Bullying

Bullying, intimidation, or harassment on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, status as homeless, order of protection status, military status, unfavorable military discharge, reproductive health decisions, or actual or potential marital or parental status (including pregnancy), physical appearance, socioeconomic status, or academic status, or association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in each of the following situations:

1. During any school-sponsored education program or activity;
2. While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities;
3. Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment; or
4. Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a non-school location, activity, function or program; or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by the school district or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of a school. This paragraph (Item #4) applies only when a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred; it does not require staff members to monitor any non-school related activity, function, or program.

The district will not tolerate harassment, intimidating conduct, or bullying, whether verbal, physical, sexual, or visual, that affects the tangible benefits of education, unreasonably interferes with a student's educational performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment.

Bullying includes cyberbullying (defined below) and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s or students’ person or property;
2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’ physical or mental health;
3. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance; or
4. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by a school.

Examples of prohibited conduct include harassment, threats, intimidation, name-calling, using derogatory slurs, stalking, sexual harassment, sexual violence, posting or distributing sexually explicit images, causing psychological harm, threatening or causing physical harm, threatened or actual destruction of property, theft, public humiliation, wearing or possessing items depicting or implying hatred or prejudice of one of the characteristics stated above, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is non-exhaustive.

CYBERBULLYING
Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photo-electronic system, or photo-optical system, including without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications.

Cyberbullying includes:

• The creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author or posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.
• The distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.
• The posting or distribution of an unauthorized digital replica (i.e., using a digital replica of an individual without the consent of the depicted individual) by electronic means, if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.

It is illegal and against Board of Education policy for any employee, student or other person, male or female, to sexually harass a student while that employee or student is on school property or engaging in school activities or school business, or as a result of the employment or educational relationship. 

Any person engages in Title IX Sexual Harassment when that person engages in conduct on the basis of individual’s sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

•  An employee conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct.
•  Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the district’s educational program or activity.
•  Sexual assault as defined in, or stalking as defined in, Board policy and federal law. 

A student engaging in sexual harassment will be subject to discipline, up to and including expulsion. Other individuals engaging in sexual harassment of employees or students may be excluded from school property and/or school activities.

The initiation of a complaint of sexual harassment will not adversely affect the terms and conditions of the complainant’s academic status in the district. Moreover, any student may file a sexual harassment grievance by using the Uniform Grievance Procedure.

Examples of sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, touching, rape, sexual battery, sexual abuse, sexual coercion, crude jokes or pictures, discussions of sexual experiences, teasing related to sexual characteristics, and spreading rumors related to a person's alleged sexual activities.

Students are encouraged to report bullying immediately. A report may be made orally or in writing to a member of the Student Services Department or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking. Anyone, including staff members and parents/guardians, who has information about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report such conduct.

Reports can be made in person to a member of the Student Services Department (directory below); anonymously via phone at (630) 243-3219; anonymously by clicking on the button below to submit a reporting form electronically; or anonymously by downloading and returning a reporting form to the Dean’s Office.

Report a Bullying Incident

A reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying is prohibited. A student’s act of reprisal or retaliation will be treated as bullying for purposes of determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial actions.

A student will not be punished for reporting bullying or supplying information, even if the school’s investigation concludes that no bullying occurred. However, knowingly making a false accusation or providing knowingly false information will be treated as bullying for purposes of determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial actions.

Please visit the Illinois Attorney General's "Stay Connected, Stay Informed" website for more information on Internet safety and the prevention of cyberbullying.

Consistent with federal and state laws and rules governing student privacy rights, the school shall make diligent efforts to notify a parent/guardian within 24 hours after the school's administration is made aware of a student's involvement in an alleged bullying incident. The term "bullying incident" includes individual instances of bullying, as well as all threats, suggestions, or instances of self-harm determined to be the result of bullying. Notification to a parent/guardian shall include, as appropriate, the availability of social work services, counseling, school psychological services, other interventions, and restorative measures.