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Policy |
File Code: 4119.1 |
INAPPROPRIATE STAFF
CONDUCT
The Board of Education recognizes
its responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of all pupils
within this school district.
Furthermore, the Board recognizes there exists a professional
responsibility for all school staff to protect a pupil’s health, safety and
welfare. The Board strongly believes
that school staff members have the public’s trust and confidence to protect the
well-being of all pupils attending the school district.
In support of this Board’s strong commitment
to the public’s trust and confidence of school staff, the Board of Education
holds all school staff to the highest level of professional responsibility in
their conduct with all pupils.
Inappropriate conduct and conduct unbecoming a school staff member will
not be tolerated in this school district.
The
Board recognizes and appreciates the staff-pupil professional relationship that
exists in a school district’s educational environment. This Policy has been developed and adopted by
this Board to provide guidance and direction to avoid actual and/or the
appearance of inappropriate staff conduct and conduct unbecoming a school staff
member toward pupils.
School
staff’s conduct in completing their professional responsibilities shall be
appropriate at all times. School staff
shall not make inappropriate comments to pupils or about pupils and shall not
engage in inappropriate language or expression in the presence of pupils.
School staff shall not engage in inappropriate conduct to or with pupils. School staff shall not engage or seek to be
in the presence of a pupil beyond the staff member’s professional responsibilities. School staff shall not provide transportation
to a pupil in their private vehicle or permit a pupil into their private
vehicle unless there is an emergency or in a special circumstance that has been
approved in advance by the Building Principal/immediate supervisor and the
parent/legal guardian.
A
school staff member is always expected to maintain a professional relationship
with pupils and school staff members shall protect the health, safety and
welfare of school pupils. A staff
member’s conduct will be held to the professional standards established by the
New Jersey State Board of Education and the New Jersey Commissioner of
Education. Inappropriate conduct or
conduct unbecoming a staff member may also include conduct not
specifically listed in this
Policy, but conduct determined by the New Jersey State Board of Education, the
New Jersey Commissioner of Education and/or appropriate courts to be
inappropriate or conduct unbecoming a school staff member.
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File Code: 4119.1
Inappropriate Staff Conduct (continued)
School personnel, compensated and uncompensated,
are required to report to their immediate supervisor or Building Principal any
possible violations of this Policy. In the event the report alleges conduct by
the Building Principal or the immediate supervisor, the school staff member may
report directly to the Superintendent In addition, school personnel having
reasonable cause to believe a pupil has been subjected to child abuse or
neglect or acts of child abuse or neglect as defined under N.J.S.A.
9:6-8.10 are required to immediately report to the Division of Youth and Family
Services in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10.1 et seq.
and inform the building principal or immediate supervisor after making such
report. However, notice to the Building
Principal or designee need not be given when the school staff member believes
such notice would be likely to endanger the referrer or child(ren) involved or when the staff member believes that such
disclosure would be likely to result in retaliation against the child or in
discrimination against the referrer with respect to his/her employment.
Reports
may be made in writing or with verbal notification. The immediate supervisor or Building
Principal will notify the Superintendent of all reports, including anonymous
reports. The Superintendent will
investigate all reports and prepare a final report. The Superintendent may take such appropriate
action as necessary and as provided for in the law. This may include, but is not limited to,
notifying law enforcement, notifying the Division of Youth and Family Services
in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10.2 et seq. and/or any
other measure provided for in the law.
This Policy will be distributed to
all school staff and provided to staff members at anytime, upon request.
First
Second
Legal References: N.J.S.A. 18A:28-5 et seq.
N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10.1 et
seq.
Cross Reference: 2224 Affirmative
Action
4118.111 Grievance procedure – Title IX
5145.4 Equal educational opportunity
6121 Affirmative Action
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