503.5 - Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy

The Community School District is committed to providing all students, employees, and volunteers with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassing behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of school employees to maintain a safe and civil environment, and the ability of students to learn and succeed.

Harassment and bullying of students are against federal, state and local policy, and are not tolerated by the board. Accordingly, school employees, volunteers, and students shall not engage in bullying or harassing behavior while on school property, while on school-owned or school-operated vehicles, while attending or participating in school- sponsored or sanctioned activities, and while away from school grounds if the conduct materially interferes with the orderly operation of the educational environment or is likely to do so.

Complaints may be filed with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee pursuant to the regulation accompanying this policy. The superintendent is responsible for implementation of this policy and all accompanying procedures. Complaints will be investigated within a reasonable time frame. Within 24 hours of receiving a report that a student may have been the victim of conduct that constitutes bullying and/or harassment, the district will notify the parent or guardian of the student.

If, after an investigation, a student is found to be in violation of this policy, the student shall be disciplined by appropriate measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. If after an investigation, a school employee is found to be in violation of this policy, the employee shall be disciplined by appropriate measures up to, and including, termination. If after an investigation a school volunteer is found to be in violation of this policy, the volunteer shall be subject to appropriate measures up to, and including, exclusion from school grounds. “Volunteer” means an individual who has regular, significant contact with students.

A school employee, volunteer, or student, or a student’s parent or guardian who promptly, reasonably, and in good faith reports an incident of bullying or harassment, in compliance with the procedures in the regulation, to the appropriate school official designated by the school district, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability relating to such report and to participation in any administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from or relating to the report.

Individuals who knowingly file false bullying or harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation may be subject to discipline by appropriate measures.

Retaliation Prohibited

Retaliation against any person because the person has filed a bullying or harassment complaint or assisted or participated in an investigation is prohibited.

Any student found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. Any school employee found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, termination of employment. Any school volunteer found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, removal from service and exclusion from school grounds.

Definitions

For the purposes of this policy, the defined words shall have the following meaning:

“Electronic” means any communication involving the transmission of information by wire, radio, optic cable, electromagnetic, or other similar means. “Electronic” includes but is not limited to communication via electronic mail, internet-based communications, pager service, cell phones, and electronic text messaging.
“Harassment” and “bullying” mean any repeated and targeted electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward an individual that creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:
1. Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property;
2. Has a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health;
3. Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance; or
4. Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

“Volunteer” means an individual who has regular, significant contact with students

Harassment and bullying may include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors and circumstances which create an objectively hostile school environment:

Verbal, nonverbal, physical or written harassment, bullying, hazing, or other victimization that have the purpose or effect of causing substantial injury, discomfort, fear, or suffering to the victim;
Repeated remarks of a demeaning nature that have the purpose or effect of causing substantial injury, discomfort, fear, or suffering to the victim;
Implied or explicit threats concerning one's grades, achievements, property, etc. that have the purpose or effect of causing substantial injury, discomfort, fear, or suffering to the victim;
Demeaning jokes, stories, or activities directed at the student that have the purpose or effect of causing substantial injury, discomfort, fear, or suffering to the victim; and/or
Unreasonable interference with a student's performance or creation of an objectively intimidating, offensive, or hostile learning environment.

Sexual harassment of a student by an employee means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

Submission to the conduct is made either implicitly or explicitly a term or condition of the student’s education or benefits;
Submission to or rejection of the conduct by a school employee is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting that student; or
The conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive education environment.

In situations between students and school officials, faculty, staff, or volunteers who have direct contact with students, bullying and harassment may also include the following behaviors:

Requiring that a student submit to bullying or harassment by another student, either explicitly or implicitly, as a term or condition of the targeted student’s education or participation in school programs or activities; and/or

Requiring submission to or rejection of such conduct as a basis for decisions affecting the student.

The school or school district will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of bullying or harassment. The building counselor, or designee will be responsible for handling all complaints by students alleging bullying or harassment. The board secretary or designee will be responsible for handling all complaints by employees alleging bullying or harassment.

The board will annually publish this policy. The policy may be publicized by the following means:

Inclusion in the student handbook,
Inclusion in the employee handbook
Inclusion in the registration materials
Inclusion on the school or school district’s web site,
Publication in the district newspaper, and
A copy shall be made to any person at the Red Oak Community School District Central Office, 604 S Broadway, Red Oak, IA 51566.

Approved August 27, 2018
Reviewed July 16, 2025
Revised July 16, 2025

dawn@iowaschoo… Fri, 09/18/2020 - 13:58

503.5R1 - Anti-Bullying/Harassment Investigation Procedures

Filing a Complaint

An individual who believes that the individual has been harassed or bullied may file a complaint with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee. The complaint form is available on the district website. If the complainant is a school employee, after filing the complaint with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee, the employee may separately notify the parent or guardian of the student alleged to have been harassed or bullied.

An alternate investigator will be designated in the event it is claimed that the superintendent or superintendent’s designee committed the alleged bullying or harassment or some other conflict of interest exists. Complaints shall be filed within [state number of days - 180] of the event giving rise to the complaint or from the date the Complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence. The Complainant will state the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested. The Complainant shall receive assistance as needed.

Investigation

The school district will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of bullying or harassment upon receipt of a written complaint. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee (hereinafter “Investigator”) will be responsible for handling all complaints alleging bullying or harassment.

The investigation may include, but is not limited to the following:

Interviews with the Complainant and the individual named in the complaint (“Respondent”)
A request for the Complainant to provide a written statement regarding the nature of the complaint;
A request for the Respondent to provide a written statement;
Interviews with witnesses identified during the course of the investigation;
A request for witnesses identified during the course of the investigation to provide a written statement; and
Review and collection of documentation or information deemed relevant to the investigation.

The Investigator shall consider the totality of circumstances presented in determining whether conduct objectively constitutes bullying or harassment as defined in Board policy. Upon completion of the investigation, the Investigator shall issue a report with respect to the findings, and provide a copy of the report to the appropriate building principal or Superintendent if the investigation involved the building principal

The complaint and identity of the Complainant, Respondent, or witnesses will only be disclosed as reasonably necessary in connection with the investigation or as required by law or policy. Similarly, evidence uncovered in the investigation shall be kept confidential to the extent reasonably possible.

Additional suggestions for administrative procedures regarding this policy include:

Organizing training programs for students, school employees, and volunteers regarding how to recognize bullying and harassing behavior and what to do if this behavior is witnessed; and
Developing a process for evaluating the effectiveness of this policy in reducing bullying and harassing behavior.

Decision

The investigator, building principal or superintendent, depending on the individuals involved, shall inform the Complainant and the accused about the outcome of the investigation. If, after an investigation, a student is found to be in violation of the policy, the student shall be disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include suspension and expulsion. If after an investigation a school employee is found to be in violation of this policy, the employee shall be disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include termination. If after an investigation a school volunteer is found to be in violation of this policy, the volunteer shall be subject to appropriate measures, which may include exclusion from school grounds.

Individuals who knowingly file false bullying and/or harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation may be subject to discipline by appropriate measures, as shall any person who is found to have retaliated against another in violation of this policy. Any student found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. Any school employee found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, termination of employment. Any school volunteer found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, exclusion from school grounds.

dawn@iowaschoo… Fri, 09/18/2020 - 14:01

503.5E1 - Anti-Bullying/Harassment Complaint Form

Name of Complainant:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Position of complainant: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Date of complaint: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of alleged harasser or bully: _____________________________________________________________________________

Date and place of incident or incidents: _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Description of incident or incidents: ____________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of witnesses (if any): __________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Evidence of harassment or bullying, i.e. letters, photos, etc (attach evidence if possible):
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I agree all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: ______________________________________________________________

Date: __________________________________________________________________

dawn@iowaschoo… Fri, 09/18/2020 - 14:05

503.5E2 - Anti-Bullying/Harassment Witness Form

Name of witness: _________________________________________________________________________________

Position of witness: _______________________________________________________________________________

Date of testimony, interview: ________________________________________________________________________

Description of incident witnessed: ____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Any other information: _____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: _______________________________________________________

Date: ___________________________________________________________

dawn@iowaschoo… Fri, 09/18/2020 - 14:10

503.5E3-Disposition of Complaint Form

DISPOSITION OF COMPLAINT FORM

Date:_____________________________________________________

Date of initial complaint:_____________________________________________________

Name of Complainant (include whether the Complainant is a student or employee):

________________________________________________________________________________________

Date and place of alleged incident(s):

________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Respondent (include whether the Respondent is a student or employee):

________________________________________________________________________________________

Nature of discrimination, harassment, or bullying alleged (check all that apply):

Age	Physical Attribute	Sex
Disability	Physical/Mental Ability	Sexual Orientation
Familial Status	Political Belief	Socio-Economic Background
Religion/Creed	Political Party Preference	Other-Please Specify
Marital Status	Race/Color
National Origin/Ethnic Background/Ancestry

Summary of Investigation: ___________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: _____________________________________Date: __________________________

lorenzr@redoak… Tue, 10/15/2024 - 14:40