HR Policy 1.02

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With respect to employment and personnel operations, the Madison Metropolitan School District does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, physical appearance, marital status, disability, arrest or conviction record, political belief, sexual orientation, less than honorable discharge, source of income or the fact that an individual is a student. Employees shall function in a harassment-free work atmosphere and enjoy working conditions free from physical, verbal or psychological harassment.

The District also expressly prohibits discrimination against students. With respect to educational programs, no person shall be denied admission to any District school, or be defined participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or disability including his or her physical, mental emotional or learning disability. Such policy statement of nondiscrimination with regard to students includes, but is not limited to, the following areas:

1. Admission or enrollment into any school, class, courses, programs, or activity.
   
2. Interaction in the classroom, counseling, as well as with other support staff.
   
3. Standards and rules of behavior, including pupil harassment.
   
4. Disciplinary actions, including suspensions and expulsions.
   
5. Acceptance and administration of gifts, bequests, scholarships and other forms of recognition, such as aids, benefits, awards, or services to pupils from private agencies, organizations or persons.
   
6. Instructional and library media materials selection process.
   
7. Methods, practices, materials, attitudes, and interpretations used for testing, evaluating, and counseling pupils.
   
8. Facilities.
   
9. Opportunity for participation in athletic programs or activities.
   
10. School-sponsored food service programs.
    
11. Graduation requirements.

The District’s Equity Plan and Equity Goals have been developed as part of this policy prohibiting discrimination.

1. The Equity Plan includes components of (1) evaluation; (2) data collection; (3) standards for compliance/non-compliance in each area; (4) a timeline for the implementation of modification and remediation plans, as needed, with a record keeping system to document remediation steps that were taken; and (5) a system for continuously monitoring policies, programs and practices.
   
   
2. The Equity Goals include mandates that require District employees:

   A. to adhere to the nondiscrimination policy, procedures, and practices that are set forth above; and
   B. to encourage and allow students in the protected classes:

   (a) to participate in courses and programs to their full potential;
   (b) to participate in extra-curricular and recreational activities as their interests and special circumstances dictate;
   (c) to participate in the total athletic program of the District as their interests and special circumstances direct; and
   (d) to have all materials used in instruction and counseling selected by a procedure which includes a systematic review for bias on a regular basis. If the materials contain bias, such materials must be adapted or balanced when used.

   Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
   s. 111.36, s. 118.13
   Madison Ordinance 3.23

Harassment Policy

The Board considers all forms of harassment, including sexual and racial harassment, to be unacceptable behavior because it undermines productivity in the work and academic environments; degrades; intimidates; isolates; and discriminates against individuals in the work and academic environments; and creates an unreasonable interference with an individual’s work or a student’s performance in curricular and extracurricular activities.

To ensure that all employees and students work and study in an environment free of all forms of harassment, the Board expressly prohibits harassment and will take all the necessary steps to prevent such harassment from occurring. Any employee or student who engages in harassment will be disciplined by the appropriate authorities.

January 2002