REPORTING
All personnel shall be alert for any evidence of child abuse or neglect.
Child abuse is defined as any wound, injury, disability, or physical or mental condition which is of such nature as to reasonably indicate that it has been caused by brutality, abuse, or neglect or which on the basis of available information reasonably appears to have been caused by such. Staff members having knowledge or suspicion of any child who is suffering from abuse or neglect shall report such harm immediately. The report shall be made to the judge having juvenile jurisdiction or to the county office of the Department of Human Services or to the office of the chief law-enforcement official where the child resides.
The report shall include:
- The name, address and age of the child;
- The name and address of the families or persons having custody of the child;
- The nature and extent of the abuse or neglect; and
- Any evidence to the cause or any other information that may relate to the cause or extent of the abuse or neglect.
The person reporting shall be immune from liability and his identity shall remain confidential except when the juvenile court determines otherwise.
The superintendent shall develop reporting procedures, including sample indicators of abuse and neglect, and shall disseminate the procedures to all school personnel.
INVESTIGATIONS
School administrators and employees have a duty to cooperate, provide assistance and information in child abuse investigations; including permitting child abuse review teams to conduct interviews while the child is at school; the principal may control the time, place and circumstances of the interview, but may not insist that a school employee be present even if the suspected abuser is a school employee or another student. The principal is not in violation of any laws by failing to inform families that the child is to be interviewed even if the suspected abuser is not a member of the child’s household.