Title IX Compliance

 

At Ridgewood High School, there shall be no discrimination against any individual because of race, religion, nationality, gender, disability, physical characteristics or sexual orientation.  Each individual shall be considered unique with individual strengths, talents, and skills; shall have equal access to all school-related opportunities; shall be regarded in the same high esteem; and shall equally be encouraged to fulfill his or her potential as a human being.  District 234 is committed to providing an inclusive education where all students achieve and succeed.  

 

Negative or discriminatory behavior in violation of this policy shall be challenged wherever it occurs and dealt with appropriately.

 

Ridgewood High School is in full compliance with all provisions of Title IX of the education amendments of 1972.  Title IX requires all recipients of federal financial assistance not to discriminate on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities or in the recruitment and employment of personnel.  District 234 School Board Policy 7.10 states: 

“Equal educational and extracurricular opportunities shall be available for all students without regard to color, race, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, gender identity, status of being homeless, immigration status, order of protection status, actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy.  No student shall, based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity be denied equal access to programs, activities, services, or benefits or be limited in the exercise of any right, privilege, advantage, or denied equal access to educational and extracurricular programs and activities. Any student may file a sex equity complaint by using Board policy 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure.”

 

Nondiscrimination Coordinator:

Principal, Eric Lasky

7500 W. Montrose Avenue

elasky@ridgenet.org

708-456-4242 ext 1237

Complaint Managers:

Principal, Eric Lasky

7500 W. Montrose Avenue

elasky@ridgenet.org

708-456-4242 ext 1237

 

Dean of Students, Ryan Goldflies

7500 W. Montrose Avenue

rgoldflies@ridgenet.org

708-456-4242 ext 1242

 

To improve the overall transparency and integrity of District 234’s Title IX policies and procedures, students, employees, and the public will be able to examine the district’s training materials.  This improves the impartiality, reliability, and legitimacy of any Title IX proceedings.  

All Title IX personnel receive training that includes:

• Title IX’s definition of “sexual harassment”
• Conducting an investigation and grievance process
• Avoiding prejudgement of facts at issue
• Avoiding conflicts of interest and bias
• Creating an investigative report that summarizes relevant evidence

Materials used to train Title IX personnel:

• Do not rely on sex stereotypes,
• Promote impartial investigations and adjudications of formal complaints of sexual harassment,
• Will be maintained by the school for at least 7 years.

 

District 234 Training Materials 

• Title IX Final Rule
• Title IX Regulations Addressing Sexual Harassment (Unofficial Copy)  PDF (6M)
• Title IX: U.S. Department of Education Title IX Final Rule Overview  PDF (553K)
• Summary of Major Provisions of the Title IX Final Rule PDF
• Fact Sheet: Final Title IX Regulation
• OCR Webinar: Title IX Regulations Addressing Sexual Harassment (Length: 01:11:29)
• The First Amendment and Title IX: An OCR Short Webinar
• OCR Short Webinar on How to Report Sexual Harassment under Title IX
• Conducting and Adjudicating Title IX Hearings: An OCR Training Webinar
• OCR Webinar on Due Process Protections under the New Title IX Regulations
• OCR Webinar on New Title IX Protections Against Sexual Assault
• OCR Blog: Effective Date and Retroactivity
• OCR Blog: Live Hearings, Excluding Reliance on a Party’s Statements, and Verbal Conduct
• OCR Blog: The Requirement to Update School Websites with Important Title IX Information
• Robbins Schwartz Implementation of Title IX https://www.rsnlt.com/event/webinar-preparing-for-implementation-of-the-new-title-ix-regulations-2

• Training for Ridgewood HS Title IX Personnel 

In addition to the above training materials, the District is working with the Title IX Team at Robbins Schwartz to participate in individualized training and has purchased a toolkit for use during investigations:  https://www.rsnlt.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Robbins-Schwartz-Title-IX-website-upate-4843-0784-1479-v.1.pdf