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Policy GBEBB

Staff Conduct With Students


Staff Conduct With Students 

The South Portland Board of Education 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. For the purposes of this policy, staff members also  include school volunteers.  

The interactions and relationships between staff members and students should be based upon  mutual respect and trust; an understanding of the appropriate boundaries between adults and  students in an educational setting; and consistent with the educational mission of the schools.  

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

    1. Any

      type of sexual or inappropriate physical contact with students or any other conduct that might be considered harassment under the Board’s policy on Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students;  

    2. Singling out a particular student or students for personal attention and friendship beyond the normal teacher-student relationship, including using email, digital media, telephone or letters for this purpose.  

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

    4. Sexual banter, allusions, jokes or innuendos with students; and disclosing personal, sexual, family, or employment concerns, and/or other  private matters to one or more students.  

    5. Asking a student to keep a secret;

    6. Disclosing personal, sexual, family, employment concerns, or other private matters to one or more students;

    7. Addressing students in an overly familiar or personal manner; 

    8. “Friending” students or engaging in any other interactions on social media or through digital applications (outside of any school-approved activity);

    9. Communicating with students on non-school matters through phone calls, email, text messages, messenging or any other digital methods, or by notes, letters or any other means (unless the student’s parent approves of the activity, e. g, in the context of employment or participation in community activities);

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

  • Inviting or allowing students to visit the staff member’s home;   Visiting a student’s home, unless on official school business;   Giving or exchanging gifts of value.  

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

Staff members are expected to be sensitive to the appearance of impropriety in their conduct with  students. 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.  

  1. Reporting Violations  

    1. Students and/or their parents/guardians should notify the principal (or other appropriate  administrator) if they believe a teacher or other staff member may be engaging in conduct that  violates the intent of the policy.

    2. Staff members should promptly notify the appropriate building administrator or Superintendent if  they become aware of a situation that may constitute a violation of this policy and jeopardize the  well being of a student.  

  2. Disciplinary Action  

    1. 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 policy on Reporting Child Abuse  and Neglect.  

Policy to be Included in Handbooks  

  1. This policy shall be included in all employee, student and volunteer handbooks.  

  1. Cross Reference: ACAA-Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students   

  2. JLF-Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect  

  3.  JL & GBI – Gifts  

Adopted: November 13, 2002 

Revised: August 19, 2024