GBC-A
STUDENT NON-FRATERNIZATION POLICY
DEFINITIONS
(a)Staff: Staffis defined as the following:
1. any individual employed by the District, including any student teachers, practicum students, fieldwork students, andDistrict volunteers;
2. employees of contractorsor agencies and independent contractors;
3. volunteers ofnon-District organizations.
(b)Student. Student is defined as anyindividual enrolled in theDistrict.
The Districtexpectsallstaff members, includingteachers,coaches,counselors,administrators, board members, supportstaff andothers,tomaintainthe highestprofessional,moralandethical standardsintheirconductwithstudents.Forthepurposesofthispolicy,staff membersalso includeschool volunteers.
AllDistrictstaffmembersareexpectedtoacceptresponsibility fortheirconduct,andto understandthattheirconductmayberegardedasrepresentativeoftheDistrict,andthatevenoff- duty conductmayadverselyaffecttheabilitiesofastaffmembertoeffectively performhis/her jobduties.Staffisexpectedtoabideby aprofessionalstandard ofconductandmodelgood citizenship forstudents, parents, and thecommunity.
The interactionsandrelationshipsbetweenstaffmembersandstudentsshouldbe basedupon mutualrespectandtrust;anunderstanding oftheappropriateboundariesbetweenadultsand studentsinaneducationalsetting;andconsistentwiththe educationalmissionof the schools. Evenifastudentparticipateswillingly inanactivity,prohibitedinteractionsbetweenstaffand students (regardless of thestudent’s age) areaviolation of this policy.
Specifically,theDistrictexpectsthatitsstaffmaintainappropriateprofessionalrelationships withstudentsinparticular,andanyyouthingeneral,andbe sensitivetothe appearance of impropriety intheirconductwithstudents.Staffmembersareencouragedtodiscussissueswith theirbuildingadministratororsupervisorwheneverthey areunsurewhether particularconduct mayconstitute aviolation ofthis policy.
Employees must understand that even an appearance of inappropriate relationships will adversely impacttheireffectivenessintheschoolenvironment.Therefore,employeesmustbe diligentinmaintaining thehighestethicalstandardswheninteracting withyouthbothinsideand outsidetheschoolenvironmentandarestrictly prohibitedfromformingsuchpersonal relationships with students outsidethe classroom.
PROHIBITED CONDUCT
Staffmembersareprohibitedfromengaginginany ofthefollowingtypesofprohibitedconduct,
regardlessofwhethertheconductoccursonoroffschoolpropertyofwhethertheconductoccurs during oroutsideofschoolhours.Thefollowinglistofprohibitedconductdoesnot,andisnot intended to, constitutethe entirelist of conductfor which discipline maybeimposed:
(a)Engaginginany romanticorsexualrelationshipswithstudents,includingdating,flirting, sexualcontact,inappropriatephysicaldisplaysofaffection,orsexually suggestivecomments betweenstaffandstudents,regardlessofwhether staff orstudentinitiates the behavior, whethertherelationship is consensual, or whetherthe student has parental permission;
(b) Fostering,encouraging,orparticipatingininappropriateemotionallyorsociallyintimate relationshipswithstudentsinwhichthe relationshipisoutside the boundsof the reasonable, professionalstaff-studentrelationshipandinwhichtherelationshipcouldreasonably causea student to viewthe staffperson as morethan ateacher, administrator, or advisor;
(c) Initiating or continuing communications with students for reasons unrelated to any appropriatepurpose,including oralorwrittencommunication;telephonecalls;electronic communication such astexting, instantmessaging,email,chatrooms,Facebook, orother socialnetworkingsites;webcams;orphotographs.Electronicandonlinecommunications withstudents,including thosethroughpersonalaccounts,shouldbeaccessibletosupervisors and professional in content and tone;
(d) Socializingwithstudentsoutsideofclasstimeforreasonsunrelatedtoanyappropriate purpose;
(e)Providingalcohol (regardless ofage) ordrugs–either prescription or illegal (except forthose provided in accordancewith district policyon medication administration)– to students.
REPORTING PROCEDURES
(a)Duty toReport. Anypersonwith knowledge orsuspicion ofan improperrelationship
betweenstaffandastudentmustimmediately reporttheconducttoschooladministration. Nothing inthis paragraphisintendedtorelievemandated reportersoftheirobligationsunder state and local statues.
(b) Protection from Retaliation. Staff who makes a good-faith report of a suspected fraternizationviolation,or whocooperatesininquiriesor investigationsrelatedtothe investigationof sucha report,shallbe protectedfromretaliationinaccordance withDistrict Policy.
SANCTIONS
(a)Discipline. The District will take appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including
dismissal, againstanystafffound to haveviolatedthis non-fraternization policy.
(b)ReportProcedures.Reportsofsuspectedfraternizationviolationsby representedstaffshall followtheproceduressetforthinaccordancewiththeappropriatedisciplinarypoliciesin theircollectivebargaining agreement.Reportofsuspectedviolations bystaffthatare notpart of abargainingunitshallfollow the appropriateadministrativepolicy.