TUSTIN : School Board OKs Harassment Policy
A policy that outlines what constitutes sexual harassment between students and teachers was unanimously adopted Monday by the Tustin Unified School District Board of Trustees.
Before adopting the new policy, the district only had a sexual harassment policy for employees. District officials said the move is not a result of any sexual harassment claims in the district.
“It is just generally speaking . . . something that we needed to address and not run away from,” said board member Gloria Tuchman, who is also a teacher.
The policy states that no sexual relationship or sexual advances should occur between a teacher and a student. The policy identifies sexual comments, lewd physical contact, indecent exposure and sex crimes such as rape as harassment.
School Board President Joyce Hanson, who requested that a student/teacher policy be adopted, said the move will maintain a sense of public trust toward teachers.
“This is a policy that protects the learning environment of students,” Hanson said.
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