Sexual Harassment and Title IX Compliance

• What acts and behavior constitute sexual harassment, including the fact that sexual harassment could occur between people of the same sex and could involve sexual violence
• A clear message that students do not have to endure sexual harassment under any circumstance
• Encouragement to report observed incidents of sexual harassment even where the alleged victim of the harassment has not complained
• A clear message that student safety is the district's primary concern, and that any separate rule violation involving an alleged victim or any other person reporting a sexual harassment incident will be addressed separately and will not affect the manner in which the sexual harassment complaint will be received, investigated, or resolved
• A clear message that, regardless of a complainant's noncompliance with the writing, timeline, or other formal filing requirements, every sexual harassment allegation that involves a student, whether as the complainant, respondent, or victim of the harassment, shall be investigated and prompt action shall be taken to stop any harassment, prevent recurrence, and address any continuing effect on students
• Information about the district's procedure for investigating complaints and the person(s) to whom a report of sexual harassment should be made
• Information about the rights of students and parents/guardians to file a civil or criminal complaint, as applicable, including the right to file a civil or criminal complaint while the district investigation of a sexual harassment complaint continues
• A clear message that, when needed, the district will take interim measures to ensure a safe school environment for a student who is the complainant or victim of sexual harassment and/or other students during an investigation and that, to the extent possible, when such interim measures are taken, they shall not disadvantage the complainant or victim of the alleged harassment
   

If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault or harassment, you should seek assistance immediately.

Report an Incident

To the District

To report an incident directly to the District Title IX Coordinator, CLICK HERE or call 760/938-2222 ext. 2423.

Please note that any Big Pine Unified School District employee who has reasonable cause or reasonable suspicion to believe that any child with whom he/she has come in contact with has suffered abuse, neglect or sexual assault is required by the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (Calif. Penal Code Sections 11164-11174.3) to report the information as soon as possible.

To Child Protection Agency

Inyo County Health and Human Services Child Protective Services provides support for victims of sexual assault. At the Inyo County H & HS Dept., we put survivors’ needs and wishes first. That means that all of us — nurses, advocates and law enforcement — are committed to giving you, your family and friends the help you need to reclaim your life and start healing.

To Law Enforcement – CALL 911
The person who committed the sexual assault is solely responsible for that assault and one of their jobs as law enforcement officers is to gather evidence that will allow that offender to be held accountable for his/her crimes. The officers and detectives receive training on trauma interviewing and investigative strategies. 

Inyo County Sheriff’s Office

550 S. Clay Street                                        Bishop Substation

Independence, CA                                       301 W. Line Street

760/878-0383                                               Bishop, CA

www.inyosheriff.org                                     760/873-7887

Bishop Police Department

207 W. Line Street

Bishop, CA

760/873-5866

At an Inyo County Hospital

Northern Inyo Hospital                             Southern Inyo Hospital

150 pioneer Lane                                         501E. Locust Lane

Bishop, CA                                                    Lone Pine, CA

760/873-5811                                               760-/876-5501

If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault or harassment, you may seek assistance through local law enforcement or the district Title IX coordinators. For Big Pine Unified School District Title IX Coordinator contact information, CLICK HERE.

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Big Pine Unified School District (BPUSD) is committed to providing and environment free from discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. As such, BPUSD prohibits any kind of unlawful discrimination or harassment, which includes gender based discrimination or harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual harassment by a member of the school community. 

Big Pine Unified School District knows that good citizenship and healthy sexual boundaries do not occur over night.  Developmentally appropriate education around these issues is critical for all ages from kindergarten through senior year.  Big Pine schools Comprehensive Sexual Health Education, HIV Prevention Education and Assessments Related to a Student’s Health Behaviors and Risks is covered in the Annual Notice to Parents/Guardian under Particular Education Issues.

Board Policy – Sexual Harassment BP/AR 5145.7 and BP/AR 4119.11

The Board is committed to the elimination of sexual harassment in the District schools and activities. Sexual harassment is strictly prohibited and shall not be tolerated. This includes sexual harassment of students or staff by other students, staff, Board members or third parties. The district takes seriously all complaints and takes prompt, effective action, including disciplinary action, upon finding of a Policy violation.

Board Policy – Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedure Policy AR 5145.7; AR 5145.71 and AR 4119.12

The Principal, Coordinator and Superintendent have the responsibility for investigations concerning sexual harassment. The investigator(s) shall be a neutral party having had no involvement in the complaint presented.

Board Policy – Bullying BP 5131.2
The Board is committed to providing a positive safe and productive learning and working environment. To this end, hazing, harassment, intimidation, menacing, bullying including cyber bullying is strictly prohibited and shall not be tolerated in the district.
 

Scope of Title IX

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces, among other statutes, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

Educational programs and activities that receive ED funds must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. Some key issue areas in which recipients have Title IX obligations are: recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title IX. For a recipient to retaliate in any way is considered a violation of Title IX. The ED Title IX regulations  (Volume 34, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 106) provide additional information about the forms of discrimination prohibited by Title IX. - US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights "significant guidance document"
Education has long been recognized as the great equalizer in America. The U.S. Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) believe that providing all students with an educational environment free from discrimination is extremely important. The sexual harassment of students, including sexual violence, interferes with students' right to receive an education free from discrimination and, in the case of sexual violence, is a crime.