The athletic department recognizes that hazing, harassment, sexual or otherwise, and/or bullying of students and staff is abusive and illegal behavior that harms victims and negatively impacts the school culture by creating an environment of fear, distrust, intimidation and intolerance. We further recognize that preventing and remedying hazing, harassment, and/or bullying in schools is essential to ensure a healthy, nondiscriminatory environment in which students can learn and employees can work productively.

We are committed to providing an educational and working environment that promotes respect, dignity and equality and that is free from all forms of harassment. To this end, we strictly prohibit all forms of hazing, harassment, and/or bullying on school grounds, school buses and at all school-sponsored activities, programs and events including those that take place at locations outside the district.

“Hazing” means committing an act against a student, or coercing a student into committing an act, that creates a risk of emotional, physical or psychological harm to a person, in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization, or for any other purpose. The term hazing includes, but is not limited to:

• Any humiliating, degrading or dangerous activity demanded of a student to join a group, regardless of the student’s willingness to participate (conduct has the potential to endanger the mental or physical health or safety of a student).

• Any hurtful, aggressive, destructive or disruptive behavior such as striking, whipping, sleep deprivation, restraint or confinement, calisthenics or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the student.

• Substance Abuse – use or abuse of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs.

• Any activity that intimidates or threatens the student with ostracism, that subjects a student to emotional, physical or psychological stress, embarrassment, shame or humiliation that adversely affects the health or dignity of the student or discourages the student from remaining in school.

• Any activity that causes or requires the student to perform a task or act that involves violation of state or federal law or of school district policies or regulations.

Bullying consists of inappropriate persistent behavior including threats, or intimidation of others, treating others cruelly, terrorizing, coercing, or habitual put downs and/or badgering others. Bullying similar to all forms of harassment and hazing are prohibited behaviors.

Common characteristics of bullying:

• Physical – hitting, kicking, taking or damaging a victim’s property

• Verbal – using words to berate, hurt, or humiliate

• Relational – maliciously spreading rumors, and/or actively excluding a person from the peer group to cause emotional harm to them. 

In order for the District to effectively intervene in these situations and to take prompt corrective measures, it is essential that all victims of hazing or bullying and persons with knowledge of hazing or bullying report the harassment immediately. The District will promptly investigate all complaints of hazing or bullying, formal or informal, verbal or written. To the extent possible, all complaints will be treated in a confidential manner. Limited disclosure may be necessary to complete a thorough investigation.

If, after appropriate investigation, the District finds that a student, an employee or a third party including parent/guardian has violated this policy, prompt corrective action will be taken.

All complainants and those who participate in the investigation of a complaint of hazing or bullying have the right to be free from retaliation of any kind. The complainant will be notified of the outcome of the investigation.