Edmonds School District No. 15
Lynnwood, WA 98036-5789
8206 - SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Adopted
7/12/94
Revised
6/6/95
7/11/95
6/16/98
The Edmonds School District will maintain a learning and work environment that is free from sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination which is prohibited under Title IX of the Civil Rights Act. Sexual harassment substantially compromises the attainment of educational excellence, and the District will not tolerate such behavior by staff or by students, or by parents, volunteers or contractors while on school district grounds or participating in school-sponsored events.
Any student, parent, or volunteer who believes she/he has been subjected to sexual harassment at school should bring this to the immediate attention of the principal, the District Affirmative Action officer, or any District administrator with whom she/he feel comfortable discussing the matter.
All such complaints will be promptly investigated and, where appropriate, immediate corrective action will be taken. To the highest degree possible, allowing for a fair investigation, all such complaints will be treated in a confidential manner.
The District prohibits retaliation against any employee, volunteer, parent, or student because he or she has made a report of alleged sexual harassment, or against any employee, volunteer, parent, or student who has testified, assisted or participated in the investigation of a report. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal, or adverse pressure. Retaliation is itself a violation of law and will lead to disciplinary action against the offender.
Persons who knowingly report false allegations of sexual harassment or corroborate false allegations of sexual harassment will be subject to appropriate discipline or other sanctions.
Any District staff member (regardless of area of responsibility) who knows or has reason to believe that sexual harassment is or may be occurring must take immediate steps to see that the matter is addressed or reported. Such action must be taken whether or not the student(s), volunteer, or parent has reported the incident.
Sexual harassment is legally defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in which:
- submission to such conduct or communication is made either an explicit or implicit term or condition of success in school,
- submission to or rejection of such conduct or communication is used as a basis for educational decisions affecting that person, or
- such conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with the individual's school performance, or of creating an intimidating hostile, or offensive educational environment.
An "intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment" means an environment in which:
- unwelcome sexually-oriented jokes, innuendoes, obscenities, pictures/posters or any action with sexual connotation makes a student feel uncomfortable, or
- any aggressive, harassing behavior in the school that affects learning,
whether or not sexual in connotation, is directed toward an individual
based on his/her sex or sexual orientation.