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Hazing Policy

Hazing activities of any type are prohibited at all times regardless of whether the conduct occurs on or off school property or outside of school hours. No student, parent/guardian, coach, sponsor, volunteer, or district employee shall plan, direct, encourage, assist, permit, condone, ignore, or tolerate any form of hazing.

Hazing is defined as:

  • Any activity or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental health, physical health, or safety of a student.
  • Any activity that willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or membership in or affiliation with any school district organization.
  • Any activity that would subject an individual to extreme mental stress such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, conduct intended to or could result in humiliation, extreme embarrassment, or any other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental health or dignity of the individual. Any activity that endangers the physical health of a student including but not limited to any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping; beating; branding; forced and extreme training or exercise; exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, beverage, or drugs/alcohol; or other forced physical activity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of the individual.
  • All hazing activity, whether by an individual or a group, shall be presumed to be a forced activity, even if a
    student willingly participates.

Response to Hazing
Reporting – Students, parents/guardians, administrators, coaches, sponsors, volunteers, and district employees should immediately report hazing conduct to the building principal or their designee. District administrators shall investigate promptly all complaints of hazing and administer appropriate discipline to any individual or organization who violates this policy.

Consequences

Students — After a finding of hazing, the principal shall recommend appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion as circumstances warrant in accordance with the district Code of Conduct. Additionally, the student may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion by the coach or sponsor, up to and including removal from the activity.

Staff— After a finding that a coach, sponsor or volunteer affiliated with the activity planned, directed, encouraged, assisted, engaged, condoned, or ignored any form of hazing, s/he will be disciplined in accordance with Board policy and applicable laws and regulations. Discipline could include, but is not limited to, dismissal from the position as coach, sponsor or volunteer and/or dismissal from district employment.

Activity – If a student activity or organization authorizes hazing in blatant disregard of this policy, penalties may also include recession of permission for that organization to operate on school property or to otherwise operate under the sanction or recognition of the district.

**** Any person who causes or participates in hazing may also be subject to criminal prosecution.