Concord committee advances updated child-abuse reporting policy to full board

The Concord School Board Communication & Policy Committee voted to forward a revised child abuse and neglect reporting policy (draft 4.32) to the full board for a first reading.

Erin, who presented the draft, said the revisions align the districts policy with the New Hampshire School Board Association and a DCYF sample reporting form — changes she described as mainly formatting and updated reporting-mode language. "Everything that's highlighted under paragraphs 2 and 3, that's all new language that came out in this," Erin said during the committee review.

The draft adds clearer modes of reporting, strengthens record and reporting requirements and references required refresher training under the cited RSA language. Committee members debated whether to adopt the DCYF sample form or keep the district's existing DCYF-derived form; the committee agreed to use a single term, "designated reporting form," in the policy and let staff determine the exact form to designate.

Members also clarified implementation details: building principals must forward the completed designated form to the superintendent within 24 hours or, if the form is not yet available, send a written summary (email or memo) with the information received from the initial reporter. Erin said the district currently provides annual site training and a volunteer onboarding video and noted that the legal minimum for refresher training is biennial, though the district trains annually.

Chair Karen Meeker moved to send the draft policy to the full board for first reading; the motion was seconded by Barb Higgins and approved by voice vote. The committee did not enact the policy; the vote advances the draft for the full boards consideration and possible final adoption.

Next steps: staff will complete formatting and any small wording adjustments identified in committee and the policy will appear before the full board as a first-reading item.