STUDENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT | Policy Manual

8462 - 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 or neglect in accordance with law.

Each professional staff member employed by this District and all other persons employed by this District who are mandatory reporters under the law 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 professional staff member or other mandatory reporter or appropriate administrator in the presence of the staff member shall immediately notify the local office of the Central Registry of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Family Independence Agency, by telephone, or, if available, through the online reporting system, of the suspected child abuse or child neglect. If an oral report is made by telephone, the reporting person shall file a written report within seventy-two (72) hours of making the oral report as required by the Child Protection Law.

S/He shall also notify the appropriate administrator according to the District's Reporting Procedure for Student Abuse or Neglect.

Any support staff member who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect shall immediately report any such case to his/her supervisor who shall, in turn, immediately notify the Central Registry of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) by telephone, or, if available, through the online reporting system, of the suspected child abuse or child neglect. If an oral report is made by telephone, the reporting person shall file a written report within seventy-two (72) hours of making the oral report as required by the Child Protection Law.

S/He shall also notify the appropriate administrator according to the District's Reporting Procedure for Student Abuse or Neglect.

The identity of the reporting person shall be confidential, subject only to disclosure by consent or court order. A reporting staff member 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.

Each principal should be mindful of the possibility of physical or mental abuse being inflicted on a student by a staff member. Any such instances, whether real or alleged, should be dealt with in accordance with the administrative guidelines established by the Superintendent.

Revised 1/13/20