District reports suspected child abuse

The Sisters School District will report about 30 child abuse concerns this school year. These are 30 separate instances of reporting, Sisters School District superintendent Elaine Drakulich told The Nugget, not 30 separate cases of abuse.

"It could be the same student. It could be the same person reporting new information," she said.

Many of such reporting instances result in investigations by the Children's Services Division and/or the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office.

"I don't believe they (these investigations) have ended in a child removal from the home this year, but they have in the past," said Drakulich.

Abuse concerns happen in all grades, K-12.

"They are different kinds of issues, but all are categorized under child abuse," said Drakulich.

Under Oregon law school district employees are mandated to report child abuse.

"School employees are all mandatory reporters," said Drakulich. This includes the superintendent through custodians to parent volunteers who suspect child abuse, she said. If a school employee does not report child abuse, "it's illegal, and the employee can lose his or her certification," she added.

After the district files a report, Children's Services Division and/or the Sheriff determine whether or not they are going to create a case file and/or investigate the information they receive over time.

Reports filed by members of the Sisters School District staff could result in a child being removed from his or her home.

"We have no control over that," Drakulich said. "Sometimes the report means that a child is removed; sometimes it means that three or four times down the road after other people have reported, then they will make an actual visit and investigate."

According to Drakulich, as of February 2008 all school district employees must undergo mandated training and review of child abuse policies. The same training will also be available to district students and parents.

This training and review will for the first time be available via the Internet. "Beginning April 1, the High Desert ESD (Educational Services District) will provide us with a link (via the Internet) for child abuse reporting," said Drakulich.

The link will discuss the symptoms of child abuse and provide steps for reporting and verifying such abuse.

"This is a new law, and our own staff will probably get online and take this (online training) also," said Drakulich.