Who should be contacted to discuss the incident?

• A. The coach
• B. The student
• C. The cafeteria staff
• D. The student's parents/guardians

Answer: (D)

When a dating-violence incident is addressed in a school setting, the person who should be contacted to discuss it is the student’s parents or guardians. Guardians are responsible for the student’s safety and well-being, and they need to be informed so they can participate in decisions about support, safety planning, and any next steps with the school. Reaching out to guardians first also helps ensure privacy and appropriate coordination with resources like counseling or outside services, and it aligns with school policies that require involving families in significant student welfare matters.

Coaches and cafeteria staff aren’t the primary contacts for discussing and coordinating a response to this kind of incident; they may be involved in the broader context or as supportive figures, but they don’t hold the same authority or responsibility for guiding safety planning and communicating with the student’s family. Involving the student directly is important for support, but the discussion about next steps and resources typically happens with guardians to ensure the student has appropriate protection and advocacy.