400.3 Equal Employment Opportunity and Prohibition of Harassment

Code 400.3

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND
PROHIBITION OF HARASSMENT

The Decorah Community School District will select for employment qualified applicants for each position without regard to the race, color, sex, national origin, ethnic background, religion, creed, marital status, parental status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability of the applicant.  Applicants with disabilities who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations are considered qualified applicants.  The District shall take affirmative action, consistent with its adopted affirmative action plan, in the recruitment, appointment, assignment and advancement of personnel to accomplish the goals of equal employment opportunity.  The District shall consider the veteran status of applicants.

The Decorah Community School District will not discriminate against any qualified individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of such individual's race, color, sex, national origin, ethnic background, religion, creed, marital status, parental status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or disability.

The District is committed to promoting positive intercultural, intergroup relationships.  The District, therefore, prohibits acts of intolerance or harassment toward others because of race, color, sex, national origin, ethnic background, religion, creed, marital status, parental status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability.  Such acts of intolerance may be treated as just cause for purposes of discipline, including discharge.

It is the policy of the Decorah Community School District to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from sexual harassment.  Because of the District's strong disapproval of offensive or inappropriate sexual behavior at work, all employees, officials and visitors must avoid any action or conduct which could be perceived as sexual harassment.  It shall be a violation of this policy for any employee, official or visitor of the Decorah Community School District to harass others through conduct or communications of a sexual nature.

Sexual harassment shall consist of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual acts or favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a harassing nature where:

  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 that individual; or
  3. such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual's employment or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive employment environment.

Sexual harassment may include, but is not limited to the following:

  • verbal harassment or abuse
  • pressure for sexual activity
  • repeated remarks to or about a person with sexual or demeaning implications
  • unwelcome touching
  • suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning one's job
  • the telling or showing of offensive jokes or stories
  • display of sexually graphic pictures

Inquiries by employees or applicants for employment regarding compliance with equal opportunity and affirmative action laws and policies, including but not limited to complaints of discrimination, may also be directed in writing to the Equal Opportunity Commission, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 2000, Chicago, Iowa 60661 or the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 400 E. 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319.  This inquiry or complaint may be done instead of, or in addition to, an inquiry or complaint at the local level.

 

Date of Review:  August 12, 2019

 

Date of Revision:

August 12, 2019    

 

 

 

Legal References:

29 U.S.C §64, et. seq., 42 U.S.C. §2000e et. seq., 42 U.S.C. §1201 et seq.; Iowa Code chs. 19B, 20, 35C, 73, 216, 235A, 235B; §279.8, 692.2, 692.2A; 281 I.A.C. r 12.4, 141.1; ch.95

 

DECORAH COMMUNITY SCHOOL BOARD OF DIRECTORS