Section X: Relationship to Other Laws

Consistent with state and federal laws, and the policies of the school or district, no person shall be discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town or in obtaining the advantages, priveledge and course of student of such public school on account of race, color, religion, acestry, national orgin, sex, socioeconomic status, academic status, gender identity or expression, physical appearance, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, development, or sensory disability, or by association with a person who has or is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics. Nothing in the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan prevents the school or district from taking action to remediate discrimination or harassment based on a person’s membership in a legally protected category under local, state, or federal law, or school or district policies.

In addition, nothing in the Taunton Public Schools’ Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan is designed or intended to limit the authority of the school or district to take disciplinary action or other action under M.G.L. c. 71 § 37H or M.G.L. c. 71 § 37H½, M.G.L. c. 71 § 41 and M.G.L. c. 71 § 42, and M.G.L. c. 76 § 5, or other applicable laws, or local school or district policies, or collective bargaining agreements, in response to violent, harmful, or disruptive behavior, regardless of whether the Plan covers the behavior.