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Every Student Matters

Dignity for All Students Act

The goal of the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) is to create a safe and supportive school environment where students can learn and focus, rather than fear being discriminated against and/or verbally and/or physically harassed. The Dignity Act states that No student shall be subjected to harassment or discrimination by employees or students on school property or at a school function based on their actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex.

 

The Dignity Act Implementation at ESM

  1. Code of Conduct: The ESM code of conduct was amended by counsel to include the terms and definitions needed to be compliant with the Dignity Act. The Code of Conduct is available on BoardDocs as well as in the main office of any of our school buildings.
  2. Dignity Act Coordinator: The District-wide Dignity Act Coordinator is Thomas Fabian, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources and Employee Relations. To comply with the Dignity Act, at least one staff member in each building has also been designated as a Dignity Act Coordinator. These Dignity Act Coordinators have been appointed by the Board of Education and will be available to respond to issues of discrimination and harassment.
    • District-wide Coordinator, 631-801-3022: Thomas Fabian
    • South Street School, 631-801-3141: Yael Aboulafia
    • Tuttle Avenue School, 631-801-3180: Christine Kelly
    • Dayton Avenue School, 631-801-3081: Heather Joy Basirico and Maureen McKernon
    • Eastport Elementary, 631-801-3171: Andrew Herbst
    • ESM Jr-Sr High School, 631-801-3292: Peter Gomez, Shivani Renjen, and Brooke Harris
  3. Instruction in civility, citizenship and character education: Current programs have been expanded to include the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity. This includes an awareness and sensitivity to discrimination or harassment and civility in the relations of people of different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, genders and sexes. These themes will be integrated throughout the curriculum in age-appropriate ways at all grade levels.