1215 W. Lewis Street
5260 - Professional Boundaries Between Staff and Students Policy
PERSONNEL
Professional Boundaries Between Staff and Students
The board of directors expects all staff members to maintain the highest professional, moral and ethical standards in their interactions with students. Staff members are required to maintain an atmosphere conducive to learning through consistently and fairly applied discipline and established and maintained professional boundaries. For purposes of this policy, the term “staff member” refers to employees, volunteers and contractors working on behalf of the district.
The interactions and relationships between staff members and students must be consistent with the educational mission of the district. These interactions and relationships must be consistent with district policies and procedures, including but not limited to policies relating to standards of professional and acceptable conduct. These interactions and relationships must also take place within appropriate professional boundaries both within and outside of the educational setting.
Staff members will not intrude on a student’s physical and emotional boundaries unless the intrusion is necessary to serve an educational or safety-related purpose. An educational purpose is one that relates to the staff member’s job duties. Additionally, staff members are expected to be aware of the appearance of impropriety in their own conduct and the conduct of other staff when interacting with students. Staff members are expected to refrain from engaging in conduct with students which is improper, or which creates the appearance of impropriety.
The board of directors supports the use of technology to communicate for educational purposes. However, staff members are prohibited from inappropriate online socializing with students or from engaging in any conduct on social networking web sites that violates the law, district policies or other generally recognized professional standards.
Employees whose conduct violates this policy may face discipline up to and including termination, consistent with the district’s applicable policies and collective bargaining agreements.
Cross References: Board Policy 3200 Student Rights and Responsibilities
Board Policy 3207 Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation,
and Bullying
Board Policy 3208 Sexual Harassment
Board Policy 5111 Disclosures and Background Checks for
Employees
Board Policy 5121 Unprofessional Conduct
Board Policy 5223 Conflicts of Interest
Board Policy 5242 Communications Responsibility
Board Policy 5255 Disciplinary Action and Discharge
Board Policy 5430 Volunteers
Board Policy 5440 Student Teachers
Legal References: RCW 28A.400 Crimes against children
RCW 28A.405.470 Crimes against children – Mandatory
termination of certificated employees
- Appeal - Recovery of salary or
compensation by district
RCW 28A.405.475 Termination of certificated employee based
on guilty plea or conviction of
certain felonies - Notice to
superintendent of public instruction –
Record of notices
RCW 28A.410.090 Revocation or suspension of certificate or
permit to teach - Criminal basis –
Complaints - Investigation - Process.
RCW 28A.410.095 Violation or noncompliance – Investigatory
powers of superintendent of public
instruction - Requirements for
investigation of alleged sexual
misconduct towards a child - Court
orders - Contempt - Written findings
required
RCW 28A.410.100 Revocation of authority to teach - Hearings
WAC 181-87 Professional Certification - Acts of
Unprofessional Conduct
WAC 181-88 Sexual Misconduct, Verbal and Physical
Abuse - Mandatory Disclosure –
Prohibited Agreements
Adoption Date: August 24, 2010