The Bellefonte Area School District has clarified the forms that accompany the district’s child abuse policy.

The school board approved the action Tuesday night.

“We wanted to make it more explicit,” said Assistant Superintendent Michelle Saylor. “Everybody is a mandated reporter.”

The district’s policy on reporting child abuse has not changed. Saylor said employees sign a form each year acknowledging they are mandated reporters of abuse, and new employees sign it upon their hire.

The district also uses a one-page data collection form for each incident that mostly asks for details related to the phone call the district must make to the state’s 24-hour ChildLine abuse registry.

“I think one of the things we made more clear is that ChildLine needs to be contacted,” Saylor said. “And, again, just re-emphasizing the point that it’s everyone’s responsibility.”

A procedure form for the district’s mandated reporters outlines how to handle suspected abuse, by calling ChildLine and the county Office of Children and Youth Services, completing the data collection form, and ensuring the person who reported an incident is present for the ChildLine and CYS phone calls, among other procedures.

Jessica VanderKolk can be reached at 235-3910. Follow her on Twitter @jVanReporter