The District expects the workplace environment to be productive, respectful, and free of unlawful discrimination, including harassment. District employees shall not engage in harassment or abusive conduct on the basis of an individual’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, citizenship status, work authorization status, disability, pregnancy, marital status, order of protection status, military status, unfavorable discharge from military service, nor shall they engage in harassment or abusive conduct on the basis of an individual’s other protected status identified in Board policy 5:10. Harassment of students, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment, is prohibited by Board policies, 2:260, 2:265, 7:20, 7:180, and 7:185.
The District will take remedial and corrective action to address unlawful workplace harassment, including sexual harassment.
Sexual Harassment Prohibited
The District shall provide a workplace environment free of verbal, physical, or other conduct, or communications constituting harassment on the basis of sex as defined and otherwise prohibited by state and federal law. The District provides annual sexual harassment prevention training in accordance with state law.
District employees shall not make unwelcome sexual advances or request sexual favors or engage in any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature when: (1) submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual; or (3) such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. Sexual harassment prohibited by this policy includes, but is not limited to, verbal, physical, or other conduct. The terms intimidating, hostile, or offensive include, but are not limited to, conduct that has the effect of humiliation, embarrassment, or discomfort. Sexual harassment will be evaluated in light of all the circumstances.
Making a Complaint
Employees and nonemployees (persons who are not otherwise employees and are directly performing services for the District pursuant to a contract with the District, including contractors, and consultants) are encouraged to promptly report information regarding violations of this policy. Individuals may choose to report to a person of the individual’s same gender. Every effort should be made to file such reports or complaints as soon as possible, while facts are known and potential witnesses are available.
Aggrieved individuals, if they feel comfortable doing so, should directly inform the person engaging in the harassing conduct or communication that such conduct or communication is offensive and must stop.
Whom to Contact with a Report or Complaint
An employee should report claims of harassment, including making a confidential report, to any of the following: individual’s immediate supervisor, the building principal, an administrator, the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, and/or a Complaint Manager.
An employee may also report claims using Board policy 2:260. If a claim is reported using Board policy 2:260, then the Complaint Manager shall process and review the claim according to that policy, in addition to any response required by this policy.
The Superintendent shall insert into this policy the names, office addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of the District’s current Nondiscrimination Coordinator and Complaint Managers. The Nondiscrimination Coordinator also serves as the District’s Title IX Coordinator.
Nondiscrimination Coordinator:
Heather Glowacki
615 Locust Rd.
Wilmette, IL 60091
[email protected]
847-512-6003
Complaint Managers
Katie Lee
615 Locust Rd.
Wilmette, IL 60091
[email protected]
847-512-6004
Tony DeMonte
615 Locust Rd.
Wilmette, IL 60091
[email protected]
847-512-6007
Investigation Process
Any District employee who receives a report or complaint of harassment must promptly forward the report or complaint to the Nondiscrimination Coordinator or a Complaint Manager. Any employee who fails to promptly forward a report or complaint may be disciplined, up to and including discharge.Reports and complaints of harassment will be confidential to the greatest extent practicable, subject to the District’s duty to investigate and maintain a workplace environment that is productive, respectful, and free of unlawful discrimination, including harassment.
For any report or complaint alleging sexual harassment that, if true, would implicate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq.), the Nondiscrimination Coordinator or designee shall consider whether action under policy 2:265 should be initiated.
For any other alleged workplace harassment that does not require action under policy 2:265, the Nondiscrimination Coordinator or a Complaint Manager or designee shall consider whether an investigation under policy 2:260, and/or 5:120, should be initiated, regardless of whether a written report or complaint is filed.
Enforcement
A violation of this policy by an employee may result in discipline, up to and including discharge. A violation of this policy by a third party will be addressed in accordance with the authority of the Board in the context of the relationship of the third party to the School District (e.g., vendor, parent, invitee, etc.).
Any employee making a knowingly false accusation regarding a violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
Retaliation Prohibited
An employee’s employment, compensation, or work assignment shall not be adversely affected by complaining or providing information about harassment. Retaliation against employees for bringing complaints or providing information about harassment is prohibited (see Board policy 2:260), and depending upon the law governing the complaint, whistleblower protection may be available under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act (5 ILCS 430/), the Whistleblower Act (740 ILCS 174/), and the Ill. Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/).
An employee should report allegations of retaliation to the employee’s immediate supervisor, the Building Principal, an administrator, the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, and/or a Complaint Manager.
Employees who retaliate against others for reporting or complaining of violations of this policy or for participating in the reporting or complaint process will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
Recourse to State and Federal Fair Employment Practice Agencies
The Superintendent shall also use reasonable measures to inform staff members of this policy, which shall include posting on the District website and/or making this policy available in the District’s administrative office, and including this policy in the appropriate handbooks.
Adopted: June 8, 1998
Revised: February 23, 2015; January 22, 2018; June 18, 2018; September 23, 2019; August 24, 2020; April 24, 2023