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Antibullying Policy

 

Policy Prohibiting Bullying and Harassment 

A. Bullying and Harassment Prohibited

The LFC supports a professional and learning environment that is free from any form of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, nationality, age, disability or other protected class. Any employee, student or member of the LFC community who is in breach of this undertaking will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including temporary or permanent termination or exclusion from school activities. Bullying and harassment are prohibited at LFC.

Definitions

Bullying includes cyberbullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or student that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following: 

  1. Placing the student in  reasonable fear of harm to the student or student’s person or property,
  2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student or student’s physical or mental health,
  3. Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance, or
  4. Substantially interfering with the student’s or student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the LFC.

Bullying may take various forms, including without limitation one or more of the following: cyber-bullying, threats, intimidation, harassment, physical violence, stalking, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, vandalism, and destruction of property or retaliation in response to making a report of bullying.  This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive. Bullying often includes a malicious, intentional and repeated act, which may be verbal, physical or behavioral and that causes an imbalance of power, whether proven or felt. 

Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectronic system, or photooptical system, including without limitation electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. Cyberbullying includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this policy. Cyberbullying also includes the distribution of electronic means of communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this policy. However, under this policy the LFC is not required to control the activities that are not related to school activities, events or programs. 

Harassment refers to unwanted/undesired behavior, contact, or communication that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment for the person. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, insults, derogatory comments, mockery, gestures, looks, displays or distribution of disparaging and hurtful images, photos, notes or graffiti. It also includes physical assaults such as jostling, blows or obstructions. If the harassment is of a sexual nature, it may include, but is not limited to, persistent and unsolicited attempts to interact with a third party, the spread of rumors, aggressive physical contact (kissing, physical contact, pulling clothes with a sexual connotation). 

Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors made to a student, or any conduct of a sexual nature toward a student, when such conduct has the purpose of substantially interfering with the student’s educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment; or the School’s employee or agent either explicitly or implicitly makes the student’s submission to or rejection of such conduct as a basis for making various enumerated education-related determinations.   

Scope of the Bullying & Harassment Policy

Bullying and harassment are prohibited at LFC. This prohibition includes bullying and harassment that is based on some characteristics, no matter actual or perceived, specific to a certain individual or group, or to the interaction with an individual or group with specific characteristics. According to the Illinois Bullying Prevention Act (105 ILCS 5/27-23.7) these characteristics include physical appearance, socioeconomic status, academic status, homelessness, pregnancy, parenting status, race, color, national origin, military status, unfavorable discharge status from the military service, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, order of protection status, status of being homeless, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy, association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics or any other distinguishing characteristic.

Bullying and harassment are prohibited at the following times and places:

  1. During any school-sponsored education program or activity;
  2. While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities; .
  3. Through the transmission of information from a school computer, or school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment; or
  4. Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a non-school-related location, activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process or orderly operation of the school. This paragraph only applies when a school administrator or teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred; it does not require staff members to monitor any non-school-related activity, function or program. 

The following paragraphs summarize briefly the process of reporting and investigating allegations of bullying or harassment. 

Reporting

Anyone who believes they have been bullied or harassed by a member of the school community - employee, student or volunteer – are encouraged to  immediately report the bullying or harassment. Anyone who is aware of an allegation of harassment or who receives a written or verbal complaint from an allegedly harassed individual should  also report it immediately.  A report may be made orally or in writing to the Primary or Secondary Director [pleon@lyceechicago.org, stourlouse@lyceechicago.org, 773-665-0066]. A report may also be made to the Senior Education Advisor, Dean of the Middle School, the Head of School, or any staff member with whom a student is comfortable speaking. Any staff member who witnesses a bullying or harassment act or who has been notified of such an act, shall immediately inform the Senior Education Advisor, the Principal of the Primary School, the Principal of the Secondary School, the Dean, the Head of the school or the designated administrator. “Staff member” refers to any person employed by the school, serving or volunteering at the LFC, including those who are employed as a board member, administrator, teacher, substitute teacher, guidance counselor, social worker, psychologist, nurse, maintenance and cleaning staff, bus driver and guard. The above-named officials and all staff members are available for help with a bully or to make a report about bullying. Anonymous reports are also accepted; however, this shall not be construed to permit formal disciplinary action solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

This policy prohibits retaliation by a LFC staff member, student or visitor against a person who, in good faith, reported bullying or harassment. Any person’s act of reprisal or retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge with regard to employees, or suspension and/or dismissal with regard to students.

Investigation and Findings

The school will review all allegations of bullying and harassment. The Dean or designated administrator shall conduct a full and impartial investigation into reported allegations of bullying or harassment and take whatever action deemed appropriate. No retaliatory action will be taken against a person who has filed a complaint. The rights of confidentiality of the complainant and the accused will be respected, in accordance with the school’s legal obligations, the need to investigate allegations of misconduct and the obligation to confirm the facts. Upon receipt of the report of the bullying or alleged harassment, the Dean or designated administrators will conduct or initiate a thorough investigation of the facts and contact the parents of the students directly involved. The Dean or designated administrator shall promptly inform the parent(s)/guardian(s) of all students involved in an alleged incident of bullying within 24 hours after the school’s administration is made aware of the students’ involvement in the incident  and discuss, as appropriate, the availability of social work services, counseling, school psychological services, support services, other interventions and restorative measures. The Dean or designated administrator shall make diligent efforts to notify a parent or legal guardian, utilizing all contact information the school has available or that can be reasonably obtained by the School within the 24-hour period. The Dean or designated administrator shall also investigate whether a reported incident of bullying is within the permissible scope of the School’s jurisdiction. Reports of threats, suggestions, or instances of self-harm determined to be the result of bullying, shall also be reported to the parents or legal guardians of those involved under the guidelines provided above.

All reasonable efforts will be made to complete the investigation within 10 school days. 

During the investigation, designated administrators shall take all reasonable steps to conduct the investigation and to respect requests for confidentiality. However, requests may not be able to be satisfied in cases where the request would result in limiting the School's ability to investigate and/or appropriately address the complaint. In addition, in some cases, disciplinary measures and any other measures deemed necessary at the school level will be implemented, despite the expressed desire for confidentiality. The Dean or designated administrator will provide parents/guardians of the students who are parties to the investigation information about the investigation and an opportunity to meet with the Dean or designated administrator to discuss the investigation, the findings of the investigation, and the actions taken to address the reported incident of bullying. 

Student found to have engaged in bullying or harassment in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension, temporary exclusion or dismissal.  Behavioral and other interventions may also be taken to address bullying, including but not limited to school social work services, restorative measures, social-emotional skill building, counseling, school psychological services, and community-based services. Students found to have engaged in repeated violations of this policy may be subject to additional or more severe disciplinary action or behavioral interventions as deemed appropriate by the Dean or designated administrator. 

A student will not be punished for reporting bullying or supplying information under this policy, even if the School’s investigation concludes that no bullying occurred. However, a person who is found to have falsely accused another of bullying, as a means of retaliation, as a means of bullying, or provided false information will be subject to disciplinary action and other remedial actions determined appropriate. 

Bullying is contrary to State law and the policy of this School. However, nothing in the School’s policy is intended to infringe upon any right to exercise free expression or the free exercise of religion or religiously based views protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or under Section 3 of Article 1 of the Illinois Constitution. 

This policy is consistent with other School policies. The School’s bullying prevention and response plan is based on the engagement of a range of school stakeholders, including students and parents/guardians.

Pursuant to State law and policy, the School monitors this policy every two years by conducting a review and re-evaluation of this policy to make any necessary and appropriate revisions and to assess the outcomes and effectiveness of the policy. Updates to this policy will reflect any necessary and appropriate revisions. This process shall include, without limitation: the frequency of victimization; student, staff, and family observations of safety at a school; identification of areas of a school where bullying occurs; the types of bullying utilized; and bystander intervention or participation. The evaluation process may use relevant data and information that the School already collects for other purposes. The School shall post the information developed as a result of the policy re-evaluation on the School’s website, or if a website is not available, the information must be provided to school administrators, Board members, school personnel, parents/guardians, and students. Reviews and re-evaluations in years they are due must be submitted to ISBE by September 30. The policy is included in the student and parent handbook (“LFC Guide”), and, where applicable, posted where other policies, rules, and standards of conduct are currently posted in the school, and is distributed annually to parents, guardians, students, and school personnel, including new employees when hired. The School shall also collect, maintain and submit non-identifiable data regarding verified allegations of bullying within the School to ISBE consistent with the requirements of Section 27-23.7 of the Illinois School Code.

B. Policy Statement Against Sexual Harassment 

As stated above, sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors made to a student, or any conduct of a sexual nature toward a student, when such conduct has the purpose of substantially interfering with the student’s educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment; or the School’s employee or agent either explicitly or implicitly makes the student’s submission to or rejection of such conduct as a basis for making various enumerated education-related determinations. Allegations of conduct constituting Title IX Sexual Harassment as defined in Appendix 17b shall be addressed in accordance with Appendix 17a and as otherwise required by federal law. All other alleged conduct meeting the definition of sexual harassment under this policy shall be addressed in accordance with this Appendix 17 or through the School’s code of conduct, as determined appropriate by the Dean or designated administrator.

The implicit and explicit acceptance of the rules of the LFC against sexual harassment is a condition of employment or receiving education at the LFC.

Any employee found to have engaged in sexual harassment will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination. Any student found to have engaged in  sexual harassment will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Any other member of the LFC community, including a volunteer, who engages in sexual harassment will be subject to appropriate action, including the prohibition to participate in LFC activities. 

C. Charter against abuse - Obligation to report

Child Victim of Abuse and/or Neglect 

Any employee who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect shall, in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, file a report at the Department of Child and Family Services. 

Also, in accordance with the laws in the state of Illinois, even staff members whose communications with students are usually confidential are required to report if they suspect that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect. In the state of Illinois, even though anyone can submit this type of report, the school staff is required to do so immediately. In accordance with the policy of the High School, any employee reporting to the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) or the police must legally inform the Head of the school. 

What must be reported: 

Cases of abuse or neglect 

  • The physical or mental state of a child is seriously affected or endangered by the inability, refusal or neglect of the child's parent or guardian to provide the child with food, medical, education or supervision that are needed.
  • The physical or mental health of a child is seriously endangered by an injury caused by the action or omission of the parent or the guardian of the child.
  • The child is the victim of sexual exploitation or abuse (rape, criminal sexual deviance, violence, pornography, indecent assault, incest, misappropriation of a minor or prostitution).
  • The parent or guardian of the child allows the child to participate in obscene activities.
  • The parent, guardian of the child allows the latter to commit acts of an obscene nature, indecent assault, prostitution, pimping, promotion of prostitution or voyeurism.
Sufficient Reason 

A report is necessary if there is a reason to believe that a child is being abused or neglected. According to the laws of Illinois, "sufficient reason" is "evidence that, if presented to persons of similar profile or background, would suggest to them that the child is in fact a victim of abuse or negligence". This rule can be interpreted with some flexibility. In case of doubt, a report must be made. However, no survey should be conducted by an employee of the Lycée. Any concerns and observations should be reported to the Head of the school and the DCFS. 

Penalty for Failing to Report 

As mentioned above, failure to report is an offense not only to the Lycée policy but also to the law. In addition, in case of failure to report, criminal sanction for the staff of the school will be added to the sanction applicable to persons outside the school. 

Immunity and Confidentiality 

A person presenting or initiating a report of abuse or neglect of a child has full immunity from possible civil and criminal proceedings. Anyone who has submitted a report in bad faith or who has acted maliciously cannot benefit from this immunity. However, anyone who has made a report is presumed to have done so in good faith. If the parent, guardian, or other responsible individual of the child requests a copy of the report and is named in the report as the source of the alleged abuse or neglect, the identity of the author of the report will not be disclosed.

Revised: August 2024