Non-Discrimination Policies
Sexual Harassment / Sexual Discrimination
Title IX Training Slides (pdf)
Student Non-Discrimination Policy 5145.4
Personnel Non-Discrimination Equal Employment Opportunity Policy 4118.11 / 4218.11
Student Sexual Harassment Policy 5145.51
Student Grievance Procedures Policy 5145.6
Personnel Sexual Harassment Policy 4118.112 / 4218.112
Sexual Harassment / Sexual Discrimination Policy
BOE Policy 5141.51
Sexual discrimination and sexual harassment will not be tolerated among students or staff members of the Vernon Public Schools. Any form of sexual discrimination and/or harassment is forbidden whether by students, supervisory or non-supervisory personnel, individuals under contract, or volunteers in the schools, against any member of the school community.
Sexual discrimination occurs when a person, because of his or her sex, is denied participation in or the benefits of the district’s educational program. Sexual harassment is any form of conduct on the basis of sex that: (a) conditions the provision of any school/program aid, benefit, or service on the individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; or (b) is unwelcome and is determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a student equal access to the school’s education program or activity; or (c) is a “sexual assault,” “dating violence,” “domestic violence,” or “stalking,” as those terms are defined in federal law.
The school district will take all appropriate steps to address any sexual harassment, or allegations of sexual harassment, of which any employee has notice.
Any person, such as students, parents and guardians, may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, regardless of whether the person is the alleged victim of the reported conduct, in person, by mail, by telephone, or by email, to the district’s Title IX Coordinator, or any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the report. The report may be made at any time, including during non-business hours.
The Title IX Coordinator for the Vernon Public Schools is Robert Testa, Assistant Superintendent, rtesta@vernon-ct.gov; 30 Park Street, Vernon, CT. 06066; (860) 870-6000 Ext. 4676.
BULLYING
The Board of Education promotes a safe and positive school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment and any type of bullying behavior. Therefore it shall be the policy of the Board that bullying of a student by another student is prohibited.