CODE: 4219.21
SECTION: INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL
INAPPROPRIATE STAFF CONDUCT
The West Milford Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to protect the
health, safety, and welfare of all pupils within this school district.
Furthermore, the Board recognizes there exists a professional responsibility for
all school staff to protect a pupil’s health, safety, and welfare. The Board
strongly believes that school staff members have the public’s trust and
confidence to protect the well being of all pupils attending the school
district.
In support of the Board’s strong commitment to the public’s trust and confidence
of school staff, the Board holds all school staff to the highest level of
professional responsibility in their conduct with all pupils. Inappropriate
conduct and conduct unbecoming a school staff member will not be tolerated in
the West Milford School District.
The Board recognizes and appreciates the staff-pupil professional relationship
that exists in a school district’s educational environment. This policy has been
developed and adopted by the Board to provide guidance and direction to avoid
actual and/or the appearance of inappropriate staff conduct and conduct
unbecoming a school staff member toward pupils.
School staff’s conduct in completing their professional responsibilities shall
be appropriate at all times. School staff shall not make inappropriate comments
to pupils or about pupils and shall not engage in inappropriate language or
expression in the presence of pupils. School staff shall not engage in
inappropriate conduct toward or with pupils. School staff shall not engage or
seek to be in the presence of a pupil beyond the staff member’s professional
responsibilities. School staff shall not provide transportation to a pupil in
their private vehicle or permit a pupil into their private vehicle unless there
is an emergency or a special circumstance which has been approved in advance by
the building principal/immediate supervisor and the parent/legal guardian.
A school staff member is always expected to maintain a professional relationship
with pupils and protect the health, safety, and welfare of school pupils. A
staff member’s conduct will be held to the professional standards established by
the New Jersey State Board of Education and the New Jersey Commissioner of
Education. Inappropriate conduct or conduct unbecoming a staff member may also
include conduct not specifically listed in this policy but conduct determined by
the New Jersey State Board of Education, the New Jersey Commissioner of
Education, and/or appropriate courts to be inappropriate or conduct unbecoming a
school staff member.
School personnel, compensated or uncompensated (volunteers), are required to
report to their immediate supervisor or building principal any possible
violations of this policy. In the event the report alleges inappropriate conduct
by the building principal or the immediate supervisor, the school staff member
may report directly to the Superintendent of Schools or Director of Education.
In addition, school personnel having reasonable cause to believe a pupil has
been subjected to child abuse or neglect or acts of child abuse or neglect as
defined under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10 are required to immediately report to the
Division of Youth and Family Services in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10.1 et
seq. and inform the building principal or immediate supervisor after making such
report. However, notice to the building principal or designee need not be given
when the school staff member believes such notice would likely endanger the
referrer or child(ren) involved or when the staff member believes that such
disclosure would likely result in retaliation against the child or in
discrimination against the referrer with respect to his/her employment.
Reports by the principal or immediate supervisor will be made in writing or with
verbal notification. The principal or immediate supervisor will notify the
Director of Education of all reports, including anonymous reports. The Director
of Education will investigate all reports and make a final report to the
Superintendent of Schools. The Director of Education, upon reviewing an initial
report, or the Superintendent, upon reviewing the investigation report, may take
such appropriate action as necessary and as provided for in the law. This may
include, but is not limited to, notifying law enforcement, notifying the
Division of Youth and Family Services in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:16-10.2 et
seq., and/or any other measure provided for in the law.
This policy will be distributed to all school staff and provided to staff
members at any time upon request.
First Reading: March 27, 2007
Adopted: April 24, 2007