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Title IX

The Roma Independent School District (RISD) prohibits discrimination including harassment, against any employee/student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of District policy and is prohibited. In accordance with law, discrimination on the basis of sex includes discrimination on the basis of biological sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender stereotypes, or any other prohibited basis related to sex. For more information on the Title IX Formal Complaint Process, please view the following document.

ROMA Independent school district Title IX Formal Complaint Procedures

Title IX Complaint

If you are an employee or student of RISD and you think you are a victim of sex discrimination or sexual harassment please contact your campus principal, department supervisor or directly to the District RISD Title IX Coordinator.

Contact Information:
 

Luis E. Garza,
Roma ISD Deputy Superintendent
District Title IX Coordinator
(Student and Employees)
608 North Garcia St.
Roma, TX. 78584

(956) 849-1377
legarza@romaisd.com

What is Title IX?

Title IX is a federal civil rights law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972.  It protects all Roma ISD students and employees from discrimination or harassment based on their gender.  Title IX states that:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Although it is perhaps best known for its application to sports, Title IX prohibits discrimination or harassment in all school activities and programs and requires all K-12 schools that receive federal funding to take appropriate steps to prevent and redress issues of sexual harassment or discrimination.

What are the Major Title IX Changes that Pertain to All Roma ISD Employees?

Some of the major changes include the following:

  • The definition of sexual harassment has been revised and expanded.
  •  New Title IX provisions require any Roma ISD employee who receives a report of prohibited conduct based on gender to notify his/her Supervisor, Campus Title IX Coordinator (Campus Principal) or Luis E. Garza the District Title IX Coordinator.
  •  For these reasons, all employees must now receive training on how to recognize and report incidents of sexual harassment or discrimination involving any student or employee.

New Definition of Sexual Harassment

The new rules define sexual harassment as conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

  1. An employee conditioning an aid, benefit, or service of the district on an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct (i.e., quid pro quo sexual harassment);
  2. Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the district's education program or activity; or
  3. Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, as these terms are defined in the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).