Building Trust Through Safe and Responsible Communication

At Neenah Lutheran School, the safety and well-being of our students are central to our mission. We believe that communication between families, students, teachers, and staff should reflect our Christian values while maintaining appropriate and professional boundaries.

In accordance with Wisconsin Act 89, NLS has established expectations for how school employees and volunteers communicate with students. These guidelines promote transparency, accountability, and a safe learning environment.

Our Communication Expectations

To help protect students and maintain professional relationships, NLS follows these principles:

  • School-approved channels: School-related communication with students should take place through approved platforms, including official school email accounts.

  • Professional boundaries: Employees and volunteers are expected to maintain appropriate boundaries in all communication with students, including outside school hours.

  • Personal communication: Private text messages, personal email, and direct messaging through personal social media accounts should not be used for school-related conversations with students.

  • Transparency: Communications should be appropriate, school-related, and conducted in a manner that supports student safety and accountability.

These expectations apply to teachers, administrators, coaches, staff, and volunteers acting in their school-related roles.

Wisconsin Act 89

Wisconsin Act 89 requires schools to establish policies governing communication between employees, volunteers, and students. These policies address appropriate communication methods, professional boundaries, and student protection.

The law also includes annual employee training requirements focused on recognizing and preventing inappropriate behavior and maintaining safe interactions with students.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can parents still contact teachers directly?

1

Yes. Parents and guardians may continue communicating with teachers through official school email or other approved methods.

Can a teacher or coach text a student?

2

School-related communication with students should occur through approved communication channels rather than personal text messaging.

Does this apply to communication outside school hours?

3

Yes. Professional communication expectations remain in place during extracurricular activities, athletic events, and other school-related interactions outside the classroom.

Does this apply to coaches and volunteers?

5

Yes. Communication expectations apply to employees and volunteers when acting in their official school roles.

Are personal relationships with school staff prohibited?

4

No. These guidelines are intended to establish professional boundaries for school-related communication, not restrict appropriate personal relationships.

Why are these expectations important?

6

These practices promote student safety, protect professional boundaries, and help ensure school-related communication remains appropriate and transparent.