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, when an act:
- Physically harms a student or damages the student's property.
- Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's education.
- Is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment.
- Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
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 parent, and create a plan to stop the bullying/harassment.
- HIB Incident Reporting Form (PDF) English version
- HIB Incident Reporting Form (PDF) Spanish version
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District Contact
NTPS’s HIB Compliance Officer is Dr. Cherlyn Pijanowski cpijanowski@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
Building
Name
Title
Phone Number
District
District HIB Compliance Officer
(360) 412-4561
North Thurston HS
Principal
(360) 412-4800
River Ridge HS (last names A-K)
Assistant Principal
(360) 412-4820
River Ridge HS (last names L-Z)
Assistant Principal
(360) 412-4820
Envision Career Academy
Principal
(360) 412-4882
Timberline HS
Principal
(360) 412-4862
Aspire MS
Principal
(360) 412-4730
Chinook MS
Principal
(360) 412-4760
Komachin MS
Principal
(360) 412-4740
Nisqually MS
Principal
(360) 412-4770
Salish MS
Principal
(360) 412-4780
Chambers Prairie ES
Principal
(360) 412-4720
Evergreen Forest ES
Principal
(360) 412-4670
Horizons ES
Principal
(360) 412-4710
Lacey ES
Principal
(360) 412-4650
Lakes ES
Principal
(360) 412-4600
Lydia Hawk ES
Principal
(360) 412-4610
Meadows ES
Principal
(360) 412-4690
Mountain View ES
Principal
(360) 412-4630
Olympic View ES
Principal
(360) 412-4660
Pleasant Glade ES
Principal
(360) 412-4620
Seven Oaks ES
Principal
(360) 412-4700
South Bay ES
Principal
(360) 412-4640
Woodland ES
Principal
(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 his or her designee (Dr. Cherlyn Pijanowski) by filing a written notice of appeal within five (5) days of receiving the written decision. The appeal can be emailed to cpijanowski@nthurston.k12.wa.us or sent to the HIB Compliance Officer at 305 College Street NE Lace, WA 98516.
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Family Resources
Find information and tips on how to prevent bullying on these websites:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about the HIB process at NTPS? Please read our FAQ
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
- HIB Incident Reporting Form (PDF) Spanish version
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Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about Cyberbullying? Read the FAQ on the District website >>
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 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, Charles Burleigh, by phone at 360.412.4453, by email at cburleigh@nthurston.k12.wa.us, in person or by U.S. post mail at 305 College St. NE. Lacey, WA 98516. 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, Charles Burleigh, who can be reached by phone at 360.412.4453, by email at cburleigh@nthurston.k12.wa.us, in person or by U.S. post 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, Charles Burleigh, who can be reached by phone at 360.412.4453, by email at cburleigh@nthurston.k12.wa.us, in person or by U.S. post mail at 305 College St. NE. Lacey, WA 98516.
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Board Policies