South Jersey Christian Academy will implement the following Safe School policies beginning September 1, 2010.  The purpose of the policy is threefold:

1.      To demonstrate our steadfast commitment to the physical safety, emotional health, and spiritual growth of our children and adults,

2.      To protect our staff, both paid and volunteer, from potential wrongful allegations of abuse, and

3.      To limit the extent of legal liability of our school.

To achieve this purpose, the following components will be implemented:

PART ONE: SCREENING & SELECTION

1.      All employees and volunteers of South Jersey Christian Academy must undergo a criminal background check and read the SJCA Safe School policy.  (All school staff will wear burgundy lanyards attached to their badges and all volunteers will wear orange lanyards attached to their badges.)All visitors must report to the office to receive a visitor’s badge.  They must sign in and out for student late arrival or early dismissal.  The student will be accompanied to either the office or classroom by an office aide.

PART TWO: SUPERVISION & PROCEDURES

            Two-Adult Rule.  Adults are persons 18 years of age or older.  Two adults will not be required in classroom settings.  However, two adults will be required during Before care, Aftercare, lunch and recess.  When transporting children in a private vehicle during a school-sponsored event the following conditions will apply:

·         Driver must be between 21 and 80 years of age.

·         Driver must have proof of insurance and a valid state driver’s license.

·         At no time may a driver be alone with an unrelated child unless the parent of the child has provided written permission for transportation.

·         There must be one adult approved “Safe School” plus one more adult present in the car.

Five-Years-Older Rule.  All staff, counselors, mentors, and volunteers supervising an event involving our children must be at least five years older than the children with whom s/he is working.

Bathroom Procedure.  A child in pre-school needing to use the toilet shall be escorted by an adult to the bathroom.  The adult shall remain in the hallway while the child uses the toilet.  If assistance is requested by the child, the parent/guardian will be called and asked to come to the school to help the child. 

For grades Kindergarten through third, the teacher will take the entire classroom for one bathroom break in the morning and one in the afternoon.  If more are needed they will be at the discretion of the teacher.  Fourth through eighth grade will use bathroom passes at the discretion of the teacher. 

Open Door Counseling.  During any counseling session with children, the door of the room used shall remain open for the entire session.  In addition, the session shall occur when others are nearby (even if not in hearing distance).

Parental Consent Forms.  Parental consent forms will be obtained for any activities off of school property.

Windows on classroom and office doors.  All classroom and office doors shall have windows allowing visibility.

PART THREE:  TRAINING & EDUCATION

SJCA staff and volunteers will be trained in this policy and the related procedures.  Training will be provided annually by SUMC, or when a new staff member is hired or volunteer is invited to be in service.

PART FOUR:  REPORTING

State law requires that anyone who has reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected must report it immediately to the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS).  Failure to do so may result in criminal prosecution.

If suspected abuse is observed by or reported to a staff member or volunteer, the following actions should take place.

·         If observed, immediately remove the child from the situation.

·         Contact DYFS Hotline (1-877-652-2873).

·         Report the incident immediately to the principal, if appropriate, or directly to the senior pastor.

·         Complete an abuse-disclosure form in its entirety, and provide this directly to the principal, if appropriate, or the senior pastor of SUMC.  The school principal will then notify the senior pastor of SUMC.

PART FIVE:  RESPONDING

A quick, compassionate and unified response to an alleged incident of child abuse is expected.  All allegations will be taken seriously.  In all cases of reported or observed abuse in an activity, all volunteers or staff involved in that activity shall be at the service of all official investigating agencies.

·         The person(s) who are the subject of any report will removed from any activities with children until the incident is resolved.

·         The Principal, or his/her designee, is the only person authorized to make statements to representatives of the media.

·         If the allegation concerns activities or persons outside any relationship to a school related event or activity, it is the responsibility of the person in charge of that event or activity to make the initial contact with the Division of Youth and Family Services and to inform the Principal.

·         The Principal, or his/her designee, will work with the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the victim of the abuse to determine the appropriate counseling care.

PART SIX:

SJCA will provide a security system and maintain a locked entrance door policy from 9:00am to 2:30pm and from 3:15pm through 6:00pm during aftercare. 

PART SEVEN:

SJCA will conduct fire drills monthly and emergency drills semi-annually throughout the school year.