DistrictOEO reports 1,587 investigations; N-word use and spikes in national-origin and gender-identity incidents noted

The Davis County School District Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) presented its quarterly belonging-and-inclusion report to the board, detailing investigations, trends and professional-development work aimed at reducing harassment and improving school climate.

OEO lead Dennis Hill and colleagues told the board they investigated 1,587 allegations of harassment, discrimination or related conduct through winter break. Of those cases, staff said about 18% were found to meet the three-prong harassment standard the district applies (objectionably offensive conduct based on a protected class that impacts an individual). OEO staff said a larger share of cases were classified as policy violations that did not rise to harassment; during an exchange later in the meeting staff clarified the first-semester distribution as roughly 18% harassment, 58% policy violations, about 15% that did not meet policy thresholds, and the remainder recorded as insufficient…