Litchfield Elementary School District employees and governing board members will face new requirements for reporting child abuse and neglect under an updated district policy approved just days before changes to Arizona law take effect.
The governing board approved the second reading of Policy 4-204, Mandatory Reporting, as part of its Sept 8 consent agenda.
The changes come four days before provisions of Senate Bill 1127 take effect Sept. 12.
Arizona already requires teachers, school employees, governing board members and other designated professionals to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The new law adds a requirement in cases in which a mandatory reporter has direct knowledge that a child is or has been a victim of abuse or neglect.
In those cases, the reporter must immediately make a report to the Arizona Department of Child Safety and cannot delegate that responsibility to another person.
The district's updated policy also makes clear that telling a supervisor or another district employee does not satisfy an individual's statutory reporting obligation. In circumstances requiring a law enforcement report, reporting solely to a school resource officer or school safety officer is also insufficient.
Mandatory reporters face additional obligations
The distinction between mandatory reporters and other members of the public is significant.
Under Arizona law, certain people — including school employees and governing board members — have a legal obligation to report when the statutory threshold for suspected abuse or neglect is met. Other people who reasonably believe a child has been abused or neglected may make a report even when they do not fall within one of the state's mandatory reporter categories.
Senate Bill 1127 adds another layer for mandatory reporters who have direct knowledge of abuse or neglect: beginning Sept. 12, they must immediately report that information to DCS themselves rather than relying on someone else to make the report.
The law also addresses allegations involving public-school employees and third-party contractors. School personnel or Governing Board members who reasonably suspect or receive a reasonable allegation that a public-school employee engaged in conduct involving a minor that would be subject to the state's reporting law must immediately report or cause a report to be made to local law enforcement.
When the employee involved is certificated by the State Board of Education or is a noncertificated employee as defined by state law, the allegation must also be reported in writing to the State Board of Education as soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than three business days.
Board members ask about training
The policy first came before the board during an Aug. 25 special meeting.
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Benjamin told the board the principal change was the requirement for mandatory reporters to report immediately.
Board member Kimberly Moran asked about mandatory reporting training for board members and district officials said training would be coming. The board took no vote that night and treated the proposal as a first reading.
The district's revised policy requires mandatory reporting training in accordance with state law.
The Aug. 25 decision to delay adoption was part of a broader discussion about the district's practice of giving policies two readings. Moran questioned approving policies after only one reading while board member Michele Wallace said some straightforward changes could potentially be approved at the same meeting.
Governing board President Melssa Zuidema ulitmately said the policies would return under second readings on the next meeting's consent agenda.
Policy 4-204 returned Sept. 8 as consent item 6.22. No board member requested that it be moved for separate discussion before the consent agenda was approved.
The policy also requires schools to display information teling students how to contact the state's centralized child abuse hotline, call 911 in an emergency and access Deptarment of Child Safety information about reporting abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The policy prohibits retaliation against employees who make good-faith reports and provides immujnity from civil or criminal liability for people who make reports as required or authorized by law, except in circumstances specified under state law.
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