Anti-Bullying Policy

North Shore Country Day (NSCD) is committed to a safe and civil educational environment for all students,
employees, volunteers, and patrons, free from harassment, intimidation or bullying.

Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, military status, unfavorable discharge status
from the military service, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry,
age, religion, physical or mental disability, order of protection status, status of being homeless, or actual or potential
marital or parental status, including pregnancy, association with a person or group with one or more of the
aforementioned actual or perceived characteristics, or any other distinguishing characteristic is prohibited in each of
the following situations:

1. During any school-sponsored education program or activity.
2. While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, or at school-sponsored or
school-sanctioned events or activities.
3. Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other
similar electronic school equipment.
4. Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a nonschool-related location,
activity, function, or program or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned,
leased, or used by NSCD or school if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the educational process
or orderly operation of a school. This paragraph (item #4) applies only when a school administrator or
teacher receives a report that bullying through this means has occurred; it does not require staff members to
monitor any nonschool-related activity, function, or program.

“Harassment, intimidation or bullying, including cyber-bullying” means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal
act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students
that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student's or students' person or property;
2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student's or students' physical or mental health;
3. Substantially interfering with the student's or students' academic performance; or
4. Substantially interfering with the student's or students' ability to participate in or benefit from the services,
activities, or privileges provided by a school.

Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without
limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in
whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photoelectronic system, or photooptical system, including
without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications.
"Cyber-bullying" includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another
person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or
impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section. "Cyber-bullying"
also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of
material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons if the distribution or posting creates
any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying.

Bullying may take various forms, including without limitation one or more of the following: harassment, threats,
intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-
exhaustive. Nothing in this policy requires the affected student to possess a characteristic that is a perceived basis for the harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or other distinguishing characteristic.

Restorative measures means a continuum of school-based alternatives to exclusionary discipline, such as
suspensions and expulsions, that: (i) are adapted to the particular needs of the school and community, (ii) contribute
to maintaining school safety, (iii) protect the integrity of a positive and productive learning climate, (iv) teach
students the personal and interpersonal skills they will need to be successful in school and society, (v) serve to build
and restore relationships among students, families, schools, and communities, (vi) reduce the likelihood of future
disruption by balancing accountability with an understanding of students’ behavioral health needs in order to keep
students in school, and (vii) increase student accountability if the incident of bullying is based on religion, race,
ethnicity, or any other category that is identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Violation of the harassment, intimidation or bullying Policy may result in disciplinary action which may lead to
suspension and/or permanent dismissal from NSCD.

Bullying Prevention and Response Plan
The Head of School (HOS) or designee shall develop and maintain a bullying prevention and response plan that
advances NSCD’s goal of providing all students with a safe learning environment free of bullying and harassment.
This plan must be consistent with the requirements listed below; each numbered requirement, 1-12, corresponds
with the same number in the list of required policy components in 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7(b) 1-12.

1. NSCD uses the definition of bullying as provided in this policy.

2. Bullying is contrary to State law and the policy of NSCD. However, nothing in NSCD’s bullying
prevention and response plan is intended to infringe upon any right to exercise free expression or the free
exercise of religion or religiously based views protected under the First Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution or under Section 3 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution.

3. Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying. A report may be made orally or in writing to the
Head of School, Division Head, Assistant Division Head, Director of Diversity & Community
Engagement, a School Counselor, or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking.
Anyone, including staff members and parents/guardians, who has information about actual or threatened
bullying is encouraged to report it to NSCD named officials or any staff member. The NSCD named
officials and all staff members are available for help with a bully or to make a report about bullying.
Anonymous reports are also accepted; however, this shall not be construed to permit formal disciplinary
action solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

Division Heads:
Upper School:
Name: Dave Potter
Address: 310 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: 847-441-3318
Email: dpotter@nscds.org

Middle & Lower School:
Name: Tim Sheehan
Address: 310 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, IL 60093
Phone: 847-441-3323
Email: tsheehan@nscds.org

4. Consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, the Head of School or
designee shall promptly inform the parent(s)/guardian(s) of every student involved in an alleged incident of
bullying and discuss, as appropriate, the availability of social work services, counseling, school
psychological services, other interventions, and restorative measures.

5. The HOS or designee shall promptly investigate and address reports of bullying, by, among other things:

a. Making all reasonable efforts to complete the investigation within 10 school days after the date the
report of a bullying incident was received and taking into consideration additional relevant
information received during the course of the investigation about the reported bullying incident.

b. Involving appropriate school support personnel and other staff persons with knowledge,
experience, and training on bullying prevention, as deemed appropriate, in the investigation
process.

c. Notifying the Division Head or designee of the reported incident of bullying as soon as possible
after the report is received.

d. Consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, providing
parents/guardians of the students who are parties to the investigation information about the
investigation and an opportunity to meet with the Division Head or his or her designee to discuss
the investigation, the findings of the investigation, and the actions taken to address the reported
incident of bullying.

The HOS or designee shall investigate whether a reported incident of bullying is within the permissible
scope of NSCD’s jurisdiction and shall require that NSCD provide the victim with information regarding
services that are available within NSCD and the community, such as counseling, support services, and
other programs.

6. The Head of School or designee shall use interventions to address bullying, that may include, but are not
limited to, school social work services, restorative measures, social-emotional skill building, counseling,
school psychological services, and community-based services

7. A reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying is prohibited. Any person’s act
of reprisal or retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge with regard
to employees, or suspension and/or expulsion with regard to students.

8. A student will not be punished for reporting bullying or supplying information, even if NSCD’s
investigation concludes that no bullying occurred. However, a person who is found to have falsely accused
another of bullying, as a means of retaliation, as a means of bullying, or provided false information will be
treated as either: (a) bullying, (b) student discipline up to and including suspension and/or expulsion, and/or
(c) both (a) and (b) for purposes of determining any consequences or other appropriate remedial actions.

9. NSCD’s bullying prevention and response plan is based on the engagement of a range of school
stakeholders, including students and parents/guardians.

10. The Head of School or designee shall post this policy on the NSCD website, if any, and include it in the
student handbook, and, where applicable, post it where other policies, rules, and standards of conduct are
currently posted. The policy must be distributed annually to parents/guardians, students, and school
personnel (including new employees when hired), and must also be provided periodically throughout the
school year to students and faculty.

11. Pursuant to State law, the Board monitors this policy every two years by conducting a review and re-
evaluation of this policy to make any necessary and appropriate revisions. The Head of School or designee shall assist the Board with its re-evaluation and assessment of this policy’s outcomes and effectiveness. Updates to this policy will reflect any necessary and appropriate revisions. This process shall include,
without limitation:

a. The frequency of victimization;
b. Student, staff, and family observations of safety at a school;
c. Identification of areas of a school where bullying occurs;
d. The types of bullying utilized; and
e. Bystander intervention or participation.

The evaluation process may use relevant data and information that NSCD already collects for other
purposes. Acceptable documentation to satisfy the re-evaluated policy submission include one of the
following:

1) An updated version of the policy with the amendment/modification date included in the
reference portion of the policy;
2) If no revisions are deemed necessary, a copy of board minutes indicating that the policy
was re-evaluated and no changes were deemed to be necessary, or a signed statement from the
board; or
3) A signed statement from the Board Chair indicating that the Board re-evaluated the
policy and no changes to it were necessary.
The Head of School or designee must post the information developed as a result of the policy
re-evaluation on the NSCD website, or if a website is not available, the information must be provided to
school administrators, Board members, school personnel, parents/guardians, and students. Reviews and
re-evaluations in years they are due must be submitted to ISBE by September 30.

12. The NSCD bullying prevention plan must be consistent with other Board policies.
The Head of School is authorized to direct the development and implementation of procedures addressing the
elements of this policy, consistent with the complaint and investigation components of the procedure.

Complaint Process
Informal Complaint Process: Anyone may use informal procedures to report and resolve complaints of
harassment, intimidation, or bullying. At the divisional level, programs may be established for receiving
anonymous complaints. Such complaints must be appropriately investigated and handled consistent with due
process requirements. Informal reports may be made to any staff member, although staff shall always inform
complainants of their right to, and the process for, filing a formal complaint. Staff shall also direct potential
complainants to an appropriate staff member who can explain the informal and formal complaint process and what
a complainant can expect. Staff shall also inform an appropriate supervisor or designated staff person when they
receive complaints of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, especially when the complaint is beyond their training
to resolve or alleges serious misconduct.

Informal remedies include an opportunity, at the complainant(s)’ discretion, to explain to the alleged perpetrator that
the conduct is unwelcome, disruptive, or inappropriate either in writing or face-to-face; a statement from a staff
member to the alleged perpetrator that the alleged conduct is not appropriate and could lead to discipline if proven or
repeated; or a general public statement from an administrator in a building reviewing the district harassment,
intimidation and bullying policy without identifying the complainant, parent, guardian, or because NSCD believes
the complaint needs to be more thoroughly investigated.

Formal Complaint Process: Anyone may initiate a formal complaint of harassment, intimidation or bullying, even
if the informal complaint process is being utilized. Complainant(s) should not be promised confidentiality at the
onset of an investigation. It cannot be predicted what will be discovered or what kind of hearing may result. Efforts
should be made to increase the confidence and trust of the person making the complaint. NSCD will fully
implement the anti-retaliation provisions of this policy to protect complainant(s) and witness(es). Student
complainants and witnesses may have a parent or trusted adult with them, if requested, during any district initiated
investigatory activities. The Head of School or designee may conclude that NSCD needs to conduct an
investigation based on information in their possession regardless of the complainant's interest in filing a formal
complaint. Contact the Division Head at the phone number or email provided above to file a complaint.

If preferred, an Anonymous Reporting of Bullying, Intimidation and/or Harassment can be reported by voice mail at
the NSCD Administrative Offices at 847-446-0674, emailing safety@nscds.org or completing this Raider Tips . If
you choose to send an email report please consider using an email account that does not identify you by name.

The following process shall be followed:

a. NSCD will make all reasonable efforts to complete the investigation within 10 schools days after
the date the report of the incident was received and taking into consideration additional relevant
information received during the course of the investigation about the reported incident of
bullying.
b. All informal complaints shall be in writing. Formal complaints shall set forth the specific acts,
conditions or circumstances alleged to have occurred that may constitute harassment, intimidation
or bullying. The Division Head or designee may draft the complaint based on the report of the
complainant, for the complainant to review and sign.
c. Involving appropriate school support personnel and other staff persons with knowledge,
experience, and training on bullying prevention, as deemed appropriate, in the investigation
process.
d. Regardless of the complainant's interest in filing a formal complaint, the Division Head or
designee may conclude that NSCD needs to draft a formal complaint based on the information in
NSCD’s possession.
e. The Division Head or designee shall investigate all formal, written complaints of harassment,
intimidation or bullying, and other information in NSCD’s possession that the officer believes
requires further investigation.
f. When the investigation is completed the compliance officer shall compile a full written report of
the complaint and the result of the investigation. The report should be completed and provided to
the Head of School within 30 school business days after the date the complaint was filed unless an
extension is requested.
g. The Head of School or designee, who is not the Complaint Manager, shall issue the final written
decision to the complainant and the accused within 5 school business days after receiving the
Complaint Manager’s report.

Original policy approved 8.14.2022 and incorporated into Student and Employee Handbooks. Revised, Reviewed by School Attorney & Adopted to Conform to ISBE Requirements May 15, 2023.