3.2 Non Discrimination

Kalamazoo Public Schools welcomes all students and staff of any religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, gender identification, height, weight, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation, and disability.

The District will not tolerate or condone any act of bias or discrimination toward and person on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, gender identification, height, weight, familial status, marital status sexual orientation, and disability in any of its activities, hiring practices, programs or services

3.7 Sexual Harassment

 Policy

Kalamazoo Public Schools is committed to providing a safe and positive environment in which all members of the school community are treated with respect. The District will not tolerate any act of harassment based on a legally protected characteristic, as defined by local, state, and federal laws, perpetrated by students, parents, staff, or any person while on District property.

Specifics

Harassment means unwelcome advances, requests for favors, and other unwelcome conduct or communication based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, marital status, or disability that substantially interferes with an individual’s employment, or participation in the educational process, or creates a hostile environment.  Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other conduct or communication of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to, verbal harassment or abuse based on gender, pressure for sexual activity, repeated remarks with sexual implications, unwelcome touching of a sexual nature, sexual jokes, posters, suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one’s safety, job, performance of duties, or participation in the educational process. Conduct may be spoken, written, electronic, or physical.

1.      The District will promptly investigate all allegations reported and take appropriate action.

2.      Filing of a complaint or otherwise reporting harassment will not reflect upon the individual’s status or affect future grades, work assignments, or employment.

3.      This policy will be circulated to all District schools and departments on an annual basis and incorporated in student and staff handbooks.

 This policy is not intended to create legal rights or obligations beyond those established by local, state, or federal laws.

 5.8 Prohibition of Bullying

The District strictly prohibits the bullying and cyberbullying of a district pupil, and also prohibits the retaliation or false accusation against a target of bullying, a witness, or another person with reliable information about an act of bullying. All students are protected under this policy; bullying is prohibited at school regardless of its subject matter or motivating animus.

As defined within MCL §380.1310b, bullying is any written, verbal, or physical act, or any electronic communication, including, but not limited to, cyberbullying, that is intended to harm, or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm, one or more students either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:

1.                  Substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of one or more students.

2.                  Adversely affecting the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the school district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.

3.                  Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a student’s physical or mental health.

4.                  Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

Cyberbullying means any electronic communication that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm one or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing any of the elements described in sections 1 through 4 above.

The District will not tolerate or condone any act of bullying and/or cyberbullying, regardless of the motive including, but not limited to, bias or discrimination toward any person on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, gender identification, height, weight, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, and/or any other distinguishing characteristics or association with another person who has, or is perceived to have, any distinguishing characteristic.

Bullying is prohibited “at school,” meaning on school premises, at school-sponsored activities or events, on a school bus or related vehicle, at official bus stops, or on a telecommunications access device or service provider owned by or under the school’s control. “Telecommunications access device” and “telecommunications service provider” mean those terms as defined in Section 219a of the Penal Code (MCL §750.219a). Subject to any applicable law and this policy, bullying that does not occur at school but occurs off school campus, including “cyber- bullying,” may be subject to disciplinary action if it causes harm to pupils or a substantial disruption to the educational environment as defined in items 1 through 4 above.

8.1 Equal Employment Opportunity

Hiring of personnel by the District will be fair and non-discriminatory, and should be conducted in a manner that best positions the District to hire the most effective candidates.

Specifics

1.            The District’s hiring decisions should be based on the person’s likely effectiveness in the position, and hiring procedures that use appropriate methods for ascertaining the likely effectiveness of different candidates will be developed for each type of position.

2.            The District’s hiring practices will fully comply with the District’s non-discrimination policy.

3.            The District’s process for hiring the Superintendent and building-level administrators should solicit and consider student, parent, staff and community input.

4.            The District hiring process should coincide with the most opportune times to hire the most qualified candidates.

5.            The Superintendent will give the Board pertinent information about recommended administrative candidates, and allow ample time for Board review prior to Board approval.

Accessibility for Online Content

Any student, prospective student, employee or guest of the District who is unable to access information contained on this website or any online content about the District's programs, services, or activities may contact a member of the District Communications Department for assistance.

Susan Coney, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications

(269) 337-1573

coneysl@kalamazoopublicschools.net