Policy Tool | District Policies

Print  | Print Policy & Subs

1008NON-DISCRIMINATION

Protected Class Discrimination Prohibited:

            It is the policy of the Meridn Board of Education (the “Board”) that any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, alienage, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law (“Protected Class”) is prohibited in the Meriden Public Schools (the “District”), whether by students, Board employees, Board members 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, school-sponsored activities, as well as the district website.  When the Board has created a limited public forum, the Board shall provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other groups as required by law.

Retaliation Prohibited:

The Board further prohibits reprisal or retaliation against any individual who reports incidents in good faith that may be a violation of this policy, or who participates in the investigation of such reports.

Discrimination on the Basis of Protected Class Association Prohibited:

Discrimination and/or harassment against any individual on the basis of that individual’s association with someone in a Protected Class may also be considered a form of Protected Class discrimination and/or harassment, and is therefore prohibited by this policy.

Scope and Applicability:

Students, Board employees, Board members and community members (e.g., other individuals affiliated with the District, accessing or seeking access to District facilities) are expected to adhere to a standard of conduct that is respectful of the rights of all members of the school community.  

Definitions:

The following definitions apply for purposes of this policy:

A.Discrimination: Discrimination in violation of this policy occurs when an individual is denied participation in, or the benefits of, a program or activity of the Board because of such individual’s actual or perceived membership in a Protected Class.

 

B. Harassment: Harassment is a form of Protected Class discrimination that is prohibited by law and by this policy. Harassment constitutes unlawful discrimination when it creates a hostile environment, which occurs when the harassment is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so as to interfere with or limit an individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by the District.

The following non-exhaustive list provides examples of the types of prohibited conduct that may be considered Protected Class harassment that can lead to a hostile environment:

  • objectively offensive racial, ethnic, or religious epithets (or epithets commonly associated with any Protected Class membership);
  • other words or phrases considered demeaning or degrading on the basis of Protected Class membership;
  • display of images or symbols commonly associated with discrimination against individuals on the basis of their membership in a Protected Class;
  • graphic, written or electronic communications that are harmful or humiliating based on Protected Class membership;
  • bigoted conduct or communications; or
  • physical, written, electronic or verbal threats based on Protected Class membership.

Harassment does not have to include intent to harm, be directed at a specific target, or involve repeated incidents. 

Sexual harassment is a form of harassment that is prohibited by law and Board policy.  For more information regarding harassment based on sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression, contact the District’s Title IX Coordinator at:

Office of the Assistant Superintendent, Meriden Public Schools, 22 Liberty Street, Meriden, CT 06450; Telephone: 203-630-4173

C. Gender identity or expression: Gender identity or expression refers to 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.

D. Sexual orientation: Sexual orientation refers to a person’s identity in relation to the gender or genders to which they are romantically, emotionally or sexually attracted, inclusive of any identity that a person (i) may have previously expressed, or (ii) is perceived by another person to hold.

E. Veteran: A veteran is any person honorably discharged from, released under honorable conditions from or released with an other than honorable discharge based on a qualifying condition 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. “Qualifying condition” means (i) a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury made by an individual licensed to provide health care services at a United States Department of Veterans Affairs facility, (ii) an experience of military sexual trauma disclosed to an individual licensed to provide health care services at a United States Department of Veterans Affairs facility, or (iii) a determination that sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression was more likely than not the primary reason for an other than honorable discharge, as determined in accordance with Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 27-103(c), (d).

 F. Race: The term 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.

 G. Domestic violence: Domestic violence means (1) a continuous threat of present physical pain or physical injury against a family or household member, as defined in  Gen. Stat. § 46b-38a; (2) stalking, including but not limited to, stalking as described in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181d, of such family or household member; (3) a pattern of threatening, including but not limited to, a pattern of threatening as described in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-62, of such family or household member or a third party that intimidates such family or household member; or (4) coercive control of such family or household member, which is a pattern of behavior that in purpose or effect unreasonably interferes with a person's free will and personal liberty. “Coercive control” includes, but is not limited to, unreasonably engaging in any of the following: (a) isolating the family or household member from friends, relatives or other sources of support; (b) depriving the family or household member of basic necessities; (c) controlling, regulating or monitoring the family or household member's movements, communications, daily behavior, finances, economic resources or access to services; (d) compelling the family or household member by force, threat or intimidation, including, but not limited to, threats based on actual or suspected immigration status, to (i) engage in conduct from which such family or household member has a right to abstain, or (ii) abstain from conduct that such family or household member has a right to pursue; (e) committing or threatening to commit cruelty to animals that intimidates the family or household member; or (f) forced sex acts, or threats of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to, threatened acts of sexual conduct, threats based on a person's sexuality or threats to release sexual images.

Alleged Discrimination/Harassment of Students or Employees:

Complaints of alleged discrimination and/or harassment of students and/or employees will be investigated in accordance with the non-discrimination policies applicable to students and/or personnel respectively.  Complaints pertaining to specific forms of discrimination and/or harassment, such as sexual harassment or disability- based harassment, have specific policies and procedures applicable to these forms of harassment and will be investigated in accordance with the specific procedures for such issues.  If a complaint involves allegations of discrimination or harassment of an employee or of a student based on sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression, such complaints will be handled in accordance with the procedures set forth in Board Policy # 4030, Policy Regarding Prohibition of Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Personnel), or Policy # 5020, Policy Regarding Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 – Prohibition of Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (Students).  Complaints involving allegations of discrimination or harassment of an employee or of a student based on disability will be addressed in accordance with the procedures set forth in Board Policy # 4005, Section 504/ADA (Personnel), or Board Policy #5010, Section 504/ADA (Students). 

Alleged Discrimination/Harassment of Community Members on the Basis of Sex:

In the event the District receives a complaint alleging discrimination or harassment of a community member (e.g., an individual affiliated with the District, accessing or seeking access to District facilities who is not a student or an employee) on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity or expression, the complaint shall be referred to the District’s Title IX Coordinator, who shall take steps designed to ensure that applicable state and federal law are followed.

Alleged Discrimination/Harassment of Community Members on the Basis of Disability:

In the event the District receives a complaint alleging discrimination or harassment of a community member (e.g., an individual affiliated with the District, accessing or seeking access to District facilities who is not a student or an employee) based on disability, the complaint shall be referred to the District’s Section 504/ADA Coordinator, who shall take steps designed to ensure that applicable state and federal law are followed.

Reporting to District Officials:

It is the policy of the Board to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging Protected Class discrimination or harassment.

            Any individual who believes a community member has experienced Protected Class discrimination or harassment or an act of retaliation or reprisal in violation of this policy should report such concern in writing to Office of Assistant Superintendent in accordance with the Board’s complaint procedures included in the Board’s Administrative Regulations Regarding Non-Discrimination/Community, which accompany this policy, and are available online at www.meridenk12.org or upon request from the main office of any District school.

Reporting to State and Federal Agencies:

            In addition to reporting to District officials in accordance with this policy, individuals also may file a complaint with the following agencies:

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

 

Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities:

Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities

450 Columbus Blvd.

Hartford, CT  06103-1835

(860-541-3400 or Connecticut Toll Free Number 1-800-477-5737)

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (employees only):

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Boston Area Office

John F. Kennedy Federal Building

475 Government Center

Boston, MA  02203

(800-669-4000)

Questions/Requests for Accommodation:                 

Any parent, student, staff member, Board member or community member (e.g., other individual affiliated with the District, accessing or seeking access to District facilities) who:

  1. has questions or concerns about this policy or its accompanying regulations; OR
  2. wishes to request or discuss accommodations based on religion; OR
  3. who would like a copy of the Board’s complaint procedures or complaint forms related to claims of discrimination or harassment:

may contact any District administrator or the following District official:

Office of the Assistant Superintendent, Meriden Public Schools, 22 Liberty Street, Meriden, CT 06450; Telephone: 203-630-4173

             Any parent, student, staff member, Board member or community member (e.g., other individual affiliated with the District, accessing or seeking access to District facilities) who has questions or concerns about the Board’s policies regarding discrimination or harassment on the basis of gender/sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or pregnancy may contact the District’s Title IX Coordinator:

Office of the Assistant Superintendent, Meriden Public Schools, 22 Liberty Street, Meriden, CT 06450; Telephone: 203-630-4173

            Any parent, student, staff member, Board member or community member (e.g., other individual affiliated with the District, accessing or seeking access to District facilities) who has questions or concerns about the Board’s policies regarding discrimination or harassment on the basis of disability, and/or who may wish to request or discuss accommodations for a disability, may contact the District’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.

   Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, 20 U.S.C. § 7905

            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

            Connecticut General Statutes § 1-1n, “Gender Identity or Expression” defined      

   Connecticut General Statutes § 27-103

            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-81c, Sexual orientation discrimination: Employment

            Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-1, Family relations matters and domestic violence defined

            Public Act No. 23-145, “An Act Revising the State’s Antidiscrimination Statutes”

 ADOPTED:    December 18, 2019

AMENDED:   November 19, 2019

AMENDED:   April 20, 2021

AMENDED:   November 20, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Approved 11/20/2023
Previous Policy Number: