Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy

Code Number: 103

The District prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs, activities, and its employment practices.

Equal opportunity in educational programs and activities shall be provided to all students in the District. In order to monitor progress, course enrollment and other relevant data, as required by the Department of Education and the Office of Civil Rights, shall be collected on the basis of designated categories and shall be updated annually.

Further, the District expressly prohibits any form of harassment of students or employees. Harassment or intimidation is defined as annoying, tormenting, teasing, or using derogatory words or statements pertaining to or as a result of one’s race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), and veteran status (for employment), when made by any student, employee, agent of or person under the control or supervision of the District, while on school property or engaged in or attending any school-sponsored activity. Harassment may include, but is not limited to the following:

  1. Submission to harassment is made directly or indirectly a term or condition of any individual’s employment or education;
  2. Harassment interferes with or affects an individual’s academic or professional performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, offensive, abusive, employment, or educational environment.

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (“Title IX”), the District prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment as defined by the regulations implementing Title IX, against any individual participating in any education program or activity of the District. This prohibition on
discrimination applies to students, employees, and applicants for employment.

The Board authorizes the Superintendent to adopt procedures for any individual to report sexual
harassment to the District’s Title IX Coordinator, for the provision of supportive measures to anyone who
has been subjected to sexual harassment whether or not they proceed with a formal complaint under those procedures, and for the investigation and resolution of such complaints, as required by Title IX. This Title IX grievance process shall be used to respond to all complaints of sexual harassment that fall within the scope of Title IX. For complaints of sexual harassment that do not fall within the scope of Title IX, the District may still offer supportive measures to the target of such conduct and shall apply any other policy or procedure applicable to the alleged conduct.

Any individual with questions about the District’s Title IX policy and procedures, or who would like to make a report or file a formal complaint of sex discrimination or sexual harassment may contact Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education/Title IX Coordinator at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com.

The Board requires all persons, agencies, vendors, contractors, and other persons and organizations doing business with or performing services for the District to subscribe to all applicable federal and state laws, executive orders, rules, and regulations pertaining to contract compliance and equal opportunity.

No employee, agent or person under the control or supervision of the District shall tolerate discrimination or harassment of any other individual, including students, or other school personnel, who are on school
property or who are engaged in or attending any school-sponsored activity.

There are grievance procedures available for making and investigating complaints of discrimination. AR
103(a) describes the specific process required for complaints under the jurisdiction of Title IX involving
sexual harassment. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education/Title IX Coordinator, 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com or Dr. Rita VANNATTA, Director of Human Resources, 627 4th Street, Sioux City IA 51101, (712) 279-6692, vannatr@live.siouxcityschools.com. Any incidents of discrimination or harassment must be reported to an immediate supervisor or to the Director of Student Services and Equity Education/Title IX Coordinator or Director of Human Resources.

Retaliation against a person who makes a report or complaint under this policy, or who assisted, or
participated in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a report or complaint is strictly prohibited. Retaliation includes threats, coercion, discrimination, intimidation, reprisals, and/or adverse actions related to employment or education. Any individual who believes they have been retaliated against in violation of this policy should immediately contact the District’s Title IX Coordinator or Director of Human Resources.

The District will take any and all appropriate action, including any necessary discipline, against any
employee, student, agent or any other person under the control or supervision of the District, who retaliates against any person in violation of this policy.

This policy should not be read to abrogate other District policies prohibiting other forms of unlawful
discrimination, inappropriate behavior, and/or hate crimes within this District. It is the intent of the District that all such policies be read consistently to provide the highest level of protection from unlawful discrimination in the provision of educational and employment services and opportunities.

First Adoption:
1993-05-11
Revision Adoption:
February 28, 1995/ September 18, 1999/ November 26, 2002/ March 17, 2008/ October 10, 2011/ February 9, 2015/ March 14, 2016/ June 25, 2018/ August 24, 2020
Reviewed Dates:
March 21, 2018/ July 21, 2020
Legal Reference:
20 U.S.C. §§ 1221 et seq.
20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.
20 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq.
29 U.S.C. § 206 et seq.
29 U.S.C. §621 et seq.
29 U.S.C. § 794
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d, 2000e, and 2000ff
42 U.S.C. §§ 6101 et seq.
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.
28 C.F.R. Pt. 35
29 C.F.R. Pt. 1600 et seq.
34 C.F.R. Pts. 100, 104, 106, 110

Iowa Code §§ 19B.11; 216.6, .9; 256.11; 280.3, 281 I.A.C. 12, 95

Cross References: AR103(a), AR103(b), AR103(c), 401.3, 504.4, 602.9

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