Michigan City Area Schools

Michigan City Area Schools Anti-Harassment/Violence Statement

It is the policy of the School Board to maintain an education and work environment which is free from all forms of unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment. This commitment applies to all School Corporation operations, programs, and activities.  All students, parents, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of unlawful harassment. The Corporation will not retaliate against any person who makes a report or files a complaint alleging harassment or a violation of this policy. This policy applies to unlawful conduct occurring on school property, or at another location if such conduct occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.

The Board will vigorously enforce its prohibition against harassment based on sex, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other unlawful basis, and encourages those within the School Corporation community as well as third parties who feel aggrieved to seek assistance to rectify the problems. The Board will investigate all allegations of harassment and in those cases where unlawful harassment is substantiated, the Board will take immediate steps to end the harassment.  Individuals who are found to have engaged in unlawful harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including but not limited to 1.) Suspension or expulsion of a student; 2.) Suspension or termination of an employee. 

All reports of harassment should be reported to Associate Superintendent, Dr. Wendel McCollum, Complaint Coordinator.
Office: 408 S. Carroll Ave., Michigan City, IN 46360
Telephone: (219) 873-2000, extension 8357
Email: wmccollum@mcas.k12.in.us

Sexual Harassment
Pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, "sexual harassment" is defined as:

Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made either implicitly or explicitly a term or condition of an individual's employment, or status in a class, educational program, or activity.
2. Submission or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or educational decisions affecting such individual.
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of interfering with the individual's work or educational performance; of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working, and/or learning environment; or of interfering with one's ability to participate in or benefit from a class or an educational program or activity

“School Corporation community” means students, parents, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel, including Board members, agents, volunteers, contractors, or other persons subject to the control and supervision of the Board.

“Third parties” include, but are not limited to, guests and/or visitors on School Corporation property (e.g., visiting speakers, participants on opposing athletic teams, parents), vendors doing business with, or seeking to do business with, the Board, and other individuals who come in contact with members of the School Corporation community at school-related events/activities (whether on or off School Corporation property).

The Board will also take immediate steps to impose disciplinary action on individuals engaging in any of the following prohibited acts.

1. Retaliating against a person who has made a report or filed a complaint alleging harassment, or who has participated as a witness in a harassment investigation.
2. Filing a malicious or knowingly false report or complaint of harassment.
3. Disregarding, failing to investigate adequately, or delaying investigation of allegations of harassment when responsibility for reporting and/or investigating harassment charges comprises part of one’s supervisory duties.

Members of the School Corporation community and third parties are encouraged to promptly report incidents of harassing conduct to an administrator, supervisor or other School Corporation official so that the Board may address the conduct before it becomes severe, pervasive, or persistent.

When a Complainant believes criminal activity may have occurred the Complainant has the option to pursue a criminal complaint with an appropriate law enforcement agency, to pursue a harassment complaint under the Corporation’s complaint procedures, or to pursue both processes simultaneously.

Members of the School Corporation community or third parties who believe they have been unlawfully harassed by another member of the School Corporation community or a third party are entitled to utilize the Board’s informal and/or formal investigation and complaint processes.  Initiating a complaint, whether formally or informally, will not adversely affect the complaining individual’s participation in educational or extra-curricular programs.  Individuals should make every effort to file an informal or a formal complaint as soon as possible after the conduct occurs while the facts are known and potential witnesses are available.

The School Corporation will respect the privacy of the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible, consistent with the Board’s legal obligations to investigate, to take appropriate action, and to conform with any discovery or disclosure obligations.  All records generated under the terms of this policy and its related administrative guidelines shall be maintained as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

Although certain cases may require additional time, either the Complaint Coordinator or a designee will attempt to complete an investigation into the allegations of harassment or retaliation within fifteen (15) business days of receiving either an informal or a formal complaint pursuant to the Board’s policy.

The Board encourages everyone to read through the Board’s policy on anti-harassment which can be found online on the Corporation’s website or by requesting a copy from the central office. The current Complaint Coordinator is Associate Superintendent, Dr. Wendel McCollum, and his contact information is provided above.

Additionally, any inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulation may be referred the Complaint Coordinator or to the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. The OCR Office for Indiana is located at:

Chicago Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
Citigroup Center
500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475
Chicago, IL 60661-4544
Telephone:  (312) 730-1560
TDD:  800-877-8339
Email:  OCR.Chicago@ed.gov