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NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska school board has reached a settlement with two employees who said they were told to check with parents before reporting suspected child abuse.
The agreement was posted on Monday's North Platte School Board meeting agenda.
The dispute began when a student arrived at Madison Middle School in late March with a scratch on one side of his face, a black, soot-like substance on the other, and unkempt hair. The student also appeared thirsty and hungry, according to a complaint filed by the educators.
Teacher Christie Copper and guidance counselor Stephen Spiehs contacted a school resource officer and a child welfare agency. The school's principal later emailed the two employees, saying that the child's father was "extremely displeased" about getting a phone call from police without notification.
Copper and Spiehs said the principal told them that in the future, they should first contact a child's parents unless the child faced immediate danger.
The North Platte Education Association, representing Copper and Spiehs, filed complaints alleging that the order violated state law, and that the district retaliated against them after they filed an employee grievance.
The complaints asked a judge to declare that the order could have a chilling effect on teachers, and that school officials retaliated by accusing them of insubordination when they filed a grievance. Insubordination can result in disciplinary action, including being fired.
The group also asked a judge to declare that a district can't require teachers to first contact parents as a condition of fulfilling their legal duties. Nebraska law requires doctors, nurses, school employees and social workers to report suspected abuse and neglect, and failure to do so could result in a jail sentence and a $500 fine.
The settlement acknowledged that the employees complied with the district's procedures, and said the board intends to provide training to staff and administrators.
"The safety and security of all students is a paramount concern of (the district) and our staff," the settlement said. "The Board of Education expects our staff ... to report circumstances where they have reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse and neglect."
As part of the settlement, the North Platte Education Association agreed to dismiss its complaints.
North Platte Schools Superintendent Ron Hanson said the settlement will be read aloud at Monday's meeting.
"It clears up a lot of misunderstandings about this whole event," he said. "I think everyone is ready to move on from the experience."
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