The Fairbanks North Star Borough School Board has advanced a policy that would guide implementation of sexual abuse awareness training for school staff and students. As KUAC’s Dan Bross reports, a recent abuse case has added weight to the discussion.
The policy being considered aligns with Erin’s Law, a statute approved in 12 states that requires sexual abuse awareness and prevention education for school staff and students. Erin’s Law has been introduced in the Alaska legislature, but has not passed. In Fairbanks, the case of a local high school tutor accused of sexually abusing a student has heightened the need for better awareness and prevention.
North Star Borough School Board President Heidi Haas pointed to the case as added reason the board should consider a formal policy. "Based on the last couple of months of growing discussions that we've had I think it's very apparent that the board supports the need for training and additional resources," she said.
Haas said the Erin’s policy would expand on training that’s already happening to some extent in the district, by better defining the issues. "Grooming behaviors and inappropriate contact and all of those types of things and what that looks like," she said.
The policy calls for age appropriate training for students in grades K through 12. Board member Sue Hull expressed general support for a local policy, but advised that the district proceed carefully in how it implements the training.
"I would hope when we do get to the instruction that would go to students, I hope we will involve parents and have a process that assures the public that there's been oversight outside of the education community, and I think it's wise for us to consider having an opt-out provision for those families that might be concerned about the appropriateness," Hull said.
Fellow school board member Wendy Dominique was less concerned, emphasizing that the focus of the policy is basic awareness. "It's something to put in place so that students can feel comfortable coming to a teacher and saying that 'we read this policy or we heard of the policy and we know that something like this is going on'," she said.
Borough attorney Jill Dolan pointed out that educators are already mandatory reporters of sexual abuse, and the district has a responsibility to protect students. Interim superintendent Karen Gaborik said abuse awareness and prevention curricula have yet to be developed, adding that initial emphasis would be on educating employees. The school board advanced the Erin’s Law policy for additional consideration at an upcoming meeting.
