| Sylvania City School District |
| Bylaws & Policies |
8462 - STUDENT ABUSE OR 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 or neglect in accordance with law.
Every Board official and employee, who, in connection with his/her position, knows or suspects child abuse or neglect must immediately report that knowledge or suspicion to a public children's services or local law enforcement agency. Such reporting shall be required in every case that reasonable indicates that a child has been abused (physically, mentally, or sexually) or neglected or faces the threat of being abused or neglected. Heightened awareness about this issue as it relates to student with special needs is warranted.
All suspected cases are to be reported even if documentation is not available. The law provides protection for the reporting staff member who acts in good faith. All staff members who suspect that a child is being, has been, or faces the threat of being abused or neglected must immediately report to the public children's services agency or local law enforcement agency. They are also expected to notify the principal of the report.
Child abuse/neglect reporting procedures should be reviewed with staff members periodically, including the potential criminal penalties for failing to report suspected abuse and/or neglect. The reporting procedure includes the following:
| A. | The oral report notifying the children services or law enforcement agency shall occur immediately after the staff member first suspects the abuse or neglect. | |
| B. | In order to facilitate a thorough and effective report, efforts should be made to provide the appropriate agency with any readily available supporting information concerning the incident. Staff members may use the checklist provided in Form 8462F1 as a guide to assist in organizing readily available information prior to making the call. | |
| (Under no circumstances should the report be delayed on the basis that any such information is not readily available.) | ||
| C. | The reporting employee shall promptly notify the student's principal that a report has been made. The principal shall verify and document that the suspected case has been properly reported by the employee. The principal will immediately make his/her own oral report to the public children's services agency or local law enforcement agency. Although the obligation to report belongs to each individual who suspects child abuse/neglect, there is nothing prohibiting the reporting employee and the principal from making the oral report jointly to the appropriate agency; however, the coordination of a joint report should not delay the report of suspected child abuse/neglect. | |
| D. | Since it is the responsibility of the social worker and/or law enforcement agency to investigate possible abuse and/or neglect, school personnel should not pressure the child to divulge information regarding any injury or other circumstances surrounding the abuse and/or neglect. The school need not prove that abuse and/or neglect exists before reporting They need only suspect that abuse and/or neglect has or is currently occurring. |
Each principal should be mindful of the possibility of physical or mental abuse being inflicted on a student by an employee. Any such instances, whether real or alleged, should be dealt with in accordance with the administrative guidelines established by the Superintendent. Board officials and employees must report suspected abuse to a public children's services or local law enforcement agency even when the suspected abuser is another official or employee.
The identity of the reporting person shall be confidential, subject only to disclosure by consent or court order. Information concerning alleged child abuse of a student is confidential information and is not to be shared with any unauthorized person. A staff member who violates this policy may be subject to disciplinary action and/or civil and/or criminal penalties.
In accordance with law, the Board will provide appropriate instruction on personal safety and assault prevention to all students in grades K-6. In order to develop programs that are appropriate and effective, the Superintendent is authorized to consult with public and/or private agencies or individuals involved in child abuse prevention and intervention. In addition, the Superintendent shall provide a program of in-service education on child abuse prevention for all elementary school staff members. Add newly-employed professional staff shall complete at least four (4) hours of in-service training within three (3) years of the date of employment.
A law enforcement officer or children's services agency investigating child abuse or neglect may interview a student on school grounds only in accordance with Board Policy 5540.
R.C. 2151.421, 3313.60, 3319.073
Revised 11/28/94
Revised 2/24/97
Revised 4/28/08