HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION & BULLYING - DISCRIMINATION
The Northshore School District is committed to a positive and productive educational and working environment free from discrimination, including racial and sexual harassment, and violence in the form of bullying, hazing and intimidation. Toward this end, the following will not be tolerated:

• acts which discriminate against another person
• harassment of another person including bullying and/or intimidation
• discriminatory or harassing behavior that is personally offensive to an observing party

Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
Harassment, intimidation and bullying mean any gesture or display, written, including electronic messaging or other verbal or physical act that is intended to inflict injury, violence, intimidation, humiliation, or a reasonable fear of the same. A threat of harm in any form directed to another person, student or staff member is unacceptable behavior. When an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying is reported to a school staff member, an administrator will follow up on the report and verify that the behavior has occurred. Administrators will consider the surrounding circumstances, the nature of the behavior, the relationships between the parties involved and the context in which the alleged incidents occurred in their determination of the facts.

Bullying
Bullying occurs when:
1) The conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or creates an intimidating, hostile, threatening or abusive educational environment.
2) The conduct physically harms the student or damages the student's property.
3) The conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's academic performance.
4) The conduct otherwise adversely affects an individual's educational opportunities
5) The conduct violates the civility standard of the district. (See Board Policy 4316)

District Action Procedure for Discrimination, Racial Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
The frequency and severity of the conduct will determine whether intervention, counseling, or discipline is used to remediate the impact on the victim and change the behavior of the perpetrator.

1. The district will take prompt, equitable and remedial action within its authority on reports, complaints and grievances alleging discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation and harassment that come to the attention of the district, either formally or informally. Allegations of criminal misconduct will be reported to law enforcement and suspected child abuse will be reported to law enforcement or Child Protective Services. If persons have been subjected to discrimination or sexual harassment, the district shall review and remedy any adverse consequences of the discrimination or harassment, if appropriate.
2. Engaging in discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation and harassment will result in appropriate discipline or other appropriate sanctions against offending students, staff and contractors. Anyone else who engages in discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment on school property or at school activities will have access to school property and activities restricted, as appropriate.
3. Retaliation against any person who makes or is a witness in a discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation or harassment complaint is prohibited and will result in appropriate discipline. The district will take appropriate actions to protect involved persons from retaliation. It is a violation of this policy to knowingly report false allegations of discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation and harassment. Persons found to knowingly report or corroborate false allegations will be subject to appropriate discipline.
4. The compliance officer shall develop and implement formal and informal procedures for receiving, investigating and resolving complaints or reports of discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation and harassment. The procedures will include reasonable and prompt time lines and delineate staff responsibilities under this policy. All staff is responsible for receiving informal complaints and reports of discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, bullying/intimidation and harassment and informing appropriate district personnel of the complaint or report for investigation and resolution. All staff is also responsible for directing complainants to the formal complaint process.
5. The compliance officer shall provide information to district staff, students, parents, guardians and volunteers regarding this policy and the recognition and prevention of discrimination, racial harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation, and harassment. This policy shall be posted in each district building in a place available to all staff, students, parents, volunteers and visitors.
6. The compliance officer shall annually review the use and efficacy of this policy and related procedure.

School Procedure
When an incident is reported, an administrator will follow up on the report and verify that the form of harassment has occurred.

1. The involved student(s) and/or staff member(s) will be contacted.
2. The involved parent(s) or guardian(s) will be notified.
3. Restrictive or corrective measures will be taken to address the behavior and provide for the safety of students and staff. The range of interventions includes conferring with the student and parent, problem solving process, behavior contract, forms of discipline, suspension or expulsion.