Charlotte County Public Schools Launches ‘Boundaries Build Trust’ Initiative

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — Charlotte County Public Schools is taking additional steps to strengthen student safeguards, reinforce professional boundaries, and provide a more accessible way for students, employees, families, and community members to report concerns about inappropriate employee behavior. 

The district is launching Boundaries Build Trust, a districtwide initiative focused on helping the school community recognize concerning behavior, trust when something does not seem right and know how to report a concern.

A key part of the initiative is a new online reporting tool that provides students, employees, families and community members with a direct way to report concerns about employee behavior, including the option to submit a report anonymously. Reports are reviewed by the appropriate district personnel for follow-up and next steps.

Individuals do not need to investigate a situation or determine whether misconduct has occurred before making a report. If an interaction, behavior or situation raises a concern, they are encouraged to speak up and allow the district to review the information.

“Protecting students requires clear expectations, strong safeguards and a school community that is willing to speak up when something does not seem right,” Superintendent Mark Vianello said. “Boundaries Build Trust gives our employees, students and families the information and tools they need to recognize concerns and report them so they can be addressed.” 

The District’s current and planned actions are organized around six key areas:

Putting these areas into practice is already underway. Recently, district and school leaders received specialized training from local law enforcement focused on recognizing concerning behaviors and responding appropriately when a student confides in a trusted adult. The training also reinforced the exact steps leaders must take to ensure concerns are handled promptly and appropriately. 

Through Boundaries Build Trust, the district will also increase awareness of appropriate adult-student boundaries, behaviors that may warrant concern and the responsibility everyone shares in speaking up when something does not seem right.

A detailed executive summary outlining the district’s current and planned action steps, educational resources, and access to the new online reporting tool is available online at https://www.yourcharlotteschools.net/boundaries-build-trust