3207 (P) - Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying of Students

PROCESSO ADMINISTRATIVO Nº 3207

PROHIBITION OF HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, AND BULLYING OF STUDENTS

A. Introdução
Walla Walla School District strives to provide students with optimal conditions for learning by maintaining a school environment where every student is treated with respect and students are not physically or emotionally harmed.

In order to ensure respect, prevent harm, and improve school climate, it is a violation of district policy for a student to be harassed, intimidated, or bullied by other students in the school community, at school-sponsored events, or when such actions create a substantial disruption to the educational process. Student(s) will not be harassed because of their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability, or other distinguishing characteristics.

Any school staff who observes, overhears, or otherwise witnesses harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student or to whom such actions have been reported must take prompt and appropriate action to stop the harassment, intimidation, or bullying, prevent its reoccurrence and report it to the building level administrator and/or district HIB Compliance Officer.

B. Definições
Aggressor means a student who harasses, intimidates, or bullies of another student.

Assédio, intimidação ou bullying – significa um ato intencional eletrônico, escrito, verbal ou físico que:
• Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property;
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education;
• É tão severo, persistente ou generalizado que cria um ambiente educacional intimidante ou ameaçador; ou
• Tem o efeito de perturbar substancialmente o funcionamento ordenado da escola.

Conduct that is “substantially interfering with a student’s education” will be determined by considering a targeted student’s grades, attendance, demeanor, interaction with peers, participation in activities, and other indicators.

A conduta que pode chegar ao nível de assédio, intimidação e bullying pode assumir muitas formas, incluindo, mas não se limitando a: insultos, boatos, piadas, insinuações, comentários degradantes, desenhos, caricaturas, brincadeiras, ostracismo, ataques físicos ou ameaças, gestos ou atos relacionados a um indivíduo ou grupo, sejam mensagens ou imagens eletrônicas, escritas, orais ou transmitidas fisicamente. Não há exigência de que o aluno alvo realmente possua a característica que é a base para o assédio, intimidação ou bullying.

This procedure does not govern harassment, intimidation, or bullying toward or by an employee, volunteer, parent/legal guardian, or community member.

Retaliation occurs when a student is intimidated, threatened, coerced, or discriminated against for reporting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or participating in an investigation.

Staff includes, but is not limited to, educators, administrators, counselors, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic coaches, advisors to extracurricular activities, classified staff, substitute and temporary teachers, volunteers, or paraprofessionals (both employees and contractors).

Targeted Student means a student against whom harassment, intimidation, or bullying has allegedly been perpetrated.

Complainant means the person who has reported the harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

C. Comportamentos/Expressões
“Harassment,’ ‘intimidation,’ and ‘bullying’ are separate but related behaviors directed toward students. Although this procedure defines the three behaviors, this differentiation should not be considered part of the legal definition of these behaviors. RCW 28A.600.477 presents HIB as a broad and inclusive term and it is not meant to place undue emphasis on whether the behavior is “harassment,” or “intimidation,” or “bullying.”

Harassment refers to any malicious act, which causes harm to any student's physical well being. It can be discriminatory harassment, malicious harassment, or sexual harassment. Intimidation refers to implied or overt threats of physical violence toward a student. Bullying refers to unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by a student or group of students toward another student and that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. Bullying may inflict harm on the targeted student including physical or educational harm. Bullying can also occur through technology and is called electronic bullying or cyberbullying.

It is considered a violation of the state HIB law if any of the above behaviors are occurring.

D. Relação com outras leis
This procedure applies only to conduct toward students as reflected in RCW 28A.600.477 – Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying. There are other laws and procedures to address related issues such as sexual harassment or discrimination.

 
Pelo menos quatro leis de Washington podem ser aplicadas ao assédio ou discriminação:
• RCW 28A.600.477 – Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying
• RCW 28A.640.020 - Assédio Sexual
• RCW 28A.642 – Proibição de Discriminação em Escolas Públicas
• RCW 49.60.010 – A Lei Contra a Discriminação

The district will ensure its compliance with all state laws regarding harassment, intimidation or bullying of a student. Nothing in this procedure prevents a student, parent/guardian, school or district from taking action to remediate harassment or discrimination based on a student’s membership in a legally protected class under local, state, or federal law.

E. Prevenção
1. Divulgação
In each school and on the district’s website, the district will prominently post information, as provided by OSPI, on reporting harassment, intimidation, and bullying; the name and contact information for making a report to a school administrator; and the name and contact information for the district HIB Compliance Officer. The district’s policy and procedure will be available in each school in a language that families can understand.

Annually, the superintendent will ensure that language provided by OSPI summarizing the policy and procedure is provided in student, staff, volunteer, and parent handbooks, is available in school and district offices and/or hallways, and is posted on the district’s website.

Additional distribution of the policy and procedure is subject to the requirements of chapter Code 392-405 WAC.

2. Educação
Annually, students will receive age-appropriate information on the recognition and prevention of harassment, intimidation, or bullying at student orientation sessions and on other appropriate occasions. The information will include a copy of the Incident Reporting Form or a link to a web-based form.

3. Treinamento
The district HIB Compliance Officer will participate in at least one mandatory training opportunity offered by OSPI. As feasible, the district’s HIB Compliance Officer will attend annual training as a refresher course, particularly in the event that changes in the HIB law or process occur. Staff will receive annual training on the school district’s policy and procedure, including staff roles and responsibilities, and the use of the district’s Incident Reporting Form.
 
4. Estratégias de Prevenção
O distrito implementará uma série de estratégias de prevenção, incluindo abordagens individuais, de sala de aula, de escola e de nível distrital.

Sempre que possível, o distrito implementará programas de prevenção baseados em evidências que são projetados para aumentar a competência social, melhorar o clima escolar e eliminar o assédio, a intimidação e o bullying nas escolas.

F. Diretor de Conformidade
O oficial de conformidade distrital irá:
1. Serve as the district’s primary contact for harassment, intimidation, and bullying of a student. If any district staff member receives allegations in a written report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying that indicate a potential violation of Policy 3207, that staff member must promptly notify the district compliance officer.

2. Prestar apoio e assistência ao diretor ou designado na resolução de reclamações;

3. Receber cópias de todos os Formulários de Relatório de Incidentes, Formulários de Encaminhamento de Disciplina e cartas aos pais fornecendo os resultados das investigações.

4. Communicate with the school district’s designated civil rights compliance coordinator. If a written report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student indicates a potential violation of the district’s nondiscrimination policy [Policy 3210], or if during the course of an investigation, the district becomes aware of a potential violation of the district’s nondiscrimination policy, the compliance officer must promptly notify the district’s civil rights compliance coordinator. At that time, the compliance officers must promptly notify the complainant that their complaint will proceed under both this policy/procedure and the nondiscrimination policy/procedure. The investigation and response timeline for the nondiscrimination procedure begin when the school district knows or should have known that a written report or investigation or Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying involves a potential violation of the district’s nondiscrimination policy;

5. Estar familiarizado com o uso do sistema de informação do aluno. O responsável pela conformidade pode usar essas informações para identificar padrões de comportamento e áreas de preocupação;

6. Assegurar a implementação da política e do procedimento supervisionando os processos investigativos, inclusive garantindo que as investigações sejam rápidas, imparciais e completas;

7. Assess the training needs of staff and students to ensure successful implementation throughout the district, and ensure staff receive annual training.

8. Fornecer ao Centro de Segurança Escolar OSPI notificação de atualizações ou alterações de políticas ou procedimentos anualmente.

9. In cases where, despite school efforts, a targeted student experiences harassment, intimidation, or bullying that threatens the student’s health and safety, the compliance officer will facilitate a meeting between district staff and the child’s parents/guardians to develop a safety plan to protect the student.
10. The district will provide updated names and contact information to OSPI after a change of the district’s HIB Compliance Officer.

G. Intervenção da equipe
All staff members will intervene and report when witnessing or receiving reports of harassment, intimidation or bullying of a student. Incidents that do not meet the definition of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or conduct not directed toward a student may require no further action under this procedure.

H. Preenchimento de um Formulário de Relatório de Incidentes
Incident Reporting Forms may be used by students, families, or staff to report incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student.

Any student or students who believe they have been the target of unresolved, severe, or r persistent harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or any other person in the school community who observes or receives notice that a student has or may have been the target of unresolved, severe, or persistent harassment, intimidation, or bullying may report incidents verbally or in writing to any staff member.

The district must provide an incident report form to students, families, or staff, if requested.

I. Abordagem do Bullying – Denúncias

Etapa 1: Preencher um Formulário de Relatório de Incidentes
In order to protect a targeted student from retaliation, a student need not reveal their identity on an Incident Reporting Form. The form may be filed anonymously, confidentially, or the student may choose to disclose their identity (non-confidential).

Status do Repórter
uma. Anônimo
Individuals may file a report without revealing their identity. No disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor based solely on an anonymous report. Schools may identify complaint boxes or develop other methods for receiving anonymous, unsigned reports. Possible responses to an anonymous report include enhanced monitoring of specific locations at certain times of day or increased monitoring of specific students or staff. (Example: An unsigned Incident Reporting Form dropped on a teacher’s desk led to the increased monitoring of the boys’ locker room in 5th period.)

b. Confidencial
Individuals may ask that their identities be kept secret from the accused and other students. Like anonymous reports, no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor based solely on a confidential report. (Example: A student tells a playground supervisor about a classmate being bullied but asks that nobody know who reported the incident. The supervisor says, “I won’t be able to punish the bullies unless you or someone else who saw it is willing to let me use their names, but I can start hanging out near the basketball court, if that would help.”)

c. Não confidencial
Os indivíduos podem concordar em apresentar uma denúncia de forma não confidencial. Os reclamantes que concordarem em tornar sua reclamação não confidencial serão informados de que os requisitos do devido processo podem exigir que o distrito divulgue todas as informações que tiver sobre a reclamação a qualquer indivíduo envolvido no incidente, mas que, mesmo assim, as informações ainda serão restritas para aqueles com necessidade de saber, tanto durante como após a investigação. O distrito, no entanto, implementará totalmente a provisão anti-retaliação desta política e procedimento para proteger os queixosos e testemunhas.

Etapa 2: Recebendo um Formulário de Relatório de Incidentes
All staff are responsible for receiving oral and written reports. Whenever possible staff who initially receive an oral or written report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student will attempt to resolve the incident immediately. If the incident is resolved to the satisfaction of the parties involved, if the incident does not meet the definition of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or if the conduct is not directed toward a student, no further action may be necessary under this procedure. If the parties involved are not satisfied with the attempt to resolve the situation, the staff member will notify the HIB Compliance Officer, the parties will be provided with a HIB Incident Report form, and given the opportunity to complete the form, thereby initiating the process for an official HIB investigation.

All reports of unresolved, severe, or persistent harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student will be recorded on the district Incident Reporting Form and submitted to the principal or designee. Once recorded, the principal or designee must communicate with the district HIB Compliance Officer regarding the complaints.

Etapa 3: Investigações de assédio, intimidação e bullying não resolvidos, graves ou persistentes
All reports of unresolved, severe, or persistent harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student will be investigated with reasonable promptness. Any student may have a trusted adult with them throughout the report and investigation process.

a. Upon receipt of the Incident Reporting Form that alleges unresolved, severe, or persistent harassment, intimidation or bullying of a student, the school or district designee will begin the investigation. If there is potential for clear and immediate physical harm to the complainant, the district will immediately contact law enforcement and inform the parent/guardian.

b. During the course of the investigation, the district will take reasonable measures to ensure that no further incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying occur between the complainant, targeted student, and or the alleged aggressor. If necessary, the district will implement a safety plan for the student(s) involved. The plan may include changing seating arrangements for the complainant, targeted student and/or the alleged aggressor in the classroom, at lunch, or on the bus; identifying a staff member who will act as a safe person for the complainant; altering the alleged aggressor’s schedule and access to the complainant, and other measures.

If, during the course of an investigation, the district employee conducting the investigation becomes aware of a potential violation of the district’s nondiscrimination policy [Policy 3210], the investigator will promptly notify the district’s civil rights compliance officer. Upon receipt of this information, the civil rights compliance officer must notify the complainant that their complaint will proceed under the discrimination complaint procedure in WAC 392-190-066 through WAC 392-190-075 as well as the HIB complaint procedure. The notice must be provided in a language that the complainant can understand. The investigation and response timeline for the discrimination complaint procedure will follow that set forth in WAC 392-190-065 and begins when the district knows or should have known that a written report of harassment, intimidation or bullying involves allegations of a violation of the district’s nondiscrimination policy.

c. Within two (2) school days after receiving the Incident Reporting Form, the school designee will notify the families of the students involved that a complaint was received and direct the families to the district’s policy and procedure on harassment, intimidation, and bullying.

d. In rare cases, where after consultation with the student and appropriate staff (such as a psychologist, counselor, or social worker) the district has evidence that it would threaten the health and safety of the complainant or the alleged aggressor to involve their parent/guardian, the district may initially refrain from contacting the parent/guardian in its investigation of harassment, intimidation, and bullying of a student. If professional school personnel suspect that a student is subject to abuse and neglect, they must follow district policy for reporting suspected cases to Child Protective Services.

e. A investigação deve incluir, no mínimo:
• Uma entrevista com o reclamante.
• An interview with the targeted student, if different than the complainant;
• Uma entrevista com o suposto agressor.
• A review of any previous complaints involving the complainant, the targeted student, or the alleged aggressor.
• Entrevistas com outros alunos ou funcionários que possam ter conhecimento do suposto incidente.

f. O diretor ou designado pode determinar que outras etapas devem ser tomadas antes que a investigação seja concluída.

g. A investigação será concluída o mais rápido possível, mas geralmente não depois de cinco (5) dias letivos a partir da reclamação ou relatório inicial. Se for necessário mais tempo para concluir uma investigação, o distrito fornecerá aos pais/responsáveis ​​e/ou ao aluno atualizações semanais.

h. O mais tardar dois (2) dias letivos após a investigação ter sido concluída e submetida ao responsável pela conformidade, o diretor ou pessoa designada deverá responder por escrito ou pessoalmente aos pais/responsáveis ​​do reclamante e do suposto agressor declarando:
• Os resultados da investigação.
• Se as alegações foram consideradas factuais.
• Se houve violação da política.
• O processo para o reclamante apresentar um recurso se o reclamante discordar dos resultados.

Because of the legal requirement regarding the confidentiality of student records, the principal or designee may not be able to report specific information to the targeted student’s parent/guardian about any disciplinary action taken unless it involves a directive that the targeted student must be aware of in order to report violations.

If a district chooses to contact the parent/guardian by letter, the letter will be mailed to the parent/guardian of the complainant and alleged aggressor by United States postal service with return receipt requested unless it is determined, after consultation with the student and appropriate staff (psychologist, counselor, social worker) that it could endanger the complainant or the alleged aggressor to involve their family. If professional school personnel suspect that a student is subject to abuse or neglect, as mandatory reporters they must follow district policy for reporting suspected cases to Child Protective Services.

Se o incidente não puder ser resolvido no nível da escola, o diretor ou pessoa designada deverá solicitar assistência do distrito.

Passo 4: Medidas Corretivas para o Agressor
Após a conclusão da investigação, a escola ou distrito designado instituirá quaisquer medidas corretivas necessárias. Medidas corretivas serão instituídas o mais rápido possível, mas em nenhum caso mais de 5 (cinco) dias letivos após o contato com as famílias ou responsáveis ​​sobre o resultado da investigação. As medidas corretivas que envolvem a disciplina do aluno serão implementadas de acordo com a política distrital 3241, Gestão da Sala de Aula, Disciplina e Ação Corretiva. Se o agressor acusado estiver apelando da imposição de disciplina, o distrito pode ser impedido por considerações do devido processo ou uma ordem legal de impor a disciplina até que o processo de apelação seja concluído.

If in an investigation a principal or principal’s designee found that a student knowingly made a false allegation of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, that student may be subject to corrective measures, including discipline.

Step 5: Complainant’s Right to Appeal
1. If the complainant or parent/guardian is dissatisfied with the results of the investigation, they may appeal to the superintendent or their designee by filing a written notice of appeal within five (5) school days of receiving the written decision. The superintendent or their designee will review the investigative report and issue a written decision on the merits of the appeal within five (5) school days of receiving the notice of appeal.

2. If the complainant remains dissatisfied after the initial appeal to the superintendent, the student may appeal to the school board by filing a written notice of appeal with the secretary of the school board on or before the fifth (5) school day following the date upon which the complainant received the superintendent’s written decision.

3. An appeal before the school board or disciplinary appeal council must be heard on or before the tenth (10) school day following the filing of the written notice of appeal to the school board. The school board or disciplinary appeal council will review the record and render a written decision on the merits of the appeal on or before the fifth (5) school day following the termination of the hearing, and shall provide a copy to all parties involved. The board or council’s decision will be the final district decision.

Etapa 6: Disciplina/Ação Corretiva
The district will take prompt and equitable corrective measures within its authority on findings of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student. Depending on the severity of the conduct, corrective measures may include counseling, education, discipline, and/or referral to law enforcement.

Corrective measures for a student who commits an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying will be varied and graded according to the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the student, or the student’s history of problem behaviors and performance. Corrective measures that involve student discipline will be implemented according to district policy and procedure 3241, Student Discipline.

Se a conduta foi de natureza pública ou envolveu grupos de alunos ou espectadores, o distrito deve considerar fortemente o treinamento em toda a escola ou outras atividades para lidar com o incidente.

If staff have been found to be in violation of this policy and procedure by not reporting harassment, intimidation, or bullying or not preventing retaliation, school districts may impose employment disciplinary action, up to and including termination. If a certificated educator is found to have committed a violation of WAC 181-87, commonly called the Code of Conduct for Professional Educators, OSPI’s Office of Professional Practices may propose disciplinary action on a certificate, up to and including revocation. Contractor violations of this policy may include the loss of contracts.

Etapa 7: suporte para o aluno-alvo
As pessoas que foram submetidas a assédio, intimidação ou intimidação terão serviços de apoio distritais apropriados disponibilizados a elas, e o impacto adverso do assédio sobre o aluno deverá ser abordado e remediado conforme apropriado.

J. Imunidade/Retaliação
No school employee, student, or volunteer may engage in reprisal or retaliation against a targeted student, witness, or other person who brings forward information about an alleged act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a student. Retaliation is prohibited and will result in appropriate discipline.

K. Outros recursos
Students and families should use the district’s complaint and appeal procedures as a first response to allegations of harassment, intimidation, and bullying of a student. However, nothing in this procedure prevents a student, parent/guardian, school, or district from taking action to remediate discrimination or harassment based on a person’s membership in a legally protected class under local, state or federal law.

 
For questions or more information, students and families can reach out to the following state or federal agencies:

• Escritório de Patrimônio e Direitos Civis da OSPI
(360) 725-6162
Email: equity@k12.wa.us
www.k12.wa.us/Equity/default.aspx

• Comissão de Direitos Humanos do Estado de Washington
1 (800) 233-3247
www.hum.wa.gov/index.html

• Escritório de Direitos Civis, Departamento de Educação dos EUA, Região IX
(206) 607-1600
Email: OCR.Seattle@ed.gov
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html

• Serviço de Relações Comunitárias do Departamento de Justiça
1 (877) 292-3804
www.justice.gov/crt/

• Ouvidoria da Educação
1 (866) 297-2597 Email: OEOinfo@gov.wa.gov
www.governor.wa.gov/oeo/default.asp

• Centro de Segurança OSPI
(360) 725-6044
http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/BullyingHarassment/default.aspx

L. Outras Normas e Procedimentos Distritais
Nothing in this policy or procedure is intended to prohibit discipline or remedial action for inappropriate behaviors that do not rise to the level of harassment, intimidation, or bullying as defined in this procedure, but which are, or may be, prohibited by other district or school rules.

Revisado: abril de 2024