Harassment

Students who engage in bullying are subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Code of Conduct.

Sexual Harassment

It is the policy of the Upper Merion Area School District to maintain a positive learning and working environment that is free from sexual  harassment. It shall be a violation of this policy for any member of the   district staff to harass a student through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined below.  It shall also be a violation of this policy for students to harass other students through conduct or communications of a sexual nature as defined below.  Sexual harassment shall consist of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other inappropriate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when made by any member of the school staff  to a student, when made by any member of the school staff to another staff member or when made by any student to another student when:

Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or education. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for academic or employment decisions. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s academic or professional performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment or education environment.

Sexual harassment, as defined above, may include, but is not limited to the following: verbal harassment or abuse; pressure for sexual activity; repeated remarks to a person, with sexual or demeaning implications; unwelcome touching; suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one’s grades, job, etc.

Any person who alleges sexual harassment by any staff member or student in the district may use the district complaint procedure or may complain directly to his/her immediate supervisor, building principal, guidance  counselor or other individual designated to receive such complaints. Filing of a complaint or otherwise reporting sexual harassment will not reflect upon the individual’s status; nor will it affect future employment, grades or work assignments.  The right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected consistent with the district’s legal  obligations, and with the necessity to investigate allegations of  misconduct and to take corrective action when this misconduct has occurred.

A substantiated charge against a staff member in the district shall subject each staff member to disciplinary action, including discharge. A substantiated charge against a student in the school district shall subject that student to disciplinary action as outlined in the Code of Conduct.