Sikeston R-6 and its employees will take action to protect students and other children from harm including, but not limited to, abuse and neglect, and will respond immediately when discovering evidence of harm to a child. Employees must cooperate fully with investigations of child abuse and neglect. The district prohibits discrimination, negative job action or retaliation against any person who in good faith reports alleged child abuse or neglect, including alleged misconduct by another district employee.

Employees failing to follow the directives of this policy or state or federal law will be subject to discipline including, but not limited to, termination, and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Public School District Liaison

The superintendent shall designate a specific person or persons to serve as the public school district liaison(s) and forward that information to the local division office of the CD. The liaison(s) shall develop protocols in conjunction with the chief investigator of the local division office to ensure information regarding the status of a child abuse or neglect investigation is shared with appropriate school personnel.

The liaison(s) will also serve on multidisciplinary teams used in providing protective or preventive social services along with law enforcement, the juvenile officer, the juvenile court and other agencies, both public and private.

Training

For Board Members

Board members will participate in training on identifying signs of sexual abuse in children and danger signals of abusive relationships between children and adults as required by law.

For Employees

The superintendent or designee shall implement annual training necessary to assist staff members in identifying possible instances of child abuse and neglect, including annual updates regarding any changes in the law. Such training shall:

1. Provide current and reliable information on identifying signs of sexual abuse in children and danger signals of potentially abusive relationships between children and adults.
2. Emphasize how to establish an atmosphere of trust so that students feel that their school has concerned adults with whom they feel comfortable discussing matters related to abuse.
3. Emphasize that all mandatory reporters shall, upon finding reasonable cause, directly and immediately report suspected child abuse or neglect. These reports must be made even if the person suspected of abusing the child is another mandated reporter, such as another school employee.
4. Emphasize that no supervisor or administrator may impede or inhibit any reporting under state law.
5. Emphasize that no person making a report in accordance with law shall be subject to any sanction, including any adverse employment action, for making such a report.

For Students

In accordance with policy 2742, the district will provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate training to students in grades 6–12 on identifying and reporting sexual abuse.