Regulation 5052b: Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention For Secondary Schools Plain Language Summary of Policy #5052

The Chappaqua Board of Education is committed to providing a safe and positive school environment for all students. Students are encouraged, at all times, to treat others as they would wish to be treated. In order to allow all students to enjoy the highest standard of education in our schools, the Board strictly forbids any forms of harassment, bullying, hazing, or discrimination on school grounds, school buses, and at all school sponsored activities. If any students are found to be guilty of harassing, bullying, hazing, or discriminating against any other members of the school community, those students may be disciplined according to the Student Code of Conduct.

Harassment, bullying (including cyber bullying), and hazing are defined as attempts to create a hostile environment for another person or for a group of people. These attempts might include threatening and intimidating language and gestures. They might occur face to face, in writing, or on-line. They might cause the victim to be afraid physically, or to be emotionally upset, and/or they might disrupt the normal, safe school environment for any student. Discrimination is an attempt to take away from a person the rights and privileges enjoyed by others because of who that person is. Acts of harassment, bullying, hazing, and discrimination may be based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (identify and expression), or sex. In all of these forms, and any others, harassment, bullying, hazing and discrimination are forbidden in the school community.

All students and staff will have the opportunity in school to learn about harassment, bullying, hazing, and discrimination, so that they can recognize them, so that they can help to prevent these things from starting, and help to end them if they ever do start. All students and staff have a responsibility to report any such incidents that they witness. In every school, the Assistant Principal is someone to whom students can report. But students should also know that any adult in the school is a safe person to whom they can speak.

When incidents of harassment, bullying, hazing, or discrimination are reported, they will be investigated. If students are found guilty, they will receive a clear notice about what they have done wrong, they will receive support in school so that they don't do it again, and they will be disciplined in a way that is appropriate and according to the Student Code of Conduct. The school will also keep records of such incidents. Students who report such events or participate in an investigation have the right to be safe from any kind of retaliation.

Any student who hears about, sees, or believes he/she is the victim of an act of bullying, harassment, or discrimination should make a report as soon as possible to a member of the school staff. There is a form available on the school district's web site for making such reports. If the form is used, it should be given to the school's DASA Coordinator (the Assistant Principal).

Reviewed by Board and approved by Superintendent: September 29, 2014