Saugerties board approves transportation policy language; fraternization policy pulled for legal review

The Saugerties Central School District board voted Wednesday to keep its transportation policy in place while acknowledging some wording needs clarification and sent the proposed fraternization and staff–student communications policy back to the policy committee for revision and legal review.

The policy committee discussed two points that will be revisited: whether staff using personal vehicles to transport their own children should be explicitly addressed in the transportation policy and how the policy’s kindergarten release language — which states kindergarten students “will only be released to an adult 18 years or older at a bus stop” — applies to situations where younger siblings pick up kindergarteners.

On the fraternization draft (policy 6180), the committee and board members asked lawyers for clarifications about mandated‑reporting pathways. District counsel advised that allegations of inappropriate employee‑student contact that could amount to child abuse in an educational setting must be reported to the building administrator, who completes a required reporting form; only after a determination of reasonable suspicion would law enforcement be notified. Separate mandated reporting to child protective services concerns suspected abuse by a parent or guardian.

Why it matters: The fraternization policy expands and clarifies prohibited conduct — including frequent personal communications through non‑school platforms — and establishes that staff must use district‑sanctioned platforms for school‑related communications. The draft also makes clear violations could result in discipline up to and including discharge.

Board action: The transportation policy remained approved on the books; policy 6180 was pulled from the consent agenda and will return to the policy committee for rewording and legal review. No final change to the fraternization policy was adopted at the meeting.

Quotation: The district’s legal guidance was summarized at the meeting: “The administrator makes a determination as to whether there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse and informs the superintendent. Only if there is reasonable suspicion would that be reported to law enforcement,” the board’s counsel response noted, as read aloud at the meeting.

Next steps: The board directed the policy committee to refine language on transportation details and to incorporate the attorney’s clarification about mandated reporting before returning policy 6180 to the full board.