STAFF/STUDENT RELATIONS

FILE: GBH

Critical

The relationship between professional staff members and students in the school district should be one of cooperation, understanding and mutual respect. All employees have the responsibility to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning, which should be accomplished through effective individual and group discipline. All students and staff will treat each other with respect.

Differences and problems that arise between an employee and student are typically best worked out by conferences between these two (2) persons or between the employee and the parent of the student. However, employees and students should immediately report a violation or perceived violation of the district’s nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policy (AC), regardless of whether a conference has been held.

No employee may use his or her status as an employee to adversely influence a student of the district. No employee may date, make advances toward, or engage in any sexual relationship with a district student, regardless of the student’s age, the perceived consensual nature of the relationship, where the advances are made or whether the employee directly supervises the student. Further, no employee may discuss or plan a future romantic or sexual relationship with a student. All employees possessing evidence of or witnessing such conduct or sexual harassment shall report it to the district’s administration immediately. All employees or school officials who know or have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse shall immediately report the suspected abuse to the principal or to the Children's Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services hotline, pursuant to state law.

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Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for related information.

Adopted: 10/18/01

Revised: 9/16/04

Cross Refs: AC, Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment

JG, Student Discipline

JHG, Reporting and Investigating Child Abuse/Neglect

Legal Refs: §§ 168.114, 210.115, RSMo.

Gebser v. Lago Vista Independent School District, 524 U.S. 274 (1998)

Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education, 526 U.S. 629 (1999)

Ross v. Robb, 662 S.W.2d 257 (Mo.banc 1983)

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681

Seneca R-VII School District, Seneca, Missouri

© 2004, Missouri School Boards' Association, Registered in U.S. Copyright Office

For Office Use Only: GBH-C.1B (7/04)