Following student rallies, Seattle School Board to vote on stronger policies to prevent sexual haras

Following student rallies, Seattle School Board to vote on stronger policies to prevent sexual harassment

UPDATED: Tue., May 3, 2022

For months, Seattle high school students have rallied outside their schools and district headquarters demanding the district strengthen its policy concerning sexual harassment.

On Wednesday, the School Board will vote to make significant changes to the policy. The proposed update outlines stronger strategies for preventing sexual harassment, adds language that holds the district accountable, offers more support for survivors, and provides clearer details on the procedures the district must follow in sexual harassment cases. The updates were proposed by district staff after several years of work.

At rallies, some students have spoken about being sexually assaulted and harassed by other students as well as school employees. Many described feeling unsafe in the hallways and in classrooms because they are forced to be around their alleged abusers. Others talked about being retraumatized during the reporting process, having nobody to talk to about their sexual assault, and finding that administrators do not always believe what they say.

One of the biggest proposed changes to the existing policy is its emphasis on helping survivors, (More)

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/may/03/following-student-rallies-seattle-school-board-to-/