Client Need and Issue:
The school district faced a grave challenge when a second sexual assault incident committed by the same student came to light. The student was transferred from one school to another within the district without resolving the initial sexual assault complaint. This triggered an investigation by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and significant media outcry, spotlighting the district’s insufficient handling of the situation. The School Board and Superintendent faced pressure, with calls for dismissal and a demand for change.
TNG Approach and Solution:
TNG was brought on board to navigate this multifaceted crisis. Recognizing the seriousness of the issue—legally, ethically, and in keeping the community’s trust—TNG acted as an adjudicator for the cases. This pivotal move required TNG to step into a logistical and legal management role to attend to the immediate incident and the broader implications affecting the school district’s policies and future incident management.
TNG provided the legal and media responses necessary for the school district to withstand the immediate storm. TNG aided in the decision-making process, and recommendations extended to an overhaul of policies and practices, recognizing the need for alignment with the district’s current compliance requirements.
Additionally, TNG uncovered inadequacies in the school district’s existing policies that had allowed the repeat offenses to occur. Acknowledging that the mishandled incident stemmed from systemic issues, TNG guided the district in hiring qualified personnel, including a dedicated Title IX Coordinator and investigators trained to oversee sensitive matters.
Outcome:
Through TNG’s comprehensive solutions, the school district made significant strides in reforming its approach to the management of sexual assault incidents. Surpassing mere crisis management, TNG’s intervention led to systemic improvements that positioned the school district as compliant and better equipped to protect its students. The district’s transparent engagement with TNG implemented changes that slowly restored community trust and established a framework to prevent future incidents.
Additional Details:
TNG continued adjudicating the school district’s related matters, moving beyond the singular crisis to anticipate and address potential problems. With TNG’s assistance, the district began to conduct feedback sessions to identify and strengthen areas of weakness in their institutional responses.