Skip to main content

Greenfield Union School District

ALL MEANS ALL

Non-Discrimination Policy and Complaint Process

Greenfield Union School District Pupils Nondiscrimination Policy and Complaint Process

Greenfield Union School District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, immigration status, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The policy shall include a statement that it applies to all acts related to school activity or school attendance within a school under the jurisdiction of the superintendent of the school district. (California Education Code (EC) Sections 220, 234.1(a), and 260; California Penal Code (PC) Section 422.55; California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR) Section 4900, 4902, and 4960; Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34 (34 CFR) Section 106.8(a)) 

The Governing Board desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access to and opportunities in the district's academic, extracurricular, and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying, targeted at any student by anyone, based on the student's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, or bullying, may result from physical, verbal, nonverbal, or written conduct based on any of the categories listed above. Unlawful discrimination also occurs when prohibited conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational environment; has the effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with a student's academic performance; or otherwise adversely affects a student's educational opportunities. Unlawful discrimination also includes disparate treatment of students based on one of the categories above with respect to the provision of opportunities to participate in school programs or activities or the provision or receipt of educational benefits or services. The Board also prohibits any form of retaliation against any individual who reports or participates in the reporting of unlawful discrimination, files or participates in the filing of a complaint, or investigates or participates in the investigation of a complaint or report alleging unlawful discrimination. Retaliation complaints shall be investigated and resolved in the same manner as a discrimination complaint. The Superintendent or designee shall facilitate students' access to the educational program by publicizing the district's nondiscrimination policy and related complaint procedures to students, parents/guardians, and employees. In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall post the district's policies prohibiting discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying and other required information on the district's website in a manner that is easily accessible to parents/guardians and students, in accordance with law and the accompanying administrative regulation. The Superintendent or designee shall provide training and/or information on the scope and use of the policy and complaint procedures and take other measures designed to increase the school community's understanding of the requirements of law related to discrimination. The Superintendent or designee shall regularly review the implementation of the district's nondiscrimination policies and practices and, as necessary, shall take action to remove any identified barrier to student access to or participation in the district's educational program. The Superintendent or designee shall report the findings and Pupils Nondiscrimination Policy and Complaint Process recommendations to the Board after each review. Regardless of whether a complainant complies with the writing, timeline, and/or other formal filing requirements, all complaints alleging unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, or bullying, shall be investigated and prompt action taken to stop the discrimination, prevent recurrence, and address any continuing effect on students.  Students who engage in unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or bullying, in violation of law, Board policy, or administrative regulation shall be subject to appropriate consequence or discipline, which may include suspension or expulsion when the behavior is severe or pervasive as defined in Education Code 48900.4. Any employee who permits or engages in prohibited discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or bullying, shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Reporting Complaints

  1. Anyone who believes that a student has been unlawfully discriminated against by another student, an employee, or a third party or who has witnessed the discrimination, must report the incident to a teacher, the principal, the district's Title IX Coordinator, or any other available school employee.
  2. Within one school day of receiving such a report, the principal or other school employee shall forward the report to the district's Title IX Coordinator, or any other available school employee.
  3. Within one school day of receiving such a report, the principal or other school employee shall forward the report to the district's Title IX Coordinator.
  4. Any school employee who observes an incident of discrimination involving a student shall, within one school day, report the observation to the principal or Title IX Coordinator, regardless of whether the alleged victim files a formal complaint.
  5. When a report or complaint of discrimination involves off-campus conduct, the Title IX Coordinator shall assess whether the conduct may create or contribute to the creation of a hostile school environment. If the Title IX Coordinator determines that a hostile environment may be created, the complaint shall be investigated and resolved in the same manner as if the prohibited conduct occurred at school.
  6. When a verbal or informal report of discrimination is submitted, the Title IX Coordinator shall inform the student or parent/guardian of the right to file a formal written complaint in accordance with applicable district complaint procedures.
  7. All complaints of discrimination by and against students shall be investigated and resolved in accordance with law and district procedures. The Title IX Coordinator shall review the allegations to determine the applicable procedure for responding to the complaint. 

Pupils Nondiscrimination Policy and Complaint Process

Equity Compliance Officer: Erin Ramirez, Director of Assessment, Accountability & Special Projects 493 El Camino Real, Greenfield, CA 93927, (831) 674-2840 ext. 2011.

Title IX Coordinator: Marcy Jones, Director of Human Resources, 493 El Camino Real, Greenfield, CA 93927, (831) 674-2840 ext. 2022.

Section 504 Coordinator: Kristine Vasquez, Director of Special Education and Student Services, 493 El Camino Real, Greenfield, CA 93927, (831) 674-2840 ext. 2029.

NON-DISCRIMINATION / HARASSMENT / INTIMIDATION / BULLYING POLICY

DEFINITION OF BULLYING & CYBERBULLING

Bullying is an aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power between individuals with the intent to cause emotional or physical harm. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social/relational and may involve a single severe act or repetition or potential repetition of a deliberate act. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, any act described in Education Code 48900(r). 

Cyberbullying includes the electronic creation or transmission of harassing communications, direct threats, or other harmful texts, sounds, or images. Cyberbullying also includes breaking into another person's electronic account or assuming that person's online identity in order to damage that person's reputation.

Social media bullying frequently occurs across platforms that share common features, including easy account creation, direct messaging, public commenting, and photo or video sharing. These features can be misused to target individuals in ways that are difficult to monitor or address.

Common platforms and features that may facilitate bullying include:

  • Sites with easy sign-up or free registration: Platforms that allow quick account creation or anonymous profiles, such as Ask.fm and Omegle, can enable individuals to conceal their identity or create multiple accounts, increasing opportunities for harassment with limited accountability.

  • Applications with direct messaging features: Private or direct messaging tools on platforms like WhatsApp, Kik, Snapchat, and Discord may be used to send harmful or threatening messages. These communications are often less visible to parents and educators, as they do not typically appear on phone records.

  • Platforms with public comment sections: Comment features on sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Reddit can be used to spread rumors, provoke conflict, or engage in group harassment, including trolling or flaming, often reaching a wide audience.

  • Photo and video sharing platforms: Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube allow media to be shared quickly and broadly. These features may be exploited to distribute embarrassing or harmful images or videos, share private information, or create content intended to intimidate or humiliate others.

The combination of anonymity, ease of access, and the rapid spread of content contributes to the prevalence and impact of social media bullying.

BOARD POLICY & ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS - BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING

BOARD POLICY HATE MOTIVATED BEHAVIOR

CDE Bullying Prevention Resources

Supporting LGBTQ+ Students & Families Resources