Dignity for all Students (DASA)
Harassment, bullying and discrimination prevention
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If the bullying is occurring in the school, on school grounds, or during a school event/activity off school grounds, NYS Law requires each district to have a policy and procedures in place for the concerned person(s) to make a report of the bullying, as follows:
- Identify an administrative designee to receive reports of harassment, bullying, and discrimination (ex., the DASA Coordinator);
- Enable students, family members, and others to make an oral or written report to school personnel;
- Require school employees to notify an administrator or designee (g., DASA Coordinator) within one school day of witnessing or receiving a report of harassment, bullying, or discrimination, and to file a written report no later than two school days after such oral report/notification;
- Require administrators or a designee (ex., DASA Coordinator) to lead a thorough investigation of all reports of harassment, bullying, and discrimination that is completed promptly after the receipt of any written report and is recorded [in Part II of the DASA Incident Reporting Form];
- Upon verification of harassing, bullying, and/or discriminatory behavior, require the school to take prompt action(s) reasonably calculated to end harassment, bullying and discrimination, to eliminate any hostile environment, prevent recurrence of the behavior, and to ensure the safety of the student(s) against whom harassment, bullying or discrimination was directed;
- Prohibit retaliation against any individual who reports or assists in the investigation of harassment, bullying, or discrimination;
- Develop a school strategy to prevent harassment, bullying, and discrimination;
- Require school leaders to make a regular report to the superintendent regarding data and trends related to harassment, bullying, and discrimination;
- Require school administrators or designee(s) to promptly notify local law enforcement officials of harassment, bullying and/or discrimination when required to do so;
- Require that all school employees, students, and parents receive a copy of the district’s policies, including the process for reporting harassment, bullying, and discrimination, at least annually;
- Ensure that a current version of the district’s policies and procedures, including an incident report form, are maintained on the district’s website.
Please contact the school/district office and follow the procedures the district and school have in place for reporting incidents that occur on school/district grounds.
DASA Coordinators
Districtwide |
|
NAME |
SCHOOL |
Dr. Christopher Pearce Raisa Turner |
Benjamin Turner Middle School
|
Jacqueline Green Troy Newbey Nikia Jones |
Cecil Parker School
|
Dr. Evelyn Collins Sonya Wingate-Simmons |
Denzel Washington School of Arts
|
Dr. Crystal Waterman Gregory Casey Derrick Thompson |
Edward Williams School
|
Dr. Natasha Hunter-McGregor Francia Mendoza Annabelle Strozza Sarah McNamee |
Graham School
|
Severin Cornelius Lucille Martir Phylicia Harris Bahia Harari Dara Smalls |
Grimes School
|
Marc Molina Brian Pritchett |
Hamilton School
|
Rebecca Jones Kristin Cipriano Erica Porco |
Lincoln School
|
Dr. Pauline Pearce Erica Naughton Mark Raimondi Andrea Thomas |
Mount Vernon High School
|
Danielle Davis-Marrow Shereene Shames Tara Lattimer-Wilson |
MV Honor Academy (Holmes School)
|
Dr. Colleen Seivwright-Crawford Matthew Wilbekin Evelyn Padilla |
MV Leadership Academy (Columbus School)
|
Lilliam Serret-Morales Barbara Abbey |
Mount Vernon STEAM Academy
|
Michael Vicario Dr. Melissa White Jonathan Bagwell |
Nelson Mandela/Hosea Zollicoffer School
|
Thrusha Henderson Charles Brown |
Pennington School
|
Doris Dapaah Dr. Melissa White Jennifer Goire-Peralta |
Rebecca Turner School
|
Allan Grant Dr. Pauline Pearce Mark Raimondi Erica Naughton Andrea Thomas |
Sundown Alternative Program @ MVHS
|
Carol Quinones-Smith Kristen Passarello |
Traphagen School |
Contact Info
Office of Pupil Personnel Services
165 N. Columbus Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY 10553
Phone: (914) 358-2380
Fax: (914) 665-5170
Dr. Kim Smith
Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services
ksmith@mtvernoncsd.org
(914) 358-2323
More Info
The Dignity for All Students Act, effective July 1, 2012, requires that “No student shall be subjected to harassment by employees or students on school property or at a school function; nor shall any student be subjected to discrimination based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex by school employees or students on school property or at a school function.”
A web page with additional information and downloadable resources is available at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/.