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Board retires staff harassment policy 50.12 after legal review, one board member opposes
Summary
Longview School District board voted to retire policy 50.12 (prohibition of harassment, intimidation and bullying, staff) following attorney advice that other district policies and state laws cover the same issues; at least one board member voted no and concerns remained about staff-to-staff intimidation and cyberbullying.
The Longview School District Board of Directors voted on March 24 to retire policy 50.12, "Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (staff)," following administration and attorney recommendations that existing policies provide the necessary legal coverage.
Dr. Plunger explained that the district could not find a legal model supporting policy 50.12 and that the district ttorney recommended retirement. "Policy 50.10 is covering all of the protected classes and has a procedure that goes along with it and, for investigation," Dr. Plunger said, summarizing the administration's view that policy 50.10 (nondiscrimination) and policy 50.11 (prohibition of harassment of district staff, including hostile work environment) provide authorized procedures and legal citations.
Penny Andrews, executive director of employee services, confirmed the recommendation and said administration and legal counsel increasingly rely on the district's civility policy and the cited legal authorities to handle staff complaints. Several board members expressed support for removing duplication; one board member raised concerns that protections for staff against intimidation or cyberbullying could be lost if 50.12 were retired and asked staff to confirm that existing policies adequately cover those situations.
A motion to retire policy 50.12 was made, seconded and carried. During discussion, board members noted the district's civility policy (policy 5161) and other procedures as tools staff can use and asked staff to ensure that procedures and citations are clear and accessible. One board member voted "nay"; the motion passed.
Board members directed staff to ensure that relevant protections (including cyberbullying complaints and hostile-work-environment issues) are accessible in the cited policies and procedures and to return with any needed procedural clarifications.
The administration said ongoing investigations would continue under the appropriate existing policies and that staff would complete and document any work already in process.
