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Board questions policy drafts on child-abuse reporting, continuity plans and background checks; staff to seek legal/agency guidance
Summary
Trustees reviewed draft policies governing child-abuse reporting, continuity-of-operations and background checks March 10, pressing staff to clarify how the district will confirm DCS notifications and how board members will be informed during emergencies.
Board members examined a bundle of draft policies during the March 10 meeting, focusing on three areas where trustees wanted clearer procedures: child-abuse reporting and follow-up with the Department of Child Services (DCS), the district continuity-of-operations plan (COOP) and emergency notification, and background-check expectations for contracted vendors.
On child-abuse reporting (policy 8462), trustees asked for stronger clarity about how the district will confirm whether a DCS report was received, whether a report was screened out, and how the district documents follow-up. Trustees noted past situations in which a report was apparently screened out and said the district should record whether DCS received and acted on a report when possible. Staff said DCS does not routinely share investigatory details but that district personnel can request follow-up information; the superintendent and human-resources staff agreed to consult Neola (the district’s policy service) and the board’s attorney for recommended policy language and to explore options for documenting outcomes when DCS will share them.
Trustees also raised the district’s COOP (policy 8300). Several members requested that, in declared emergencies, the superintendent explicitly communicate with all board members (not only the president or vice president). The superintendent said he typically notifies all trustees when canceling school or during emergencies and agreed to revise policy language so the full board is included in required notifications. The board asked staff to add an administrative guideline that lists COOP committee membership and communication steps.
On background checks and safety-related roles, trustees asked who will serve as toxic-hazard preparedness officer and indoor air-quality coordinator; staff said those duties fall to operations/maintenance personnel and will be formalized in administrative guidelines. Trustees also discussed the district’s obligations under Indiana law to check offender registries and to ensure employees and contractors comply with required background checks. Staff said some duties are statutory and nonnegotiable and that the district will confirm how the superintendent’s office and building principals share responsibilities for registry checks and notifications.
Next steps include district staff seeking suggested policy language from Neola and the board attorney, clarifying which administrators will serve as named coordinators, and returning revised draft policies to the board.
Ending: Trustees instructed staff to refine policy wording and administrative guidelines and to return with draft revisions and any recommended legal language.
