Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe, positive environment for students and staff that is free from hazing. Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of the district and are prohibited at all times.

Definitions
For purposes of this policy, hazing is defined as any activity that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of initiation or membership in or affiliation with any organization recognized by the Board.

Endanger the physical health shall include, but not be limited to, any brutality of a physical nature such as whipping; beating; branding; forced calisthenics; exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, alcoholic beverage, drug or controlled substance; or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual.

Endanger the mental health shall include any activity that would subject an individual to extreme mental stress such as prolonged sleep deprivation, forced prolonged exclusion from social contact, forced conduct, forced conduct which could result in extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity, including but not limited to sexual acts mimicked or feigned, which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual.

Any hazing activity, whether by an individual or group, shall be presumed to be a forced activity, even if a student willingly participates.

The Board does not condone any form of initiation or harassment, known as hazing, as part of any school sponsored student activity. No student, coach, sponsor, volunteer or District employee shall plan, direct, encourage, assist or engage in any hazing activity.

The Board directs that no administrator, coach, sponsor, volunteer or District employee shall permit, condone or tolerate any form of hazing.

The District will investigate all complaints of hazing and will administer appropriate discipline to any individual who violates this policy.

The Board encourages students who have been subjected to hazing to promptly report such incidents to the Building Principal.

Delegation of Responsibility
District administrators shall investigate promptly all complaints of hazing and administer appropriate discipline to any individual who violates this policy.

Students, administrators, coaches, sponsors, volunteers and District employees shall be alert to incidents of hazing and shall report such conduct to the Building Principal.

The District shall annually inform students, parents, coaches, sponsors, volunteers and District staff that hazing of District students is prohibited by means of:

• Distribution of written policy through inclusion in the student handbook
• Presentation at an assembly
• Verbal instructions by the coach or sponsor at the start of the season or program
• Posting of notice/signs.

Guidelines: Complaint Procedure
When a student believes that he/she has been subjected to hazing, the student shall promptly report the incident, orally or in writing, to the Building Principal.

1. The Principal shall conduct a timely, impartial, thorough and comprehensive investigation of the alleged hazing.
2. The Principal shall prepare a written report summarizing the investigation and recommending disposition of the complaint. Copies of the report shall be provided to the complainant, the accused and others directly involved, as appropriate. If the investigation results in a substantiated finding of hazing, the Principal shall recommend appropriate disciplinary action, as circumstances warrant, in accordance with the appropriate student discipline handbook. Additionally, the student, in accordance with the appropriate academic/extracurricular code, shall be subject to disciplinary action by the coach or sponsor, up to and including removing from the activity.

ADOPTED:            October 10, 2000