402.3R1 Abuse of Students by School District Employees Regulation - 6 of 8

The investigator shall notify the parent, guardian or legal custodian of a student in prekindergarten through grade six, of the date and time of the interview and of the right to be present or to see and hear the interview or send a representative in the parent's place.  The Level I investigator shall interview the student as soon as possible, but in no case later than five days from the receipt of a report or notice of the allegation of sexual abuse.  The Level I investigator may record the interview electronically.

The Level I investigator shall exercise discretion in the investigative process to preserve the privacy interests of the individuals involved.  To the maximum extent possible, the investigator shall maintain the confidentiality of the report.

It is the responsibility of the Level I investigator to determine whether it is more likely than not that an incident took place between the employee and the student.  If the Level I investigator believes the employee committed a sex act with a student or sexually exploited a student, the Level I investigator shall defer the Level I investigation and immediately notify law enforcement officials, the student's parents and the person filing the report.

If the Level I investigator determines an incident occurred, while not an illegal sex act with a student or sexual exploitation of a student, but where the employee engaged in inappropriate, intentional sexual behavior, further investigation is warranted.  If further investigation is warranted, the Level I investigator may proceed to interview the employee and other individuals who may have knowledge of the circumstances contained in the report.  Prior to interviewing other individuals who may have knowledge of the circumstance contained in the report, the Level I investigator shall provide notice of the impending interview of student witnesses or the student who is in prekindergarten through grade six, to their parent, guardian, or legal custodian, and may provide notice to the parent or guardian of older students, prior to interviewing those students.  The Level I investigator shall, if founded, arrange for the Level II investigator to further investigate the allegations.

Within fifteen days of receipt of the report or notice of alleged sexual abuse, the Level I investigator shall complete a written investigative report unless the investigation was temporarily deferred.  The written investigative report shall include:

    1.    The name, age, address and attendance center of the student named in the report.

    2.    The name and address of the student's parent or guardian and the name and address of the person filing the report, if different from the student's parent or guardian.