Equity & Conduct Policies

No student at ACHS will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, order of protection status, physical or mental disability, military status, sexual orientation, unfavorable discharge from military service, status as homeless, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy, or actual or perceived association with an individual who is a member of such a protected status. Further, the district will not knowingly enter into any agreement with any entity or individual that discriminates against students on the basis of any protected status.

The grievance procedure includes the following steps:

• After receiving the initial complaint, information will be collected about the alleged incident. All reasonable efforts will be made to resolve the complaint, and provide a prompt and equitable resolution.
• Disciplinary action may be taken depending on the seriousness and pervasiveness of the complaint.

Argo Community High School, in keeping with the letter and the spirit of due process, protects the right of students to fair treatment. If a student feels a teacher or other district employee has treated him/her unfairly, the following steps must be followed to resolve the problem.

The student should schedule a conference with his/her counselor. The student has the right to have a parent or guardian present at the conference. The counselor will try to resolve the conflict by contacting the teacher and/or the department head or the appropriate supervisor and by setting up a conference, if necessary.

If the situation cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the counselor and department chair or supervisor, the student must complete a “Student Grievance Form” describing the conflict in detail. The “Student Grievance Form” must be submitted to Dr. Brandon Cotter, Principal, at 708-467-5501 or bcotter@argohs.net.

Retaliation by school employees against any student who makes a complaint under this policy is prohibited. Any student who feels he or she is the victim of retaliation should report the retaliation in the manner described above.

The school has a responsibility to provide students with a learning environment free from sexual harassment and misconduct, which includes, but is not limited to, sexual violence, sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, demeaning or insulting sexual remarks, and conduct based on sex, gender or sexuality by fellow students or by school staff members. Students who feel they have been sexually harassed should report their complaint by (1) directly telling the alleged harasser to stop his or her offensive behavior, if they feel comfortable doing so and (2) communicating their report to a teacher, counselor or administrator, who will report the matter immediately to a dean. Complaints will be kept confidential to the extent possible, given the need to investigate the claim. Appropriate remedial and disciplinary action will be taken against employees known to have committed or engaged in sexual harassment.

Retaliation by school employees against any student who makes a complaint under this policy is prohibited. Accordingly, a student’s good faith action in reporting alleged sexual harassment will not adversely affect the student’s education, grades, curriculum or record. However, if a student or witness is found to have been intentionally dishonest in making a report, the student or witness will be subject to discipline. Any student who feels he or she is the victim of retaliation should report the retaliation in the manner described above.

Sexual harassment means any conduct of a sexual nature by a person directed toward another person when:

• Such conduct has the result in creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive school environment for another person.
• Such conduct is continued by the person after either (i) the request of the other person to stop such conduct because it is intimidating, hostile, or offensive or (ii) actions, word, or other conduct on the part of the other person indicating that the conduct is unwanted. The determination of whether the conduct of a person is intimidating, hostile, or offensive is to be made by the school administration. Sexual harassment prohibited by this policy includes verbal, written or physical conduct. The terms intimidating, hostile, or offensive as used above include conduct, which has the effect of humiliation, embarrassment, or discomfort. Complaints alleging a violation should be reported to the Deans’ Office immediately.
   

Harassment of Students is Prohibited

• No person, including a District employee or agent or student, may harass or intimidate another student based upon a student’s sex, color, race, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or other protected group status. The District will not tolerate harassing or intimidated conduct, whether verbal, physical, or visual, that affects tangible benefits of education, that unreasonably interferes with a student’s educational performance, or that creates intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. Examples of prohibited conduct include name calling, using derogatory slurs, or wearing or possessing items depicting or implying hatred or prejudice of one of the characteristics stated above.
• The policy against harassment of students prohibits students from engaging in hazing or any kind of aggressive behavior that does physical or psychological harm to another or any urging of other students to engage in such conduct; prohibited conduct includes any use of violence, force, noise, coercion, threats, intimidation, fear, harassment, bullying, hazing, or other comparable con- duct.
• This policy prohibits students from: (1) accessing, and/or distributing at school any written or electronic material, including material from the Internet, that will cause substantial disruption of the proper and orderly operation and discipline of the school or school activities, and (2) creating and/or distributing written or electronic material, including Internet material, blogs and electronic messaging that causes substantial disruption to school operations or interferes with the rights of other students or staff members.
• Complaints alleging a violation of this policy should be reported to the Deans’ Office or the Office of the Principal. Violations of this policy will be reviewed by the school administration for appropriate disciplinary action up to expulsion and possible referral to the police.