HARASSMENT POLICY

Harassment is the unwanted attention from anyone through annoying, threatening, or demanding behavior causing fear and/or preventing another's behavior and actions.  It can range from verbal baiting to name calling to sexual harassment.

The procedure dealing with harassment issues can be formal or informal.  It may be possible to resolve an offensive situation informally without an extensive and involved investigation.  However, any involved party may request a formal investigation at any time.  Based on the seriousness of the charge, the Title IX coordinator may decide that a formal investigation is most appropriate to address issues.  Upper Cape Tech's Title IX coordinator is the Director of Student Services.

Informal Procedure

The Title IX Coordinator may facilitate a conversation between the two parties where the complainant may tell the respondent that the behavior is offensive and must stop.  Examples of possible resolutions under the procedures are:

• Verbal statements of apology

• Letters of apology

• Assurances that the behavior will end

• Mediation

The informal procedure will be completed within five (5) school days and the Title IX Coordinator will notify all involved parties of the results of the informal process.  The length of time for this procedure may be extended due to the illness of anyone involved in the procedure.  If all parties involved in the informal process feel that a resolution has been achieved, no further action will be taken.  If any of the parties feel that resolution has not been achieved, participants will engage in the following formal procedure.

Formal Procedure

A formal investigation is initiated when any of the following three criteria are met:

1. Any of the parties involved requests a formal procedure.

2. The Title IX Coordinator determines that the formal procedure is necessary due to the seriousness of the allegations or repeated behavior.

3. Any of the parties involved in the informal process feels that the informal procedure was either inadequate or unsuccessful. 

The formal procedures will be completed within five (5) school days.  The length of time for this procedure may be extended due to the illness of anyone involved in the procedure.  During this time the Title IX Coordinator will:

1. Document the allegations in written form.

2. Notify a parent/guardian if a student under 18 years of age is involved.

3. Conduct an investigation of the complaint and prepare a written report with a description of any actions already taken or proposed.

4. Notify all parties of the results of the investigation including parent/guardian if student under 18 years of age is involved.

Recommendations for discipline will be referred to the Assistant Principal.  Discipline in harassment cases will be dealt with in accordance with school policy.  All documentation of harassment grievances will be kept on file with the Title IX Coordinator.

Appeals

A party may appeal the Title IX Coordinator's decision in writing, to the Principal within ten (10) days of receipt of the findings of the formal procedure.  The Title IX Coordinator's decision will be reviewed to ensure adequacy of the investigations and conclusions.   Parties will be given an opportunity to submit additional relevant information.  The Principal will make a decision and inform all involved parties of his decision within thirty (30) school days.

Back to Assistant Principal

TITLE IX - SECTION 504 and CHAPTER 622

The Director of Student Services is the coordinator for the Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 405 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Chapter 622 of the Massachusetts Act of 1971.  These laws protect students from discrimination on the basis of gender or physical disability.  Students who feel they have been excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School on the basis of gender or disability should bring the grievance to the attention of the Title IX Section 504 coordinator.  Chapter 622 further insures that all aspects of public school education in Massachusetts must be fully open and available to both sexes and minority groups.  No school may exclude a student from any course, activity, service, or resource available in that public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, or national origin.

Students who feel that they have been deprived of their rights under these Acts are encouraged to seek compliance by following the Student Grievance Procedure or by filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, United States Department of Education, Region 1, 140 Federal Street, 14th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.

Back to Assistant Principal

PARENT / STUDENT RIGHTS IN ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION IEP DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT AND IDEA-2004

The following is a description of the rights granted by Federal law to students with disabilities.  The intent of the law is to keep you fully informed concerning decisions about your child and to inform you of your rights if you disagree with any of these decisions.

You have the right to:

1. Have your child referred for an initial evaluation to determine eligibility under Section 504 or IDEA-2004.

2. Have evaluation and educational decisions made based upon a variety of information sources, and by persons who know the student, and the evaluation data.

3. Receive notice with respect to eligibility determination, IEP development, and placement of your child.

4. Have the school district advise you of your rights under Federal law;

5. Have your child receive a free appropriate public education.  This includes the right to be educated with students with no disabilities to maximum extent appropriate.  It also includes the right to have the school district make reasonable accommodations to allow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school and school-related activities.

6. Have your child take part in, and receive benefits from public education programs without discrimination because of his/her disability..

Back to Assistant Principal

STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Discrimination:

Level 1    Students shall be required to bring any allegations of discrimination to the attention of the Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator, who is the Director of Student Services.

Level 2    If the matter is not resolved within seven (7) days, the student may appeal in writing to the Superintendent or his designee.

Level 3    If, at the end of fourteen (14) days, the matter remains unresolved, the student has the right to appeal in writing to the School Committee.

Level 4    The School Committee shall investigate the complaint and respond in writing to the complainant no longer than fourteen (14) days following the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Other Issues:

The student grievance procedure has been established to deal with problems that go beyond those that could be handled by your immediate teacher, guidance counselor and/or member of the administration.  It is designed to handle situations that may affect groups of students (i.e., shop, academic class, cafeteria, etc.)

Step 1    Present problem to faculty member in the best position to resolve (i,e., teacher, counselor, administrator.)

Step 2    If problem is not resolved than put it in writing and present it to the Student Council.

Step 3    The Student Council Executive Board will review the problem with its advisor to determine its merit.  The President of the Student Council will then meet with the Principal in order to discuss and resolve the problem.

Step 4    If a satisfactory solution is not developed at Step 3, the Principal and the president of the Student Council will then meet with the Superintendent to discuss all aspects of the problem.  The Superintendent will then render his decision.

Step 5    If none of the above steps satisfactorily resolve the problem at hand, the Student Council President may request it to be placed on the School Committee agenda.

Back to Assistant Principal

"HAZING" IS PROHIBITED

The term "hazing" shall mean any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person.

REMINDER:

Upper class students are to treat new students and members of the opposite gender with respect.  Failure to follow this policy will result in disciplinary actions.  (See Disciplinary Procedures).  Serious offenses or repeated offenses will result in suspension and may lead to exclusion.

Chapter 665 "An Act Increasing the Penalties of Hazing" is available to anyone upon request.

---------------------------------------------------

"As an educational institution we support the right of every student to an equal education regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or handicap.  To that end, derogatory racial / genderual comments are not acceptable.  We request parental support to uphold the ideal that all students have the right to achieve their highest potential in a safe, friendly, non-prejudicial environment."

ANY STUDENT HAVING QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING HIS / HER RIGHTS AS A STUDENT MAY CONTACT THE PRINCIPAL.

Back to Assistant Principal