as specified in that policy.  Students may also report harassment or discrimination to their school counselor or any administrator.  Students and employees will not be subjected to retaliation for reporting such harassment or discrimination.  If at any point in the investigation of reported sexual harassment of a student, the coordinator or designee determines that the reported harassment should more properly be termed abuse, the reported incident or situation shall be referred pursuant to the established protocol for child abuse investigation. 

It is the duty of all employees to promptly report harassment forbidden by this policy.  All supervisors will instruct their subordinates as to the content of this policy and, through appropriate staff development, enlighten employees as to the varied forms or expression of prohibited harassment.  The principals of all schools shall ensure that students and parents are informed through student handbooks and verbally that such harassment is strictly forbidden, how it is to be reported and the consequences for violating this policy.

Lamar County Schools

Adopted Date: 2/10/2009

BOARD POLICY                                                                             

Descriptor Code:  JCDAG

Bullying

The Lamar County School District believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment.  All schools within the district have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance among students, staff, and volunteers.  Behavior that infringes on the safety of any student will not be tolerated.  A student shall not bully, harass, or intimidate another student through words or actions. Such behavior includes but is not limited to: direct physical contact such as hitting or shoving; verbal assaults such as teasing or name-calling; the use of electronic methods to harass, threaten or humiliate, and social isolation and/or manipulation.  The school district policy prohibiting bullying is included in the student code of conduct and includes but is not limited to the following:

• Any student who engages in bullying shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

• Students are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee.

• Students can rely on staff to promptly investigate each complaint of bullying in a thorough and confidential manner.

• If the complainant student or the parent of the student feels that appropriate resolution of the investigation or complaint has not been reached after consulting the school principal, the student or the parent of the student should contact the local superintendent or his or her designee.

• The school system prohibits retaliatory behavior against any complainant or any participant in the complaint process.

All students and/or staff shall immediately report incidents of bullying, harassment and intimidation to the school principal or designee.  School staff members are expected to immediately intervene when they see a bullying incident occur.  Each complaint of bullying shall be promptly investigated.  This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling on a school bus to and from school or a school-sponsored activity and during a school-sponsored activity.

Bullying, harassment or intimidation will not be tolerated.  Disciplinary action will be taken after each incident of bullying and upon a finding of guilt.  Disciplinary action after the first incident of bullying may include but is not limited to the following:

• Loss of a privilege

• Reassignment of seats in the classroom, cafeteria or school bus

• Reassignment of classes

• In-school suspension

• Out-of-school suspension

• Detention

• Expulsion (through appropriate due process hearing)

• Assignment to an alternative school (through appropriate due process hearing)

If necessary, counseling and other interventions should also be provided to address the social-emotional, behavioral, and academic needs of students who are victims of bullying and students who commit an offense of bullying. 

Students, parents/guardians and other stakeholders may report incidents of bullying to an administrator, teacher, counselor or other staff member by using the school district’s complaint procedures or by calling the Georgia Department of Education’s 1-877 SAY-STOP (1-877-729-7867) School Safety Hotline.  Please note: Any form of electronic bullying (cyberbullying) using school equipment, school networks, e-mail systems or committed at school is strictly prohibited.

The procedures for intervening in bullying behavior include, but are not limited, to the following:

• All staff, students and their parents will receive a summary of this policy prohibiting bullying at the beginning of the school year as part of the student code of conduct.

• The school shall keep a report of bullying and the results of an investigation confidential.

• Staff are expected to immediately intervene when they see a bullying incident occur or upon receipt of any report of bullying.

• People witnessing or experiencing bullying are encouraged to report the incident to the school principal designee. 

The following actions will be taken when bullying is reported:

1. Investigate

Upon receipt of any report of bullying, schools will direct an immediate investigation involving appropriate personnel.  The investigation should begin no later than the following school day.  The investigation shall include interviewing the alleged perpetrator(s) and victim(s), identified witnesses, teacher(s) and staff members and reviewing video surveillance if available.  School police, school counselors, school social workers and/or other support staff should be utilized for their expertise as determined by the circumstances of the matter.

1. Notify

At an appropriate time during or after the investigation, parents/guardians of the accused and the victim must be notified.  If the incident involves an injury or similar situation, appropriate medical attention should be provided and the parent/guardian should be notified immediately.

1.  Discipline

Upon confirming that bullying has occurred, the accused student should be charged with bullying and given an age-appropriate consequence which shall include, at minimum and without limitation, disciplinary action or counseling as appropriate under the circumstances. 

Students in grades six through twelve found to have committed the offense of bullying for the third time in a school year shall be assigned to an alternative school through appropriate due process by disciplinary hearing officers, panels, or tribunals.

Schools should clearly communicate to all parties that retaliation following a report of bullying is strictly prohibited and may result in strong disciplinary action.

1.  Follow Up

Follow up is important to the accused and the victim.  Implement a planned method to provide after-care and follow up.  Reiterate to all the previously stated prohibition on retaliation.

Lamar County SchoolsOriginal

Adopted Date: 4/12/2011

Last Revised:  5/10/2011