Section 10-041    Racial Harassment
Racial harassment will not be tolerated in the USD 263 school district.  Racial harassment of employees or students of the district by board members, administrators, certificated and support personnel, students, vendors, and any others having business or other contact with the school district is strictly prohibited.

Racial Harassment is racially motivated conduct which:

1.       Affords an individual different treatment, solely on the basis of race, color or national origin, in a manner which interferes with or limits the ability of the individual to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or programs of the school and or district;

2.       Is sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent so as to have the purpose or effect of creating a hostile academic or work environment; or

3.       Is sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent to have the purpose or effect of interfering with a student’s academic performance or an employee’s productivity or the ability of either to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or programs of the school or district.

Racial harassment shall include, but not be limited to (1) inappropriate racial slurs, (2) racial insults, (3) racial intimidation, (4) employment decisions based on racial issues, (5) creation of hostile or intimidating working or learning environment based on racial overtones. 

No district employee shall racially harass, be racially harassed, or fail to investigate or refer a complaint of racial harassment for investigation.  Complaints of racial harassment by employees will be promptly investigated and resolved.  Initiation of a complaint of racial harassment will not adversely affect the job security or status of an employee, nor will it affect his or her compensation or work assignment.  Violation of this policy shall result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination, against any employee. Complaints initiated by students shall not affect their school status or academic standing. Students who violate this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the school district.

Employees who believe that they have been subjected to racial harassment should discuss the problem with their immediate supervisor.  If an employee's immediate supervisor is the alleged harasser; the employee should discuss the problem with the building principal or superintendent.

Students who believe that they have been subjected to racial harassment should discuss the situation with their building administrator. If the administrator is the alleged harasser, the student should discuss the matter with the superintendent of schools. If the superintendent is the alleged harasser in any situation, the matter should be discussed with the Board of Education President. If the Board of Education as a whole or individual members acting in capacity as a Board Member is the alleged harasser, the matter should be addressed in writing to the Clerk of the Board and the School District Attorney for resolution.

Employees and students who do not believe that the matter is appropriately resolved through this meeting may file a written complaint under the district's discrimination complaint procedure.  Confidentiality shall be maintained throughout the complaint procedure.

 

First Reading : 12/11/00

                                                                                    Second Reading : 1/8/01

Approved by BOE 1/8/01