This policy complies with the requirements of 16 V.S.A. 565 regarding the prohibition by school boards of unlawful harassment. This policy also addresses sexual harassment. Unlawful harassment can include unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct which offends, denigrates, or belittles any individual because of any of the characteristics described above. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to unsolicited derogatory remarks, jokes, demeaning comments or behavior, slurs, mimicking, name calling, graffiti, innuendo, gestures, physical contact, stalking, threatening, bullying, extorting, or the display or circulation of written materials or pictures. These apply to all of the characteristics listed above.
Sexual harassment applies whether the harassment is between people of the same or different gender.
Sexual harassment can include unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct, directed at or related to a person s gender, such as sexual gossip or personal comments of a sexual nature, sexually suggestive or foul language, sexual jokes, whistling, spreading rumors or lies of a sexual nature about someone, demanding sexual favors, forcing sexual activity by threat of punishment or offer of educational reward, obscene graffiti, display or sending of pornographic pictures or objects, offensive touching, pinching, grabbing, kissing or hugging or restraining someone s movement in a sexual way. Any adult school personnel may report an allegation of unlawful harassment he or she has experienced at school or during school sponsored activities to a person designated to receive complaints of unlawful harassment, in accordance with procedures developed under this policy. Any adult school personnel who witnesses or receives a report, formal or informal, written or oral, of unlawful harassment or sexual harassment at school or during school sponsored activities shall report it with procedures developed in accordance with this policy. Duty to act. The School District shall take appropriate action in all cases where this policy has been violated.