Barrington Public Schools

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Barrington Public Schools (BPS) does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, or status as a disabled veteran, military service, or any other protected category concerning access to, the provision of, or employment in its educational services, programs and activities, including admissions, athletics, and other BPS programs, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1965, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and other federal and state laws that prohibit discrimination. It is the policy of the BPS School Committee to maintain an educational and working environment free of unlawful discrimination and harassment in any form. Supervisors, administrators, and all other employees, as well as students, are absolutely prohibited from engaging in unlawful discrimination and/or harassment of District employees, students, and visitors.

Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the Barrington Public Schools Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. The Barrington Public Schools Title IX Coordinator is Heidi Harris, Director of Human Resources.

Title IX

Barrington Public Schools takes its obligations seriously to ensure that no student or employee suffers discrimination based on sex, as defined in Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. Title IX is a federal law (1972) that states, “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.”

Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in educational programs or activities that receive financial assistance. Under Title IX, discrimination based on sex can include sexual harassment, which is defined as conduct based on sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

An employee of the District conditioning the provision of aid, benefit, or service of the District on participation in unwelcome conduct;
Unwelcome conduct that a reasonable person would determine to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the District’s education program or activity;
Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking

Reporting Harassment/Discrimination

Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment), in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report. Such a report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number, electronic mail address, or by mail to the office address listed for the Title IX Coordinator.

Next Steps

After a report of sexual harassment has been made, the school and/or Title IX Coordinator will reach out to the individual affected by the alleged misconduct, provide supportive measures, discuss the grievance policy, and offer the opportunity for the complainant to file a formal complaint if the behavior meets the Title IX definition of sexual harassment. If a formal complaint is filed, appropriate steps will be taken to investigate. Upon completing the investigation, the outcome will be shared publicly.

Appeal Procedures

If a party does not agree with the final determination made by the school or has concerns of non-compliance with Title IX or actions that Title IX would prohibit, they may appeal the determination following School Committee Appeals Policy.

Training 2022-2023

Admin Training provided by Atixia August 2022

Training provided by legal counsel from Wheelan Corrente September 2020

Staff Training provided by principals Fall 2022

Connected Policies

Title IX Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment Policy for Incidents On or After 8.1.2024