Sexual Harassment

The Governing Board is committed to maintaining a safe school environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. The Board prohibits, at school or at school-sponsored or school-related activities, sexual harassment targeted at any student by anyone. The Board also prohibits retaliatory behavior or action against any person who reports, files a complaint or testifies about, or otherwise supports a complainant in alleging sexual harassment.

HOW TO FILE A TITLE IX COMPLAINT (AR 5145.71)

The District strongly encourages students who feel that they are being or have been sexually harassed on school grounds or at a school-sponsored or school-related activity by another student or an adult, or who have experienced off-campus sexual harassment that has a continuing effect on campus, to immediately contact their teacher, the principal, the district's Title IX Coordinator, or any other available school employee. Any employee who receives a report or observes an incident of sexual harassment shall notify the Title IX Coordinator.

When any report of unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or bullying, is submitted to or received by the principal or compliance officer, he/she shall inform the student or parent/guardian of the right to file a formal complaint pursuant to the provisions in AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.

HOW A TITLE IX COMPLAINT WILL BE INVESTIGATED

Upon receiving an allegation of sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, the Title IX Coordinator or designee shall notify the individual(s) specified in law of the Title IX grievance procedures, and of the informal resolution process, if available and appropriate.

A complaint is an oral or written request that can objectively be understood by the Title IX Coordinator or designee as a request for the district to investigate and make a determination about alleged sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment.  (34 CFR 106.21)

Complaints of sex discrimination and sex-based harassment may only be brought by a student, or former student, who was participating or attempting to participate in the district's education program or activity at the time of the alleged sex-based harassment, a parent/guardian or other authorized legal representative with the legal right to act on behalf of the student, or the Title IX Coordinator or designee.  (34 CFR 106.45)  

If the alleged victim chooses not to bring a complaint, or withdraws any or all of the allegations in a complaint, and in the absence or termination of an information resolution process, the Title IX Coordinator or designee shall consider whether to initiate a complaint.

For more details on the investigation process, refer to Administrative Regulation 5145.71, Title IX Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedures.

Administrative Regulation 1312.3, Uniform Complaint Procedures, provides further details on the investigation process. 

HOW A TITLE IX COMPLAINT WILL BE INVESTIGATED

Upon receipt of a signed formal complaint, the Title IX Coordinator will determine whether the complaint will be accepted for investigation under Title IX or referred to the Uniform Complaint Process. The complainant and respondent have rights during the investigation process, which are detailed in Administrative Regulation 5145.71. The written decision shall be issued within 60 days of the receipt of the complaint. The timeline may be temporarily extended for good cause with written notice to the complainant and respondent of the extension and the reasons for the action. (34 CFR 106.45)

For more details on the investigation process, refer to Administrative Regulation 5145.71, Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Complaint Procedures.

Administrative Regulation 1312.3, Uniform Complaint Procedures, provides further details on the investigation process. 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Telephone: 800-421-3481
FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR@ed.gov

Title IX Coordinator
Dr. Jennifer Taylor Edens
Send Email | (707) 399-5079

Section 504 Coordinator
Liz Teresi
Send Email | (707) 399-4325

RELEVANT LINKS

• California Department of Education's Office for Equal Opportunity

• List of Rights ( Ed Code 221.8)

• U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

• Office for Civil Rights Complaints Form

• FSUSD Complaints

• Report Harassment

• Report Harassment (Spanish)

APPLICABLE POLICIES

• BP 5145.7 Sexual Harassment

• AR 5145.7 Sexual Harassment

• Title IX Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedures (AR 5145.71)

REQUIRED ANNUAL TRAININGS

• 2020 Title IX Regulations: K-12 Initial Compliance Training

• Lozano Smith: Title IX Recalibration

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