Staff outlines state law changes: child-abuse investigations moved to DHHS; chronic absenteeism rules loosened

District staff told the Policy and Governance Committee that several recent state-level changes will alter how the district handles child-abuse allegations, chronic absenteeism and certain open-meetings requirements.

Staff said investigations of alleged child abuse will now be handled by the Department of Health and Human Services rather than by district-appointed investigators. “Where those investigations are are now going to be handled by, the Department of Health and Human Services, not the school district,” staff told the committee. Under the change, staff said the district must place an accused employee on leave immediately when an allegation is made; if an investigation returns a founded finding, the district must terminate the employee.

Staff added the district is waiting for state rules from the Department of…