CUSTODY AND FAMILY LAW ISSUES - CSO Appendix 1 - 1. 

The Diocese and its schools understand that many families within the school community are affected by custody and other related legal disputes. The Diocese and its schools work to balance sensitivity to difficult family situations and the interests of safety and orderly school administration. Involving school personnel in family and custody matters diverts finite school resources from the school’s primary function. As a result, it is important that families within the school community who are affected by custody and other related legal disputes read and understand the following policies and procedures. 

Generally, a child’s biological or adoptive parents have equal rights to custody of and visitation with the child unless and until a court orders otherwise. When this arrangement has been changed by court order, it is the responsibility of the affected student’s family to provide the school with a complete, final, signed copy of the relevant order and to point out to the school any relevant portions of the order. Unless and until a student’s family does so, the school may assume that both of a child’s biological or adoptive parents have equal rights to custody of and visitation with the student. 

It is the responsibility of the parents, not the school, to ensure that the school is promptly provided with any relevant original or amended custody orders. Schools will take reasonably practical steps to facilitate compliance with relevant family court orders. However, it is the responsibility of the family, and not the school, to enforce family court orders regarding a student. School personnel are not family law attorneys and are not responsible for interpreting or enforcing custody or other family court orders. 

Attorneys representing parents in custody disputes should not contact school personnel directly, including to request the production of documents and execution of supporting affidavits for use in litigation. Parents may obtain contact information for diocesan legal counsel from the school and should provide this information to the parents’ attorneys if school involvement in a custody dispute is requested. If the school is required to engage counsel to interpret or otherwise advise the school regarding a custody or other family court order or dispute, the parents of the affected student are jointly and severally liable to the school for all costs and attorneys’ fees associated therewith. As an exception to this general rule, upon request by either parent, the school will generally, at the chief administrator’s sole discretion, provide one copy of a student’s central file (e.g., attendance records, report cards, enrollment documents, etc…) with a supporting business records affidavit to both parents or their attorneys free of charge. 

Diocesan schools are private property and are not open to the public. Additionally, it is detrimental to the well-being of the affected students and to the school community as a whole when family disputes are brought onto school property. Parents are expected to do everything possible to avoid parental confrontations or arguments on school grounds. The chief administrator of the school or his or her designee has full discretion to exclude any person from the school when, in his or her sole discretion, doing so is necessary or appropriate. School personnel may contact law enforcement for assistance when doing so is necessary to enforce this discretion. If a parent who is prohibited by court order from coming to or near the school attempts to enter the school, the school may call the police and/or seek other appropriate recourse. 

If school personnel believe that the behavior of a parent or other legally responsible adult presents an imminent threat of harm to a student, the school may refuse to release the student to the parent or other legally responsible adult or take such other steps, including but not limited to contacting law enforcement or the student’s emergency contact, as the school deems necessary. 

REIMBURSEMENT FOR SCHOOL COSTS AND ATTORNEY’S FEES - CSO Appendix 1 - 4.

The Diocese of Dallas and its schools recognize the financial sacrifice many of its families make to participate in the school community. Out of respect for this sacrifice and in recognition of the school’s responsibility to wisely steward financial resources for the benefit of all members of the school community, the Diocese and its schools have implemented the following policy: 

From time to time, a school is required to retain outside legal counsel to respond to parent requests or demands, requests or subpoenas for testimony or documents in legal proceedings to which the school is not a party, or to address other issues affecting or involving only one or a few students or families. In such situations, the school is typically required to expend finite financial resources to address an issue which otherwise affects only a very small portion of the school community. To ensure that the school community at large is not adversely impacted in such situations, the school will, when the chief administrator in his or her sole discretion deems it appropriate, require the family or families involved to reimburse the school for attorney’s fees, costs of court, and other expenses incurred (including, without limitation, the cost to secure substitute staff when school personnel are subpoenaed to testify in court proceedings). 

Accordingly, each person who acknowledges his or her agreement to the contents of this Handbook, either by written or electronic signature or by enrolling a student in a school within the Diocese of Dallas, agrees that, in the School’s absolute and sole discretion, he or she shall indemnify and reimburse the School, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas, and their respective officers, employees, agents, and representatives (“Indemnitees”) on demand from and for any and all attorney’s fees and related costs including without limitation the cost of responding to requests for documents or other records or information arising from, in connection with, or related to 1) a violation of any provision of this Handbook, 2) any request or demand made upon the School which pertains to a legal proceeding to which the School is not a party, 3) threatening or harassing communications directed to any Indemnitee, or 4) threatened or actual litigation against any Indemnitee which does not result in a final and appealable judgment adverse to the Indemnitee.

PARENT ORGANIZATIONS

ADVISORY COUNCIL

See Advisory Council section here for more information. 

BOOSTER CLUB

The Booster Club provides support and assistance to the school’s Dean of Student Affairs and promotes the athletic programs offered by the school. The Booster Club holds regular monthly meetings. Contact the Dean of Student Affairs for more information. 

DADS CLUB

The Dads Club is an organization begun under the auspices of the school Advisory Council. Its primary purpose is to assist the school with whatever it may need. It meets on the third Monday of every month and all St. Rita School dads are automatically members. 

PARENTS’ CLUB

The Parents' Club includes all school families. Through its efforts, support is given for initiation and continuation of numerous valuable school events and projects. General meetings are held three times a year. The meetings are open to all school families. Additional information is available on the school website. 

USE OF FACILITIES

Any outside organizations wishing to use the school’s facilities must request approval from the parish Facilities Manager. 

VISITORS

All visitors, including school parents, must report to the Parish Office to sign in when meeting with administration. If checking in for duty or picking up a child, please go to the Greeter area. 

Visitors should sign in and obtain a “visitor” badge, no matter how frequently they visit or how well known they are by school personnel. They should sign out with the greeter when leaving the school. 

Teachers have been instructed to direct visitors to the office before giving admission to their classrooms or anywhere else on school grounds. These policies are for the protection of the students and staff and to minimize disruption to the classrooms. 

Alumni students may visit the school and must sign in with the greeter and wear a visitor badge at all times while on campus. These students may not bring in outside food. 

VOLUNTEERS

All volunteers should sign in to the Concierge at the Greeter area. Any volunteer must be Safe Environment cleared to volunteer or be on campus. Volunteers should pick up their supervision clipboard located at the greeter prior to beginning their duty. The school could not offer the quality of education, service and sense of community that it does without parental involvement as volunteers, committee members and supporters. All jobs are important and the students are delighted to know that their parents are working for the school. All volunteers are expected to dress appropriately. Clothing should be modest and neat. All volunteers are expected to turn their cell phones off or on vibrate while they are volunteering and to refrain from using their phones while supervising students. 

Keeping the best interests of the students in mind, all parents must undergo a routine investigation of their background, including a criminal history check, and completion of the Diocese of Dallas Safe Environment Training Program. 

APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA (GroupMe)

At times, parents may engage in communication with other parents via social media (Facebook, GroupMe, etc). The purpose of these platforms is to distribute high level information regarding events, fundraisers, and the like. We ask that communication about school matters be addressed directly to the school and remain professional, positive, and kind. Please refrain from discussing any issues you have with a faculty member, administrator, etc., on social media. If parents have a concern, please take it directly to your child's teacher, advisor, or any member of the administration. 

SRCS has developed an acceptable use policy for the use of these channels. 

All St. Rita GroupMe or other social media group members must be guardians/primary caregivers of a CURRENT St. Rita student OR a St. Rita teacher/staff member.

Here are the rules of engagement for participation in GroupMe chats or other social media channels. 

• No profanity or vulgar comments.

• No accusations or accusatory language toward an individual or group of individuals.

• No negative comments about teachers, staff, or students.

• No comments not related to school events or functions.

• We encourage your participation in our GroupMe chats. We ask that you exercise civility and goodwill in your communication. Any user who posts comments that are intentionally rude or deride the opinions of others will be removed from the chat.

• Feel free to ask questions about school events or functions, or information distributed to inform parents.

Below are a few examples of how you can use GroupMe to ask questions about upcoming school events, as well as some messages of what is better for a private direct message, private text, email or phone call.

Examples of questions/comments for your grade-level GroupMe

• "Is tomorrow a Spartan Day?"

• “What time is early dismissal?”

• “Do we need any more volunteers for the party on Friday?”

Examples of questions/comments better for a PRIVATE message. Please keep these types of comments between you and the teacher, staff member, parent, etc.

• "Mrs. Doe assigns so much homework. We've been working on Danny's math for an hour!"

• “Bobby got a 70 on his Religion test. We're so mad!"

• "Why is carpool such a mess today?" 

• “Jane lost her sweater on the playground. Has anyone seen it?”