Individuals who believe they are being harassed should firmly and promptly notify the offender that his or her behavior is unwelcome. Notice or formal complaints of a sexual or gender-based harassment, discrimination, and/or retaliation may be made internally to the District’s Title IX coordinator. Such notice can be made at any time, including during non-business hours, using the telephone number, email address, or by mail to the Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX Coordinator is appointed annually, and contact information will be listed on the District’s website. Alternately, external inquiries can be made to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Region 10, using the following contact information: Seattle Office, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 915 Second Avenue #3310, Seattle WA 98174-1099 or [email protected] or 1-800-877-8339.When a direct communication with the alleged harasser is not feasible or effective, the following steps should be followed when reporting a harassment complaint.
- The individual may choose to report the complaint to his or her supervisor, building principal, or Title IX Coordinator. If the complaint is successfully resolved in an informal manner, a confidential report will be made to the Superintendent about the complaint and resolution so that the District may determine if any pattern of harassment by any particular individual exists. If the supervisor is unable to resolve the complaint, the complaint will be referred to the Superintendent or Title IX Coordinator.
- If the individual chooses not to report the complaint to his or her supervisor, the individual may report the incident directly to the Superintendent or Title IX Coordinator. If the complaint in any manner involves the Superintendent, the individual should report the complaint to the Title IX Coordinator for the District. The Title IX Coordinator will be designated annually by Board action. (See Policy 1120.02)
- While not required to do so, a student may choose to report a complaint to any teacher or counselor. If the student chooses not to report the complaint to a teacher or counselor, the student should report the incident, or have his/her parent make a report to the building principal. If the complaint involves a building administrator, the student should report the complaint to the Superintendent or Title IX Coordinator.
- Students should understand that in reporting the complaint, any such communication may not be considered privileged information, and the person to whom the communication is made may have a duty to report the incident either to his/her superiors, the Title IX Coordinator or to other authorities, including the Idaho State Department of Health and Welfare or a proper law enforcement agency.
- An employee, at any time, may file a sexual discrimination or harassment claim with the District’s Title IX Coordinator or the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, Region 10,
- An accurate record of objectionable behavior or misconduct is needed to resolve a complaint of harassment. Oral reports of harassment are to be reduced to writing by the person making or receiving the complaint. The complaint should be signed by the employee, Board member, or student. The District encourages employees, Board members, or students who believe they have been subjected to harassment of any type, including but not limited to sexual harassment, to report the incident promptly so that a rapid response and appropriate action may be taken. However, because of the sensitivity of these matters, no time frame is required for reporting harassment and the late reporting of such harassment will not in and of itself preclude the District from taking action. [See Reporting Form – Appendix F]