Everyone at Columbia Heights Public Schools has a right to feel respected and safe. The district wants you to know about School Board Policy 413 on the prevention of harassment and violence. The following is a summary of the policy:

1. It is the policy of the school district to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from harassment and violence on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation or disability. The school district prohibits any form of harassment or violence on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation or disability.

2. Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical conduct or other unlawful verbal or physical conduct or communication of a sexual nature.

3. Harassment consists of physical or verbal conduct, including, but not limited to, electronic communications, relating to an individual’s or group of individuals’ race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability.

4. Violence consists of a physical act of aggression or assault upon another or group of individuals because of or in a manner reasonably related to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability.

5. It shall be a violation of this policy for any pupil, teacher, administrator or other school personnel of the school district to harass a pupil, teacher, administrator or other school personnel through conduct or based on a person’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability.

6. School district personnel who fail to inform the building principal, the Human Rights Officer or the Director of Student Services per the reporting procedures in the Harassment and Violence Policy 413 of a report or harassment or violence in a timely manner may be subject to disciplinary action.

7. All complaints, whether verbal or written, will be investigated and any appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.

8. All verbal or written complaints should be reported to your principal, the Human Rights Officer or the Director of Student Services per the reporting procedures in the Harassment and Violence Policy 413.

9. Retaliation is prohibited against any individual who reports harassment or violence or participates in an investigation.

10. Confidentiality of all persons involved will be respected to the fullest extent possible.

This is a summary of Columbia Heights Public Schools policy against harassment and violence. A complete copy of the policy is available on the district website and/or from the Building Administrators.

Who to Contact

Contact Human Resources Director and Human Rights Officer Lindsey Bennett at 763-528-4516 for complaints involving staff

Contact the Student Services Department at 763-528-4414 for complaints involving students.