“Keeping Kids Safe”

“Keeping Kids Safe” “Good polices for school administrators in a new electronic age”

Principals are required to report: • Assault resulting in serious injury/or with a weapon • Sexual Assault/Rape/indecent liberties with a minor • Kidnapping • Possession of a firearm or weapon in violation of the law • Possession of a controlled substance in violation of the law Statutory Requirements

If a principal has “personal knowledge or actual notice from school personnel regarding the prior list. • The report must be made to law enforcement immediately • The Superintendent must be notified in writing by the end of the day. Statutory Requirements

Duty to report child abuse • Any person who has cause to suspect that a child is abused or neglected, they have a duty to report to social services Statutory Requirements

Any child whose parent, guardian, custodian or caretaker (step parent, foster parent, adult living in child’s home, residential facility employee): • Inflicts physical injury (non-accident) • Commits a violation of a sex crime • Creates serious or emotional harm to the child • Encourages the child to commit crimes Abuse?

No sex offenders on school campuses unless prior notification and approval. (It is a felony if they do) • Principals are required to register on-line to receive notices if a sex offender moves in near your school • Student offenders can be expelled with clear and convincing evidence Jessica Lunsford Act

Register to receive notifications • Report to Superintendent all known or discovered student or parent offenders • Contact Superintendent and law enforcement if offender comes to school without permission • Provide notice of the law to all parent offenders • Supervise parent offenders when on campus with your permission Principal responsibilities

It is unlawful for any student in attendance at any school in the state to engage in hazing, or to aid or abet any other student in the commission of this offense. • Hazing- to subject another student to physical injury as a part of an initiation, or as a pre-requisite to membership into a organized group. Hazing

Bullying or Harassing –acts reasonably perceived as being motivated by an actual differentiating characteristic such as race, religion, ancestry, gender, SES, academic status, physical appearance, sexual orientation, or mental or physical development or association with another person who has or perceived to have one or more of these characteristics Bullying

When does it become unlawful compared to a discipline case? • Any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communication, or any physical act or any threatening communication that take place on school property at any school-sponsored function or on a bus • THAT- places a student in actual or reasonable fear or harm to his/her body or property • Creates a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance or opportunities State law

A hostile environment is when the student “subjectively” views the conduct as bullying or harassing and the conduct is objectively severe enough that a reasonable person would agree. Bullying

Physical bullying or verbal bullying exist • Covert bullying- spreading rumors, negative gestures, nasty jokes, encouraging others to socially exclude or damaging another’s reputation • Cyber bullying- using electronic devices to do the same • ALL THE FACTS MATTER Reporting Bullying

appears sad or moody • Avoids school • Withdrawals from or shows a lack of interest in social activities • Decline in academic performance • Appears upset after using computer or cell phone or being on-line Warning signs

When do I report hazing, bullying discrimination or harassment? Was the student placed in reasonable fear or harm? Is the student being treated negatively by other students due to a differentiating characteristic? Reporting

When does joking and horseplay become hazing, discrimination or bullying? • Ask yourself- What if it was your child? How would the media report it? What would your Grandmother say about it? • Take all accusations seriously before someone gets hurt. • Work collaboratively with your SRO and Central Office staff Common Sense vs. Compliance

All school employees and volunteers including coaches can be personally liable for injury to a student where the employee has a duty to oversee the student and fails to use reasonable care resulting in injury to the student. Standard is “reasonable care” Sexual harassment

Investigate claims of mis-conduct (no matter how insignificant) • Document in files and report • Train your staff- twice a year focus on the topic of keeping students safe. • Review polices in the staff meeting • Review warning signs • Is your handbook updated? • Set up safety protocols- teachers/students alone in classroom, Whom to report to?, social media expectations Administrator tips

Personal, non-educational email or text messaging between students and staff • Allowing students to visit during planning periods • Offering students rides in personal cars • Being alone with a single student in an isolated, non-public area of the school campus Red Flag Warnings

Buying gifts for students or giving them special privileges or treats • Repeated hugging of students….or any kissing • Engaging in talk containing sexual innuendos or banter including jokes of the sexual nature • Tutoring outside the normal school hours • Taking students to dinner or movies…interacting with students socially outside of school or engaging in peer-like behavior Red Flag Warnings

Dressing provocatively or like a teenager • Talking to students about their personal or relationship issues (counselor’s responsibility) • Getting too close to parents • Taking students to your home to do yard work or household chores • Sharing inappropriate materials with students • Trying to be a substitute parent for a student Red Flag warnings

All employees should maintain an appropriate educator/student relationship Bottom Line

10- Do not engage in private social media activities while on the clock. If it would be inappropriate to take a phone call, it is inappropriate to text or email • 9- Do not discuss issues of controversial nature “in public spaces”, on-line where it can be accessed by many. Remember, it’s not a crime for others to show your Facebook postings to the world…and your boss. • 8- Do not bad mouth students in cyberspace Social media-common sense rules

7- Do not bad mouth parents in cyberspace • 6- Do not bad mouth co-workers or your bosses in cyberspace. There is no free speech protection when you are gripping about your boss • 5- Do not post photos that you would be embarrassed to see on a billboard in your hometown. Your friends will show these pictures to the world…including bosses Social Media

4- Cyber or electronic communications between employees and students should never be of the personal nature. • 3- Do not engage in cyber or electronic communications with students at all unless their parents and your boss know about it and approve of the practice. • 2- If a student contacts you privately using cyber or electronically communications tell them not to in the future and make sure you boss knows it happen Social Media

1- Don’t be a fool on Face Book and don’t privately text students……EVER! Social Media

“Keeping Kids Safe”