4000EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
The Meriden Board of Education (the “Board”) will not make employment decisions (including decisions related to hiring, assignment, compensation, promotion, demotion, disciplinary action and termination) on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or gender identity or expression, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification.
It is the policy of the Board that any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law is prohibited, whether by students, Board employees or third parties subject to the control of the Board. The Board’s prohibition of discrimination or harassment in its educational programs or activities expressly extends to academic, nonacademic and extracurricular activities, including athletics. It is also the policy of the Board of Education to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, alienage, ancestry, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, or gender identity or expression.
For the purposes of this policy, “genetic information” means the information about genes, gene products, or inherited characteristics that may derive from an individual or a family member. “Genetic information” may also include an individuals’ family medical history, the results of an individual’s or family member’s genetic tests, the fact that an individual or an individual’s family member sought or received genetic services, and genetic information of a fetus carried by an individual or an individual’s family member or an embryo lawfully held by an individual or family member receiving assistive reproductive services.
For the purposes of this policy, “veteran” means any person honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active service in, the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force and any reserve component thereof, including the Connecticut National Guard.
For the purposes of this policy, “gender identity or expression” means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is sincerely held, part of a person's core identity or not being asserted for an improper purpose.
For the purposes of this policy, “race” is inclusive of ethnic traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. “Protective hairstyles” includes, but is not limited to, wigs, headwraps and hairstyles such as individual braids, cornrows, locs, twists, Bantu knots, afros and afro puffs.
Any employee wishing to file a complaint regarding discrimination may obtain a copy of the Board’s complaint procedures and complaint form, which are included in the Board’s Administrative Regulations Regarding Non-Discrimination/Personnel. These regulations accompany Board Policy # 4000 for Personnel/Non-Discrimination and are available online at www.meridenk12.org or upon request from the main office of any district school.
If a complaint involves allegations of discrimination or harassment based on reasons such as gender/sex, disability, or pregnancy, such complaints will be handled under other appropriate policies: Policy # 4030 for Sex Discrimination/Harassment in the Workplace; Policy # 4005, Section 504/ADA.
Any employee also may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education (“OCR”):
Office for Civil Rights, Boston Office
U.S. Department of Education
8th Floor
5 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109- 3921
(617-289-0111)
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html
Employees may also file a complaint regarding employment discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Boston Area Office
John F. Kennedy Federal Building
475 Government Center
Boston, MA 02203
(800-669-4000)
Employees may also file a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities:
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities
450 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103-1835
(800-477-5737)
Anyone who has questions or concerns about this policy, or would like a copy of the Board’s complaint procedures or complaint forms related to claims of discrimination, may contact:
Office of the Assistant Superintendent, Meriden Public Schools, 22 Liberty Street, Meriden, CT 06450, Telephone: 203-630-4173
Anyone who has questions or concerns about the Board’s policies regarding discrimination on the basis of gender/sex may contact the Board’s Title IX Coordinator:
Office of the Assistant Superintendent, Meriden Public Schools, 22 Liberty Street, Meriden, CT 06450, Telephone: 203-630-4173
Anyone who has questions or concerns about the Board’s policies regarding discrimination on the basis of disability may contact the Board’s Section 504/ADA Coordinator:
Office of the Assistant Superintendent, Meriden Public Schools, 22 Liberty Street, Meriden, CT 06450, Telephone: 203-630-4173
Legal References:
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794
Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, Pub.L.110-233, 42 U.S.C. § 2000ff; 29 CFR 1635.1 et seq.
Connecticut General Statutes § 1-1n, “Gender Identity or Expression” defined
Connecticut General Statutes § 10-153, Discrimination on the basis of sex, gender or expression or marital status prohibited
Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-51, Definitions
Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-58, Deprivation of rights
Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act, Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-60
Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-81a, Sexual orientation discrimination: Definitions
Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-81c, Sexual orientation discrimination: Employment
ADOPTED: April 28, 1981
Amended: November 6, 2013
Amended: November 17, 2015
Amended: December 18, 2018
Amended: April 20, 2021
Approved 4/20/2021
Previous Policy Number: AC
