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Nichols makes policy changes to prevent inappropriate relationships

The Nichols School has put policies in place to prevent inappropriate relationships between students and teachers.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The most recent incident in the report released by the Nichols School on Friday is from more than a dozen years ago. Since then, the school has put many policies in place to prevent inappropriate relationships from happening.

2 On Your Side wanted to speak with someone from Nichols on Friday about the changes made since the 2000s to, as a letter sent to alumni says, "Make Nichols a very different place" from what's described in the report, but a spokesperson told us the school is letting the press release and report speak for themselves.

2 On Your Side's Erica Brecher contacted a majority of the members of the school's board of trustees, and those she reached were not willing to be interviewed for our story.

We can tell you that the school says it took guidance from a report released in August by the National Association of Independent Schools and the Association of Boarding Schools detailing best practices to prevent and address educator sexual misconduct. Nichols says many of the practices in the report were already in place.

The school also says it's had an on-campus Licensed Mental Health Counselor since 2013.

And, it brought experts in last fall to train faculty in how to better serve students as mentors and advisors.

Students also begin wellness classes in 5th grade where relationships topics are discussed, including the power dynamics of teachers, coaches, and students.

All students are also assigned to advisory groups that meet weekly. Last August, faculty and staff received extensive training in proper student-adult relationships.

And, the school also works with several foundations that promote sexual assault awareness and domestic violence awareness.

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