Regulation-Code-JB-R

Equal Educational Opportunities and Anti-Harassment Regulation

Section J - Students

Regulation Title: Equal Educational Opportunities and Anti-Harassment
Regulation Code: JB-R

Student Complaints

TUSD is committed to conducting a prompt and equitable investigation of every complaint of discrimination or harassment as defined under Board Policy AC “Discrimination, Board Policy ACA “Sexual Harassment” and impairment of a student's right to participate in the educational program in violation of Policy JB. See these policies for definitions of terms.

Reporting

It is the policy of the Tucson Unified School District to encourage student targets of harassment and students who have first-hand knowledge of such harassment to report such claims. Students should report incident to any teacher, guidance counselor, or school administrator.

Every individual who believes that he or she has been discriminated against under Board Policies AC “Discrimination” and ACA “Sexual Harassment” or that any student has been impaired in the right to fully participate in the educational program in violation of Policy JB, has the right to file a complaint, present their allegations to a fair investigator, and to bring witnesses and exhibits in support of his or her allegations. Every individual against whom such a complaint is brought under these policies has the right to present his or her side of the story to an investigator, and to bring witnesses and exhibits on his or her own behalf.

Any adult school employee who witnesses, overhears, or receives a report, formal or informal, written or oral, of harassment at school or during school-sponsored activities shall report any harassment to the principal or the principal's designee. The report should be filed as soon as possible, but within 30 calendar days of the incident.

If the report involves discriminatory harassment by the school principal, the reporter shall make the report directly to the school district EEO Compliance Officer.
Other harassment by the school principal should be reported to the Principal Supervisor. The Principal Supervisor will conduct the investigation within a reasonable period of time, generally within 30 school days of the complaint.

Contact Information

In any case, a person may report to the TUSD EEO Compliance Officer, who is designated as:

Maricela Meza
Director of Employee Relations
1010 E. Tenth St.
Building A, Room 7
Tucson, AZ 85719
[email protected]

For EEO Intake, please email [email protected].

Phone: 520-225-6739

Child Abuse Reporting

Under certain circumstances, alleged harassment may constitute child abuse or other criminal violation under state law. The statutory obligation to report a suspected crime, therefore, may be applicable. (See GBEBC – Reporting of Suspected Crimes).

Privacy

Complaints will be kept confidential to the extent possible given the need to investigate and act on investigative results.

Investigation Of Discrimination Harassment

Investigations of discrimination and/or harassment shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures described in Regulation AC-R – Discrimination Complaint Procedure.

Appeal of Discrimination and/or Harassment

If the Principal conducts the investigation, and either the complainant or respondent is dissatisfied with the Principal's findings, they may appeal the Principal's findings to the EEO Officer for review. The appeal must be timely filed within 10 school days after receipt of the Principal's written findings. The EEO Compliance Officer will issue a final decision within 20 school days. The Compliance Officer's decision on the appeal is final.
If the EEO Officer conducts the initial investigation, and either the complainant or respondent is dissatisfied with the EEO Officer's findings, they may petition the EEO Compliance officer for reconsideration of the decision. The appeal must be timely filed within 5 school days of the receipt of the decision. The Compliance Officer will have 30 school days in which to affirm or rescind the earlier decision. The Compliance Officer's decision on the appeal is final.

Mediation

Whenever possible, and if both parties consent, an attempt should be made to resolve the Complainant's concerns through the more informal process of mediation. The Administrator should contact the EEO Compliance Officer to determine whether mediation is appropriate for the issues at hand.

School District Action

If the investigation finds a violation of Governing Board policy, the district shall take disciplinary and/or remedial action as appropriate in order to ensure that further harassment does not occur. Such action may include, but is not limited to: counseling, awareness training, mediation, parent-teacher conferences, warning, transfer, suspension and /or expulsion of a student, and counseling, awareness training, transfer, suspension and/or termination of an employee.

Appeal

A person judged to be in violation of the policy on student harassment and subject to action under it may appeal the determination and/or the action taken
The appeal shall proceed in accordance with School District policy governing discipline of students and with legal due process requirements.

Notification

The complainant and respondent shall be notified whether allegations of discrimination or harassment were found to be valid, whether a violation of Board Policy occurred, and whether action was taken as a result.

Training

Each Principal shall ensure age-appropriate methods of discussing the meaning and substance of this policy with students in order to help prevent harassment.
In addition to informing student about the board policy, these programs, implemented within the context of school curriculum, must also raise awareness about the different types of harassment; how the harassment manifests itself; and the devastating emotion and educational consequences of harassment.