NAHANT — The School Committee gathered Tuesday evening to update policies and adopt some new changes to school handbooks, as reflected by the new 2024 regulations enacted by the Massachusetts Association of Schools Committees (MASC) for Title IX.
Back in July, MASC made revisions to handbook policies for Title IX, which works to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in “Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance.”
The existing handbook policies the committee agreed to update were the following: AC, ACAB, and AC-R, which all deal with nondiscrimination policies including both harassment and retaliation. ACAB covers sexual and sex-based harassment and retaliation.
According to MASC.org, “retaliation” is defined as “intimidation, threats, or discrimination against the district, a student, or any person authorized by the District to provide aid, benefit or service.”
Among the several new policies the committee agreed to adopt were ACA and ACA-R (which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex). The committee also moved to adopt ACGA (Civil Rights Grievance Procedure), and ACGB (Title IX Sexual Discrimination Grievance Procedure).
Aside from the slew of new policies and regulations added and adopted to the handbooks for Swampscott schools, MASC also urges schools to identify policies and procedures that should be updated accordingly. Besides making sure each school adheres to the new rulesets, schools are encouraged to ensure each staff member is trained to efficiently enforce the regulations.
“It’s good to have updated policies that exist to protect students,” Superintendent of Schools Rob Liebow said. “We want all our students to feel not just welcome in school, but safe and encouraged to pursue their education.”
All changes to existing handbook policies and the new adopted regulations will be effective immediately, according to Liebow.
