MCS Weighing New Workplace Violence Prevention Policy

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh school officials are considering a new workplace violence prevention policy for the district.

Teacher Lisa Stanton praised the proposed policy and the speed in which it was drafted but also had several recommendations for the policy. The board members had a first reading on the policy Wednesday night and are expected to officially adopt it at their April meeting.

The purpose of the policy is to prevent, minimize, and respond to any workplace violence. The goals are to reduce the probability of threats or acts of violence in the workplace; and ensure that any incident, complaint, or report of violence is taken seriously and dealt with in a timely manner.

Ms. Stanton said the policy is comprehensive but changes will likely be made in the future as there 'will be growing pains" as the new policy is implemented.

The policy, she added, needs to be reviewed every year. She recommended that the review be done in the fall, shortly after the new school year begins.

The proposed policy, she said, was clear on adult on adult violence but "murky" on student on adult violence.

Some questions remain to be answered, Ms. Stanton added.

Those questions include: is it violence if there are no charges and is it violence if it is not repeated?

All district employees are required to comply with the policy.

According to the proposed policy:

* All employees and authorized employee representatives are responsible for providing written notice to a supervisor or workplace violence prevention coordinator of any violent incidents, threatening behavior, including threats they have witnessed, received, or have been told that another person has witnessed or received.

* Reports of workplace violence must be made in writing. All reports must be immediately forwarded to the coordinator.

* Incidents involving students which do not rise to the level of being reportable on the State Education Department’s School Safety and the Educational Climate annual report will be reported through the district’s disciplinary process and not through the Workplace Violence reporting process. * Written notice is not required where imminent danger exists to the safety of a specific employee and the employee reasonably believes in good faith that reporting to a supervisor or the coordinator would not result in corrective action.

* Following the notice, the district will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to correct the activity, policy, or practice. The district will promptly respond to all reported incidents of violence or threatening behavior upon notification.

* Upon receipt of written notice of an incident of workplace violence, the coordinator will work with the other individuals, such as those on the Workplace Violence Prevention Advisory Committee and/or the superintendent, to: ensure that the district takes any actions that are required to address a situation in a prompt manner. When necessary, such as when there is criminal conduct or a serious injury, responding may involve working with the District Attorney or police to ensure that violent crimes committed against employees in the workplace are promptly and appropriately investigated. confirm any injured employees receive prompt and appropriate medical care; complete an incident report within 48 hours.

The report at a minimum, will contain the following information: workplace location where incident occurred; time of day/shift when incident occurred; a detailed description of the incident, including events leading up to the incident and how the incident ended; names and job titles of involved employees; name or other identifier of other individual(s) involved. nature and extent of injuries arising from the incident; and names of witnesses.

* The district will treat incidents involving the following injuries or illnesses as privacy concern cases: an injury or illness to an intimate body part or the reproductive system; an injury or illness resulting from a sexual assault; mental illness; HIV infection; needle stick injuries and cuts from sharp objects that are or may be contaminated with another person's blood or other potentially infectious material; and other injuries or illnesses, if the employee independently and voluntarily requests that their name not be entered on the report.

* The district will maintain all reports for use in the district's annual program review and updates.