Standards of Ethical Conduct

There is a legal penalty for not reporting suspected or alleged child abuse or alleged misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators. The Florida Abuse Hotline is 1-800-962-2873. The FCCS contact is the School Administrator’s Office- Mr. Richard L. Spain, Jr.

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1. Obligation to the student requires that the individual:

a. Shall manifest by precept and example the highest Christian virtue and personal decorum, serving as a Christian Role Model both at and away from FCCS, and as an example to all in judgment, dignity, respect, and Christian living;

b. Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning;

c. Shall not engage in personal relationships with students outside of the class-room that are inappropriate, familiar or of an immature manner;

d. Shall not invite students to overnight outings, whether in teacher’s home or otherwise;

e. Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement;

f. Shall not harass against any student;

g. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage; and,

h. Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.

i. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student’s mental and/or physical health and/or safety;

j. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights.

2. Obligation to the public requires that the individual:

a. Shall subscribe without reservation to the Articles of Faith and the Standards of Conduct of FCCS and agree to abide by these doctrines and standards in all aspects of my life, both at and away from ministry functions;

b. Shall understand that the bona fide occupational qualification of being a Christian Role Model includes, but is not limited to, abstaining from all acts of homosexuality, fornication, adultery, transvestitism and deviant gender identity;

c. As a full time teacher shall be an active member of an approved church, faithfully attending all public services and taking an active part in the total ministry program;

d. Shall not use institutional privileges for personal gain or advantage;

e. Shall accept no gratuity, gift, or favor that might influence professional judgment; and,

f. Shall offer no gratuity, gift, or favor to obtain special advantages.

3. Obligation to the profession of education requires that the individual:

a. Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings;

b. Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct contrary to First Coast Christian’s Statement of Faith, which unreasonably interferes with an individual's performance of professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable effort to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination;

c. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague;

d. Shall not use coercive means or promise special treatment to influence professional judgments of colleagues;

e. Shall not misrepresent one's own professional qualifications;

f. Shall not submit fraudulent information on any document in connection with professional activities;

g. Shall not make any fraudulent statement or fail to disclose a material fact in one's own or another's application for a professional position;

h. Shall not withhold information regarding a position from an applicant or misrepresent an assignment or conditions of employment;

i. Shall not assist entry into or continuance in the profession of any person known to be unqualified in accordance with these Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession.

j. Shall self-report within forty-eight (48) hours to the school administrator or pastor, any arrests/charges involving the abuse of a child or the sale and/or possession of a controlled substance. Such notice shall not be considered an admission of guilt nor shall such notice be admissible for any purpose in any proceeding, civil or criminal, administrative or judicial, investigatory or adjudicatory. In addition, shall self-report any conviction, finding of guilt, withholding of adjudication, commitment to a pretrial diversion program, or entering of a plea of guilty or Nolo Contendre for any criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation within forty-eight (48) hours after the final judgment. When handling sealed and expunged records disclosed under this rule, school districts shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of Sections 943.0585(4)(c) and 943.059(4)(c), Florida Statutes;

k. Shall report to appropriate authorities any known allegation of a violation of the Florida School Code or State Board of Education Rules as defined in Section 1012.795(1), Florida Statutes; and,

l. Shall seek no reprisal against any individual who has reported any allegation of a violation.

m. Shall remain loyal to the school leadership and First Coast Christian’s programs in word and action;

n. Shall abstain from the use of alcohol and tobacco products;

o. Shall not engage in any intimate sexual activity outside of a marriage between a member of the opposite sex, shall not engage in viewing pornography, and shall not make any attempt to alter gender by surgery or appearance;

q. Shall understand that homosexual conduct defined as acts or identifying statements, is incompatible with employment at First Coast Christian School and is a basis for dismissal.

r. Shall understand and agree that God’s command for my role as a member of the staff is for me to perform at the will of the school leadership. Following this command of God, I agree to perform all duties and responsibilities entrusted to me by the First Coast Christian School leadership.

Prohibition of Bullying and Harassment

All students and school employees have the right to an educational setting that is safe, secure, and free from harassment and bullying of any kind. First Coast Christian School will not tolerate bullying and harassment.

Updated: March 12, 2024

Bullying means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students and may involve but is not limited to:

1. Teasing

2. Social Exclusion

3. Threat

4. Intimidation

5. Stalking

6. Physical violence

7. Theft

8. Racial harassment

9. Public humiliation

10. Destruction of property

Harassment means any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal, or physical conduct directed against a student or school employee that:

• Places a student or school employee in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property;

• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's educational performance, opportunities, or benefits; or

• Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school.

Bullying and Harassment also include:

Retaliation against a student or school employee by another student or school employee for asserting or alleging an act of bullying or harassment. Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith is considered retaliation.

Training Requirement: All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these standards of ethical conduct.

Reporting Misconduct by Instructional Personnel and Administrators: All employees, educational support employees, and administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors.

Reports of misconduct of employees should be made to Rick Spain (904) 777-3040 extension 1100 or by email at rspain@myfccs.org.

Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to Rick Spain at (904)777-3040 extension 1100, by email at rspain@myfccs.org or Pastor Robert Riley (904)777-3040 extension 1200, by email at r.riley@fcbcjax.org.

Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida certified educators will be reported to the Office of Professional Practices Services. Policies and procedures for reporting misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student are posted on the cafeteria bulletin board. And on our Web site at http://www.myfccs.org/wp- content/uploads/2013/04/Ethics-and-Professional-Conduct.pdf

Updated: March 12, 2024

Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect

All employees and agents have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Call 1-800-96-ABUSE or report online at:http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.

Signs of Physical Abuse: The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries; broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home or may run away, shy away from physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.

Signs of Sexual Abuse: The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A child experiencing sexual abuse may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively, fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight suddenly, shy away from physical contact, or run away from home.

Signs of Neglect: The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.

Patterns of Abuse: Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.

Liability Protections

Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by law, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action. (F.S. 39.203)

An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed by the former or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S.

Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)

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_{Updated: March 12, 2024}