Ten Sleep School approves sexual harassment policies

TEN SLEEP – During the December school board meeting Monday evening the Ten Sleep School Board approved on first reading a sexual harassment policy for students and another one for employees. Until this time no sexual harassment policy had been in place.

During the November meeting Ten Sleep Superintendent Jimmy Phelps informed the board that he was looking into creating a sexual harassment policy using a copy of Washakie County School District No. 1’s policy as a reference. He went on to explain that a concerned parent, Mandy Lowry, had brought the necessity of a sexual harassment policy up to him.

Lowry told the board in November, “I am still amazed that we don’t have one here at the school when every organization from the presidency down to Cub Scouts has a sexual harassment clause. If you don’t protect yourselves, your staff or your students then it’s just a lawsuit waiting to happen and you need to be protected as well as your students and your staff.”

The policies adopted for student and employees are almost mirror images of each other with few minor differences. The student sexual harassment policy states:

(a) Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. This includes, but is not limited to:

— Making submission to or rejection of such conduct the basis of grades received or any other decisions affecting the student.

— Creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or learning environment by such conduct.

— Offenses of sexual flirtation.

— Advances or propositions.

— A display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures.

— Demanding sexual favors accompanied by implied or overt threats; or any other offensive or abusive physical contact.

(b) Students of Washakie County School District No. 2 are prohibited from:

— Engaging in the sexual harassment of any student or employee.

— Aiding and abetting sexual harassment of any student or employee.

— Retaliating against a person for reporting sexual harassment.

The employee policy adds:

— Making submissive to or rejection of such conduct the basis of employment decisions affecting the employee.

Both policies state that after notification of a sexual harassment incident that an investigation into the matter will be made with the reporting party receiving the results of the investigation or un update if the investigation in still going within five days.

Students found guilty could be suspended or expelled and employees could receive termination of employment.

The board approved the policies on first reading as presented with a few small changes in semantics.