Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB)
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NTPS Commitment
North Thurston Public Schools strives to maintain a safe, respectful and secure learning environment for all students that is free from harassment, intimidation and bullying. Our district values differences among people and treating one another respectfully. In accordance with Washington state RCW 28A.600.477, harassment, intimidation and bullying of students by other students, by staff members, by volunteers, by parents or by guardians is prohibited.
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Definition
Sometimes people don’t get along. This is not always bullying. Bullying and harassment are behaviors that make someone feel intimidated or offended. Bullying and harassment are unfair, one-sided, usually repeated, and often involve one person using their power over another person.
RCW 28A.600.477 defines harassment, intimidation or bullying as any intentionally written message or image-including those that are electronically transmitted-verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics.
A key characteristic that differentiates “mean behavior” from harassment, intimidation, bullying, discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, or sexual assault is that it creates a “hostile environment” for the victim:
Hostile Environment: an environment created when the conduct is so severe that it limits a student’s ability to participate in, or benefit from, the school’s services, activities, and opportunities. Physical illness, anxiety about going to school, or a decline in grades or attendance could signal a hostile environment.
In addition to defining “hostile environment”, the following definitions are provided to help you determine whether the behavior of concern should be reported to school authorities as an incident of harassment, intimidation, bullying, discriminatory harassment, sexual harassment, or sexual assault:
- HARASSMENT: Any one-sided, malicious act which causes physical harm or damages another’s property. It does not have to include intent to harm, be directed at a specific target, or involve repeated incidents. It creates a hostile environment at school.
- INTIMIDATION: Implied or overt threats of physical violence that substantially interfere with a student’s education and creates a hostile environment at school.
- BULLYING: Unwanted aggressive behavior by another person or group that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. It results in physical or educational harm. Cyberbullying is conducted with technology and is bullying. It creates a hostile environment at school.
- DISCRIMINATORY HARASSMENT: Occurs when conduct is based on a student’s protected class (race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability or other distinguishing characteristics) AND is serious enough to create a hostile environment at school.
- SEXUAL HARASSMENT: Sexual harassment is a form of discriminatory harassment. It is unwelcome behavior or communication that is sexual in nature and:
- Leads the student to believe they must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct or communication to gain something in return, OR
- The conduct substantially interferes with a student’s educational performance or creates a hostile environment
- SEXUAL ASSAULT: In the case of sexual assault, the victim is encouraged to contact 9-1-1 immediately to report the incident to the police. If sexual assault is reported to any school official and the police have not been notified, that official must follow mandated reporting laws and notify law enforcement of the alleged assault. According to Washington State Law, “sexual assault” involves one or more of the following:
- Rape or rape of a child;
- Assault with intent to commit rape or rape of a child;
- Incest or indecent liberties;
- Child molestation;
- Sexual misconduct with a minor;
- Crimes with a sexual motivation;
- Custodial sexual misconduct;
- Sexual exploitation or commercial sex abuse of a minor;
- Promoting prostitution;
- An attempt to commit any of the aforementioned offenses.
Anyone who experiences or sees harassment, intimidation or bullying behavior must report it to school counselors, teachers, or administrators. School administrators will act.
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NTPS School Board Policy
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Report Bullying and Harassment
Incidents of bullying and harassment should be promptly reported to your child’s school principal. The report can be verbal or put in writing using the HIB Incident Reporting form. Return the form to the school office. School staff will investigate the incident, communicate findings to the guardians, and create a plan to stop the bullying/harassment.;
- HIB Incident Reporting Form (PDF) English
- Formulario de notificación de incidentes de HIB (PDF) Español
Filing an incident reporting form:
In order to protect a reporting individual or alleged victim, the Incident Reporting Form can be filled out in one of three ways. The form may be filed anonymously, confidentially, or the individual may choose to disclose their identity (non-confidential).
- Anonymous reporting: Individuals may file a report without revealing their identity. An investigation will still take place. However, no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor based solely on an anonymous report.
- Confidential reporting: Individuals may ask that their identities be kept secret from the accused and other students. Like anonymous reports, an investigation will still take place. However, no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor based solely on a confidential report.
Possible responses to anonymous and confidential reports include enhanced monitoring of specific locations at certain times of day or increased monitoring of specific students or staff. Schools may identify complaint boxes, use online reporting processes, or develop other methods for receiving anonymous, unsigned reports. - Non-confidential reporting: Reporting individuals agreeing to make their identity non-confidential will be informed that due process requirements may require that the District release all the information that it has regarding the report to any individuals involved in the incident, but that even then, information will still be restricted to those with a need to know, both during and after the investigation. The District will, however, fully implement the anti-retaliation provision of this policy and procedure to protect reporting individuals, alleged victims and witnesses.
During a Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying investigation, the administration will likely need to interview the alleged victim; it is permissible for students to have a parent or other supportive individual present while they share their statement.
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District Contact
NTPS’s HIB Compliance Officer is Director of Student Achievement, Kirsten Rue, studentachievement@nthurston.k12.wa.us. She receives copies of all formal and informal HIB complaints and ensures that school administrators follow district policy. She supports the principal or designee in resolving HIB complaints and ensures that investigations and follow-up actions are prompt, impartial, and thorough.
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School Contacts
Incidents of bullying and harassment should be promptly reported to your child’s principal or assistant principal. Please call your child’s school and ask to speak directly with an administrator regarding a report of harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB).
Building
Phone NumberDistrict
360-412-4561
North Thurston HS
360-412-4800
River Ridge HS
360-412-4820
Envision Career Academy
360-412-4882
Timberline HS
360-412-4862
Aspire MS
360-412-4730
Chinook MS
360-412-4760
Komachin MS
360-412-4740
Nisqually MS
360-412-4770
Salish MS
360-412-4780
Chambers Prairie ES
360-412-4720
Evergreen Forest ES
360-412-4670
Horizons ES
360-412-4710
Lacey ES
360-412-4650
Lakes ES
360-412-4600
Lydia Hawk ES
360-412-4610
Meadows ES
360-412-4690
Mountain View ES
360-412-4630
Olympic View ES
360-412-4660
Pleasant Glade ES
360-412-4620
Seven Oaks ES
360-412-4700
South Bay ES
360-412-4640
Woodland ES
360-412-4680
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Right to Appeal
If the complainant or parent/guardian is dissatisfied with the results of the investigation, they may appeal to the Superintendent or their designee (Kirsten Rue) by filing a written notice of appeal within five (5) days of receiving the written decision. The appeal can be emailed to Kirsten Rue krue@nthurston.k12.wa.us or sent to the HIB Compliance Officer at 305 College Street NE Lacey, WA 98516.
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Family Resources
Find information and tips on how to prevent bullying on these websites:
Cyberbullying
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NTPS Commitment
Cyberbullying, impersonating another, hate mail, defamation, harassment, or intimidation of any kind, are prohibited. Cyberbullying is bullying or harassment that happens online. It can happen on a social networking site, in a text message, an email, an online game or comments. It might involve rumors or images posted on someone’s profile or passed around for others to see or creating a group or page to make a person feel left out. Because cyberbullying messages can be rapidly sent to many people, they can cause considerable damage to children.
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Definition
Cyberbullying is bullying or harassment that happens online. It can happen on a social networking site, in a text message, an email, an online game or comments. It might involve rumors or images posted on someone’s profile or passed around for others to see or it might involve creating an online social group or website page to make a person feel left out. Because cyberbullying messages can be rapidly sent to many people, they can cause considerable damage to children. There are many guidelines and resources to help parents navigate and stay involved in their child's online activity. It is the goal of NTPS to provide families with helpful information about some of the more frequently asked questions related to internet awareness and cyberbullying.
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Board Policies
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Family Resources
There are many guidelines and resources to help parents navigate and stay involved in their child's online activity. To provide families with helpful information, tips on how to prevent cyberbullying, and responses to frequently asked questions related to internet awareness and cyberbullying, please see these resources.
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Report Cyberbullying
Incidents of cyberbullying like any incident of bullying and harassment should be promptly reported to your child’s school principal. The report can be verbal or put in writing using the HIB Incident Reporting form. Return the form to the school office. School staff will investigate the cyberbullying incident, communicate findings to the parent, and create a plan to stop the bullying/harassment.
- HIB Incident Reporting Form (PDF) English version
- Formulario de notificación de incidentes de HIB (PDF) Spanish version
Filing an incident reporting form:
In order to protect a reporting individual or alleged victim, the Incident Reporting Form can be filled out in one of three ways. The form may be filed anonymously, confidentially, or the individual may choose to disclose their identity (non-confidential).
- Anonymous reporting: Individuals may file a report without revealing their identity. An investigation will still take place. However, no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor based solely on an anonymous report.
- Confidential reporting: Individuals may ask that their identities be kept secret from the accused and other students. Like anonymous reports, an investigation will still take place. However, no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor based solely on a confidential report.
Possible responses to anonymous and confidential reports include enhanced monitoring of specific locations at certain times of day or increased monitoring of specific students or staff. Schools may identify complaint boxes, use online reporting processes, or develop other methods for receiving anonymous, unsigned reports. - Non-confidential reporting: Reporting individuals agreeing to make their identity non-confidential will be informed that due process requirements may require that the District release all the information that it has regarding the report to any individuals involved in the incident, but that even then, information will still be restricted to those with a need to know, both during and after the investigation. The District will, however, fully implement the anti-retaliation provision of this policy and procedure to protect reporting individuals, alleged victims and witnesses.
Sexual Harassment
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NTPS Commitment
North Thurston Public Schools is committed to a positive and productive education free from discrimination, including sexual harassment. This commitment extends to all students involved in academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of the school, whether that program or activity is in a school facility, on school transportation or at a class or school training held elsewhere. The District prohibits sexual harassment of students by other students, employees or third parties involved in school district activities.
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Definition
Sexual harassment means unwelcome conduct or communication of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment can occur from adult to student, student to student or can be carried out by a group of students or adults and will be investigated by the District even if the alleged harasser is not a part of the school staff or student body. The District prohibits sexual harassment of students by other students, employees or third parties involved in school district activities. Under federal and state law, the term “sexual harassment” may include:
- acts of sexual violence;
- unwelcome sexual or gender-directed conduct or communication that interferes with an individual’s educational performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment;
- unwelcome sexual advances;
- unwelcome requests for sexual favors;
- sexual demands when submission is a stated or implied condition of obtaining an educational benefit;
- sexual demands where submission or rejection is a factor in an academic, or other school-related decision affecting an individual.
A “hostile environment” has been created for a student when sexual harassment is sufficiently serious to interfere with or limit the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the school’s program. The more severe the conduct, the less need there is to demonstrate a repetitive series of incidents. In fact, a single or isolated incident of sexual harassment may create a hostile environment if the incident is sufficiently severe, violent, or egregious.
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Report a Sexual Harassment Concern
You can report sexual harassment to any school staff member or to the Title IX Coordinator, Sean Dotson, who can be reached by phone at 360-412-4453, by email at executivedirectorhr@nthurston.k12.wa.us, in person, or by US postal mail at 305 College St NE, Lacey, WA 98516. The Title IX Coordinator can help you decide if any action needs to be taken and how best to address your situation.
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NTPS Board Policy
Policy 3205 and Procedure 3205P
Civil Rights / Non-Discrimination
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NTPS Commitment
The District will provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.
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Report a Civil Rights Concern
If you believe your student has been discriminated against, or treated unfairly or unlawfully because of their race, religion, gender, or other protected class, you can report the incident(s) to your student’s school principal or the district’s civil rights compliance officer.
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Contact Information
School: The school contact is your student’s school principal.
District: The district contact is the Civil Rights Coordinator, Sean Dotson, who can be reached by phone at 360-412-4453, by email at executivedirectorhr@nthurston.k12.wa.us, in person or by US postal mail at 305 College St NE, Lacey, WA 98516.
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Board Policies
Transgender Students / Non-Discrimination
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NTPS Commitment
North Thurston Public Schools believes in fostering an educational environment that is safe and free of discrimination for all students, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. To that end, the Board recognizes the importance of an inclusive approach toward transgender students in order to provide these students with an equal opportunity for learning and achievement. Therefore, discrimination against and harassment of students on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression are prohibited. Staff are to promptly report any incidents of discrimination or harassment to the building principal or the District’s Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator.
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Contact Information
School: The school contact is your student’s school principal.
District: The district contact is the Civil Rights Coordinator, Sean Dotson, who can be reached by phone at 360-412-4453, by email at executivedirectorhr@nthurston.k12.wa.us, in person or by US postal mail at 305 College St NE, Lacey, WA 98516.
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Board Policies
