The Board of Education will not make employment decisions (including decisions related to hiring, assignment, compensation, promotion, demotion, disciplinary action and termination) on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability (including pregnancy), genetic information, or gender identity or expression, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification.
It is the policy of the Board of Education that any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability (including pregnancy), genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by state or federal law is prohibited, whether by students, Board employees or third parties subject to the control of the Board. The Board's prohibition of discrimination or harassment in its educational programs or activities expressly extends to academic, nonacademic and extracurricular activities, including athletics. It is also the policy of the Board of Education to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability (including pregnancy), or gender identity or expression.
For the purposes of this policy, "genetic information" means the information about genes, gene products, or inherited characteristics that may derive from an individual or a family member. "Genetic information" may also include an individuals' family medical history, the results of an individual's or family member's genetic tests, the fact that an individual or an individual's family member sought or received genetic services, and genetic information of a fetus carried by an individual or an individual's family member or an embryo lawfully held by an individual or family member receiving assistive reproductive services.
For the purposes of this policy, "gender identity or expression" means a person's gender-related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender-related identity or any other evidence that the gender-related identity is sincerely held, part of a person's core identity or not being asserted for an improper purpose.
The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the Board's non-discrimination policies:
The Board's Title IX Coordinator is:
Gary Highsmith, Director of Human Resources, 60 Putnam Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514. 203.407.2059
The Board's Section 504/ADA Coordinator is:
Kim Capella, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, 60 Putnam Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514. 203.407.2220
Revised December 13, 2016
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS REGARDING DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINTS (PERSONNEL)
It is the policy of the Hamden Board of Education that any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability (including pregnancy), or gender identity or expression is forbidden, whether by students, Board employees or third parties subject to the control of the Board. Students, Board employees and third parties are expected to adhere to a standard of conduct that is respectful of the rights of students.
It is the express policy of the Board to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability (including pregnancy), genetic information, or gender identity or expression. In order to facilitate the timely resolution of such complaints and/or grievances, any employee who feels that he/she has been discriminated against on the basis of these protected characteristics should file a written complaint with:
Jody Goeler, Office of the Superintendent of Schools 60 Putnam Avenue, Hamden, CT 06517. 203.407.2090
Preferably, complaints should be filed within thirty (30) days of the alleged occurrence. Timely reporting of complaints and/or grievances facilitates the investigation and resolution of such complaints and/or grievances.
Complaints and/or grievances will be investigated promptly and corrective action will be taken when allegations are verified.
Specifically, upon receipt of a written complaint of discrimination, the Superintendent and/or his or her designee should:
- offer to meet with the complainant to discuss the nature of his/her complaint;
- provide the complainant with a copy of the Board's non-discrimination policy and accompanying regulations;
- investigate the factual basis of the complaint, including, as applicable, conducting interviews with individuals deemed relevant to the complaint;
- conduct the investigation in a confidential manner, to the extent practicable, adhering to the requirements of state and federal law;
- communicate the findings and/or results of any investigation to the complainant; and
- take appropriate corrective and disciplinary action, as deemed appropriate by the Superintendent and/or his or her designee.
If the complaint involves an allegation of discrimination based on disability or sex, the complainant should be referred to the Board's policies and procedures related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act/Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (for claims of discrimination and/or harassment based on disability) and Sex Discrimination/Sexual Harassment (for claims of discrimination and/or harassment based on sex). (See also Hamden Board of Ed policy #4118.112 on Sexual Harassment.)
For allegations pertaining to race, color or national origin discrimination, at any stage in this complaint procedure, the complainant has the right to file formal complaints regarding such matters with:
Office for Civil Rights
Boston Office
U.S. Department of Education
8th Floor
5 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109-3921
Tel. (617) 289-0111
ocr.boston@ed.gov
If a complaint is filed with the Office of Civil Rights, it must be filed in writing no later than one hundred eighty (180) days after the occurrence of the alleged discrimination.
A complainant may also file a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, 25 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT 06106 (TELEPHONE NUMBER 800-477-5737) and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Boston Area Office, John F. Kennedy Federal Building, 475 Government Center, Boston, MA 02203 (TELEPHONE NUMBER 800-669-4000).
The Board's Title IX Coordinator is:
Gary Highsmith, Director of Human Resources, 60 Putnam Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514. 203.407.2059
The Board's Section 504/ADA Coordinator is:
Kim Capella, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, 60 Putnam Avenue, Hamden, CT 06514. 203.407.2220