Board to define 'immediately' in mandatory-reporting policy, send revision for first review

The Union County Board of Education reviewed a proposed clarification to policy 4-08 on mandatory reporting, with the board's attorney recommending that the term 'immediately' be defined to mean reporting on the same day information or reasonable suspicion of child abuse is received. The board agreed to forward the revision for first review at the board's May 5 meeting.

The board's attorney told members the policy uses the term 'immediately' nine times without defining it and that district practice has been to treat 'immediately' as meaning the same day the information is received. "Immediately really means taking action as soon as you possibly can," the attorney said, adding the expectation is that staff report by the close of that day rather than waiting until the next day.

A board member who later is referenced in the transcript as Ms. Elliott said she was concerned a "same day" definition could still leave a child going home before a report is made. "I would hate for a kid to report something as soon as they get to school and then they get home," she said, urging the board to consider tighter wording and the practical realities of elementary school schedules.

Board discussion focused on balancing prompt reporting with reasonable variations in staff workflow. A board member moved to advance the revision to the board for first review; another seconded the motion. The committee approved forwarding the policy to the full board for consideration on May 5 by voice/gesture vote; the transcript did not record a roll-call tally.

The revision will return to the board for formal consideration at the May 5 meeting for first review; further edits or precise language defining reporting windows may be developed before that meeting.