Hazing
Purpose: To establish the basic structure for maintaining a safe, positive environment for students and staff that is free from hazing.
The district prohibits hazing by students, staff and third parties as a part of any school-sponsored activity. All students and employees must avoid any action that could be viewed as planning, directing, encouraging, assisting, or engaging in any hazing activity. Further, no administrator, coach, sponsor, volunteer, or district employee will permit, condone, or tolerate any form of hazing.
For purposes of this policy, state law defines hazing as “the wrongful striking, laying open hand upon, threatening with violence, or offering to do bodily harm by a superior student to a subordinate student with intent to punish or injure the subordinate student, or other unauthorized treatment by the superior student of a subordinate student, of a tyrannical, abusive, shameful, insulting, or humiliating nature.”
Any hazing activity, whether by an individual or a group, will be presumed to be a forced activity, even if a student willingly participates.
Any student who feels he/she has been subjected to hazing is encouraged to file a complaint in accordance with policy JII. All complaints will be investigated promptly and confidentially. The district prohibits retaliation or reprisal in any form against a student who has filed a complaint of hazing.
Any student or employee who is found to have engaged in hazing will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination in the case of an employee or expulsion in the case of a student. Individuals may also be referred to law enforcement officials. The district will take all other appropriate steps to correct or rectify the situation.
The superintendent will be responsible for ensuring notice of this policy is provided to students, staff, and parents/legal guardians.