The Division of Drinking Water (DDW), in collaboration with the California Department of Education, has taken the initiative to begin testing for lead in drinking water at all public K-12 schools. In early 2017, DDW and Local Primacy Agencies issued amendments to the domestic water supply permits of approximately 1,200 community water systems so that schools that are served by a public water system could request assistance from their public water system to conduct water sampling for lead and receive technical assistance if an elevated lead sample is found. To further safeguard water quality in California’s K-12 public schools, California Assembly Bill 746 published on October 12, 2017, effective January 1, 2018, requires community water system to test lead levels, by July 1, 2019, in drinking water at all California public, K-12 school sites that were constructed before January 1, 2010. Source
Moraga School District schools were tested by the East Bay Municipal Utility District for lead in drinking water in November 2017. Results, which include five samples from each site, are located here. Results were below the 15 PPB threshold and no further action is required at this time.
Student Safety
Student Safety Resources
Biking to School – Walking to School – Getting Home from School –
Your Child Home Alone - Cell Phones - Online Safety - Cyberbullying
Biking to School
Help Your Child Be a Safe Bicyclist (for parents); From the National Center for Safe Routes to School
Ride Your Bike Safely (for kids); From the National Center for Safe Routes to School
The ABC Quick Check (teaches kids a quick check to perform before every bike ride); From the League of American Bicyclists
Walking to School
Tips for Parents and Other Adults for Teaching Pedestrian Safety to Children; From the National Center for Safe Routes to School
Helping Children Learn Pedestrian Safety Skills: Overview for Parents and Caregivers
Tips for Walking Safely to School (for kids); From the National Center for Safe Routes to School
Getting Home from School
How Can I Teach Kids to be Smart About Strangers (article for parents);
Real-World Safety Rules (personal safety agreements for different ages);
Your Child Home Alone
Leaving Your Child Home Alone (article for parents);
Cell Phones
Cell Phone Tips (article for parents about kids’ cell phones)
A Sample Cell Phone Contract for Parents and Tweens
Online Safety
Family Contract for Online Safety (contracts for kids, teens, and parents)
Protecting Your Kids Online (tip sheet for parents)
Tips for Tweens (tips about online safety and cyberbullying for kids)
Tips for Teens (tips about online safety and cyberbullying for teens)
Tips to Prevent Sexting for Teens
Tips to Prevent Sexting (for parents, includes tips for teens)
For more information, please visit the NETSMARTZ website (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children).
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying Unplugged (for parents);
Tips for Tweens (tips about online safety and cyberbullying for kids);
Tips for Teens (tips about online safety and cyberbullying for teens);
For more about online safety, there is a wide variety of resources on the Common Sense Media website.
The links, addresses and Internet sites are not sponsored by the MSD. This information is made available as a courtesy to parents who must assess the value of usefulness of the information for themselves.
1. If you suspect that a child you know is being abused or neglected, call the 24-hour, seven-day a week Hotline Toll Free at 1 (877) 881-1116.
2. You must make the report immediately by telephone and must prepare and send, fax, or electronically transmit a written report within 36 hours of receving the information regarding the incident. Click HERE for the written report, also referred to as SS 8572.
3. Click HERE for additional referral instructions
“Reasonable suspicion” occurs when “it is objectively reasonable for a person to entertain a suspicion, based upon facts that could cause a reasonable person in a like position, drawing, when appropriate, on his or her training and experience, to support child abuse or neglect.” (Penal Code 11166(a)(a))
As educators, our most important duty is the protection of the children in our care. California Education Code requires the California Department of Education to adopt guidelines parents and guardians can follow to report child abuse. The following information, sent March 5, 2014 to California school districts from State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, will assist parents and guardians in determining whether or not child abuse has occurred and, if so, how to file a complaint of child abuse with local law enforcement. This information has been taken from the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act in the California Penal Code and from sections of the California Education Code. The guidelines and procedures can be accessed online HERE.
CA Child Abuse Neglect and Reporting Law
(pdf document: Who are mandated reporters? Why must you report? What do you have to report? When do you have to report? To Whom must you report? Immunity and Safeguards for Mandated Reporters; Liability for failure to make a required report; Responsibilities for agencies employing mandated reporters; Feedback to Mandated reporters)
Contra Costa County Child Abuse Prevention Council Web Site
Child Abuse Prevention Council "Surviving Parenthood" Resource
(pdf document: Excellent resource for: emergency phone numbers, health services, mental health services, legal assistance and advice, choosing child care, child abuse prevention, intervention and treatment services, crisis services, parent support services, special needs, gay and lesbian services, services for multi-ethnic groups, substance abuse and treatment services, affordable housing and shelters, food assistance and more.)
