School district approves new policy

Friday, April 10, 1998 | 9:03 a.m.

The policy states: "Harassment will not be tolerated, regardless of its basis."

The policy applies to students, staff and administration.

An earlier proposal prohibited specific kinds of harassment, such as acts based on race, religion, sexual orientation and disabilities.

Elgin Simpson, a board member of the Nevada chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the revised version is a "watered-down policy that decreases protection for everyone."

The ACLU had lobbied the school board for the more detailed proposal that listed specifics.

The harassment policy was abbreviated by the school board's policy committee in February.

"The ACLU will be vigilant in monitoring the way this policy - and it's a bad policy, I suspect - is implemented," said Gary Peck, the ACLU's executive director.

"When the first kid commits suicide or otherwise suffers real harm as a result of a lack of guidance provided to administrators, shame on all of you," Peck said.

The most vocal opposition to a nonspecific harassment policy came from the local gay and lesbian community. Gay advocates testified that harassment based on sexual orientation needs to be addressed clearly.