Sharpsville Area School District

Title IX: Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault

About Title IX 

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, often referred to as Title IX, is a Federal civil rights law. Title IX, which began with a focus on discrimination and ensuring equity in sports, includes a major focus on prevention of and response to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault. 

What is Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment? 

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is any unwanted, non-consensual sexual contact against any individual by force (against a person's will) or when a person cannot give consent (under the age of consent, intoxicated, developmentally disabled, mentally/physically unable to consent, etc.). 

Sexual Harassment 

Sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior or communication that is sexual in nature when: 

1. A student or employee is led to believe that he or she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct or communications in order to gain something in return, such as a grade, a promotion, a place on a sports team, or any educational or employment decision, or 
2. The conduct substantially interferes with a student's educational performance or creates an intimidating or hostile educational or employment environment.

Know Your Rights

Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. 

All public and private elementary and secondary schools, school districts, colleges, and universities receiving any Federal funds must comply with Title IX. 

For a statement describing the rights and responsibilities of victims of sexual harassment or those who are the subject of complaints, contact your school office or visit the district's Title IX tab on the district webpage. 

How to Get Help or File a Complaint

If you are not sure whether you should make a formal complaint, you can consult the Title IX coordinator at 724-962-8300 x2850 or jfry@sasdpride.org. The Title IX coordinator can help you decide if any action needs to be taken and how best to address your situation. 

If you believe that you or an SASD student or staff member has been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted, you can report the incident(s) to any school staff member or the district's Title IX coordinator.

SASD Sexual Harassment Complaint Form Instructions

1. Open the SASD Discrimination Complaint Form found on the District website.
2. Please complete all sections of the form.
3. Be as specific as possible when discussing the incidents. Your complaint is not limited to the space provided. You are encouraged to attach additional materials, which may assist in the investigation process.
4. Please be sure to include:
   1. The date(s) of the incident(s) that occurred,
   2. the name(s) of the person(s) involved, and the name(s) of those who may have witnessed the incident(s).
5. Sign it and deliver the original form to either the District Title IX Coordinator or any school principal.

Contact: If you have any questions regarding the complaint process and/or complaint form,

please contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Phone: 724-962-8300 Ext. 2850

Email: jfry@sasdpride.org 

Title IX Coordinator

The Sharpsville Area School District’s Title IX coordinators should have knowledge of all Title IX requirements, the district's policies and procedures on sex discrimination, and of all complaints throughout the district that raise Title IX Issues. 

The Title IX coordinator's core responsibilities include: 

1. Tracking the district's response to reports and complaints of sexual harassment 
2. Determining the appropriate response and remedial actions 
3. Identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems revealed by such reports and complaints