Title IX Policy and Procedures

Cerrissa Blackburn |Title IX Coordinator

985-732-0005 | Fax 985-732-0580

111 Walker St. Bogalusa, LA 70427 

Northshore does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities and, accordingly, requires its staff, teachers, employees, and students to abide by the requirements of Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and is explicitly prohibited, whether such conduct occurs on or off campus during or after school hours during or directly related to school-sponsored activities, or at a time and/or place directly related to school functions or an employee’s school-related duties. It is the intent of Northshore to maintain an environment free from sexual assault and sexual harassment of any kind; therefore, this policy commands that no student shall be subjected to sexual misconduct, sexual assault or sexual harassment by other students or Northshore staff or employees. This policy shall be enforced and the accompanying procedures shall be implemented regardless of whether a complaint has been filed with or an investigation has been instituted by any law enforcement agency. 

Sexual harassment occurs when: education benefits are conditioned upon participation in unwelcome sexual conduct (i.e., Quid Pro Quo); unwelcome conduct occurs that a reasonable person would determine is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the school's education program or activity; and/or sexual assault (as defined in the Clery Act), dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). 

Title IX requires Northshore to take steps to prevent and remedy two forms of sex-based harassment: sexual harassment (including sexual violence) and gender-based harassment Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. It includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Sexual violence is a form of sexual harassment. Sexual violence, as the Office of Civil Rights uses the term, refers to physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent. A number of different acts fall into the category of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual abuse, and sexual coercion. Title IX also prohibits gender-based harassment, which is unwelcome conduct based on a student’s sex, or harassing conduct based on a student’s failure to conform to sex stereotypes. 

Sex-based harassment can be carried out by school employees, other students, and third parties. All students can experience sex-based harassment, including male and female students, LGBT students, students with disabilities, and students of different races, national origins, and ages. Title IX protects all students from sex-based harassment, regardless of the sex of the parties, including when they are members of the same sex.

Sex-based harassment creates a hostile environment if the conduct is sufficiently serious that it denies or limits a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the school’s program. When a school knows or reasonably should know of possible sex-based harassment, it must take immediate and appropriate steps to investigate or otherwise determine what occurred. If an investigation reveals that the harassment created a hostile environment, the school must take prompt and effective steps reasonably calculated to end the harassment, eliminate the hostile environment, prevent its recurrence, and, as appropriate, remedy its effects. 

Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the U. S. Department of Education, Office of Civil of Civil Rights (OCR) or to Northshore School’s Title IX Coordinator, Cerrissa Blackburn at phone number: 985-732-0005 ext 307 ; or email: cbla@northshorecharterschool.org. 

Northshore’s Title IX Personnel consist of the following individuals: 

• The Title IX Coordinator: Cerrissa Blackburn, cbla@northshorecharterschool.org, 985-732-0005 ext 307
• The Title IX Investigator(s): Steve Sanders, ssan@northshorecharterschool.org, 985-732-0005 ext 308 
• The Title IX Decision-Maker: DeeDee McCullough, dmcc@northshorecharterschool.org, 985-732-0005 ext 306 
• The Title IX Appeal Person: Bubba Bourne, bbourne@northshorecharterschool.org, 985-516-2335