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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Substitute and Child Abuse Policy Under Review

Tonight's meeting of the Policy Committee meeting will center around the current implementation of NPS's substitute and child abuse policy. 

The agenda reads:
...whether it [the sub policy] should be modified to provide for evaluation of substitute teachers and use of those evaluations at future placements.  Please note:  this topic is for general discussion purposes so that the Policy Committee can assess if future meetings regarding specific modifications should be made.

...whether it [the child abuse policy] should be modified to obligate all staff members to report suspected abuse and neglect along an appropriate chain-of-command even if they are not state mandated reporters.  Please note:  the Policy Committee will be reviewing the child abuse policies of Darien and Stamford and assessing if further discussion is warranted for modifying the Norwalk policy to more closely comport with those other district's policies. 
View the entire agenda and copies of the policies here.
Posted by Moina Noor

6 comments:

  1. As a teacher, I think any person employed by a school should be required to report suspected child abuse, whether or not they are mandated by the state to do so. I'm shocked that NPS does not have a policy in place to handle reporting, especially in this day and age. But being NPS maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.
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  2. I'm a teacher in New York City. For years, I have been REQUIRED BY LAW to report suspected cases of abuse, physical, educational or emotional, whether they take place in school or at home. To do otherwise could end my career. Every school has a procedure that is reviewed each year by the staff.

    I should note that the law clearly indicates that a teacher can not be sued or suffer any adverse consequences from a mistaken report. The law protects the reporter.
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  3. The link below leads to the DCF website, and it defines who is a mandated reporter in Connecticut. However, I believe that the district should have its own policy that has even stricter guidelines, including any board of education employee who has contact with students. This should include secretaries, clerks, library aides, custodians and maintenance workers.

    It is important to note that a report is mandated even when abuse is only suspected.

    http://www.ct.gov/dcf/cwp/view.asp?a=2556&q=314384
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  4. Can I ask an off topic question?

    Does anyone know how that ACS gig at BMHS went Friday night 6/16/10?

    Heard it was an all nighter.

    Hope everyone had a good time and behaved or did no one showed up?

    Who has the scoop?
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  5. Dear Teacher, if you are employed in this district your statement is a clear eye opening wake up call for Dr. Marks.

    All districts have policys regarding reporting and guidelines to follow.

    It is also mandated by state law.

    Teacher if you have not been versed in this material, that exposes the district to liabilty.

    Ignorance, is not a defense in law.

    The meetting was called by astute BOE members in light of recent issues that have become public.

    The BOE thought it wise to review whats there, its common sense and there may have been a nudge from counsel.

    If your are, an in district, teacher here in Norwalk, # 1. Please lets us know on here, its anonoymous and would help us trying to improve things to know what is going on directly from the trenches. #2 File a written notice with your shop steward that you are unaware of policy and do not want to be liable and unaccountable. #3 Do your homework hun. There is allot of information at your fingertips 24/7/365.

    Take the time, to take the time.

    And please recognise how critical it is for you to communicate with us and we with you if we are ever going to turn this around.

    Thank you for educating yourself. It helps personally and professionaly to be awake and informed.

    It will help you and your students if you keep yourself up to speed.

    Please catch the feeling, get excited, feel the paasion, empower yourself, than, pass it on.
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  6. Dear Previous Poster,
    As I understand it, it is a teacher's reponsibilibity to report suspected (or realized) child abuse with the state. There isn't a flow chart, per se, but I am also understanding this delicate information was provided at each school via different principal and/or staff, so that information differs in how thoroughly it was presented and how clear it is understood. In Norwalk, the "teacher to source" approach translates to loose circuitry because teachers are over-micromanaged and rarely asked to think out of the box in many schools. I'm not so certain that your advice to "catch the feeling, feel the passion, empower yourself, and pass it on" is tangible. That would be an attitude that Dr. Marks would have to cultivate in her staff from the top, down to the students. In a district where teachers have been made to feel like they cannot be trusted, empowerment is yesterday's buzzword. Yet, anyone with good business sense knows that effective leaders cultivate a feeling of empowerment in their employees for obvious reasons. Here's hoping Dr. Marks believes her teachers can do the job!
    ReplyDelete

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