PSD Approves Employee Guidelines

Following Board Review, Cabinet Adopts Guidelines for "Initial Response to Evidence of Employee Misconduct with Students and Other Minors"

On April 27, the Poudre School District Board of Education reviewed guidelines developed by district administration related to Initial Response to Evidence of Employee Misconduct with Students and Other Minors.  The board discussed the guidelines and suggested a few revisions, which have been made. 

The PSD Cabinet reviewed the revised guidelines and adopted them May 5 for implementation throughout the district (review here).

In January, the Board of Education had requested that an External Review Committee review district policies and practices related to communications, safety, and transparency in responding to employee misconduct with students and other minors.

The External Review Committee's report was presented to the Board of Education April 13 as an informational item to prepare for the Board’s discussion April 27.

The report stated "The External Review Committee found that current PSD rules and guidelines adequately addressed action that is to be taken by staff when employee misconduct is suspected."  The committee also found that "The current guidelines appeared thorough and appropriate with little change needed."

One of the Review Committee’s recommendations called for the district's guidelines to state that the Director of Communications be notified at the same time the Executive Director of Human Resources, Risk Manager, and/or Legal and Policy Counsel are notified.  The report recommended stating in the guidelines that the Superintendent also be notified at this time.  These revisions were made to the guidelines (Paragraph #3) prior to being presented to the Board.

Following Board discussion on April 27, one revision was suggested by Board members and made. Language was added to the guidelines (Paragraphs 2 and 4(d)) to explain PSD’s current practice in conducting a thorough investigation: that a primary focus of the investigation includes discovery of all students who may be victims of or otherwise adversely affected by a district employee’s misconduct, as well as communication with, and notice and information to, the parents of such students. 

The guidelines state (Paragraph #10) that the district “…should notify all parents/guardians of students enrolled at a district school, as well as all staff members at the school, when a current or former employee of that school is arrested or has charges brought against him or her, whichever occurs earlier, because of alleged misconduct with a student or minor.  The notification should be provided within 24 hours of the time the district learns of the arrest and/or charges and is able to confirm them with the arresting or charging authority, or at a later time, if requested by such authority.”

Review the guidelines: “Guidelines for Initial Response to Evidence of Employee Misconduct with Students and Other Minors (26 KB).