3213 - STUDENT SUPERVISION AND WELFARE

School District Of Westfield

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, and/or harm to the welfare of the students(s). It is the intent of the Board of Education to direct the preparation of guidelines that would minimize that possibility.

A professional staff member, or a person who works or volunteers with children, who is found to have had sexual contact with a student, including a student age sixteen (16) or older, shall be referred to the proper authorities and be subject to discipline up to and including discharge.

This policy should not be construed as affecting any obligations on the part of staff to report suspected child abuse under Wis. Stats. 48.981 and Policy 8462.

Professional staff shall follow the following:

	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 shall provide proper instruction in the safety matters presented in assigned course guides.
	C.	Each professional staff member shall immediately report to the principal any accident or safety hazard s/he detects.
	D.	Each professional staff member shall immediately report to the principal any knowledge of threats of violence by students.
	E.	A professional staff member shall not associate with students, at any time in a manner which gives 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 illegal substances such as tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.
		This provision should not be construed as precluding a professional staff member from associating with students in private for legitimate or proper reasons or to interfere with familial relationships that may exist between staff and students.
	F.	If a student comes to 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 help the student make 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 counsel, assess, diagnose, or treat the student's problem or behavior.
	G.	A student shall not be required to perform work or services that may be detrimental to his/her health.
	H.	Staff members are expressly prohibited from posting any video or comment pertaining to any student on social networking media or similar forums, such as YouTube.

Most information concerning a child in school is a confidential student record 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 (see Policy 8330).

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.

48.981, 948, 948.095 Wis. Stats.