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Bullying Bias or Discrimination/Harassment » Bias Incident Reporting Procedure

Bias Incident Reporting Procedure

Bias Incident Reporting Form for Revere Public Schools

 

If this is an EMERGENCY SITUATION INVOLVING AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO ANYONE’S HEALTH OR SAFETY, CALL 911 or contact the Revere Police Department ((781) 284-1212) BEFORE using this form to report the incident to Revere Public Schools. You should still submit this form after contacting Revere Police.

 

Revere Public Schools values all community members and is committed to investigating and addressing all incidents in which members of the community have been targeted or harmed by bias or discriminatory conduct/harassment in any form – verbal, physical, electronic, or other.

Whether you are a person who experienced being targeted or harmed, a witness, or a recipient of information, we encourage you to make a report of any incident involving conduct that you feel was motivated by bias or discrimination, including actual or perceived bias based on race/color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity/expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or sexual harassment, as well as bullying.  We take each report made very seriously, and ask that you provide as much detail as possible. If you believe that the incident involves bullying or cyberbullying, you may report the incident using the form accessed at Bias Incident Online Reporting Form.

 

You may report anonymously and at any time following an incident.  Please understand, however, that anonymous, delayed, or general reports without sufficient detail to investigate may significantly limit our ability to effectively address the incident or to protect the person(s) being harmed or targeted.

 

IMPORTANT LINKS

 

PURPOSE & COMMITMENT

Revere Public Schools (RPS) believes that creating an equitable and inclusive school community requires deliberate work. All community members should be honored and respected; their voices and membership should be valued.  For these reasons, RPS is committed to protecting the school community by investigating all incidents in which members of the community are a person harmed/targeted of conduct in any form – verbal, physical, electronic, or other - that involves bias or discrimination/harassment that is prohibited by the law and by RPS policies.

RPS will investigate every such incident that comes to its attention. If the information is substantiated, RPS will take the steps that are necessary to address the conduct and establish a school environment that reduces the likelihood of such conduct in the future.  RPS will make every effort to provide support and resources for affected individuals.

An essential part of this commitment is to encourage members of the school community to report all such incidents – whether they are a person harmed/targeted, a witness, or a recipient of information. These incidents include all conduct that is believed to be motivated by bias and discrimination, including actual or perceived bias based on race/color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity/expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or sexual harassment, as well as bullying.

REPORTING
Accordingly, a process will be made available to report such incidents. Students, parents, caregivers and others may request assistance from a staff member to complete a report. Students who reach out for support will be provided with practical, safe, private and age-appropriate ways to report and discuss an incident with a staff member or with the principal/designee.

This process will provide for multiple means to report an incident and will include:
  • A written report form that may be submitted electronically via an online form, or printed out and submitted via email, hand-delivered at one of the schools or mailed to the Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the District Office, 101 School Street, Revere, MA  02151.
  • A report may be made by telephone/cell phone, online forum such as Zoom, etc., email, text, or in-person meeting with an appropriate school representative including the principal, assistant principal or the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The recipient of a report using these methods will document the allegation using the written report form.

 

Report Handling

School Principals and the RPS' Office of Equity and Inclusion will work to evaluate reports promptly. The timing and manner in which RPS addresses each report will depend upon the information provided. When possible, school-based issues will be dealt with at the school level whereas district and/or community-based issues will be dealt with at the district level.

  • Internal processes and timelines for report follow-up, including initial investigation, assignment, oversight, and final determination with recommendation for action will be established. Within the bounds of confidentiality, every effort will be made to follow-up with the reporter.
  • Data collection, analysis, and reporting mechanisms will be established to monitor repeated instances of bias or discrimination reporting from or about an individual as well as other key indicators.
  • Reporters of multiple instances targeting a particular student are encouraged to follow the school’s bullying reporting process; however initial screening will route the report to the appropriate party for follow-up including potential referral to the bullying/cyberbullying reporting process.
 

Privacy and Confidentiality

Confidentiality and trust are very important to the RPS.  Every effort will be made to respect the privacy of a reporter, a witness, and a person harmed or targeted. RPS may not, however, be able to guarantee complete anonymity in certain circumstances.

Information contained in a report will be shared with the appropriate RPS official(s) involved in investigation, resolution of the incident, and subsequent monitoring.

Reporters have the option to remain anonymous or to withhold their own contact information or names of witnesses. Anonymous reports may, however, significantly limit RPS' ability to address concerns. Among other things, remaining anonymous or withholding the names of other persons involved may impair RPS’ ability to put in place steps to protect involved parties while the investigation proceeds and, ultimately, to corroborate the report and stop the conduct. While reports of all types are encouraged, please know anonymous reporting limits RPS ability to follow through on disciplinary or restorative actions with the person who caused the harm/targeting.

 

Zero Tolerance for Retaliation

ANY retaliation against a person who reports an incident – whether they are a person harmed/targeted, a witness, or a reporter of information – will not be tolerated and will be subjected to strict enforcement. This includes ALL FORMS OF RETALIATION, including threats, verbal communications, physical acts, electronic communications, written communications, and ostracism whether by the individual accused or by any other person(s) who become aware of the incident or report.