Student Safety & Wellness

Those entrusted with the care of children have both a legal and moral obligation to report suspected cases of child abuse to the proper authorities. The following procedure is to be followed:

• Teachers or any staff member suspecting child abuse are to report their suspicions to the Campus Principal.

• The staff member(s) suspecting child abuse or hearing an outcry statement make by any child will document the incident in writing and give the written information to the official conducting the investigation.

• The campus principal/department supervisor will follow PISD policies which include notifying Child Protective Services and law enforcement officials in cases which indicate an immediate need for intervention.

• School district employees will provide whatever assistance is requested by law enforcement officials or the Child Protective Services.

 

Any staff member receiving information that would indicate that a member of the PISD has abused a child will document the incident and bring it to the immediate attention of the Campus Principal. The following procedure will be followed:

• The Campus Principal will notify the superintendent and local law enforcement officials.

• The Superintendent will investigate the allegation if the incident occurred on PISD property. If the incident occurred off PISD property, the Superintendent will notify local law enforcement officials.

• Local law enforcement officials will investigate offenses that occurred off of District property.

• Any person having information regarding the incident will contact the investigating entity and provide the information to the investigator assigned.

• The Superintendent acting as the Press Information Officer will be notified in the event that an arrest will be made.

 

Each campus will develop a procedure to address the action to be taken if children are not picked up from school or other school-sponsored events. If a child is chronically being left at school, this could be a sign of child neglect. If administrative remedies fail to correct the situation, local law enforcement officials will be notified. Local law enforcement officials may initiate an investigation into the circumstances and, if conditions warrant, notify the Child Protective Services and/or conduct a criminal investigation. If a criminal investigation is initiated, campus and district officials will be notified.