The Great Neck Public Schools Board of Education is considering a revision of the Policy on Reporting Child Abuse, Neglect and Maltreatment. The policy, developed by the board's policy committee, is a response to recent changes in the New York State Social Services Law, according to Board Trustee Fran Langsner, chair of the policy committee.

Ms. Langsner further explained that the revised policy would "strengthen the school district's ability to protect the welfare of all students."

The Policy on Reporting Child Abuse, Neglect and Maltreatment includes: rationale for reporting; penalties for failure to report; immunity and protection for the reporter; definitions of child abuse, neglect and maltreatment; staff reporting responsibilities; reporting procedures; confidentiality of reports; access to school records; physical examinations; interviews on school property; protective custody; court orders; reporting of deaths; and child abuse, neglect and maltreatment training.

Proposed revisions to this policy address several sections of the policy. The first revision concerns the section on rationale for reporting and expands the list of school professionals identified as school reporters. The second revision increases areas of immunity and protection for the reporter.

The section on staff reporting responsibilities addresses changes in reporting. The section on reporting procedures is also revised.

The section on confidentiality of reports adds: "The principal and the chief administrator in charge of pupil services will retain in their offices all information related to such reports."

There is a small change in the section on interviews on school property and another small change in the section on child abuse, neglect and maltreatment training.

The revised policy disseminated during the meeting also included a state form for reporting suspected children abuse or maltreatment.

Since this was only a first reading no board action was taken. The policy is scheduled to return for a second public hearing at the Dec. 10 board of education public action meeting.