Policy 5:20
Sexual Harassment
Workplace Harassment Prohibited
The School District expects the workplace environment to be productive, respectful,
and free of unlawful discrimination, including harassment. District employees shall not
engage in harassment or abusive conduct on the basis of an individual’s race, religion,
national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, disability, or other
protected status identified in Board policy 5:10, Equal Employment Opportunity and
Minority Recruitment. Harassment of students, including, but not limited to, sexual
harassment, is prohibited by Board policy 7:20, Harassment of Students Prohibited.
Sexual Harassment Prohibited
The School District shall provide a workplace environment free of unwelcome sexual
advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct, or
communications constituting harassment on the basis of sex as defined and otherwise
prohibited by state and federal law.
District employees shall not make unwelcome sexual advances or request sexual favors
or engage in any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature when: (1) submission to such
conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s
employment; (2) submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as
the basis for employment decisions affecting such individual; or (3) such conduct has
the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work performance
or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. Sexual
harassment prohibited by this policy includes, but is not limited to, verbal, physical, or
cyber contact. The terms intimidating, hostile, or offensive include, but are not limited
to, conduct that has the effect of humiliation, embarrassment or discomfort. Sexual
harassment will be evaluated in light of all the circumstances.
The School District will take reasonable remedial and corrective measures in response
to sexual harassment of District employees committed by nonemployees when the
School District is made aware of such harassment.
Making a Complaint
Employees are expected to promptly report information regarding violations of this
policy. The School District will take remedial and corrective action to prevent and
respond to unlawful employment practices and sexual harassment. There are no
express time limits for initiating complaints and reports under this policy; however,
every effort should be made to file such complaints and reports as soon as possible,
while facts are known and potential witnesses are available.
Aggrieved employees, who feel comfortable doing so, should directly inform the person
engaging in the harassing conduct or communication that such conduct or
communication is offensive and must stop.
Employees should report claims of harassment to the Nondiscrimination Coordinator
and/or use the Board policy 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure. There are no express
time limits for initiating complaints and grievances under this policy; however, every
effort should be made to file such complaints as soon as possible, while facts are known
and potential witnesses are available.
Whom to Contact with a Report or Complaint
Employees should report violations of this policy to any of the following:
- A Complaint Manager
- A Nondiscrimination Coordinator
- Any Supervisor
- Any Administrator
Employees may choose to report to a person of the employee’s same sex.
The Superintendent shall insert into this policy, and keep current, the positions,
addresses, and telephone numbers of the District’s current Nondiscrimination
Coordinator and Complaint Managers.
Nondiscrimination Coordinator:
Heather Glowacki
615 Locust Rd.
Wilmette, IL 60091
glowackh@wilmette39.org
847-512-6003
Complaint Manager
Katie Lee
615 Locust Rd.
Wilmette, IL 60091
leek@wilmette39.org
847-512-6004
Complaint Manager
Tony DeMonte
615 Locust Rd.
Wilmette, IL 60091
demontet@wilmette39.org
847-512-6007
Investigation Process
Supervisors or administrators who receive a report or complaint of allegations that this
policy has been violated, must refer the report or complaint to the Nondiscrimination
Coordinator or Complaint Managers without delay. A supervisor or administrator’s
failure to forward reports or complaints of violations of this policy, sexual harassment
or unlawful employment discrimination without delay may result in discipline, up to
and including discharge.
Employee complaints of sexual harassment will be considered confidential to the
greatest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding the School District’s duty to
investigate and maintain a workplace environment that is productive, respectful, and
free of unlawful discrimination, including harassment. The School District reserves the
right to investigate alleged violations of this policy at its discretion whenever the
District becomes aware of the allegations, regardless of whether a written complaint is
filed.
Employee complaints of sexual harassment will be investigated and acted upon in
accordance with the procedures set forth in Board policy 2:260, Uniform Grievance
Procedure. However, any additional procedures, protections, or consequences outlined
in this policy shall also apply.
Enforcement
A violation of this policy by an employee may result in discipline, up to and including
discharge. A violation of this policy by a third party will be addressed in accordance
with the authority of the Board in the context of the relationship of the third party to
the School District (e.g., vendor, parent, invitee, etc.).
Any person making a knowingly false accusation regarding a violation of this policy will
be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
Retaliation Prohibited
The School District will not unlawfully take adverse action with the purpose of
retaliating against employees for complaining about violations of this policy or assisting
others complaints about violations of the policy, including but not limited to providing
information or testifying regarding violations of this policy. Employees should report
allegations of retaliations under this policy to their supervisors, the Nondiscrimination
Coordinator, Complaint Managers, or administrators. During the course of the
investigation and for a reasonable period following the completion of the investigation,
the Complaint Manager will inform, at regular intervals, the person(s) reporting or
filing a complaint under this policy about the status of the investigation and to ensure
they have not been retaliated against because of their report or complaint.
Whistleblower protection is available, in accordance with law, under the State Officials
and Employees Ethics Act (5 ILCS 430/), the Whistleblower Act (740 ILCS 174/), and
the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/).
Employees who retaliate against others for reporting or complaining of violations of
this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.
Recourse to State and Federal Fair Employment Practice Agencies
The School District encourages all employees who have information regarding
violations of this policy to report the information to their supervisors, the
Nondiscrimination Coordinator, Complaint Managers, or administrators so the School
District can take prompt remedial and corrective action. Government agencies are
available to assist employees who believe their employer has committed or permitted
violations of state and federal employment laws including the prohibition against
employment discrimination and sexual harassment. The Illinois Department of Human
Rights and United States Equal Employment Opportunity may be able to assist
employees with additional resources including the ability to make confidential reports
regarding employment law violations or sexual harassment.
The Superintendent shall also use reasonable measures to inform staff members and
applicants of this policy, which shall include reprinting this policy in the appropriate
handbooks.
Adopted: June 8, 1998
Revised: February 23, 2015; January 22, 2018; June 18, 2018