Portland Public Schools committee approves edits to harassment and nondiscrimination policies after debate over anonymous reporting

Portland Public Schools' policy committee on Oct. 20 voted to approve edits to three policies addressing harassment, discrimination and nondiscrimination after a lengthy discussion about anonymous reporting.

The committee approved changes to policy ACAA (student and employee harassment/discrimination provisions), ACAB (harassment and discrimination of school employees) and AC (nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action) by roll-call votes. The motions were moved on the floor, seconded, and passed with board members recorded as voting yes during roll call: Yousra Ali; Ali Ali; Vice Chair Micky Bondo; and the meeting chair (all recorded as yes).

The committee discussion focused on whether the district should require a system that allows anonymous reports. Doctor Warren, the staff presenter, said Title IX procedures mean that once a matter becomes a formal complaint the person accused is entitled to know who filed the complaint and to review investigative evidence. "The way Title IX works is that they are entitled to know who's making that claim, and to, you know, see evidence and information from that investigation," Doctor Warren said, explaining why anonymous reports are more workable at the informal level than in a formal investigative process.

Doctor Warren also supplied district data showing that roughly 100 to 110 complaints came in during the referenced year through formal and informal channels, and that about 11 proceeded into the formal complaint process. She said the informal reporting form accounted for the majority of submissions and that anonymity often remains during informal follow-up, but that anonymity typically ends if a complainant opts for a formal investigation.

Committee members voiced mixed views. Vice Chair Micky Bondo said he is "leaning to be open so the investigation can go the way it's supposed to go," adding that named reports make it easier to follow up and hold people accountable. Several board members said they appreciated the reporting form's option to supply identifying information or remain anonymous at the informal stage. Others warned about potential misuse of anonymous tips and urged careful safeguards before relying on anonymous information to launch investigations.

Staff said the district's legal team recommended removing the paragraph that would make anonymous reporting a required process in policy language; that recommendation is a policy choice, not a claim that the district would be legally prohibited from allowing anonymous reports. "Our lawyers are recommending that we consider taking out the what's in the policy now is a requirement that we have a process for anonymous reporting," Doctor Warren said during the discussion.

The committee approved the proposed textual changes to ACAA, ACAB and AC as presented; staff said the same changes would be mirrored across applicable policy documents. No amendments to remove or alter the anonymous-reporting language were made at the committee meeting.

The committee directed staff to continue refining policy language and to ensure consistent cross-references between policies. Staff also said they would make redlines available for committee review and anticipated additional engagement with school leaders and the public when appropriate.

Votes at a glance

- ACAA (harassment/discrimination): motion passed by roll call (Yousra Ali: yes; Ali Ali: yes; Micky Bondo: yes; chair: yes). Second recorded for the motion was Board Member Yousra Ali. - ACAB (harassment/discrimination for employees): motion passed by roll call (Yousra Ali: yes; Ali Ali: yes; Micky Bondo: yes; chair: yes). Second recorded for the motion was Board Member Yousra Ali. - AC (nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action): motion passed by roll call (Ali Ali: yes; Yousra Ali: yes; Micky Bondo: yes; chair: yes). Second recorded for the motion was Board Member Ali Ali.

The committee did not adopt any new requirements to force anonymous reporting; staff will return with edited language and a redline for further review.