School Abuse Policy Change

The Wichita school district is considering revising its policy for reporting suspected abuse.

The change the board will consider Monday comes more than a year after the controversial firing of a kindergarten teacher. The long-time teacher acknowledged that she delayed reporting allegations of sexual abuse for two weeks.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the proposed policy would direct employees to call 911 immediately if they witness a situation “that may constitute criminal activity.” The addition was prompted by concerns that the policy did not expressly direct teachers to call police, but instead required them to call district security.

Kansas law requires teachers, doctors, counselors and other mandatory reporters to inform either local law enforcement or the Kansas Protection Reporting Center if they suspect a child has been abused.