SUBJECT:  ANTI-DISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT POLICY  (#7531)

            It is the policy of the Malone Central School District that there be no discrimination against or in favor of any District student, employee or job applicant on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or disability.  In keeping with this policy, the District does not tolerate harassment by anyone in one of the aforementioned protected groups.  All employees and students must avoid such harassment at work, and are responsible for assuring that the schools are free from such harassment and/or discrimination at all times.  Any employee or student who feels he or she is a victim of any such act of discrimination or harassment may file a complaint under this policy with the Compliance Coordinator.  A finding that an employee or student has engaged in conduct constituting such harassment or discrimination may result in disciplinary action against such employee or student in the manner prescribed by law.

Sexual Harassment Statement

            The Malone Central School District sexual harassment policy prohibits employees, students and other individuals from making unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, threats and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature to other employees or students when (1) submission to such conduct is made, either explicitly or implicitly, a term or condition of an individual's employment or education, or (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or educational decisions affecting such individual, or (3) such has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work or school performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment.  Examples of conduct that may be interpreted as sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, lewd, or sexually suggestive comments; off-color language, jokes of a sexual nature,; sexual slurs and other verbal, graphic or physical conduct relating to an individual's sex; and the display of sexually-explicit pictures, greeting cards, articles, books, magazines, photographs, or cartoons.

Investigation Procedure

            Complaints of prohibited harassment or any other types of discrimination on the basis of sex, age, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or disability, including alleged violations of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the regulations thereunder, will be promptly and thoroughly investigated.

Compliance Coordinator

            Any employee or student who has a complaint of harassment or discrimination by anyone, including supervisors, co-workers, teachers, fellow students or visitors, should immediately bring the problem to the attention of the Compliance Coordinator, referred to in this policy as the "Coordinator."  The District's Coordinator shall be the Assistant Superintendent.

Reprisals

            No employee or student shall take any reprisals or retaliate against any complainant or other person because he/she has filed a complaint, opposed discriminator or harasser, or cooperated in any investigation hereunder.