The Acton-Boxborough Regional School District has introduced a new dashboard to enhance transparency and accountability in reporting incidents of Hate and Bias, Title IX, Bullying and/or Harassment. This tool provides data on incidents, ensuring that students, parents, and community members are well-informed about the prevalence and nature of these issues within the district. By offering accessible and comprehensive information, the dashboard aims to foster a safer and more inclusive environment for all students.
Data presented on the Acton-Boxborough Regional School District's incident dashboard will be updated biannually by total number of incidents in all schools at the end of January and June. Information may be subject to change as incidents are reported and investigated. Users should consider the context and trends over time rather than focusing on individual data points. Sample sizes of 6 or less will not be reported. For any specific concerns or further clarifications, contact Jennifer Faber, Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The incidents as reported on the dashboard are defined as follows:
Hate and Bias incident- any hostile, aggressive, harmful, or otherwise unwelcome conduct or speech that is motivated by, or demonstrates, hate, bigotry, or bias against an individual or group because of their protected characteristics.
Title IX- In Massachusetts, sexual harassment is defined as any unwelcome sexual conduct, including sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:
1. Submission to, acceptance of, or rejection of such advances, requests, or conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of employment or education or a basis for employment decisions affecting an employee or for educational, disciplinary, or other decisions affecting a student; or
2. Such advances, requests, or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work performance, education or participation in extracurricular activities by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or offensive work or school environment.
Bullying- The repeated use by one or more students or a member of a school staff of a written, verbal, or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a victim that:
(i) causes physical or emotional harm to the victim or damage to the victim´s property;
(ii) places the victim in reasonable fear of harm to himself or of damage to his property;
(iii) creates a hostile environment at school for the victim;
(iv) infringes on the rights of the victim at school; or
(v) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
Bullying may include conduct such as physical intimidation or assault, including intimidating an individual into taking an action against his/her will; oral or written threats; teasing; putdowns; name-calling; stalking; threatening looks, gestures, or actions; cruel rumors; false accusations; and social isolation.
Harassment- Harassment is conduct that creates, or contributes to the creation of, an intimidating or hostile environment for a student because of their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Harassment can include verbal or physical conduct which may offend, denigrate, or belittle any person because of, or due to, any of the characteristics described above. Harassment may include pictures, jokes, comments, innuendoes, slurs, derogatory remarks based on protective class.