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.
Every Board official and employee who, in connection with their 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 is required in every case that reasonably indicates that a child under the age of eighteen (18) or a physically or mentally disabled child under the age of twenty-one (21) has been abused (physically or mentally) or neglected or faces the threat of being abused or neglected.
The Board official and employee making the report shall also notify the appropriate administrator according to the District's Reporting Procedure for Student Abuse or Neglect.
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, and also will provide developmentally appropriate instruction in child sexual abuse prevention to all students in grades K-6 annually. Instruction for students in grades seven (7) through twelve (12) will include developmentally appropriate instruction in sexual violence prevention education. The parents/guardians of students who receive instruction related to dating violence prevention and sexual violence prevention will be notified that it is required curriculum, that they may examine the instructional materials upon request, and that a student may be excused from the instruction at the parent's/guardian’s written request.
In addition, the Superintendent shall provide a program of in-service education for all nurses, teachers, counselors, school psychologists, mental health providers, and administrators who work in the District's elementary, middle, and high schools and any other personnel that the Board determines appropriate. The in-service education program will include school safety; violence prevention, including human trafficking content; youth suicide awareness and prevention; prevention of child abuse, child sexual abuse, substance abuse; promotion of positive youth development; and a review of Policy 5517.01 - Bullying and Other Forms of Aggressive Behavior.
The Board shall adopt or develop curriculum in consultation with public or private agencies or persons involved with youth suicide awareness and prevention and child sexual abuse prevention or child sexual violence prevention.
The in-service education provided to middle and high school employees shall include training in the prevention of dating violence.
All newly-employed mental health providers, nurses, teachers, counselors, school psychologists, and administrators who work in the District's elementary, middle, and high schools shall complete at least four (4) hours of in-service training within two (2) years of the date of employment.
Additional training must occur every two (2) years thereafter for suicide awareness and prevention, and every five (5) years thereafter for school safety, violence prevention, prevention of child abuse, prevention of substance abuse, and promotion of positive youth development.
The District shall be registered with the SaferOH tip line operated by the Department of Public Safety or shall enter into an agreement with an anonymous reporting program selected by the Board that meets the requirements set forth in law (R.C. 3313.6610).
The District shall submit data to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce ("DEW"), in a manner prescribed by the Department, and to the Department of Public Safety at the end of the first full school year of the District's participation in the anonymous reporting program, and at the end of each school year thereafter, disaggregated by the school.
The data shall be considered records and are not public records under R.C. 149.433.
The Superintendent will promote and inform students about the selected program and its reporting methods.
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.
Revised 12/19/06
Revised 5/21/09
Revised 12/17/09
Revised 5/20/10
Revised 7/19/12
Revised 11/21/13
Revised 11/19/20
Revised 11/10/21
Revised 4/13/23
© Neola 2025