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Notice of Non-Discrimination

Ben Hill County Schools prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the Title IX Coordinator. The notice of nondiscrimination, how to report sex discrimination, and grievance procedures is located at https://www.ben-hill.k12.ga.us/.

To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX please contact Ben Hill County Schools Title IX Coordinator.  Ben Hill County School’s  Title IX Coordinator is:

Roger Merritt
130 Benjamin Hill Drive SW Fitzgerald, GA 31750
Email:  roger.merritt@benhillschools.org
Phone:  (229)-409-5518

Ben Hill County Schools Nondiscrimination Policy, Notice of Nondiscrimination, and Grievance Procedures for Complaints of Sex Discrimination

Nondiscrimination Policy

The Ben Hill County School Schools do not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment.

Notice of Nondiscrimination

The Ben Hill County School System does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission4 and employment.

Ben Hill County Schools Grievance Procedures for Complaints of Sex Discrimination

 

Ben Hill County Schools has adopted grievance procedures that provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints made by students, employees, or other individuals who are participating or attempting to participate in its education program or activity, or by the Title IX Coordinator, alleging any action that would be prohibited by Title IX or the Title IX regulations.

Complaints:

The following people have a right to make a complaint of sex discrimination, including complaints of sex-based harassment, requesting that Ben Hill County Schools investigate and make a determination about alleged discrimination under Title IX:

  • A “complainant,” which includes:

    • a student or employee of Ben Hill County Schools who is alleged to have been subjected to conduct that could constitute sex discrimination under Title IX; or

    • a person other than a student or employee of Ben Hill County Schools who is alleged to have been subjected to conduct that could constitute sex discrimination under Title IX at a time when that individual was participating or attempting to participate in Ben Hill County Schools education program or activity;

  • A parent, guardian, or other authorized legal representative with the legal right to act on behalf of a complainant; or

  • Ben Hill County Schools Title IX Coordinator.

Note that a person is entitled to make a complaint of sex-based harassment only if they themselves are alleged to have been subjected to the sex-based harassment, if they have a legal right to act on behalf of such person, or if the Title IX Coordinator initiates a complaint consistent with the requirements of 34 C.F.R. § 106.44(f)(1)(v).

With respect to complaints of sex discrimination other than sex-based harassment, in addition to the people listed above, the following persons have a right to make a complaint:

  • Any student or employee of Ben Hill County Schools; or

  • Any person other than a student or employee who was participating or attempting to participate in Ben Hill County Schools education program or activity at the time of the alleged sex discrimination

Ben Hill County Schools may consolidate complaints of sex discrimination against more than one respondent, or by more than one complainant against one or more respondents, or by one party against another party, when the allegations of sex discrimination arise out of the same facts or circumstances. When more than one complainant or more than one respondent is involved, references below to a party, complainant, or respondent include the plural, as applicable.

Title IX Grievance Procedures

Ben Hill County Schools will treat complainants and respondents equitably.  Ben Hill County Schools requires that any Title IX Coordinator, investigator, or decisionmaker not have a conflict of interest or bias for or against complainants or respondents generally or an individual complainant or respondent. A decisionmaker may be the same person as the Title IX Coordinator or investigator.

Ben Hill County Schools presumes that the respondent is not responsible for the alleged sex discrimination until a determination is made at the conclusion of its grievance procedures.

Ben Hill County Schools has established the following timeframes for the major stages of the grievance procedures:

  • Once a Student Misconduct Report is submitted to the Title IX Coordinator and determined to move forward with investigation, both parties will be simultaneously notified of investigation including: 1) identities of both parties, 2) conduct allegedly constituting sexual misconduct, and 3) date and location of incident (if known).  Parties will have 3 days to respond in writing to the notice.

  • After the investigation phase, simultaneous sharing of report and directly related evidence to parties and advisors with 10 days for review and response.

Ben Hill County Schools has also established the following process that allows for the reasonable extension of time frames on a case-by-case basis for good cause with notice to the parties that includes the reason for the delay.

Ben Hill County Schools will take reasonable steps to protect the privacy of the parties and witnesses during its grievance procedures. These steps will not restrict the ability of the parties to obtain and present evidence, including by speaking to witnesses; consult with their family members, confidential resources, or advisors; or otherwise prepare for or participate in the grievance procedures. The parties cannot engage in retaliation, including against witnesses.

Ben Hill County Schools will objectively evaluate all evidence that is relevant and not otherwise impermissible—including both inculpatory and exculpatory evidence. Credibility determinations will not be based on a person’s status as a complainant, respondent, or witness.

The following types of evidence, and questions seeking that evidence, are impermissible (i.e., will not be accessed or considered, except by Ben Hill County Schools to determine whether one of the exceptions listed below applies; will not be disclosed; and will not otherwise be used), regardless of whether they are relevant:

  • Evidence that is protected under a privilege recognized by Federal or State law or evidence provided to a confidential employee, unless the person to whom the privilege or confidentiality is owed has voluntarily waived the privilege or confidentiality;

  • A party’s or witness’s records that are made or maintained by a physician, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional in connection with the provision of treatment to the party or witness, unless Ben Hill County Schools obtains that party’s or witness’s voluntary, written consent for use in its grievance procedures; and

  • Evidence that relates to the complainant’s sexual interests or prior sexual conduct, unless evidence about the complainant’s prior sexual conduct is offered to prove that someone other than the respondent committed the alleged conduct or is evidence about specific incidents of the complainant’s prior sexual conduct with the respondent that is offered to prove consent to the alleged sex-based harassment. The fact of prior consensual sexual conduct between the complainant and respondent does not by itself demonstrate or imply the complainant’s consent to the alleged sex-based harassment or preclude determination that sex-based harassment occurred.

Notice of Allegations:

Upon initiation of Ben Hill County School’s Title IX grievance procedures, Ben Hill County Schools will notify the parties of the following:

  • Ben Hill County Schools Title IX grievance procedures and any informal resolution process;

  • Sufficient information available at the time to allow the parties to respond to the allegations, including the identities of the parties involved in the incident(s), the conduct alleged to constitute sex discrimination, and the date(s) and location(s) of the alleged incident(s);

  • Retaliation is prohibited; and

  • The parties are entitled to an equal opportunity to access the relevant and not otherwise impermissible evidence or an accurate description of this evidence. [If Ben Hill County Schools provides a description of the evidence: The parties are entitled to an equal opportunity to access the relevant and not otherwise impermissible evidence upon the request of any party.]

If, in the course of an investigation, Ben Hill County Schools decides to investigate additional allegations of sex discrimination by the respondent toward the complainant that are not included in the notice provided or that are included in a complaint that is consolidated, Ben Hill County Schools will notify the parties of the additional allegations.

Dismissal of a Complaint:

Ben Hill County Schools may dismiss a complaint of sex discrimination if:

  • Ben Hill County Schools is unable to identify the respondent after taking reasonable steps to do so;

  • The respondent is not participating in Ben Hill County Schools education program or activity and is not employed by Ben Hill County Schools;

  • The complainant voluntarily withdraws any or all of the allegations in the complaint, the Title IX Coordinator declines to initiate a complaint, and Ben Hill County Schools determines that, without the complainant’s withdrawn allegations, the conduct that remains alleged in the complaint, if any, would not constitute sex discrimination under Title IX even if proven; or

  • Ben Hill County Schools determines the conduct alleged in the complaint, even if proven, would not constitute sex discrimination under Title IX. Before dismissing the complaint, Ben Hill County Schools will make reasonable efforts to clarify the allegations with the complainant.

Upon dismissal, Ben Hill County Schools will promptly notify the complainant of the basis for the dismissal. If the dismissal occurs after the respondent has been notified of the allegations, then Ben Hill County Schools will also notify the respondent of the dismissal and the basis for the dismissal promptly following notification to the complainant, or simultaneously if notification is in writing.

Ben Hill County Schools will notify the complainant that a dismissal may be appealed and will provide the complainant with an opportunity to appeal the dismissal of a complaint. If the dismissal occurs after the respondent has been notified of the allegations, then Ben Hill County Schools will also notify the respondent that the dismissal may be appealed. Dismissals may be appealed on the following bases:

  • Procedural irregularity that would change the outcome;

  • New evidence that would change the outcome and that was not reasonably available when the dismissal was made; and

  • The Title IX Coordinator, investigator, or decision maker had a conflict of interest or bias for or against complainants or respondents generally or the individual complainant or respondent that would change the outcome.

If the dismissal is appealed, Ben Hill County Schools will:

  • Notify the parties of any appeal, including notice of the allegations, if notice was not previously provided to the respondent;

  • Implement appeal procedures equally for the parties;

  • Ensure that the decision maker for the appeal did not take part in an investigation of the allegations or dismissal of the complaint;

  • Ensure that the decisionmaker for the appeal has been trained consistent with the Title IX regulations;

  • Provide the parties a reasonable and equal opportunity to make a statement in support of, or challenging, the outcome; and

  • Notify the parties of the result of the appeal and the rationale for the result.

When a complaint is dismissed, Ben Hill County Schools will, at a minimum:

  • Offer supportive measures to the complainant as appropriate; If the respondent has been notified of the allegations, offer supportive measures to the respondent as appropriate; and

  • Take other prompt and effective steps, as appropriate, through the Title IX Coordinator to ensure that sex discrimination does not continue or recur within Ben Hill County Schools education program or activity.

Investigation:

Ben Hill County Schools will provide for adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation of complaints.

The burden is on Ben Hill County Schools—not on the parties—to conduct an investigation that gathers sufficient evidence to determine whether sex discrimination occurred.

Ben Hill County Schools will provide an equal opportunity for the parties to present fact witnesses and other inculpatory and exculpatory evidence that are relevant and not otherwise impermissible.

Ben Hill County Schools will review all evidence gathered through the investigation and determine what evidence is relevant and what evidence is impermissible regardless of relevance.

Ben Hill County Schools will provide each party with an equal opportunity to access the evidence that is relevant to the allegations of sex discrimination and not otherwise impermissible, in the following manner:

  • Ben Hill County Schools will provide an equal opportunity to access either the relevant and not otherwise impermissible evidence, or an accurate description of this evidence. [If Ben Hill County Schools provides a description of the evidence: Ben Hill County Schools will provide the parties with an equal opportunity to access the relevant and not otherwise impermissible evidence upon the request of any party.];

  • Ben Hill County Schools will provide a reasonable opportunity to respond to the evidence or the accurate description of the evidence; and

  • Ben Hill County Schools will take reasonable steps to prevent and address the parties’ unauthorized disclosure of information and evidence obtained solely through the grievance procedures. Disclosures of such information and evidence for purposes of administrative proceedings or litigation related to the complaint of sex discrimination are authorized.

Questioning the Parties and Witnesses:

Ben Hill County Schools will provide a process that enables the decisionmaker to question parties and witnesses to adequately assess a party’s or witness’s credibility to the extent credibility is both in dispute and relevant to evaluating one or more allegations of sex discrimination. Decision maker will notify parties in writing and/or contact individuals by phone (if possible) to inform parties of location, date, and time of meeting.  Evidence will be recorded and collected to determine credibility.  Decisionmaker will provide parties with a decision to accept or reject testimony provided by witnesses. 

Determination Whether Sex Discrimination Occurred:

Following an investigation and evaluation of all relevant and not otherwise impermissible evidence, Ben Hill County Schools will:

  • Use the [preponderance of the evidence or, if applicable, clear and convincing] standard of proof to determine whether sex discrimination occurred. The standard of proof requires the decisionmaker to evaluate relevant and not otherwise impermissible evidence for its persuasiveness. If the decisionmaker is not persuaded under the applicable standard by the evidence that sex discrimination occurred, whatever the quantity of the evidence is, the decisionmaker will not determine that sex discrimination occurred.

  • Notify the parties in writing of the determination whether sex discrimination occurred under Title IX including the rationale for such determination, and the procedures and permissible bases for the complainant and respondent to appeal, if applicable;

  • Not impose discipline on a respondent for sex discrimination prohibited by Title IX unless there is a determination at the conclusion of the grievance procedures that the respondent engaged in prohibited sex discrimination.

  • If there is a determination that sex discrimination occurred, the Title IX Coordinator will, as appropriate:

    • Coordinate the provision and implementation of remedies to a complainant and other people Ben Hill County Schools identifies as having had equal access to Ben Hill County Schools education program or activity limited or denied by sex discrimination;

    • Coordinate the imposition of any disciplinary sanctions on a respondent, including notification to the complainant of any such disciplinary sanctions; and

    • Take other appropriate prompt and effective steps to ensure that sex discrimination does not continue or recur within Ben Hill County Schools education program or activity.

  • Comply with the grievance procedures before the imposition of any disciplinary sanctions against a respondent; and

  • Not discipline a party, witness, or others participating in the grievance procedures for making a false statement or for engaging in consensual sexual conduct based solely on the determination whether sex discrimination occurred.

Appeal of Determinations:

Ben Hill County Schools offers the following process for appeals from a determination whether sex discrimination occurred: Appeal must be in writing and mailed to the Title IX Coordinator within 5 business days of decision. This appeal process will be, at a minimum, the same as Ben Hill County Schools offers in all other comparable proceedings, including proceedings relating to other discrimination complaints.  

Informal Resolution:

In lieu of resolving a complaint through Ben Hill County Schools’ Title IX grievance procedures, the parties may instead elect to participate in an informal resolution process. Ben Hill County Schools does not offer informal resolution to resolve a complaint that includes allegations that an employee engaged in sex-based harassment of an elementary school or secondary school student, or when such a process would conflict with Federal, State, or local law.

Supportive Measures:

Ben Hill County Schools will offer and coordinate supportive measures as appropriate for the complainant and/or respondent to restore or preserve that person’s access to Ben Hill County Schools education program or activity or provide support during Ben Hill County Schools Title IX grievance procedures or during the informal resolution process.16 For complaints of sex-based harassment, these supportive measures may include offering alternative access to instruction, change of schedule to eliminate interaction between complainant and respondent, written and signed document instructing parties of guidelines involving proximity, and any other measure that will support access to Ben Hill County Schools education program.

Disciplinary Sanctions and Remedies:

Following a determination that sex-based harassment occurred, Ben Hill County Schools may impose disciplinary sanctions, which may include suspension, expulsion, loss of privileges, alternate learning environment, termination, counseling, training, unpaid leave of absence or any other form of sanction that may be appropriate. Ben Hill County Schools may also provide remedies, which may include counseling, making changes to policy, or implementing prevention programs on campus.