GBEBB:  EMPLOYEE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

  

 

The Kittery School Committee expects all employees to maintain the highest professional, moral, and ethical  standards  in their conduct  with students.    For the purposes  of this policy, staff members also include school volunteers and substitutes.

 

The  interactions  and  relationships  between  staff  members  and students  should  be based upon mutual  respect  and  trust; an understanding  of the appropriate  boundaries  between  adults  and students in and outside of the educational  setting; and consistency  with the educational  mission of the schools.

 

The School Committee  understands  that staff members  may interact with and have friendships with  families  of  students  outside  of  school.    This policy  is  not  intended to  prohibit  such interactions, provided that professional  boundaries are maintained at all times.

 

Staff  members  are expected  to be sensitive  to the appearance  of impropriety  in their conduct with students.  Staff members are encouraged to discuss issues with their building administrator or supervisor  whenever they are unsure whether particular conduct may constitute  a violation of this policy.

 

Unacceptable  Conduct

 

Examples  of unacceptable  conduct  by staff members  include but are not limited to the following:

 

A.      Any type of sexual or inappropriate physical  contact  with students  or any other conduct  that  might  be considered  harassment  under  the Committee's policy  in ACAA-Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students;

 

B    Singling out a particular student or students for personal attention  and friendship beyond the normal teacher-student relationship;

 

C.       Associating with students  in any  situation  or activity  as referenced  in Policies ADC-Tobacco, Marijuana, and Vape-Free  District, and JICH-Drug  and Alcohol Use by Students;

 

D.     For non-school counseling  staff, encouraging  students  to confide  their personal or family  problems and/or  relationships.  If a student initiates  such discussions, staff  members   are  expected   to  be  supportive   but  to  refer   the  student   to appropriate  school counseling staff.   In either case, staff involvement  should  be limited to a direct connection  to the student's school performance;

 

E.      Sending students on personal errands;


 

F. Sexual banter, allusions, jokes, or innuendos with students;

 

 

G.   Asking a student to keep a secret;

 

H.     Disclosing personal, sexual, family, employment  concerns,  or other private   

          matters to one or more students;

 

I.      Addressing students with terms of endearment, pet names, or otherwise in an overly familiar manner; and

 

J.      Permitting students to address you by your first name, nickname or otherwise in an overly familiar manner.

 

K.   Being alone with individual students out of the view of others;

L.    Inviting or allowing students to visit the staff member's home;

M.   Visiting a student's home, unless on official school business;

N.      Maintaining personal  contact with a student outside of school  by letters,

           phoneemail, social networking  websites, or other digital media (beyond 

           homework  or other legitimate school business);

 

0.     Exchanging personal gifts (beyond the customary student-teacher gifts);

 

P.  Socializing or spending  time  with  students  inappropriately   (including  but not

limited to activities  such as going out for meals or movies, shoppingtraveling, and recreational activities) outside of school-sponsored events or except as participants  in organized community  activities; and /or

 

Q.   Friending students or engaging in any other interactions on social media or

        through digital  applications (outside of any school-approved activity).

 

Reporting Violations

 

Students and/or their parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to notify the  building principal if they believe a teacher or other staff member may be engaging in conduct that violates this policy.

 

Staff members are required to promptly notify the building principal or Superintendent if they become aware of a situation that may constitute a violation of this policy.

 

Disciplinary Action


Staff violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.   Violations involving sexual or other abuse will also result in referral to the Department of Human Services  and/or law enforcement  in accordance  with the School Committee's policy on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect.

 

 

Dissemination of Policy

 

This policy shall be included in all employee, student and volunteer handbooks.

 

 

Adopted:       September 17, 1985

 

Revised:       September 3, 1991

                     July 5, 1994

                     January 5, 2002

                     October 16, 2018

                     January 5, 2021

                     December 21, 2021

 

Cross Reference: ACAA-  Harassment and Sexual  Harassment of Students

  ADC-Tobacco, Marijuana, and  Vape-Free District

  GCSA  - Staff  Computer/Internet Use JICH-Drug and  Alcohol Use by Students

  JLF - Reporting Child  Abuse  and Neglect