PREVENTION OF INTIMIDATION & HARASSMENT

Background

The District recognizes its responsibility to ensure a safe and secure environment for everyone associated with schools and District facilities.  Intimidation and harassment within the school environment are considered a danger to all members of the school community.

The District is committed to ensuring that everyone associated with schools and District facilities, including students and staff, will be safe, meaning free from violence, threats of violence, bullying, intimidation and harassment and that any breach of safety will be dealt with effectively through the provisions of this and related administrative procedures.

Definitions

Intimidation (also known as bullying) - any threatening behaviour which gives an individual reasonable cause to believe that they are at risk of injury.  One form of intimidation is cyberbullying, defined as any intimidation that occurs by electronic means including email, social networking, texting or other electronic means.

Personal Harassment – Any improper behaviour that is directed at or offensive to another person and which the person knows or ought to reasonably know would be objectionable conduct, comment or materials or display that demeans, belittles, unreasonably excludes, intimidates or humiliates another person; or the exercise of power in a manner which serves no legitimate work purpose and which a person ought reasonably to know is inappropriate; or such misuses of power or authority as intimidation, threats, coercion and blackmail, but excludes any reasonable communication or action taken by a supervisor or employer representative relating to the management and direction of workers or the place of employment.

Sexual Harassment – Any comment, look, suggestion, physical contact or real or implied action of a sexual nature, made by a person who knows or who ought reasonably to know such behaviour is inappropriate or any circulation or display of visual material of a sexual nature that has the effect of creating an unwelcome environment or an implied promise of reward for complying with a request of a sexual nature.

Procedures

1. All Principals will emphasize social responsibility and solving problems in peaceful ways and will employ programs that support socially responsible behaviour of all members of the school community.
2. Principals will use, if possible and appropriate, a full range of counseling services as well as restorative practices and/or restorative justice in following up on situations of intimidation or harassment in support of the complainant and the respondent.
3. Both for supporting socially responsible behaviour and in responding to situations of intimidation or harassment involving students, principals will use Codes of Conduct which have been developed and shared in accordance with the provisions of of Administrative Procedure 350 – Supporting Responsible Student Behaviour.
4. Matters of intimidation or bullying in relation to employees will be addressed through the relevant Administrative Procedures, collective agreements or contracts of employment.
5. Where there is reason to believe that a child is in immediate danger or that a criminal offence has been or is likely to be committed, the Principal or Superintendent will notify the police and/or other relevant agencies as appropriate.
6. When a threat is made against a school or a large number of people, for example through a phoned, written or electronically communicated bomb or weapon threat, the provisions of this Administrative Procedure will apply.
7. It is expected that all adults involved with schools will model the socially responsible behaviour expected of students.
8. The Principal will ensure that investigations into situations that may be deemed intimidating or harassing are carried out thoroughly as per the Community Threat Assessment Protocol and with regard to procedural fairness and due process including allowing both the complainant and respondent to fully explain and respond to the allegations.
9. When a Principal deems an action by a student to be a risk, threatening, intimidating or harassing, they will reference the Basic Behavioural and Digital Threat Assessment (BDTA) Toolkit and determine the level of threat and attempt to minimize the risk of injury or harm to any member of the school community.
10. The Principal will respond in accordance with the school’s Code of Conduct and may suspend the student as per Administrative Procedure 355 – Formal Student Suspensions.The length of the suspension will be at the discretion of the Principal in accordance with the circumstances and seriousness of the offence.
11. Principals will ensure that all incidents are reported appropriately including to parents of the complainant and respondent and as necessary, the Superintendent.In the case of injury, an Incident Report must be filled out and submitted to the District Health and Safety Manager.
12. The District’s Critical Incident Response Team may be called upon to provide support for schools dealing with major and serious incidents and to coordinate community intervention efforts.