Carmel Clay Schools considers revised policy on student interviews with police, DCS

By ASHLEY FOWLER & MICHAELA SPRINGER
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

The Carmel Clay Schools Board of Trustees is considering updates to a policy that outlines how and when students can be interviewed by law enforcement and the Indiana Department of Child Services.

During its meeting Monday night, the school board discussed various changes to its Schools and Government Agencies Policy, which was last revised on Nov. 28, 2008, and last reviewed in 2015.

The revised policy includes new language affirming that questioning or interviewing of students on school property by a government agency is “not allowed; however, exceptions may be made in exigent circumstances.”

As an exception, a Child Services (DCS) agent may interview a child without parental consent only if they “present their credentials upon arriving at the school” and if they “present a written statement that DCS has parent consent, a court order, or exigent circumstances as defined by Indiana law.” The revised policy will require a principal or other designee to “be present but not interfere throughout the proceedings.”

“I would hope that everyone under those circumstances would agree that if a parent or a guardian was the alleged perpetrator or knew about the abuse and did nothing to protect the child, those very limited circumstances, it would be appropriate not to notify the parent,” said Kristina Wheeler, Carmel Clay School Board member.

The revisions will also require school officials to immediately notify parents or guardians if their student has been taken from the school, as opposed to old language saying parents or guardians only need to be notified “before the time the student would normally arrive home on that day.”

This was a first reading. Anyone with concerns or questions is encouraged to contact the school by the board.

Click here to read the proposal.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/education/carmel-clay-considering-new-government-agencies-policy.