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ACAD - Hazing

Maine statute defines injurious hazing as "any action or situation, including harassing behavior, that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of any school personnel or a student enrolled in a school or any activity expected of a student as a condition of joining or maintaining membership in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers the student regardless of the student's willingness to participate in the activity.”

It is the policy of the Board that injurious hazing activities of any type, either on or off school property, by any student, staff member, group, or organization affiliated with the Cape Elizabeth School Department (CESD), are inconsistent with the educational process and shall be prohibited at all times.

No administrator, faculty member, or other employee of the CESD shall encourage, permit, condone, or tolerate injurious hazing activities. No student, including leaders of student organizations, shall plan, encourage, or engage in injurious hazing activities.

Persons not associated with the CESD who fail to abide by this policy may be subject to ejection from school property and/or other measures as may be available under the law.

Administrators, faculty members, students, and all other employees who fail to abide by this policy may be subject to disciplinary action which may include suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate measures. In the case of an organization affiliated with the CESD which authorizes hazing, penalties may include rescission of permission for that organization to operate on school property or to receive any other benefit of affiliation with the CESD.

These penalties shall be in addition to any civil or criminal penalties to which the violator or organization may be subject.

The Superintendent shall assume responsibility for administering this policy. In the event that an individual or organization disagrees with an action, or lack of action, on the part of the Superintendent as they carry out the provisions of this policy, that individual or organization may appeal to the Board. The ruling of the Board, with respect to the provisions of this policy, shall be final.

A copy of this policy shall be included in all school, parent, and employee handbooks or otherwise distributed to all school employees and students.

  • 20-A MRSA § 6553

 

Cross Reference:

  • ACAA - Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students
  • ACAB - Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Employees
  • JICIA - Weapons, Violence, and School Safety
  • JICK - Bullying and Cyberbullying in Schools

 

Adopted:

  • May 13, 2003

Revised:

  • October 12, 2004
  • August 28, 2012
  • November 12, 2019
  • November 10, 2020

 

 

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