3213 - STUDENT SUPERVISION AND WELFARE

Cedar Springs Public School District

Bylaws & Policies

3213 - STUDENT SUPERVISION AND WELFARE

Professional staff members because of their proximity to students are frequently confronted with situations which, if handled incorrectly, could result in liability to the District and personal liability to the professional staff member. It is the intent of the Board of Education to direct the preparation of guidelines that would minimize that possibility.

The Superintendent shall maintain and enforce the following standards:

	A.	Each professional staff member shall maintain a standard of care for supervision, control, and protection of students commensurate with assigned duties and responsibilities.

	B.	A professional staff member should not volunteer to assume responsibility for duties s/he cannot reasonably perform. Such assumption carries the same responsibilities as assigned duties.

	C.	A professional staff member shall provide proper instruction in the safety matters presented in assigned course guides.

	D.	Each professional staff member shall immediately report to the principal any accident or safety hazard s/he detects.

	E.	Each professional staff member shall immediately report to the principal any knowledge of threats of violence by students.

	F.	A professional staff member shall not send students on any personal errands.


	G.	A professional staff member shall not associate or fraternize with students at any time in a manner which may give the appearance of impropriety, including, but not limited to, the creation or participation in any situation or activity which could be considered abusive or sexually suggestive or involve harmful substances such as illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco. Any sexual or other inappropriate conduct with a student by any staff member will subject the offender to potential criminal prosecution and disciplinary action by the Board up to and including termination of employment.

		This provision should not be construed as precluding a professional staff member from associating with students in private for legitimate or proper reasons. However, dating, romantic and/or sexual relationships with students, regardless of their age and regardless of consent are absolutely prohibited, unless the staff member and student are legally married.

	H.	If a student approaches a staff member to seek advice or to ask questions regarding a personal problem related to sexual behavior, substance abuse, mental or physical health, and/or family relationships, the staff member may attempt to assist the student by facilitating contact with certified or licensed individuals in the District or community who specialize in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the student's problem. Under no circumstances should a staff member attempt, unless properly licensed and authorized to do so, to diagnose, or treat the student's problem or behavior, nor should such staff member inappropriately disclose personally identifiable information concerning the student to third persons not specifically authorized by law.

	I.	A student shall not be required to perform work or services that may be detrimental to his/her health.

	J.	Staff members shall not engage in electronic communication with students via email, texting, social media and/or online networking media, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, Skype, blogs, etc., in manner that may give the appearance of impropriety.


	K.	Staff members are prohibited from electronically transmitting any personally identifiable image of a student(s), including video, photographs, streaming video, etc. via email, text message, or through the use of social media and/or online networking media, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, Skype, blogs, etc., unless such transmission has been made as part of a pre-approved curricular matter or co-curricular/extracurricular event or activity such as a school-sponsored publication or production in accordance with Policy 5722.

Most information concerning a child in school other than directory information described in Policy 8330, is confidential under Federal and State laws. Any staff member who shares confidential information with another person not authorized to receive the information may be subject to discipline or civil liability. This includes, but is not limited to, information concerning assessments, grades, behavior, family background, and alleged child abuse.

Pursuant to the laws of the State and Board Policy 8462, each professional staff member shall report to the proper legal authorities immediately, any sign of suspected child abuse or neglect.

M.C.L. 722.621 et seq., 750.520b, 750.520c, 750.520d, 750.520e