INTRODUCTION

Karen Fischer-Anderson

CSD Safety, Compliance and Title IX Coordinator

Email: kfischer-anderson@sau8.org

Cell Phone: (603) 406-1307

Office Phone: (603) 226-2187

Office locations:

• Room #3003, Concord High School, 170 Warren Street, Concord, NH 03301

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DUTIES &RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE DISTRICT’S TITLE IX COORDINATOR

Prevention, education and response to:

• Student Safety
• Abuse & Neglect
• Discrimination
• Sexual Harassment
• Sexual Violence
• Bullying & Cyberbullying
• Stalking
• Retaliation
• ** I am a resource for you!

TOPICS FOR TODAY’S TRAINING

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Abuse & Neglect – Policy #432

Sexual Harassment – Policy #415

Child Sex Abuse Prevention – Policy #402

Bullying – Policy #539

Transgender and Gender Non-conforming Students - #162

Retaliation

Non-Discrimination - Policy #161

Professional Expectations – Policy #431

Civility in Schools, on School Property, and at School-Sponsored Events

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All policies are posted on the Concord School District Website

Under School Board - Policies

CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT

• Student safety is a PRIORITY
• Under New Hampshire law (RSA 169-C:29), every person who has “reason to suspect” that a child has been abused or neglected is required to report that suspicion to the Division of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) or directly to the police @ 911.
• Under RSA 169-C:30, the initial report “shall be made immediately by telephone or otherwise.”
• (800) 894-5533 or (603) 271-6562
• Written report may follow. Document who you spoke with along with the time and date
• Concord School District Policy on Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect is #432
• May notify Principal or building supervisor for assistance before calling so long as there is no undue delay in reporting to DCYF
• NH DOE Code of Conduct for NH Educators – Ed 510.05 (e)(1) & (2)
• No personal liability for “good faith” reporting but criminal liability exists for not reporting

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SIGNS OF CHILD ABUSE

• Physical abuse signs & symptoms
• Unexplained injuries such as bruises, fractures or burns and those that do not match the given explanation
• Sexual abuse signs & symptoms
• Inappropriate sexual behavior or knowledge for the child’s age
• Pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection
• Blood in the child’s underwear
• Statements that he/she was sexually abused
• Inappropriate sexual contact with other children
• Emotional abuse signs & symptoms
• Delayed or inappropriate emotional development
• Loss of self-confidence or self-esteem
• Social withdrawal, loss of interest or enthusiasm
• Depression
• Avoidance of certain situations, such as refusing to go to school or ride the bus
• Desperately seeks affection
• Decrease in school performance or loss of interest in school
• Regression of developmental skills

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SIGNS& SYMPTOMS OF CHILD NEGLECT

• Poor growth or weight gain or being overweight
• Poor hygiene
• Lack of clothing or supplies to meet physical needs
• Taking food or money without permission
• Hiding food for later consumption
• Poor record of school attendance
• Lack of appropriate medical and dental care, psychological problems or lack of necessary follow-up care

TITLE IX SEXUAL HARASSMENT REPORTING AND GRIEVANCE PROCESS

• Concord School District Policy #415 (See also CSD Policies #412 & #521)
• Sexual Harassment is a form of discrimination
• Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 states:
• “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.“
• Applicable to students, employees and any third party who contracts with the District to provide services to District students or employees.
• Educational Programs or activity include:

Academics

Extra-Curricular activities

Athletic Programs

School related events, activities, or programs

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SEXUAL HARASSMENT DEFINED UNDER TITLE IX

• Conduct on the basis of sex (including gender, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity) that denies or limits an individual’s ability to participate in or receive benefits, services, or opportunities from a school’s programs or activities. Sexually harassing behavior includes one or more of the following:
• A school employee conditioning educational benefits on participation in unwelcome sexual conduct (quid pro quo);
• Unwelcome sex-based related conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive , AND objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the education program or activity (hostile environment);
• Sexual assault, dating , domestic violence, or stalking as defined in state or federal law;
• Applies to Student on Student, Staff on Student, Student on Staff & Staff on Staff conduct

REPORTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT

• Any person may report sexual harassment – student, employee, parent, guardian, witness, or a third-party bystander
• Report can be made in person, by telephone, email, text, or anonymously
• Day or night – Form found on webpage under See Something, Say Something
• During or outside school hours
• Content of the report
• Name & contact information of reporter
• Name of alleged victim & alleged wrongdoer
• Witnesses
• Date, location, and description of the incident
• Responsible employee = any employee of an elementary or secondary school
• That means YOU!!
• Without delay (in no case longer than 24 hrs), you must notify one of the following (unless you are the victim);
• Principal, immediate supervisor, or any administrator
• Superintendent if allegations involve the Principal
• Title IX Coordinator
• DCYF where there is suspicion of abuse or neglect
• Protect confidentiality – only those with a need to know

BULLYING

ZERO TOLERANCE FOR BULLYING

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• Concord School District is committed to:
• Prohibiting all forms of Bullying and Cyberbullying
• Providing ALL students with a safe school environment
• Treating all members of the school community with respect
• Protection against & addressing bullying

PROTECTION AGAINST BULLYING

• Protection applies to:
• All members of the school community
• Students and school-aged persons on District Grounds
• When participating in a District function - regardless of whether it is a student within the District
• CSD may take action and impose discipline for bullying that takes place off school property or at a school sponsored activity or event if the conduct:
• Interferes with a student’s educational opportunities
• Substantially disrupts the orderly operations of the school or school-sponsored activity or event

DEFINITION, EFFECTS & LOCATIONS

• Bullying – Severe or repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal, or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture, or a combination thereof directed at a target that:
• Causes physical or emotional harm, or damage to the targeted student or student’s property;
• Places the targeted student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to their property;
• Creates a hostile environment at school for the targeted student;
• Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of the school
• More than 70% of students play some role in bullying, being bullied, or witnessing someone being bullied
• Common places where bullying occurs:

Bus stops, on the bus, playgrounds, hallways, & on-line

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WHY DOES BULLYING OCCUR?�

• Bullying results from an imbalance of power based on a student’s actual or perceived:
• Personal characteristics (weight, height)
• Ethnicity
• Religious practice or beliefs
• Sexual Orientation
• Association with another person based on that person’s characteristics, behavior or beliefs
• Often time bullying is the result of ignorance
• Identification of different types of bullying

TYPES OF BULLYING

Physical bullying – physical bullies tend to be bigger, stronger and more aggressive than their peers

• Kicking, hitting, punching, slapping or shoving
• Normally the easiest to identify

Verbal bullying - attacks normally appear when adults are not around – often one person’s word against another

• Victim is often told to ignore it
• Verbal bullying and name-calling leave deep emotional scars – should be taken seriously

Emotional bullying - tweens and teens try to hurt their peers or sabotage their social standing

• Ostracism
• Spreading Rumors
• Manipulate situations
• Break confidences

TYPES OF BULLYING CONTINUED

• Sexual bullying – Repeated, harmful, and humiliating actions that target a person sexually
• Sexual name-calling
• Crude comments
• Vulgar gestures
• Uninvited touching
• Sexual propositioning
• Pornographic materials
• A bully might comment about a peer’s appearance, attractiveness, sexual development, or sexual activity
• Girls are more likely to be sexually bullied
• Sexting
• Repeated requests for inappropriate pictures
• Can fall into the Title IX arena

TYPES OF BULLYING CONTINUED

• Cyber bullying – When the internet, a smartphone, or other technology is used to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person. When an adult is involved in the harassment, it is cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Examples include:
• Posting hurtful images
• Making on-line threats
• Sending hurtful emails or texts

Growing issue among young people because bullies can harass their victims with less risk of getting caught

TYPES OF BULLYING CONTINUED

• Prejudicial bullying – Based on prejudices toward people of different races, religions, or sexual orientation (Transgender students)
• Can encompass all other types of bullying – targeting others who are different from them and singling them out (often the result of ignorance)
• Severe and can end in hate crimes
• Should be reported!

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INTERNAL REPORTING PROCEDURES

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District Employees Reporting (CSD Policy #539)

• If an employee witnesses, receives a report of, or has knowledge or the belief that bullying may have occurred they shall inform a building administrator l ASAP or not later than 24 hours after observing the incident or receiving the report
• Anonymous Reports are allowed – Quick Tip box or on-line on District Website (See Something Say Something)
• Anonymous complaints are harder to investigate
• Disciplinary action cannot be taken solely on an anonymous report