4118.24/4218.24 4118.24/4218.24Personnel Certified/Non-Certified
Staff/Student Non-Fraternization
Version #1: Staff members shall maintain professional relationships with students which are conducive to an effective educational environment. Staff members shall not have any interaction of a sexual nature with any student at any time regardless of the student's age, status or consent.
Version #2: Any action or comment by a member of the school staff which involves romantic or sexual involvement with a student is considered to be highly unethical and is unacceptable to the Board. This includes, but is not limited to, inappropriate conversation, inappropriate touching, dating, cohabitation, and engaging in immoral conduct.
Version #3: All school system personnel shall maintain a professional, ethical relationship with students and refrain from improper fraternization or undue familiarity with students. Dating and sexual conduct between teachers, staff members and students are prohibited.
It is the responsibility of the Principal of each school to emphasize the requirements of this policy and to provide appropriate follow-up on any complaint or evidence of failure to follow the policy and related regulations.
Version #4: The Board of Education requires all employees to conduct themselves in a manner which will maintain the authority and respect necessary in the educational setting. Therefore, any dating relationships or other social relationships which may reasonably be perceived to be dating between any staff member and any student of this school district is expressly prohibited. Employees shall not entertain students or socialize with students in such a manner as to reasonably create to students, parents, or the public that a dating relationship exists. While the Board encourages employees to be warm and supporting of students, personnel may not allow students to regard them as peers.
Version #5: The relationship between the teacher and the student should be one of cooperation, understanding and mutual respect. The teacher has the responsibility to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning and to motivate each student to perform to his/her capacity.
Staff members are expected to regard each student as an individual and to accord each the rights and respect due to any individual. Neither insults, disparaging names, nor sarcasm shall be used as a way of forcing compliance with a staff member's requirements or expectations.
The Board believes that students and staff members should interact with each other in a warm, open, and positive fashion. However, there must be maintained a certain distance in order to preserve the businesslike atmosphere that is necessary to achieve the educational mission of the school. In recognition of the fact that sexual harassment, whether verbal or physical, may create a psychological harmful atmosphere, inhibit performance, undermine the integrity of the staff-student relationship and constitute a form of illegal sex discrimination, the Board prohibits all forms of sexual remarks or conduct between staff and students of the District.
Version #6: Adults who have contact with children and adolescents through school activities have the responsibility not to betray or misuse their privileged position. Students develop a special trust in school staff by virtue of the school system's authority and the important role the schools play in their lives. Adults must never take advantage of students' vulnerability or of their confidence that adults in school will behave appropriately in relationships with them.
It is the policy of the Board of Education to prohibit any sexual relationship, contact or sexually nuanced behavior or communication (verbal or non-verbal) between a staff member and a student, while the student is enrolled in the school system. The prohibition extends to students of the opposite sex or the same sex as the staff member, and applies regardless of whether the student or the staff member is the initiator of the behavior and whether or not the student welcomes or reciprocates the attention.
Further, school system personnel (employees, contractors, and agents of the school system, shall provide no assistance to an employee in finding another job, beyond the routine transmittal of personnel or administrative files, if the employee engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor or student in violation of the law (ESEA, 20 U.S.C. 7926(a))
(cf. 4118.112/4218.112 - Sexual Harassment)
(cf. 4118.23/4218.23 - Conduct)
(cf. 5141.4 - Child Abuse/Neglect)
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
10-53a-71 Sexual assault in the second degree: Class C or B felony.
10-151 Employment of teachers. Definitions. Notice and hearing on failure to renew or termination of contract. Appeal
PA 15-205 An Act Protecting School Children
17a-106 Cooperation in relation to prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse/neglect
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended ESSA, 20 U.S.C. 7 926(a); Prohibition on aiding and abetting sexual abuse (aka "don't pass the trash")
Policy adopted:
R4118.24
4218.24
Personnel - Certified/Non-Certified
Staff/Student Non-Fraternization
Staff members are expected to use good judgment in their relationships with students both inside and outside of the school context including, but not limited to, the following guidelines:
1. Staff members shall not make derogatory comments to students regarding the school and/or staff.
2. The exchange of purchased gifts between staff members and students is discouraged.
3. Staff-sponsored parties, at which students are in attendance, unless they are a part of the school's extracurricular program and are properly supervised, are prohibited.
4. Staff members shall not fraternize, written or verbally, with students except on matters that pertain to school-related issues.
5. Staff members shall not associate with students at any time in any situation or activity which could be considered sexually suggestive or involve the presence or use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs.
6. Dating between staff members and students is prohibited.
7. Staff members shall not use insults or sarcasm against students as a method of forcing compliance with requirements or expectations.
8. Staff members shall maintain a reasonable standard of care for the supervision, control, and protection of students commensurate with their assigned duties and responsibilities.
9. Staff members shall not send students on personal errands.
10. Staff members shall, pursuant to law and Board policy, immediately report any suspected signs of child abuse or neglect.
11. Staff members shall not attempt to counsel, assess, diagnose or treat a student's personal problem relating to sexual behavior, substance abuse, mental or physical health and/or family relationships but instead, should refer the student to the appropriate individual or agency for assistance.
12. Staff members shall not disclose information concerning a student, other than directory information, to any person not authorized to receive such information. This includes, but is not limited to, information concerning assessments, ability scores, grades, behavior, mental or physical health and/or family background.
13. Sexual relations with students, regardless of age and/or consent, is prohibited and will result in dismissal.
Regulation approved: