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Barstow Unified compliance officer outlines Title IX, UCP intake and investigation process
Summary
Rebecca Michaelelsson, Barstow Unified’s Title IX/UCP compliance officer, briefed the board on the scope of Title IX and the district’s Uniform Complaint Procedure, explained complaint referral pathways, and described the district’s current use of an outside neutral investigator with plans to build internal capacity.
Rebecca Michaelelsson, the district’s Title IX/UCP compliance officer, told the Barstow Unified School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 25 that her office evaluates complaints involving sex‑based discrimination and other violations covered by the state Uniform Complaint Procedure.
“Title IX is: ‘no person in the United States shall on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance,’” Michaelelsson read aloud to the board, quoting the federal regulatory text.
Michaelelsson said the district’s complaint‑intake process funnels Title IX matters and UCP discrimination complaints to her office for evaluation. She described defined referral pathways for other issues: special‑education concerns go to Dr. Reid, student‑safety or attendance matters go to Miss Norman, and employee complaints are routed to Assistant Superintendent Gutierrez. Michaelelsson said the district currently contracts with TNG Consulting for neutral investigations and investigative reports, and that the goal is to transition more investigative capacity in‑house over time.
She outlined common categories covered by Title IX and UCP — from access and athletic opportunities to sex‑based harassment, hostile‑environment claims, sexual assault, stalking and quid pro quo allegations — and stressed documentation, training and neutral adjudication. “The process is all about being as fair as possible,” she said, adding that an investigative report is returned to the district and a neutral decision‑maker issues a determination.
The briefing was presented as informational; the board had no formal action tied to the presentation. Michaelelsson said she will deliver periodic “Beck talks” at regular board meetings to keep trustees informed about compliance work.
Next steps: trustees asked for continued updates as the district refines procedures and moves toward more in‑house investigative capacity.
