ARTICLE 15 TEACHER PROTECTION

Bristol Warren School District

A. Teacher

1. Teachers will immediately report all cases of threats, assault, battery, and/or personal injury in connection with their employment to the Superintendent of Schools through the principal, in writing.

2. When a teacher has been assaulted, the Committee will comply with any request from the teacher for information in its possession relating to the incident or the persons involved as permitted by law.

3. If criminal or civil proceedings are brought against a teacher alleging that he or she committed an assault and such assault occurred in the course of his or her employment and arose out of said employment, such teacher may request the School Committee to furnish legal counsel to defend him or her in such proceedings. The School Committee will evaluate the request and the circumstance of the charges and shall furnish counsel or reimbursement of reasonable counsel fees, if the teachers’ defense is deemed meritorious.

4. Teachers shall receive prompt (within one week) notification of pupils in their classes who have severe physical and/or emotional problems within the knowledge of the Administration. Teachers shall receive notification, updated as necessary, of those pupils who have special legal and/or family situations.

5. If a teacher, while acting in the discharge of his or her duties within the scope of his or her employment, is assaulted or injured on the job, the teacher will report the incident to his or her school principal or immediate supervisor who shall immediately notify the civil authorities.

6. All teachers in the Bristol Warren School System will be covered by Workers Compensation under the Rhode Island Workmen's Compensation Act.

a. Whenever a teacher is absent from school because of total incapacity to perform his or her usual duties due to assault, and/or battery, and/or injury, which arose out of, and in the course of, his or her employment, he or she will be paid his or her full salary (less the amount of any Workman's Compensation benefits paid for such incapacity) for the period of such absence up to one (1) year from the date of such injury and no part of such absence will be charged to his or her annual or accumulated sick leave. The School Committee shall have the right to require the teacher to be examined at any time by a physician designated by it, and the opinion of such physician shall be conclusive as to continued eligibility for payment.

7. All complaints to the Superintendent or Principal regarding a teacher must be in writing. If a written complaint is received, a meeting shall be arranged within five (5) school days among the parents, Superintendent, or designee, and/or Principal, teacher involved, student involved, and a Bristol Warren Education Association representative, if requested. A teacher may, if it is requested, receive a copy of the written complaint, and under normal circumstances, said meeting shall be held at least 24 hours after receipt.

8. The Committee will satisfy any judgment obtained by a third person in an action against a teacher arising out of administration of first aid to students where such administration by the teacher is a required and authorized activity in the performance of his or her duties, except in cases of willful misconduct of the teacher and provided the Committee receives written notice from the teacher within ten (10) days of the incident.

B. Property Damage

1. The School Committee will reimburse teachers in an amount not to exceed a total of $1,000.00 in any school year, for loss or damage or destruction, while on duty in the school, of personal property of a kind normally worn to or required to be brought into school, when the teacher has not been negligent, to the extent such loss is not covered by insurance and provided the particular loss, damage or destruction amounts to $20.00 or more. The term “personal property” shall not include cash or automobiles. The terms “loss,” “damage” and “destruction” shall not include the effects of normal wear, tear and use.

In order to receive said reimbursement the teacher shall:

a. Submit a sworn written statement to Administration with sufficient detail to explain what happened;

b. Submit documentation to show the value of the item damaged where available, as well as proof that said item has been replaced (where available) and the reasonable cost of the replacement;

c. Submit documentation verifying that the loss is not covered by other insurance.

2. Protective clothing shall be provided for all teachers in laboratory and shop areas. Failure to wear protective clothing when so provided will constitute negligence.

3. Teachers will immediately report incidents of property loss or damage to their school principal or immediate supervisor.