Policies » Section A: Foundations & Basic Commitments » AC: Non-Discrimination Policy
Policy Date: 11/07/2024
Download Policy NowCSD File: AC
CANDIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
NON-DISCRIMINATION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT AND DISTRICT ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PLAN
A. Prohibition Against Discrimination in Educational Programs and Activities.
No person shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in the
District’s schools, educational programs or activities because of their age, sex, gender identity, sexual
orientation, race, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, religion, national
origin, pregnancy or related conditions, genetic information, or veteran status. Discrimination,
including harassment, against any person in the District’s education programs or activities, on the
basis of any of the above classes, or a person’s creed, is prohibited. Finally, there shall be no denial to
any person of the benefits of educational programs or activities, on the basis of any of the above
classes, or economic status.
“Race” means immutable traits associated with race including hair texture and protective hairstyles
which are hairstyles or hair type including braids, locs, tight coils or curls, cornrows, Bantu knots,
Afros, twists, and headwraps.
Harassment of students other than on the basis of any of the classes or categories listed above is
prohibited under Board policy JICK Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention.
B. Equal Opportunity of Employment and Prohibition Against Discrimination in Employment.
The District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The District ensures equal employment opportunities
without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin,
pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, equal pay, or genetic information
including family medical history or genetic tests or services and prohibits retaliation for filing a charge
of discrimination or participating in a discrimination lawsuit, investigation or proceeding. The District
will employ individuals who meet the physical and mental requirements, and who have the education,
training, and experience established as necessary for the performance of the job as specified in the
pertinent job description(s).
Discrimination against and harassment of school employees because of age, sex, race, creed, religion,
color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, national origin,
ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or related conditions, or genetic information
are prohibited. Additionally, the District will not discriminate against any employee who is a victim of
domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, or stalking.
C. Title IX Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Candia School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any
education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in
admission and employment.
Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to Candia School District’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S.
Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both.
Candia School District’s Title IX Coordinator is:
Kimberly Sarfde, Assistant Superintendent
SAU #15
90 Farmer Road
Hooksett, NH 03106
(603) 622-3731 x 4012
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor
Boston, MA 02109-3921
Telephone: (617) 289-0111; Fax: (617) 289-0150; Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov
Note: Complaints to OCR must be filed in writing no later than 180 days after the alleged act(s) of
discrimination. OCR may waive its 180 day time limit based on OCR policies and procedures.
Candia School District’s nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures are in Policies GBAA and
JBAA and are located on the district’s website.
To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of
sex discrimination under Title IX, please refer to Policies GBAA and JBAA on the district’s website.
D. USDA Nondiscrimination Statement.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights
regulations and policies, the District is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color,
national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or
retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities
who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that
administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact
USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA
Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at:
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling
(866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s
name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in
sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of
an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
a. Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
b. fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
c. email:
Program.Intake@usda.gov
E. District Anti-Discrimination Plan.
The Superintendent shall develop and provide to the Board for approval, a coordinated written District
Anti-Discrimination Plan (the “Plan”) to include guidelines, protocols and procedures intended to
prevent, assess the presence of, intervene in, and respond to incidents of discrimination.
Among other things, the Plan should include provisions, and recommendations with respect to
resources, policies, complaint procedures, student education programs, Plan dissemination and
training appropriate to carrying out the Plan objectives stated in the preceding paragraph.
In developing the Plan, the Superintendent is encouraged to seek input from appropriate groups of
the school and local community and coordinate with the District’s Human Rights [Non-Discrimination]
Officer and Title IX and 504 Coordinators.
No less than once every two years (off years from review of the District’s Suicide Prevention Plan per
Policy JLDBB), the Superintendent shall update the District Anti-Discrimination Plan, and present the
same to the Board for review. Such Plan updates should be submitted to the Board in time for
appropriate budget consideration.
F. Human Rights [or Non-Discrimination], Title IX, 504 and other Coordinators or
Officers.
The following personnel are assigned to the positions listed below.
Human Rights [or Non-Discrimination] Officer –Human Resources Director
Director of Human Resources
SAU #15
90 Farmer Road
Hooksett, NH 03106
(603) 622-3731 x 4018
Title IX – Coordinator
Assistant Superintendent
SAU #15
90 Farmer Road
Hooksett, NH 03106
(603) 622-3731 x 4012
504 Coordinator
School Counselor-Pamela Jarvis
12 Deerfield Road
Candia, NH 03034
(603) 483-2251
G. Complaint and Reporting Procedures.
Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against, harassed, or bullied in
violation of this policy by any student, employee, or other person under the supervision and control of
the school system, or any third person who knows or suspects conduct that may constitute
discrimination, harassment, or bullying, should contact the District Human Rights Officer, or otherwise
as provided in the Policies referenced below under this same heading.
Any employee who has witnessed, or who has reliable information that another person may have been
subjected to discrimination, harassment, or bullying in violation of this Policy has a duty to report such
conduct to his/her immediate supervisor, the District Human Rights Officer, or as provided in one of
the policies or administrative procedures referenced below under this same heading. Additionally,
employees who observe an incident of harassment or bullying are expected to intervene to stop the
conduct in situations in which they have supervisory control over the perpetrator and it is safe to do
so. If an employee knows of an incident involving discrimination, harassment, or bullying and the
employee fails to report the conduct or take proper action or knowingly provides false information in
regard to the incident, the employee will be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including,
dismissal.
All information will be maintained on a confidential basis to the greatest extent possible.
A complaint alleging harassment or discrimination, whether written or oral, should include the specific
nature of the incident, date, and place of the incident, names of all parties involved, as well as a
detailed report of all pertinent facts. Complaints of harassment or discrimination will be promptly and
carefully investigated in accordance with the applicable policy. Investigations will include interviews
with all relevant persons, including the accused and other potential witnesses. Appropriate remedial
action will be taken in all cases where harassment or discrimination is found to have occurred.
Disciplinary action up to and including discharge may be taken against any employee who violates this
Policy. Disciplinary action up to and including expulsion may be taken against any student who
violates this Policy.
Investigations and resolution of any complaints shall be according to the policies listed below and
related administrative procedures or regulations. Complaints or reports regarding matters not covered
in one or the other of those policies should be made to the District Human Rights Officer.
1. Reports or complaints of sexual harassment or sexual violence by employees or third party
contractors should be made under Board Policy GBAA.
2. Reports or complaints of sexual harassment or sexual violence by students should be made
under Board Policy JBAA.
3. Reports or complaints of discrimination on the basis of disability should be made under Board
Policy AC, except for complaints regarding facilities accessibility by disabled non-students or
employees, which should be made under Board Policy KED; and
4. Reports or complaints of bullying or other harassment of pupils should be made under Board
Policy JICK.
H. Alternative Complaint Procedures and Legal Remedies.
At any time, whether or not an individual files a complaint or report under this Policy, an individual
may file a complaint with the following agencies:
1. Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor, Boston,
MA 02109-3921; Telephone number: (617) 289-0111; Fax number: (617) 289-0150; Email:
OCR.Boston@ed.gov
Note: Complaints to OCR must be filed in writing no later than 180 days after the alleged
act(s) of discrimination. OCR may waive its 180 day time limit based on OCR policies and
procedures.
2. New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, 2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301;
Telephone number: (603) 271-2767; Email: humanrights@nh.gov
3. Office of Civil Rights
U.S. Dept of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C., 20250-9410;
Telephone: (866)632-9992; Email – program.intake@usda.gov
4. New Hampshire Department of Justice
Civil Rights Unit
33 Capitol Street,
Concord, NH 03301;
Telephone: (603) 271-1181; Website: https://www.doj.nh.gov/bureaus/civil-rights-unit
5. New Hampshire Department of Education
Commissioner of Education
101 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301,
Telephone: (603) 271-3494; Email – info@doe.nh.gov
Notwithstanding any other remedy, any person may contact the police or pursue a criminal
prosecution under state or federal criminal law.
I. Retaliation Prohibited.
The District prohibits reprisals or retaliation of any kind against the complainant or any other individual
on account of his or her filing a complaint or report or participating in an investigation of a complaint
or report filed pursuant to this Policy. Any person who engages in retaliatory conduct prohibited by
this Policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including termination of
employment or expulsion. However, if after investigating any complaint of harassment or unlawful
discrimination, the District determines that any person has provided false information regarding the
complaint, disciplinary action up to and including termination or expulsion may be taken against the
individual who gave the false information.
Legal Reference:
RSA 354-A:7, Unlawful Discrimination Practices
RSA 354-A:6, Opportunity for Employment without Discrimination a Civil Right
Adopted: November 8, 1989
Revised: September 10, 1992
Re-Adopted: June 8, 1999
Revised: March 16, 2001
Re-Adopted: June 2, 2005
Revised: January 3, 2019, November 7, 2019, June 4, 2020
Reviewed: June 3, 2021, May 5, 2022, May 4, 2023
Revised: November 2, 2023, March 7, 2024, November 7, 2024