| Elk Rapids Schools |
| Bylaws & Policies |
8462 - REPORTING STUDENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT
The Board of Education is concerned with the physical and mental well-being of the students of this District and will cooperate in the identification and reporting of cases of child abuse, including sexual abuse, or neglect in accordance with law.
For purposes of this policy the following definitions shall apply:
| A. | "Child" means any person under eighteen (18) years of age. | |
| B. | "Child abuse" means harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare or by a teacher or teacher's aide which occurs through nonaccidental physical or mental injury; sexual abuse; sexual exploitation; or maltreatment. | |
| C. | "Child neglect" means harm or threatened harm to a child's health or welfare by a parent, legal guardian, or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare through negligent treatment, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter or medical care; or by placing the child at an unreasonable risk to the child's health or welfare by failure of the parent, legal guardian or any other person responsible for the child's health or welfare to intervene to eliminate that risk when that person is able to do so and has, or should have, knowledge of the risk. | |
| D. | "Person responsible for the child's health or welfare" means a parent, legal guardian, or person eighteen (18) years of age or older. |
Any student who believes s/he has been sexually abused or neglected may report such abuse or neglect to any employee of this District. Any employee having received such a report or having other direct or indirect knowledge of a probable violation of this policy shall report details immediately to the building principal or to the employee's supervisor.
Each District employee who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect shall be responsible for reporting immediately every case, whether ascertained or suspected, of abuse or neglect resulting in physical or mental injury to a student by other than accidental means.
The employee shall immediately call the local office of the Department of Social Services and notify his/her immediate supervisor.
The identity of the reporting person shall be confidential, subject only to disclosure by consent or court order. A reporting employee shall not be dismissed or otherwise penalized for making a report of child abuse or neglect.
Information concerning alleged child abuse is confidential. Any unauthorized disclosure by an official or employee of the District is a violation of the law and subjects the disseminator to civil liability for resulting damages.
The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines to implement this policy.
M.C.L.A. 722.621 et seq.
Revised 6/14/93
Revised 11/14/94