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.

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.

 Digital Citizenship Procedure 2022P

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.

• www.athinline.org
• www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it
• www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/prevention
• www.stopcyberbullying.org

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).

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Policy 3205 and Procedure 3205P

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.

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.

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.

Policy 3210 and Procedure 3210P

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.

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.

Policy 3211 and Procedure 3211P