106 Title IX: Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex Prohibited

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Community School District prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment as defined by the regulations implementing Title IX (34 C.F.R. § 106.30), against any individual participating in any education program or activity of the District.  This prohibition on discrimination applies to students, employees, and applicants for employment.  

The Board authorizes the Superintendent to adopt procedures for any individual to report sexual harassment to the District’s Title IX Coordinator, for the provision of supportive measures to anyone who has been subjected to sexual harassment whether or not they proceed with a formal complaint under those procedures, and for the investigation and resolution of such complaints, as required by Title IX.  This Title IX grievance process shall be used to respond to all complaints of sexual harassment that fall within the scope of Title IX.  For complaints of sexual harassment that do not fall within the scope of Title IX, the District may still offer supportive measures to the subject of such conduct and shall apply any other policy or procedure applicable to the alleged conduct.

Any individual with questions about the District’s Title IX policy and procedures, or who would like to make a report or file a formal complaint of sex discrimination or sexual harassment may contact the District’s designated Title Coordinator, Scott Bridges, Superintendent, 2204 Hwy G71, Bussey, IA  50044; sbridges@twincedarscsd.org; 641-944-5241.

Retaliation against a person who made a report or complaint of sexual harassment, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a sexual harassment report or complaint is strictly prohibited. Retaliation includes threats, coercion, discrimination, intimidation, reprisals, and/or adverse actions related to employment or education.  Any individual who believed they have been retaliated against in violation of this Policy should immediately contact the District’s Title IX Coordinator.

Approved: 11/13/2023 Reviewed: 11/13/2023

What is Title IX?

In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Pella Community School District prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment as defined by the regulations implementing Title IX (34 C.F.R. § 106.30), against any individual participating in any education program or activity of the District. This prohibition on discrimination applies to students, employees, and applicants for employment. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to adopt procedures for any individual to report sex discrimination or sexual harassment, and for the investigation and resolution of such complaints.

Definitions:

Sexual Harassment means unwelcome behavior or conduct (physical, verbal, written, electronic) that is directed at someone because of that person’s sex or gender, and that meets any of the following definitions;

  1. “Quid Pro Quo” Harassment. A District employee explicitly or implicitly conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the District on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; OR

  2. Hostile Educational/Work Environment. Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the District’s education program or activity; OR

  3. Sexual Assault. An offense that meets the definition any one of the following offenses:

    • Rape: the penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus, with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person without consent of the victim;

    • Fondling: the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification without consent of the victim;

    • Incest: sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law; or

    • Statutory rape: sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent; OR

  4. Stalking:

    • Purposefully engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person (“target”) that would cause a reasonable person to fear bodily injury to, or the death of, the target or a member of the target’s immediate family;

    • When the person (“stalker”) knows or should know that the target will be placed in reasonable fear of bodily injury to, or the death of, the target or a member of the target’s immediate family by the course of conduct; and

    • The stalker’s course of conduct induces fear in the target of bodily injury to, or the death of, the target or a member of the target’s immediate family; OR

  5. Dating Violence: violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of:

    • The length of the relationship.

    • The type of relationship.

    • The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship; OR

  6. Domestic Violence: any felony or misdemeanor crime of violence committed:

    • By a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim;

    • By a person with whom the victim shares a child in common;

    • By a person who is cohabiting with, or has cohabited with, the victim as a spouse or intimate partner;

    • By a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the State of Iowa; or

    • By any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the State of Iowa.

How to Address Concerns:

Any individual with questions about the District’s Title IX policy and procedures, or who would like to make a report or file a formal complaint of sex discrimination or sexual harassment may contact the District’s designated Title IX Coordinator: Scott Bridges, Superintendent, Title IX Coordinator; Twin Cedars Community School District; 2204 Hwy G71, Bussey, IA 50044; Ph: 641-944-5241; Email: sbridges@twincedarscsd.org

In addition, students may contact their building principal or school counselor.

More Information:

Title IX: Sexual Harassment Procedures Manual