East Hampton Public Schools

The school community of East Hampton is committed to the mission of honoring and celebrating the diversity of our students, our community, and our nation.  We strive to guide our students to conscious, deliberate, individual and collective actions that cultivate the respect of all races, religions, and social backgrounds.  Our school community endeavors to produce graduates who are equipped with a greater understanding of the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Bullying is defined as an act that is direct or indirect and severe, persistent, or pervasive which:
(A) causes physical harm or emotional harm to an individual, (B) places an individual in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm, or (C) infringes on the rights and opportunities of an individual at school. Bullying shall include, but need not be limited to, a written, oral or electronic communication or physical act or gesture based on any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics. (The student against whom the activity is directed must be attending school in the same district as the students engaged in the activity.) Students and parents may file complaints concerning issues of harassment. Students may anonymously report acts of bullying to school employees. A copy of the reporting form and Safe School Climate Plan is available from each school’s main office and in the column on the left.

It is the policy of the Board of Education that any form of discrimination, harassment, or sexual harassment is forbidden whether by students, supervisory or non-supervisory personnel, individuals under contract, or volunteers subject to the control of the Board. Students and adults associated with or employed by the East Hampton Public Schools are expected and required to adhere to a standard of conduct that is respectful and courteous to employees, to all students, and to the public. Discrimination is defined as conduct that is contrary to the district’s nondiscrimination policy. The Board of Education in compliance with federal and state law, affirms its policy of equal educational opportunity for all students and equal employment opportunity for all persons. Harassment is defined as intimidation or abusive behavior toward a student or employee based on either their class or perceived class that creates a hostile environment by interfering with of denying a student’s or employee’s participation in or receipt of benefits, services, or opportunities in the institution’s program. Sexual harassment is defined as conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one of the following: (1) Quid pro quo harassment: An employee of the district conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service on the individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; (2) Hostile educational environment: Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the district’s education program or activity; or (3) Sexual assault, dating violence or stalking. School employees shall respond to incidents of sexual harassment by promptly making or forwarding a report to the Title IX Coordinator: Mary Clark, East Hampton Public Schools, 1 Community Drive, 860-365-4000 / mclark@easthamptonct.org. Students and parents may file complaints concerning issues of harassment and/or discrimination. A copy of the grievance procedure is available from each school’s main office and in the column on the left.