The Los Alamos Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church, 715 Diamond Dr., to hear about Los Alamos Public Schools policy and curriculum concerning harassment in schools.

Superintendent Dr. Gene Schmidt of the Los Alamos Public Schools will speak about the current school district policy on bullying and sexual harassment.

Schmidt has a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Washington State University and more than 30 year’s experience in the field of education, including 12 years in the classroom. 

The recent findings show that 48 percent of students surveyed said they experienced some form of sexual harassment during the 2010-11 school year and the majority of these students said it had a negative affect on them.

Following Schmidt’s talk, Bernadette Lauritzen will speak about a program she teaches to every sixth, seventh and eighth grade student called “Change of Heart: Improving School Climate.”

Lauritzen is the Assets In Action Coordinator for Los Alamos, sponsored by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce and holds a BA in Speech Communication from Idaho State University. 

She is a graduate of Leadership Los Alamos, was Mrs. Los Alamos in 2009 and won the Governor’s Award last May for her work in the community.

Lauritzen is currently working with Los Alamos Public Schools to achieve the distinction of “100 Best Communities for Young People.”

Last year the National AAUW published new research, “Crossing the Line: Sexual Harassment at School” building on a long tradition of studying bullying and sexual harassment in American public schools.

The public is invited to attend the AAUW meeting.