NTPS is committed to actively implementing policies and practices to ensure every student is provided healthy, safe, engaging, high-quality, and supportive educational opportunities that lead to high academic and social-emotional outcomes.

In NTPS, our equity work calls us to identify disparities in our data, acknowledge our unconscious bias, and build personal and organizational capacity to lean into uncomfortable conversations about race, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, disabilities, and more.

It is about ensuring that every student has the resources and support they need to be successful. In an equitable classroom, individual factors do not hold students from reaching their full learning potential. We ask our teachers and staff to:

• Model equity for our students
• Hold students to high expectations
• Create an equitable classroom environment
• Give students a voice
• Embrace culturally responsive teaching

It is about partnering with others, including families, community, and tribal groups, to best meet the needs of all our students. Community Cafés are one practice that we use to engage parents/guardians and community members in meaningful conversations. An overview of some of the Equity work can be found on our Equity website at www.nthurston.k12.wa.us/equity.

North Thurston Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Title IX Officer
Sean Dotson
Executive Director of Human Resources
sdotson@nthurston.k12.wa.us
360-412-4452
305 College Street NE
Lacey, WA 98516

Section 504 Coordinator
Tammy Alonzo
Director of Student Information & Interventions
504@nthurston.k12.wa.us
360-412-4465
305 College Street NE
Lacey, WA 98516

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
Kirsten Rue
Director of Student Achievement
studentachievement@nthurston.k12.wa.us
360-412-4466
305 College Street NE
Lacey, WA 98516

You can report discrimination and discriminatory harassment to any school staff member or to the district's Civil Rights Coordinator, listed above. You also have the right to file a complaint (see below). For a copy of our district’s nondiscrimination policy and procedure, contact your school or district office or view it online here: Non-discrimination Policy 3210 and Non-discrimination Procedure 3210P.

Students and staff are protected against sexual harassment by anyone in any school program or activity, including on the school campus, on the school bus, or off-campus during a school-sponsored activity.

Sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior or communication that is sexual in nature when:

• A student or employee is led to believe that he or she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct or communications in order to gain something in return, such as a grade, a promotion, a place on a sports team, or any educational or employment decision, or
• The conduct substantially interferes with a student's educational performance or creates an intimidating or hostile educational or employment environment.

Examples of Sexual Harassment:

• Pressuring a person for sexual favors
• Unwelcome touching of a sexual nature
• Writing graffiti of a sexual nature
• Distributing sexually explicit texts, e-mails, or pictures
• Making sexual jokes, rumors, or suggestive remarks
• Physical violence, including rape and sexual assault

You can report sexual harassment to any school staff member or to the district's Title IX Officer, who is listed above. You also have the right to file a complaint (see below). For a copy of your district’s sexual harassment policy and procedure, contact your school or district office, or view it online here: Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited Policy 3205 and Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited Procedure 3205P.

Complaint Options: Discrimination and Sexual Harassment

If you believe that you or your child have experienced unlawful discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment at school, you have the right to file a complaint.

Before filing a complaint, you can discuss your concerns with your child’s principal or with the school district’s Section 504 Coordinator, Title IX Officer, or Civil Rights Coordinator, who are listed above. This is often the fastest way to resolve your concerns.

Complaint to the School District

Step 1: Write Out Your Complaint

In most cases, complaints must be filed within one year from the date of the incident or conduct that is the subject of the complaint. A complaint must be in writing. Be sure to describe the conduct or incident, explain why you believe discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment has taken place, and describe what actions you believe the district should take to resolve the problem. Send your written complaint—by mail, fax, email, or hand delivery—to the district superintendent or civil rights compliance coordinator.

Step 2: School District Investigates Your Complaint

Once the district receives your written complaint, the coordinator will give you a copy of the complaint procedure and make sure a prompt and thorough investigation takes place. The superintendent or designee will respond to you in writing within 30 calendar days—unless you agree on a different time period. If your complaint involves exceptional circumstances that demand a lengthier investigation, the district will notify you in writing to explain why staff need a time extension and the new date for their written response.

Step 3: School District Responds to Your Complaint

In its written response, the district will include a summary of the results of the investigation, a determination of whether or not the district failed to comply with civil rights laws, notification that you can appeal this determination, and any measures necessary to bring the district into compliance with civil rights laws. Corrective measures will be put into effect within 30 calendar days after this written response—unless you agree to a different time period.

Appeal to the School District

If you disagree with the school district’s decision, you may appeal to the school district’s board of directors. You must file a notice of appeal in writing to the secretary of the school board within 10 calendar days after you received the school district’s response to your complaint. The school board will schedule a hearing within 20 calendar days after they received your appeal, unless you agree on a different timeline. The school board will send you a written decision within 30 calendar days after the district received your notice of appeal. The school board’s decision will include information about how to file a complaint with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

Complaint to OSPI

If you do not agree with the school district’s appeal decision, state law provides the option to file a formal complaint with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). This is a separate complaint process that can take place if one of these two conditions has occurred: (1) you have completed the district’s complaint and appeal process, or (2) the district has not followed the complaint and appeal process correctly.

You have 20 calendar days to file a complaint to OSPI from the day you received the decision on your appeal. You can send your written complaint to the Equity and Civil Rights Office at OSPI: Email:

equity@k12.wa.us; Fax: 360-664-2967

Mail or hand deliver: PO Box 47200, 600 Washington St. S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7200

For more information, visit our website, or contact OSPI’s Equity and Civil Rights Office at 360-725-6162/TTY: 360-664-3631 or by e-mail at equity@k12.wa.us.

Other Discrimination Complaint Options

Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education 206-607-1600 ǀ TDD: 1-800-877-8339 ǀ OCR.Seattle@ed.gov ǀ OCR Website

Washington State Human Rights Commission 1-800-233-3247 ǀ TTY: 1-800-300-7525 ǀ Human Rights Commission Website

North Thurston Public Schools believes in fostering an educational environment that is safe and free of discrimination for all students, regardless of gender expression, gender identity, or sex. North Thurston Public Schools recognizes the importance of an inclusive approach toward transgender and gender-expansive students with regard to key terms, communication and the use of names and pronouns, student records, confidential health and education information, communication, restroom and locker room use and accessibility, sports and physical education, dress codes, and other school activities, in order to provide these students with an equal opportunity for learning and achievement.

This policy is a component of the district’s responsibility to create and maintain a safe, civil, respectful, and inclusive learning community and will be implemented in conjunction with comprehensive training of staff and volunteers. Specific training requirements are included in procedure 3211P. The superintendent will appoint a primary contact to receive copies of all formal and informal complaints and ensure policy implementation. The name and contact information of the compliance officer will be communicated throughout the district. The district compliance officer will participate in at least one mandatory training opportunity offered by OSPI. This policy and its procedure will support that effort by facilitating district compliance with local, state, and federal laws concerning harassment, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination.

Gender Inclusive Schools Coordinator
Sarah Rich
Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services
srich@nthurston.k12.wa.us
360-412-4416
305 College Street NE
Lacey, WA 98516