SAI Assistant Principals Mentor/Mentee 2016- Five Topics to Consider

1. SAI Assistant Principals Mentor/Mentee 2016- Five Topics to Consider Matt Carver, J.D., Director of Legal Services tel - 515.267.1115 fax - 515.267.1066 email – mcarver@sai-iowa.org

2. Sexting Have a discussion in your district about when the district should begin educating students and parents/guardians about the dangers of sexting • Even elementary students have begun sending inappropriate photos to others (e.g., photo sent through school email) Ensure that you communicate to students and parents/ guardians regarding the fact that sexting is often child pornography (even if a student just knowingly keeps it) • A little fear is not necessarily a bad thing Remember that sexting is not protected speech within the confines of your school walls or at school activities

3. Discuss Policies, Investigative Processes & Confidentiality Restrictions with Parents/Guardians Discuss policies, investigative processes, and confidentiality restrictions on the front end when there are issues between students and/or students and staff members • Without discussion of processes and restrictions on the front end, families will often jump to conclusions that administrators do not care or are not taking any action • If you remember to discuss these areas at the beginning of an issue/dispute, then you will be able to remind the student and/or parents/guardians about that discussion at a later time

4. Work on identifying the heart of an issue when facing apparently irrational criticism If you are facing an apparently irrational level of criticism from a staff member, peer, supervisor, board member, or parent regarding your performance, ask yourself what might be at the heart of the criticism • The real problem likely has nothing to do with the present criticism, but a larger issue over trust or lack of communication • Is it possible that you may have done or said something that came across as a lack of support from the other person’s perspective

5. Child Custody Stay neutral in custody disputes and follow court orders concerning visitation and education decisions • Unless a staff member feels an ethical obligation to voluntarily side with one parent over another to look out for the best interests of a student, it is best to have each parent’s attorney subpoena staff or for staff to cooperate with both sides in a coordinated manner • Visitation - (e.g., Dad just wants to have lunch with son.) Special events, such as those open to the public may be handled differently • If a parent/grandparent/guardian is not pleased with the visitation language in a court decree, they may have their attorney attempt to have the decree amended • Schools are not required to hold a parent-teacher conference for each parent

6. No Contact Orders and Protective Orders No Contact Orders are covered under Iowa’s criminal law and cover a broader spectrum of situations Civil Protective Orders are narrower as they solely relate to situations of domestic abuse In Iowa, set distances are not typically used in no contact orders or protective orders The restrictions often relate to preventing interaction between the parties, whether in person or by other means Remember that school officials are required to follow these orders and that the well-being of the victim should not be compromised if a plan is created to educate both students