The Knox School Board will soon be considering updates to policies regarding child abuse and employee background checks, among several others. Last week, Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart presented board members with a list of proposed changes recommended by policy consultant NEOLA.
He said that one of the most important ones deals with the way school employees handle child abuse and neglect. “This is the policy that requires us to, first of all, immediately report any suspecting of any child abuse and neglect by any of our employees in the district, and we’ve trained all those employees at the beginning of the year,” Reichhart explained. “And if you fail to report it, it’s up to 180 days in jail and $1,000 fine.” Another policy would require the school corporation to educate students at all grade levels about child abuse and sexual abuse.
Updates are also planned for the corporation’s background check policies for various categories of employees, as well as volunteers and outside contractors. Reichhart explained that the updates require employees to undergo a child protection index check, as well as an expanded criminal history check. “This policy also includes that we can’t hire employees that have backgrounds — and they list all of these — from murdering someone to voluntary manslaughter to a sex offense to kidnapping to child-selling to carjacking and more,” he added.
Updates will also be made to the policies dealing with attendance, student assessment, and the employment of the superintendent, along with several others. The updates are typically designed to bring the policies up-to-date with new state laws, but many simply involve minor corrections and language updates.
The Knox School Board is expected to vote on the changes on June 19.
