In accordance with the requirements of Chapter 278 of the Acts of
1996, the school district hereby affirms its commitment to promoting a
workplace free of sexual harassment.
It is the goal of the Amherst-Pelham, Amherst and Pelham School
districts to promote a workplace that is free of sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment of employees occurring in the workplace whether it be
in the form of physical or verbal harassment and regardless of whether
committed by administrative or non-administrative personnel, teachers,
consultants, or community member is unlawful and will not be tolerated
by the school districts. Further, any retaliation against an individual
who has complained about sexual harassment or retaliation against
individuals for cooperating with an investigation of a sexual harassment
complaint is similarly unlawful and will not be tolerated. To achieve
our goal of providing a workplace free from sexual harassment, the
conduct that is described in this policy will not be tolerated and we
have provided a procedure by which inappropriate conduct will be
treated.
We will respond promptly to complaints of sexual harassment and where
it is determined that such inappropriate conduct has occurred, we will
act promptly to eliminate the conduct and impose such corrective action
as is necessary, including disciplinary action where appropriate.
DEFINITION: Massachusetts General Law Chapter 151C, Section S.1 (e)
defines sexual harassment as “sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
(a) submission to or rejection of such advances, requests or conduct is
made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment
or as a basis for employment decisions; or (b) such advances, requests
or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with
an individual’s work performance by creating an intimidating, hostile,
humiliating or sexually offensive educational environment.”
While it is not possible to list all those additional circumstances
that may constitute sexual harassment, the following are some examples
of conduct which if unwelcome, may constitute sexual harassment
depending upon the totality of the circumstances including the severity
of the conduct and its pervasiveness:
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Sexual advances - whether they involve physical touching or not;
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Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to an individual’s
sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life; comment on an
individual’s body, comment about an individual’s sexual activity,
deficiencies, or prowess;
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Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons;
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Leering, whistling, brushing against the body, sexual gestures, suggestive or insulting comments;
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Inquiries into one’s sexual experiences; and,
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Discussion of one’s sexual activities.
CONSEQUENCES: Staff members found to have engaged in acts of sexual
harassment will face one or more of the following consequences: (1)
written reprimand and warning, (2) suspension without pay, (3)
dismissal, and/or (4) referral to the police.
Reprisals, threats or intimidation of the victim will be treated as
serious offenses, which could result in dismissal from employment.
PROCESS FOR FILING INTERNAL COMPLAINTS: Because of the important
nature of this problem, immediate and direct attention will be given to
complaints.
Please contact the Director of Diversity and Equity, 413-362-1807, or
the Superintendent, 413-362-1810, for information about filing a
complaint or refer to the “Complaint Procedure for Allegations of
Discrimination.”
Workers who believe they have been subjected to sexual harassment may
also, or instead, report this to the following State and/or Federal
agencies:
Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
One Ashburton Place
Sixth Floor, Room 601
Boston, MA 02108
Telephone 617-565-3200
Fax 617-565-3196
TTY 617-565-3204
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
J. W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse
Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
Telephone 617-223-9662
Fax 617-223-9669
TTY 617-223-9695
TDD 617-223-4097
Region Voted to Approve: 6/4/04
Amherst Voted to Approve: 6/15/04
Pelham Voted to Approve: 9/2/04
Effective Date: 6/4/04