Custody Court Orderss In Schools

Unfortunately, custody court orders are common in today’s society; for this reason, school personnel need to know about the legal relationships and boundaries between children and their parents, guardians, or caretakers. Not only must the principal be aware of these situations but all school employees who may have contact with the parties involved. At PPES, court orders are first reviewed by the principal and guidance counselor. The original paperwork is placed in the student’s cumulative folder; additionally, a copy is kept in a binder in the principal’s office for quick reference. To ensure student safety and that legal requirements are followed, office staff as well as the student’s teachers are apprised of the situation. We currently have fifteen active court orders.
Over the past several weeks we have been dealing with a custody issue that has slowly escalated. The situation began in May of the previous school year when the court removed the child from her mother’s care and gave temporary guardianship to the maternal grandfather. According to the court order, the mother is not allowed to have contact with the child unless the grandfather is present. Due to recent issues outside of the school setting, the grandfather requested that the child wait in the office in the afternoons and he walks into the office to …show more content…
Mr. Steagall immediately began to think of what could possibly happen the next morning and discussed how we would handle different scenarios. Because he has formed a relationship with the student’s grandfather, the principal felt comfortable in contacting and making him aware of the situation. As a principal faced with this circumstance, I will need to use forethought as to what could happen and be as proactive as possible. It will be my responsibility to maintain the safety of the students and staff while not causing unnecessary worry or