School/Student Culture
- Foster a culture of respect, support, and predictability.
- Provide social skills education (what is and is not acceptable at your school).
- Create an environment where students, parents, and others are encouraged to “tell” of concerns.
- Provide an effective student advisory and counseling program.
Parent Involvement
- Teach your parents the signs of “children at risk.”
- Encourage them to talk with their children about these issues.
- Remind your parents to any incidents or concerns to school administrators as soon as possible.
Multidiscipline Approach (administrators, teachers, parents, medical professionals, police)
- Train your personnel and constituents.
- Recognize signs of risk.
- Establish response (legal and non-legal) protocols.
Guidelines for Raising a Complaint
- Communicate the steps/channels.
- Clarify what actions can be expected from the school.
- Balance the rights of all parties involved (accuser and accused).
- Define what does “confidentiality” means in this context.
The Investigation Process
- Determine:
1. What the process will look like, and
2. Who plays what roles. - Consider the process for investigating both formal and informal complaints—and potentially valid and false claims.
- Know when to involve an attorney/insurance company.
- Know when to involve law enforcement.
- Determine possible outcomes, including
1. Resolution,
2. Re-negotiation, and
3. Punishment. - Communicate the outcome in an appropriate manner to interested parties.
ISM has several resources that can be of assistance as you update your policy.
Check out our best-selling book, Sample Employee Handbook: Policies for Private-Independent Schools
Upcoming workshop—Hire Smart, Let Go Safely, November 7-10, 2010, Wilmington, DE.
Consulting service—Customized Human Resources Consulting Services—Sexual Harassment and Misconduct Training
Consulting service—Hiring and Dismissal Training
