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It’s All About the KIDS!INVESTIGATION OF HARASSMENT AND BULLYING REPORTS:All complaints of harassing or bullying behavior made by students shall be promptly and thoroughly investigated by the principal or designee. If the alleged harasser or bully is an employee, the principal will determine if a referral to Human Resources is warranted.All complaints of harassing or bullying made by employees shall be promptly reported to their immediate supervisor and/or the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. The investigation shall be conducted or overseen by the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources or designee. If the individual required to investigate a complaint made under this policy is the alleged harasser or bully, the investigation shall be conducted by an appropriate school system administrator as designated by the Superintendent. If the alleged perpetrator is the Superintendent, the Board attorney is the investigator. In such cases, whoever receives a complaint of harassment or bullying shall immediately notify the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, who shall immediately notify the Board Chair. The Board Chair shall direct the Board attorney to respond to the complaint and investigate. If the alleged perpetrator is a member of the Board, the Board attorney is the investigator. In such cases, whoever receives a complaint of harassment or bullying shall notify the Superintendent who shall direct the Board attorney to respond to the complaint and investigate. Unless the Board Chair is the alleged perpetrator, the Superintendent shall also notify the Board Chair of the complaint.If at any time during the investigation the school official investigating a student’s allegation of harassment or bullying receives information alleging the harassment or bullying was based on sex or gender, the school official shall notify the Title IX Coordinator. In such cases, the procedures outlined in Board Policy 2320/3035/4035/6415 – Sexual Harassment shall be followed. Further, in any case of alleged harassment or bullying, the school system shall notify any other appropriate person or entity if required by law or Board Policy 2333/3033/4033- Reporting Information to Principals and External Agencies.DISCIPLINARY ACTION:The actions taken in response to evidence of harassing or bullying behavior should be reasonably calculated to end any harassment or bullying, eliminate a hostile environment if one has been created, and prevent harassment from occurring again. In addition to taking disciplinary action as necessary, the principal or other school official shall take appropriate remedial action to address the conduct fully.Violations of this policy shall be considered misconduct and will result in disciplinary action up to and including long- term suspension or expulsion in the case of students and disciplinary action up to and including dismissal in the case of employees.This policy may not be construed to allow school officials to punish student expression or speech based on an undifferentiated fear or apprehension of disturbance or out of a desire to avoid the discomfort and unpleasantness that may accompany an unpopular viewpoint.Nothing in this policy precludes the school system from taking disciplinary action against a student or employee where the evidence does not establish harassment but the conduct otherwise fails to satisfy the school system’s high expectations for appropriate conduct.In all things, it is important to remember every person should be treated with respect, compassion and grace. Everyone has inherent worth and all life should be respected and valued. Treat others the way you wanted to be treated. Everyone has characteristics that make them unique. We may all look different but inside we’re all the same.Stopbullying.gov Edudemic.com/bullyingwww.suburbanlivingmag.comSuburban Living Fuquay-Varina | Page 43