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2023-2024 Student Handbook Notice Prohibiting Sexual Harassment

MUHSD 23-24 Student Handbook Notice Prohibiting Sexual Harassment

MUHSD DISCRIMINATION NOTICE

Student Procedures for Reporting Sexual Harassment and Bullying

The Merced Union High School District is committed to providing educational programs, activities and services that are free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying based on actual or perceived legally protected characteristics, or association with a person or group with one or more of such characteristics, including sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and gender expression, as required by California law and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Districts receiving federal funding are required to adhere to Title IX regulations, and Districts receiving state funding are required to adhere to Title 5 regulations.

Inquiries on all matters, including complaints regarding the implementation of Title IX in the District may be referred to the District official(s) listed here at the following addresses and telephones:

Title IX Coordinator


Brett Nickelson

Director of Human Resources

bnickelson@muhsd.org

Phone: 209-325-2015

For Issues Involving Students


Kelli Sharpe

Program Administrator

ksharpe@muhsd.org

Phone: 209-325-2110

Site Sexual Harassment/Discrimination Teams 23-24

  • AHS-AP Gonzalez/Phonesavanh
  • BCHS-AP Melgosa/Marmolejo
  • ECHS-AP Sanchez/Nunes
  • GVHS-AP Rhodes/Bogard
  • LHS-AP Dola
  • MHS-AP Silveira/Hofmann
  • SHS-Principal Shaw/AP Schaefer
  • YHS-Principal Rose/AP Amador

You can report discrimination and harassment based on sex to any district staff member or to the District's Title IX Coordinator, listed above. You also have the right to file a complaint (see below). For a copy of your District's nondiscrimination policy and procedure, contact your school, the District Office or view it online here: MUHSD Harassment and Discrimination Policies & Procedures

Definition of Sexual Harassment

Students are protected against sexual harassment committed by anyone, including third parties, in any school program or activity, including on the school campus, on the school bus, or off-campus during a school-sponsored activity.  Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the school's education program or activity and includes dating violence, stalking and domestic violence. May include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  

●  A student is led to believe that he or she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct or communications as a condition of the student’s academic status or progress, or the conduct is used as a basis for any decision affecting the student regarding a benefit or service, honors, a place on a sports team, programs, or other District activities, or

 ● The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact on a student's educational performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment.  

Examples Are:

  • Pressuring a person for sexual favors
  • Unwelcome leering, sexual flirtations or propositions
  • Unwelcome touching of a sexual nature such as massaging, grabbing, fondling, stroking or brushing the body, or touching an individual’s body or clothes in a sexual manner
  • Impeding or blocking movements or any physical interference with school activities when directed at an individual on the basis of sex
  • Unwelcome sexual slurs, epithets, threats, verbal abuse, derogatory comments or sexually degrading descriptions
  • Verbal, visual or physical actions that are discriminatory related to sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • Graphic verbal comments about an individual's body, or overly personal conversation
  • Writing graffiti of a sexual nature
  • Distributing sexually explicit texts, emails, pictures, derogatory posters, notes, stories, cartoons, drawings, obscene gestures, or computer-generated images
  • Making sexual jokes, rumors, or suggestive remarks
  • Displaying sexually suggestive objects
  • Sexual violence, including rape, sexual battery, sexual assault, sexual coercion, or other sexual violence offenses under Education Code section 48900(n)
  • Dating violence, stalking, and relationship abuse based on gender or sex

Students also have the right to file a formal complaint (see below). For a copy of the District's sexual harassment policy and procedure, contact your school, the District Office, or view it online here: MUHSD Harassment and Discrimination Policies & Procedures. Regardless of whether a formal complaint is filed, the District has a responsibility to conduct some level of investigation for any report of discrimination or sexual harassment.