Ethics Training and Reporting

All Trinitas employees must affirm and sign the Trinitas Statement of Faith as a condition of employment. We believe the Bible is the very Word of God in its entirety and is our final authority in matters of faith and practice. Because all people are made in the image of God and we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves (Genesis 1:26; Matthew 22:39), these principles guide our ethical conduct at Trinitas.

Training requirement

All Trinitas instructional personnel 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 must report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student.

Reports of misconduct of employees should be made to James Cowart, Headmaster, at (850) 484-3515. Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to Ken McNeill, President of the Board of Governors, at (757) 675-4719.

Policies and procedures for reporting misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators affecting student health, safety, or welfare are posted on the bulletin board in the school kitchen, in the Trinitas Family Handbook, and on our website at trinitaschristian.org.

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: www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.

Liability protections

Any person, including those acting in a caregiver role, who reports known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect is presumed to be acting in good faith and is immune from liability under Florida law. This immunity extends to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from such report. Trinitas employees and agents also have immunity when they report misconduct following the school's adopted procedures for reporting misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators.

Professional ethical standards

Trinitas employees, educational support employees, and administrators who engage in misconduct are subject to discipline per Florida administrative code and Trinitas policy. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Failure to report child abuse
• Liquor law violations
• Violations of drug laws
• Gifts or gratuities from vendors or potential vendors
• Cheating or plagiarism
• Misuse of school funds
• Failure to report known criminal history
• Discrimination or harassment
• Sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct as outlined in the school policy manual
• Other behaviors that violate the trust placed in Trinitas faculty, staff, and administrators

Procedures and references

For procedures, employees should reference the Trinitas Family Handbook and the internal policy manual.