Skip To Main Content

Strengthening
our community
one student
at a time. 

Harassment and Nondiscrimination Policies

PROHIBITION OF HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS

The policy of the Emanuel County Board of Education is to maintain a learning environment that is free from harassment because of an individual’s race, color, sex, or disability.  The Board of Education prohibits all such forms of harassment.  Therefore, it shall be a violation of this policy for any student, teacher, administrator, or other school system employee, through conduct or any form of communication of a sexual nature, or regarding race, color, or disability, as defined below, to harass school system students. 

A violation exists if a school system policy for any teacher, administrator, or other school personnel of this district to tolerate sexual harassment, racial harassment, or disability harassment, as defined by this policy, by a student, teacher, administrator, other school personnel, or by any third parties who are participating, observing, or otherwise engaging in activities, including sporting events and any other extra-curricular activities, under the auspices of the school system.

The Emanuel County School System will act to investigate all complaints, either formal or informal, verbal or written, of harassment because of race, color, sex, or disability. The District shall promptly address harassment pursuant to the District Title IX Grievance Procedure; and if it determines that unlawful harassment occurred to promptly and appropriately discipline any student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel who is found to have violated this policy, and/or to take other appropriate action reasonably calculated to end the harassment.

Reporting Procedures, Investigations, and Consequences

COMPLAINT OPTIONS: DISCRIMINATION BASED ON SEX AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT If you believe that you or your child have experienced discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment at school, you have the right to file a complaint. You can report discrimination and discriminatory harassment to any school staff member, the principal (who serves as the Title IX Liaison), or the district’s Title IX Compliance Officer listed below.

Before filing a formal complaint, you can seek an informal resolution by discussing your concerns with your child’s principal or with the school district’s Title IX Compliance Officer. You may also file a formal complaint through the procedures listed below.

Step 1: Complaint to the School District. Submit your complaint. In most cases, complaints must be filed within one year from the date of the incident or conduct that is the subject of the complaint. You can submit a complaint using this link:   https://forms.gle/U9UEg7FeMj92w4U77

or a student can contact an administrator in their school. The Title IX Coordinator will contact you to discuss your complaint and to give you the opportunity to file a formal complaint.

Step 2: School District Investigates Your Complaint. Once the district receives your formal complaint, the compliance officer will give you a copy of the complaint procedures and make sure a prompt and thorough investigation takes place. The complaint will be conducted in cooperation with Human Resources if the alleged harasser is an employee. The investigation may include an interview with the charged party or parties, interviews with witnesses, if any, and an examination of any relevant documents or artifacts. The district compliance officer will respond to you in writing within 30 school days. If your complaint involves exceptional circumstances that demand a lengthier investigation, the district will notify you in writing to explain why staff need a time extension and the new date for their written response.

Step 3: School District Responds to Your Complaint.  In its written response, the district will include a summary of the results of the investigation, notification that you can appeal this determination, and any corrective measures the district has taken.  If you disagree with the compliance officer’s decision, you may appeal to the school superintendent. You must file a notice of appeal in writing to the superintendent within 10 school days of the date of the district’s response.

The superintendent will schedule an appeal meeting within 20 school days after receipt of your appeal. The superintendent will send you a written decision within 30 school days after the appeal meeting. If your appeal involves exceptional circumstances that demand a lengthier process, the superintendent will notify you in writing to explain why a time extension is needed and the new date for his written response.

 Retaliation against an individual for filing a charge of discrimination, participating in an investigation, or opposing discriminatory practices is prohibited.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Emanuel County Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, race, ethnic origin, color, or sex/gender in its educational programs and activities, athletic programs, or employment practices as required by the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II); Title VI of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 (Title VI), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), and the Equity in Sports Act, O.C.G.A. 20-2-315. 

Questions, concerns or complaints relating to the nondiscrimination policies and practices of the Emanuel County School System should be addressed to the following officials:

  • Anetria Edenfield, All Title Programs 
  • Demita Clark-Hubbard, Section 504 and Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator
  • Stefanie Mason, CTAE and Perkins grants