The Board of Education recognizes that because of their sustained contact with school-aged children, employees may be in a position to identify abused, maltreated or neglected children and refer them for treatment and protection.
The purpose of mandatory reporting is to identify suspected, abused, maltreated or neglected children as soon as possible, so that such children determined to be abused, maltreated or neglected can be protected from further harm and, where appropriate, can be offered services to assist them or their families.
Pursuant to Subdivision 1 of Section 413 of the NY Social Services Law, any school official who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or maltreatment must immediately report this to the to the New York State Central Register (SCR) of Child Abuse and Maltreatment also known as the Child-Abuse Hotline, as required by law. Any staff member has a legal and moral responsibility to ensure that a report is made.
Whenever such school official is required to report in his or her capacity as a member of the staff of the North Colonie Central School District, he or she shall make the report as required by New York State Law and this Board Policy and immediately thereafter notify the Hall Principal or Building Principal or his or her designated agent. Such Building or Hall Principal, or the designated agent of such Principal, shall be responsible for all subsequent administration necessitated by the report. Any report shall include the name, title and contact information for every staff person of the institution who is believed to have direct knowledge of the allegations in the report.
Policy Adopted: January 26, 1998