Mayfield Senior School maintains an employee handbook, which provides guidelines relating to healthy relationships between employees and students. In compliance with Assembly Bill 500, section 44050 of the California Education Code, we are required to provide a link to the section on employee interactions with pupils on the school’s website. The following is (in part) from the employee handbook:
Policy on Interaction with Students (AB 500)
Mayfield Senior School is committed to providing an environment free of unlawful harassment. The school’s policy prohibits sexual harassment (which includes harassment based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; the actual sex of the individual; or the identity, appearance, or behavior of an individual, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the individual’s sex or birth), and harassment based on race, religious creed, color, national origin or ancestry, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sexual orientation, military status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance or regulation. All such harassment is unlawful and strictly prohibited by school policy. Any violation of this policy could lead to discipline up to and including termination.
The school’s policy against unlawful harassment applies to all persons involved in the operation of the school and prohibits unlawful harassment by or toward any employee or student of the school.
The school will take all reasonable steps to prevent or eliminate harassment by non-employees—including students, guests, visitors, vendors, suppliers, donors, and anyone else who may have job-related contact with our students.
Prohibitions
All unlawful harassment is prohibited and includes, but is not limited to, the following behavior:
- Verbal conduct such as epithets, derogatory jokes or comments, slurs, or unwanted sexual advances, invitations, or comments
- Visual conduct such as derogatory and/or sexually oriented posters, photography, cartoons, drawings, or gestures
- Physical conduct such as assault, unwanted touching, blocking normal movement or interfering with work because of sex, race, or any other protected basis
- Threats and demands to submit to sexual requests as a condition of continued employment or to avoid some other loss and offers of employment benefits in return for sexual favors
- Retaliation for having reported or threatened to report harassment
Filing a Complaint with the School
If you believe that you have been subjected to any form of unlawful harassment or discrimination, provide a complaint, preferably written, to a supervisor or the Head of School. If these individuals are not available, or in the event that you believe that one of these individuals has engaged in inappropriate behavior in violation of this policy or you are uncomfortable reporting the conduct to these individuals for any reason, provide a complaint to the Head of School. If the Head of School is the object of your complaint, please direct your complaint to the Chair of the Board of Trustees. The school will immediately undertake an effective, thorough, and objective investigation of the harassment allegations.
Confidentiality
Insofar as possible, the confidentiality of the student will be maintained. However, identity may have to be disclosed to conduct a thorough investigation, to comply with the law, and to provide accused individuals their legal rights of defense.
Retaliation Protection
The school will not retaliate against a student for reporting harassment. Any individual who believes he or she is being retaliated against should contact the Head of School (or the Chair of the Board of Trustees, as appropriate) immediately. The right of an individual to protection against retaliation does not include immunity for any personal wrongdoing that is alleged and investigated. All reports of illegal and dishonest activities will be promptly submitted to the Head of School, who is responsible for investigating and coordinating corrective action.