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GBEB - Staff Conduct with Students

The Falmouth School Board expects all staff members, including teachers, coaches, counselors, administrators and others, to maintain the highest professional, moral and ethical standards in their conduct with students.  Staff members are expected to be sensitive to the appearance of impropriety in their conduct with students.  For the purposes of this policy, staff members also include school volunteers.

The interactions and relationships between staff members and students and former students who have not yet reached the age of twenty-one (21) years should be based upon mutual respect and trust; and understanding of the appropriate boundaries between adults and students in an educational setting; and consistent with the educational mission of the schools.

Recognizing that connection between teachers and students is important for learning and student well-being, student centered and developmentally appropriate interactions are encouraged as part of educational best practice. 

A.  Prohibited Conduct

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

  • Any type of sexual or inappropriate physical contact or attempted sexual or inappropriate physical contact with students or any other conduct that might be considered harassment under the board’s policy on Harassment of Students;

  • Singling out a particular student or students for personal attention and friendship beyond the normal teacher-student relationship or other acceptable relationships. Examples of acceptable relationships include but are not limited to:

    1. Co-workers in a secondary employment environment

    2. Familial relationships

    3. Relationships between staff member and student who is a friend of staff member’s child

    4. Relationships between staff member and student who is a child of another staff member

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

  • Sexual banter, allusions, jokes or innuendos with students; and

  • Disclosing personal, sexual, family, employment, or other private matters to one or more students.

  • “Grooming” and “Grooming behaviors”, defined as treating a student differently than other students by engaging in communication or behavior that violates school policies regarding professional boundaries or that could reasonably be construed as persuading, inducing, or enticing the breakdown of professional boundaries.  These behaviors include but are not limited to: communication with a student or former student on a non-academic and non-parental related matter(s); attempt(s) to isolate a student or former student; giving gifts to a student or former student, establishing or encouraging secrets with a student or former student; engaging in behaviors or communications to reduce the risk of being caught, including threats and promises.

  • Engages in or attempts manipulative or grooming behavior(s) to: 

    1. gain access to a student or former student that has not attained the age of twenty-one (21) years the purpose of sexual activity; 

    2. persuade, induce, entice, or coerce them to agree to sexual activity.  

Before engaging in the following activities, staff members will review the activity with their principal or supervisor, as appropriate:

  1. Inviting or allowing students to visit the staff member’s home;

  2. Visiting a student’s home, unless on official school business;

  3. Maintaining personal contact with a student outside of school beyond homework or other legitimate school business;

  4. Exchanging personal gifts (beyond the customary student-teacher gifts); and/or

  5. Socializing or spending time with students (including but not limited to activities such as going out for meals or movies, shopping, traveling, recreational activities) outside of school-sponsored events except as participants in organized community activities.

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.

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

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

C. Disciplinary Action
Staff violations of this policy shall 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 board’s policy on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect.

Failure to notify promptly the appropriate building administrator or superintendent if they become aware of a situation that may constitute a violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

D. Policy to be Included in Handbooks
This policy shall be included in all employee, student and volunteer handbooks.

 

Cross Reference: 

AC- Non-Discrimination/Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action

ACAA-Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students

JLF-Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect


 

Adopted: November 17, 2003

Revised: January 10, 2022

Revised: January 17, 2023