Seth Walsh: Lessons Learned

Randall Ranes, DirectorInstructional Support Services

DivisionOctober 3, 2011

SETH WALSH: LESSONS LEARNED

What did Seth experience? What did he and his parent do?

How did administration and staff respond?

How did the Office for Civil Rights/Department of Justice conduct their investigation?

What findings did Office for Civil Rights reach?

Overview of the lessons learned (next slides)

LESSONS LEARNED

When an employee receives notice of harassment, discrimination, bullying, or intimidation (e.g., allegation or complaint, observed misconduct), conduct a prompt, thorough, and effective investigation

  Extend an investigation involving allegations of

harassment beyond the student(s) involved in a specific incident of alleged misconduct

  Overcome obstacles (e.g., identity of all individuals not

known) to an effective investigation (e.g., interview other students in the vicinity, employees, and other potential witness, review the school's security cameras, speak to the student's friends and classmates)

  If harassment is found, take reasonable, timely, age-

appropriate, and effective corrective action tailored to the specific situation

LESSONS LEARNED (CONTINUED)

Take action to prevent the harassment from recurring including disciplining the harasser where appropriate (Note: Discipline of the immediate offending individual(s) may not be sufficient)

Use a series of escalating actions and consequences if the initial steps are ineffective in stopping the harassment and/or eliminating the hostile environment

  When there is evidence of a hostile environment, take

steps to repair the educational environment (e.g., help those affected, offer special training, interventions, disseminate information, implement new policies/procedures)

  Policy adoption is not sufficient. The policy must be

implemented at the school level

LESSONS LEARNED (CONTINUED)

Clearly communicate the message that students and staff must respect each other and the school will promptly and reliably respond to any reports of harassment

  Take steps to prevent any retaliation against the

student who made the complaint or any student who provided information regarding the complaint

  Adopt, publish, and review grievance procedures

providing for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints of discrimination and harassment

  Designate at least one employee to coordinate legal

compliance, including coordination of investigations of complaints alleging noncompliance with law and policy

LESSONS LEARNED (CONTINUED)

Document (document, document) investigation procedures, outcomes, and responses to end harassment, repair the educational environment, and establish a positive school climate

  Communicate appropriate messages:

A community of mutual respect and tolerance of others

Harassment, discrimination, bullying and intimidation are unacceptable