Stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions guidelines – Part 2

When managing an incident of student behaviour it is important for boards to determine exactly what happened, who was involved and who should be involved.

Ask these questions of your school

Do we know exactly what happened? Do we know the facts? [Refer Section 2: 6. Investigation and interviewing]

Do we know who was involved, both directly and indirectly? Did the behaviour involve one or more students? Did it involve bystanders, witnesses or electronic media such as the internet and/or cellphones?

Are there religious or cultural values to consider? Is a translator needed?

Do we know the effect of the behaviour on the student/s involved, the school and the local community? Can we deal with this matter in another way? [Refer Section 2: 8. Effects on others]

Do we need to inform all school staff? Does the local Social Worker in School, Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour or public health nurse need to be notified?

Does our Special Education Needs Coordinator need to be involved? Does our guidance counsellor/transition/careers advisor need to be involved?

Sometimes an incident of student behaviour can have wider implications.

Ask these questions of your school

Are there immediate safety issues for our students or school?

Do emergency services need to be contacted? Do we have an updated list of emergency service contacts? Does our insurance company need to be contacted?

Do we suspect abuse of any kind? Does it need to be reported to others?

Depending on the nature of the incident, it may be appropriate for your school to contact other agencies.

Ask these questions of your school

Do we know the full details about the situation and the behaviour? Do we call the Police if the behaviour has broken the law?

Note: Police should be called to investigate any incidents involving drugs, assault and serious dishonesty. The Police have the powers to conduct searches and investigations about illegal matters.

Have we considered contacting the local Ministry office to discuss support? Eg, Interim Response Fund, Refugee or Migrant Education Coordinator, Special Education Facilitator, Special Education.

Do we need to notify the local Ministry Traumatic Incident Coordinator? Do we have an up-to-date traumatic incident response plan and team?

Note: Any immediate safety issues concerning a student or school should be reported to the Police. When a serious incident occurs it is important that schools involve the Police and not leave this task to parents.

Note: Any issues concerning the welfare of a student under the age of 16 years should be reported to Child, Youth and Family.

• Principal’s Manual is included as a related download on this page. The Interim Response Fund, managed by regional Ministry managers, assists schools when student behaviour has reached crisis point. Contact your local regional office and ask to speak with the development officer managing the Interim Response Fund
  
• If you suspect a child or young person is being abused, tell Child, Youth and Family(external link) – ring 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459) – or the Police. When you contact Child, Youth and Family with a concern, this is called making a notification. A notification can be made at any time
• Information about appropriate instances to call the 111 emergency telephone line(external link)
• Local Police District telephone numbers(external link)
• Information about Youth Police Services(external link)
• Information about the law for young people(external link).

Example 1

A 14-year-old boy was assaulted on school grounds after school hours during a school team sports practice. The student sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment. The incident was recorded on a cellphone by another student and teachers were informed that the video clip was posted on the internet.

The school contacted the sports coach, and the parents of the children concerned, about the incident. The Police were contacted to intercept the video recording and block the internet site. Child, Youth and Family were contacted as both boys involved were under 16 years. All school staff and parents were informed of the incident. New policies were put in place covering supervision of students at after-school sports practice as well as cellphone use.

The principal suspended and the board later extended the suspension. The board imposed a number of conditions aimed at returning the student to school.

Example 2

A student was a chronic truant and had a complex family situation involving siblings at another school – prostitution, drugs, violence and gang connections. The principal referred the student to Strengthening Families and a meeting was held between the two schools. Work and Income, Housing New Zealand, Child, Youth and Family, and Police Youth Aid were also involved. However, the family refused to attend. The outcome was a combined intervention by the Police and Child, Youth and Family for the student. The secondary outcome was a strengthened relationship between the schools and agencies involved.

• The New Zealand Schools Trustees Association(external link) (NZSTA) represents and provides services to boards of trustees across New Zealand. NZSTA provides governance support services, industrial relations and advice free of charge. Boards of trustees can access the NZSTA National Office Trusteeship helpdesk for all matters relating to trusteeship. The Helpdesk is staffed five days a week during office hours, 8:00am to 5:00pm. 0800 STA HELP (0800 782 4357),
  fax (04) 473 4706, email helpdesk@nzsta.org.nz
• Legal advice can be obtained from Youth Law(external link) directly by telephoning (09) 309 6967 (free call: dial 010 and follow the instructions), fax: (09) 307 5243 or email: info@youthlaw.co.nz