5125.3 - Professional Communication Between a Professional School Employee or Registered nurse and a student, parent

Students

5125.3 - Professional Communication Between a Professional School Employee or Registered Nurse and a Student, Parent

The Board of Education (Board) recognizes that constructive communications between parents and youth promote a fuller opportunity for student development and maturation. Accordingly, the Board through its policies and procedures postulates a position of helpfulness and support to advance constructive parent student communications.

Constructive communications between parent and child are viewed as characterized by a quality of openness, regard for confidentiality or privacy, harmonious dialogue, sensitivity to critical issues, and a spirit of mutual support and respect.

A magnitude of pressures and problems confront families in our society. Young people face complex problems. The problems their parents face, unfortunately, are no less complex. Because of the changes taking place in society, parents in general may not have parallel experiences they may draw upon as frameworks for counseling their youngsters. Thus, it is possible for gaps to develop in parent-child communications. Nevertheless, it is imperative in these times that members of the family not go their separate ways but rather strive to come together for mutual understanding and support. In this regard, the professional staff can assist in family relationships.

Professional employees including registered school nurses are in positions to receive from students and parents personalized communications (such as outlined in this policy). The efforts of the professional employees including registered school nurses toward closing communication gaps and advancing constructive communications between students and their parents are strongly encouraged. For purposes of this policy, the term “professional employee" means a person employed by a school who holds a certificate from the State Board of Education, or is a registered nurse employed by or assigned to a school. Professional employees include, but are not limited to, certified teachers, administrators, , guidance counselors, social workers school psychologists and registered nurses employed by or assigned to a school.

Professional communications made by a student and/or a parent to a professional employee including a registered school nurse shall be confidential as set forth herein and as required under Connecticut state and/or federal law. Notwithstanding, a professional employee including a registered school nurse shall refrain from making promises of absolute confidentiality when receiving information from a student or parent as disclosure may be required by law, Board Policy, professional obligation or duty or for health and safety reasons. The decision of a school professional employee including a registered school nurse whether to disclosure information shared in confidence by a parent or student shall be guided by law, Board Policy and any applicable professional code of conduct or responsibility.

A. A professional communication is defined as any communication made privately and in confidence by a student or parent to a professional employee including a registered nurse of a student's school in the course of the latter's employment.

B. It is important to respect the privacy of the student and parent, and a professional employee including a registered school nurse should be mindful to provide the student and parent privacy for the receiving of such communications.

C. Regarding the confidentiality of professional communications:

1. Any such professional employee including a registered school nurse shall not be required to disclose any information acquired through a professional communication with a student when such information concerns alcohol or drug abuse or any alcoholic or drug problem of such student.

2. However, if such professional employee or registered school nurse obtains physical evidence from such student indicating that a crime has been or is being committed by such student, such employee shall be required to turn such evidence over to school administrators or law enforcement officials, provided in no such case shall such employee be required to disclose the name of the student from whom he obtained such evidence and such employee shall be immune from arrest and prosecution for the possession of such evidence obtained from such student.

3. Such evidence must be turned over to school administrators or law enforcement officials within two days after receipt of such physical evidence, provided such evidence is obtained less than two days before a school vacation or the end of a school year, such evidence shall be turned over within two calendar days after receipt thereof, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Any such physical evidence surrendered to the school administration shall be turned over to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection or to the Windsor Locks Police Department within three school days (or three calendar days, excluding weekends and holidays, if sooner).

4. Any such professional employee including a registered school nurse who, in good faith discloses, or does not disclose, such professional communication, shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, which might otherwise be incurred or imposed, and shall have the same immunity with respect to any judicial proceeding which results from such disclosure.

5. It is recommended that in the course of receiving a private communication, the professional employee including a registered school nurse should state clearly to the student that confidentiality cannot be sustained if there exists a clear and present danger to the health of the student or other students. Professional staff will continue to be mindful that cases of suspected child abuse must be reported as outlined by Policy #5141.4.

D. Because parents have a continuing concern for the welfare of their children, professional employees of the school including a registered school nurse in the course of their employment, should endeavor to encourage communications between students and their parents.

Legal References:

Connecticut General Statutes

10-154a Professional communication between teacher or nurse and student. Surrender of physical evidence obtained from students.

Policy Adopted: March 28, 2013

Policy Revised: September 23, 2021