Student HandbookPETTIS COUNTY R-XII SCHOOL
22675 Depot Rd., Sedalia, MO 65301 1-660-826-5385 Fax: 1-660-826-5452 Superintendent: Travis E. Moore Principal: Patrice Cook Counselor: Michelle Sherman Nurse: Diane Durrill Secretary: Darlene Meyer Mission Statement The Pettis County RXII School District, in partnership with the community, provides the highest quality learning environment to prepare and assist students in becoming responsible, self-motivated, contributing and ethical members of a global society. Pettis County R –XII School General Information ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE Students are allowed in the building at 7:40 a.m. All classes begin at 8:05 and will dismiss at 3:10 p.m. for bus riders and 3:15 for walkers. Arrival/Departure Procedures: 1. The designated area for school bus loading/unloading will be in the north parking lot next to the handicapped parking area. 2. After buses arrive, elementary students will go to the gym and middle school students will go to the commons area. 3. Car pool students need to be picked up and dropped off at the main entrance on the east side of the building for student safety. 4. Students that walk home are to leave the building through the northeast bus doors. For safety reasons they are to remain on the west side of the street and are not to cross the street until they reach the 4-way stop. Students are to enter the building by the designated entrance once they arrive on school property to be safely supervised. VISITORS According to Board Policy KK of the School Board Manual, parents and patrons of the Pettis County RXII School may visit the school and join the Board in improving the instructional program. However, all visitors during the regular school day must check in at the administrative office prior to proceeding elsewhere in the building. The board and administration will not tolerate any person or persons whose presence disturb classes, school activities, or hinder the instructional process. If such persons will not leave the school premises upon request, the administrator may refer charges to the proper legal authorities. MEALS Breakfast is served from 7:45-8:05 a.m. Lunch and breakfast will be free for all students. Extra milk may be purchased for 35 cents and Middle School students may purchase a la carte items. We would prefer that payment be made in advance. QUARTERLY AWARDS After receiving their quarterly grade cards, we will recognize students in grades 1-8 for various awards including but not limited to; "A" & "B" Honor Roll, Citizenship, Reading, Attendance, and Individual Recognition by Teachers. (Perfect Attendance is attending school 100% of the time.) PROGRESS REPORTS Mid-term progress reports will be sent home each quarter for all students. Parents should sign these and return to school on the following Monday. In addition to progress reports, students will be assessed throughout the school year to determine if student progress is on grade level. PETTIS COUNTY R –XII SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICIES ATTENDANCE PHILOSOPHY (Policy JED): All students are expected to attend school on a regular basis, to be on time for the beginning of school, and to develop habits of punctuality, self-discipline, and responsibility. A direct relationship between poor attendance and class failure exists. Students who have good attendance generally achieve higher grades, enjoy school more, and are much more attractive to prospective employers after leaving high school than students who have high absenteeism. By encouraging regular attendance policies, parents will be helping their children enormously. Students in grades 5 and under must be accompanied by a parent or adult to all after school activities. Excused: The following are acceptable reasons for an absence or tardy to be classified excused: personal illness, family illness, doctor or dentist appointment, death in family or attendance at a funeral, participation in school sanctioned activity, religious holiday, or circumstances so designated by the administration. Unexcused: Any absence or tardy that does not fall into the other categories. Oversleeping will not be an excused tardy. Health Room: The Pettis County RXII School does have a school nurse on staff. In case of illness, such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or other signs of illness, parents will be contacted to pick up their child. PROCEDURES 1. A parent should call the secretary’s office, ext. 100, before 10:00 a.m. on the morning of the absence. The school will need to know the name of the child, grade, reason for absence, and the relationship of the caller. The requests for assignment should also be made at this time. 2. If a call cannot be made, then a note, signed and dated by the parent, must be sent with the student the day he/she returns to school. The note should explain the reason for the absence and be signed by a parent/guardian. 3. If there is no contact from home explaining the absence, it will be unexcused. 4. Students must be present in school for at least ½ of the day in order to participate in any after school activity. 5. Students who are suspended from school for disciplinary reasons will have that number of days charged against their attendance record as excused absences. 6. Unexcused Tardies (per quarter): Tardiness will normally be excused for bad weather, illness, or doctor/dental appointments. Oversleeping will not be an excused tardy. A contact with parents will be held after the third late arrival. Three unexcused tardies will result in a detention. We are required to keep a record of the illnesses students have during the school year and report weekly to the Pettis County Health Center. Therefore, when you report that your child is ill, please include the symptoms such as: fever, rash, sore throat or the name of the specific disease. MAKE -UP POLICY FOR ABSENCES 1. Excused Absences: Teachers are to make every effort to help the student make up the worked missed. Students are required to make up all missing assignments. a. Students are responsible for requesting missing assignments. b. All homework must be completed as designated by policy. c. In cases of extreme absence and or tardiness, the parents will be contacted. After said contact, if the problem persists, the proper authorities will be notified. d. If you know your child will be missing school for consecutive days (family vacation), please contact the teacher to arrange the student work to be completed prior to the absence. HOMEWORK POLICY (NOT DUE TO ABSENTEEISM) Homework is a way of reinforcing and enriching the concepts that students learn in school each day. It is valuable in that it helps your child establish independent study habits and self-discipline. Kindergarten through grade two does most of their work at school. Grades three through eight often do not have enough time to complete assignments in all subject areas at school; therefore, students must take incomplete work home. It is the student’s responsibility to complete all assignments. If not completed, students in grades K-5 may be required to spend recess time or “Exploratory” classes completing their work. If the assignment is not completed, students will be graded on their incomplete work. Students making up missed assignments due to an excused absence will be allowed the number of days absent to complete missing assignments. As a parent, it is important that you take an active role in your child’s school work. Please show an interest in what your child is working on and assist them with it as well to help make this a successful school year. In cases of extreme absence and tardiness, the parents will be contacted. At that time, the administration and board will expect parents to resolve this situation by being certain that their child/children are in attendance. After parent contact, if the problem continues to exist, the proper authorities will be notified. GRADING SYSTEM A district wide system has been developed to allow uniform grading systems for students in all classes. Quarterly grades will be based on test scores and daily assignments. Middle School grades will be weighted with test scores counting 50% and daily assignments counting 50% when averaging grades. Grades third through fifth will not be weighted and PreK-Second will use a checklist. The grading system is a measurement of student achievement in each class. Art, Music, P.E., and Technology Classes will be used to determine honor roll. These scores indicate the letter grade for all classes. A 95.5-100% A 89.5-95% B+ 86.5-89% B 82.5-86% B 79.5-82% C+ 76.5-79% C 72.5-76% C 69.5-72% D+ 66.5-69% D 62.5-66% D 59.5-62% F 59% and below STUDY SKILLS Dragon Time has been created for the Middle School students to use as a study hall, obtain additional assistance on assignments, or obtain help with basic study skills. If class meetings are necessary, they will be held during this time. Students, who have earned one or more failing grades in the core subjects, may be recommended to an after school Homework Helpers to assist your child in completing their homework assignments. Those students may be dismissed from this service at the end of the grading period if they have no failing grades in the core subjects. However, if any student has a failing grade in a core subject at the end of the grading period, he/she can be added to this service for the remainder of the school year. DRESS CODE (Policy JFCA) School dress should be comfortable and appropriate for the learning situation, rather than distracting or disruptive to the educational process. Narrow strap shirts (less than 2” wide), low-cut shirts/blouses, and those that expose the stomach or chest are prohibited. All skirts, shorts, skorts and dresses shall be of an appropriate length. No “sagging” of pants/shorts. Students may not wear caps, do-rags, or sunglasses in the school building without prior permission. Clothing which advertise alcohol, drugs, (products which are illegal for students to purchase), or use obscene language and or are vulgar are prohibited. Pajama and or lounging pants are not permitted, and all students must wear shoes for safety reasons. Clothing must not have holes that would attract attention, and cause a distraction to the educational process. Teachers will send those students wearing inappropriate attire to the principal, where they may be instructed to change into school issued clothing for the remainder of the day, and or change into something appropriate if they have that available. All school provided clothing is to be returned the following day. Parent contact will also be made. If a 2nd offense occurs, the student will be considered “insubordinate” and the discipline policy for that shall be followed. The dress code applies to all students and is expected to be enforced during all school functions. GUM CHEWING In order to protect the cleanliness of our facilities and grounds, students are not allowed to chew gum on the premises. TELEPHONE MESSAGES/CELL PHONES Students will be allowed to call home for parents to bring items such as clothing, homework, supplies, etc in the office with school personnel permission. In case of illness or injury parents will always be notified immediately by school personnel.. Due to State Liability Guidelines, permission by phone for participation in a school sponsored activity will not be allowed. Cell phones will be allowed in the school building for MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. Students will be restricted to using their cell phones/tablets during breakfast and at lunch. Teachers may give permission to utilize them for learning activities as well. If cell phones are used at any other time they will be confiscated. Confiscated cell phones will be given to the principal. Parents are responsible to make arrangements for getting their child’s cell phone back. Please refer to the Discipline Policy for “Technology Misconduct” for further information. STUDENT USE OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES Students will have access to web-based tools, digital resources, and applications that support curricular objectives, and these online services may collect, use and disclose personal information (such as student names and email addresses), but only for the use and benefit of the school for the purpose of student learning. In accordance with Board policies and regulations, students will be strongly discouraged from providing any other personal information. Parents/guardians should contact their child’s teacher if additional information is needed about websites and online services being used for learning in their child’s classes. ISS Homework will be turned in at the end of the day students serve ISS. Failure to complete all assignments during ISS may result in another day of ISS. Any student receiving an ISS will not be allowed to participate in field trips or extra-curricular activities until the day after serving the ISS. OSS A student may temporarily be suspended from school for major disciplinary problems as determined by the principal or assistant principal. Students suspended out-of-school are not to be on district property or to attend school functions. The principal will work with students and parents regarding suspension. Students suspended from school are encouraged to keep up with class work but will not be allowed credit for work completed while suspended from school. DEMERITS/DETENTIONS In order to establish a safe and efficient learning environment for our students, demerits will be issued by all middle school teachers when necessary. An accumulation of three demerits from each individual class results in a visit to the principal and an after school detention. Upon assigning a detention for a student, the principal will contact the parents by phone for notification. On receiving the fourth detention for that particular class, the student may be assigned to ISS by the Principal and possible referral to the CARE team. Detentions may be assigned by any teacher for any infraction of the school discipline code. Detention Slips should be signed by parents or guardians and returned the next school day. If not returned, signed, then parental contact by phone will be attempted to schedule the detention date/time. If after scheduling detention with parent/guardian, and student fails to stay for detention, they may be assigned to ISS ELIGIBILITY - EXTRA CURRICULAR Students will have no grade of F and carry at least a C– average in all classes. Grades will be checked every two weeks. Students must attend 80% of practices to be eligible for games. Ineligible athletes/participants will be expected to practice with the team but cannot participate in contests and/or games. They are also not allowed to travel to the event. Extracurricular activities include but are not limited to: Soccer, Basketball, Art club, or any other after school club or activity. Pettis County R -XII School District Parent Permission Letter Internet Permission Form Pettis County R -XII School provides access to the Internet via the District's Network. To gain access to the Internet, all students under the age of 18 must obtain parental permission and must sign and return this form to the office. Access to the Internet will provide students access to various resources which can be utilized for classroom instruction. Families should be warned that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items tat are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate or potentially offensive to some people. It is our intent to make Internet access available to further educational goals and objectives. The District provides Screen Door as a filtering program in an effort to block sites that been classified as inappropriate for children. Even with safeguards in place, they are not inclusive and students may find ways to access other materials as well. We believe that the benefits for students receive from utilizing the Internet exceed any disadvantage. But ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting standards for their children to follow when using Internet resources. The Pettis County R -XII School District support and respect each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for access. District Internet Rules:
1. Sharing confidential information about others. 2. Send or display offensive messages or pictures. 3. Use obscene language. 4. Harass, insult or attack others. 5. Engage in practices that threaten the network 6. Violate copyright laws. 7. Use other student's passwords. 8. Trespass in other students or teacher's folders, documents, or files. 9. Intentionally waste limited resources. 10. Employ the network for commercial purposes. 11. Promote, support or celebrate religion or religious institutions. 12. Use the network resources to play internet games or other non-educational entertainment. 13. Damage computers or computer networks 14. Use chat rooms 15. Use email for other than educational purposes. Violations may result in a loss of access as well as other disciplinary or legal action.FILE: EHB-AF2 Critical TECHNOLOGY USAGE I have read the Pettis County R-XII School District Technology Usage policy and procedure and agree to abide by their provisions. I understand that violation of these provisions may result in disciplinary action taken against me including, but not limited to, suspension or revocation of my access to district technology and suspension or expulsion from school. I understand that my use of the district’s technology resources is not private and that the school district may monitor my electronic communications and all other use of district technology resources. I consent to district interception of or access to all of my electronic communications using district technology resources as well as downloaded material and all data I store on the district’s technology resources, including deleted files, pursuant to state and federal law, even if the district’s technology resources are accessed remotely. I understand that this form will be effective for the duration of my attendance in the district unless revoked or changed by the district or me. _______________________________________ _______________________ Signature of Student Date Name of School: Pettis County R-XII School Implemented: 9-12-01 Revised: 2-13-08 Pettis County R-XII School District, Sedalia, Missouri COMMUNICABLE DISEASES REQUIRING EXCLUSION FROM SCHOOL The Pettis County R-XII School recognizes its responsibility to protect the health of students and employees from the risks posed by infectious diseases. The district also has the responsibility to uphold the rights of affected individuals to privacy and confidentiality to attend school and to be treated in a nondiscriminatory manner. Missouri Law requires that children with contagious diseases be excluded from school until medical clearance is received. If you suspect or know that your child has a contagious disease, please notify the school health office. Be sure to inform them about the type of symptoms or illness your child is experiencing. A student should not be in attendance and will be sent home for any of the following:
Description of Pettis County R-XII School Health Program Children must be healthy and function in a healthy environment for learning to occur. The School Health Program strengthens and facilitates the educational process by identifying and modifying health-related barriers to learning for individual students and by promoting an optimal level of wellness for all students and staff. This program will not replace the care your child gets from your regular doctor or clinic, but will provide the following services:
Excluding students who have contagious diseases from attendance when authorized by law Monitor communicable diseases and report weekly to the Pettis County Health Center
Screening Programs “Screening” is the use of a procedure to examine a large population to determine the presence of a health condition or risk factor in order to identify those who need further evaluation. Students may be excused from any screening upon receipt of a written request from the student’s parent/guardian. The district’s screening plan is: *Vision, Hearing, Height/Weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) – Students in grades Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 will participate in this screening the fall of each school year. Kindergarten students will be screened during kindergarten enrollment. All new students and any student referred by a parent/guardian or teacher will also be screened. Any student who has difficulty with the initial screening will be re-screened within two weeks. If the student has difficulty with the re-screen, the parent/guardian will be notified and encouraged to take their child to a doctor for further evaluation. *Spinal Screening - Once a year, 5th grade girls and 8th grade boys and girls will be screened for spinal abnormalities such as scoliosis and kyphosis. A parental permission slip will be sent home prior to this screening. Any abnormalities will be reported to the parent/guardian. The parent/guardian will be encouraged to take the child to a doctor for further evaluation. *Head Lice Screening - Students in grades Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 will have their heads checked for head lice at the beginning of the school year. All students may be screened at other times during the year depending on their exposure to a lice infestation. New students will also be screened. If head lice or nits are discovered, a parent/guardian will be notified. *Dental Screening - Students in grades Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 will have a dental screening in the fall of the school year. A parental permission slip will be sent home prior to this screening. Positive and negative results of the screening will be sent home in a note with the student. Students with positive results will be encouraged to see a dentist for further evaluation. POLICY FOR DISPENSING MEDICATION AT SCHOOL The administration of medication, including over-the-counter medication, is a nursing activity which must be performed by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse. The Pettis County R-XII School nurse will supervise administration of all medication given daily. In the absence of the nurse, trained staff will administer the medication. The Pettis County R-XII School District recognizes that some students may require medication to enable them to remain in school and participate in the district’s educational services. Medications will only be administered at school when it is not possible or effective for the student to receive the medication at home. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to arrange to administer medications themselves when possible. Basic Medication Protocols
*Current date *Name of medication *The time to give the medication *The exact dose of the medication to give Over-the-counter medication must be in the manufacturer’s original packaging and will only be administered in accordance with the manufacturer’s label. Tylenol can be administered with parental permission. This is included on the medication/first aid supplies form and will be effective for the school year.
Emergency Medications The Pettis County R-XII School District maintains prefilled epinephrine auto syringes and asthma-related rescue medications. The school nurse or another employee trained and supervised by the school nurse may administer these medications when they believe, based on training, that a student is having a life threatening anaphylactic reaction or life threatening asthma episode. Possession and Self-Administration of Medications Students may possess and self-administer medications for the treatment of asthma, anaphylaxis and other chronic health conditions if all the following conditions are met:
Right to Know At the beginning of each school year, a participating school district must notify the parents/guardians of each student attending a building that receives Title I funds that the parents/guardians may request, and the district will provide in a timely manner, information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers. Title I Grievance Procedure Any parent, other individual, or organization alleging a violation of state or federal laws, rules or regulations or an approved application by the School District in the administration of Title I shall file with the Superintendent of School a written complaint containing the specific nature of the alleged violation, the time and place of the violation, and related details of the alleged violation. The Superintendent of School shall cause a review of the written complaint to be conducted and a written response mailed to the complainant within ten (10) working days after receipt of the written complaint. A copy of the written complaint and the superintendent’s response shall be provided each member of submit a written appeal to the Board of Education indicating with particularity the nature of disagreement with the response and his/her reasons underlying such disagreement. The Board of Education shall consider the appeal at its regularly scheduled board meeting following receipt of the response. The Board of Education shall permit the complainant to address the Board in public or closed session, as appropriate and lawful, concerning his/her complaint and shall provide the complainant with its written decision in the matter as expeditiously as possible following completion of the hearing. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the action taken by the Board of Education, a written notice stating the reasons for dissatisfaction shall be filed within fifteen (15) working days following resolution of the complaint by the Board of Education with the state director of Title I. The state director of Title I will initiate an investigation and determine the facts relating to the complaint and issue notice of his findings to the Board of Education and the complainant. If the findings support the allegations of the complainant, the Board of Education will be requested to take corrective action. If the findings support actions taken by the Board of Education, The Board’s action will stand. Public Notice All responsible public agencies are required to locate, evaluate, and identify children with disabilities who are under the jurisdiction of the agency, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, children who live outside the district but are attending a private school within the district, highly mobile children, such as migrant and homeless children, children who are wards of the state, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade. The Pettis County R-XII School District assures that it will provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 under its jurisdiction. Disabilities include autism, deaf/blindness, emotional disorders, hearing impairment and deafness, mental retardation/intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment/blindness and young child with a developmental delay. The Pettis County R-XII School District assures that it will provide information and referral services necessary to assist the State in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps program. The Pettis County R-XII School District assures that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the agency for the purposes of identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE of children with disabilities may be inspected and/or reviewed by their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians may request amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The Pettis County R-XII School District has developed a Local Compliance Plan for the implementation of State Regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This plan contains the agency’s policies and procedures regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agency’s assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act (GEPA). This plan may be reviewed at the Pettis County R-XII School District Superintendent’s Office at 22675 Depot Rd, Sedalia, MO 65301 between the hours of 8:00 and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate. Pettis County R-XII Section 504 Procedures Identification, Evaluation, and Placement of Students Suspected of Having Disabilities under Section 504 These procedures are pursuant to Board Policy # IGBA-AP3 adopted 8/15/07. School districts have child find responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The following procedures apply to the identification, evaluation, and placement of students suspected of having disabilities under Section 504:
If the student is determined ineligible under IDEA, the Special Services Director or designee will consult with the District 504 Coordinator or designee to determine if a disability under Section 504 is suspected. If so, the identification process will resume with step 6, above. If a student is no longer eligible for IDEA services and is suspected of having a disability under Section 504, the process begins at Step 6, above. Note: For timelines not specified in board policy, IDEA timelines will be used for guidance in the identification, evaluation, and placement of students under Section 504. * * * * * * Pupil Personal Information The Pettis County R-XII School system operates under the procedure of not making student information available unless permission is granted by parents, or as is provided in Section 438 of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by S.J. Resolution 40; 20 U.S. Code 1232g. There is certain directory type information, however, that the district may provide the general public. This information includes: student’s names; parent’s name; address; telephone number; age; grade level; participation in officially recognized activities and sports including audiovisual or photographic records; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; degrees, honors and awards received; most recent previous school attended; and photographs including photographs of regular school activities that do not disclose specific academic information about the child and/or would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy. In the event that any parents do not wish directory information released for currently enrolled students of the Pettis County R-XII School, they should provide notice in writing to the principal of their child’s school by September 9, 2011. Standard Complaint Resolutions Procedure For No Child Left Behind Programs This complaint resolution procedure applies to all programs administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). A complaint is a formal allegation that a specific federal or state law or regulation has been violated, misapplies, or misinterpreted by school district personnel or by Department of Education personnel. Any parent or guardian, surrogate parent, teacher, administrator school board member, or other person directly involved with an activity, program, or project operated under the general supervision of the Department may file a complaint. Such a complaint must be in writing and signed; it will provide specific details of the situation and indicate the law or regulation that is allegedly being violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted. The written, signed complaint must be filed and the resolution pursued in accordance with local district policy: JFH Student Complaints and Grievances. If the issue cannot be resolved at the local level, the complainant may file a complaint with the Missouri Department of Education. If there is no evidence that the parties have attempted in good faith to resolve the complaint at the local level, the Department may require the parties to do so and may provide technical assistance to facilitate such resolution. Any persons directly affected by the actions of the Department may file a similarly written complaint if they believe state or federal laws or regulations have been violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted by the Department itself. Anyone wanting more information about this procedure or how complaints are resolved may contact your local district or Department personnel. Policy Summary JFG The district will periodically search lockers and other school property. EHB-AP KKB Use of electronic communication devices and audio and visual recording equipment EHB EHB-AP No expectation of privacy in the use of district computers or other technology. EHB-AP1 The presence of asbestos and any inspections, re-inspections, surveillance, and response or post response actions taken IGAEB Notice to parents of their right to inspect materials used in sexuality instruction IGBCA Notice of the district's obligation to provide education to children who are homeless JFCJ ECA Policy regarding possession of weapons by students and others AC AC-AP Notice that the district does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex or disability; the procedures for reporting allegations of discrimination or harassment including the definitions of harassment and discrimination and the contact information for the compliance coordinator GBL Notice that parents can request information on the professional qualifications for their child’s teacher and if the child is receiving services from a paraprofessional, the paraprofessional’s qualifications as well. For information pertaining to Board Policies, please, contact Diane Durrill. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Each year the Pettis County R-XII School District is required to give notice of the various rights accorded to parents or students pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Parents and students have a right to be notified and informed in Accordance with FERPA; you are notified of the following: RIGHT TO INSPECT: You have the right to review and inspect substantially all of your or your child’s education records maintained by or at this institution. RIGHT TO PREVENT DISCLOSURES: You have the right to prevent disclosure of educational records to third parties with certain limited exceptions. It is the intent of this institution to limit the disclosure of information contained in your education records to those instances when prior written consent has been given to the disclosure, as an item of directory information of which you have not refused to permit disclosure, or under the provisions of FERPA which allow disclosure without prior written consent. RIGHT TO REQUEST AMENDMENT: You have the right to seek to have corrected any parts of an education record which you believe to be inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of your rights. This right includes the right to a hearing to present evidence that the record should be changed if this institution decides not to alter the education records according to your request. RIGHT TO COMPLAIN TO FERPA OFFICE: You have the right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C., 20202-4605, concerning the Pettis County R-XII School District in compliance with FERPA. DIRECTORY INFORMATION The Pettis County R-XII School District has designated certain information contained in the education records of its students as directory information for purposes of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The following information regarding students is considered directory information: 1. Name 2. Address 3. Telephone Number 4. Date and Place of Birth 5. Participation in officially recognized activities and sports 6. Dates of Attendance 7. Most recent previous school attended by the student 8. Photograph Directory information may be disclosed by the Pettis County R-XII School District for any purposes in its discretion without the consent of a parent of a student or an eligible student. Parents of students and eligible students have the right, however, to refuse to permit the designation of any or all of the above information as directory information. In that case, this information will not be disclosed except with the consent of a parent or student or as otherwise allowed by law. Any parent or student refusing to have any or all of the designated directory information disclosed must file written notification to this effect with the principal of the school which the student attends. In the event of notification of refusal is not filed, the Pettis County R-XII School District assumes that neither a parent of a student or an eligible student objects to the release of the directory information designated. Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) Inspection Any parent may inspect, upon request, any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum and all instructional materials, including teachers' manuals, films, tapes or other supplementary material, that will be used in connection with any survey, analysis or evaluation as part of any applicable program. Further, a parent may inspect, upon request, a survey created by a third party before the survey is administered or distributed by a school to a student. The term "instructional material" does not include academic tests or academic assessments. In general, the district will not collect, disclose or use personal student information for the purpose of marketing or selling that information or otherwise providing the information to others for that purpose. In the rare case where the district may collect information from students for the purpose of marketing or selling that information, parents may inspect any instrument used before the instrument is administered or distributed to a student, upon request and in accordance with Board policy. Consent Required In accordance with law, no student, as part of any program wholly or partially funded by the U.S. Department of Education, shall be required to submit to a survey, analysis or evaluation (hereafter referred to as "protected information survey") that reveals any of the following information without written consent of a parent:
Notice and Opportunity to Opt Out In accordance with law, parents will receive prior notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:
The district will directly notify parents at the beginning of the school year of the specific or approximate dates during the school year when the above-listed activities will occur or are expected to be scheduled. Notification of Policy and Privacy In accordance with law, parents will be directly notified of this policy at least annually at the beginning of the school year and within a reasonable period of time after any substantive change in the policy. The district will take measures to protect the identification and privacy of the students participating in a protected information survey, regardless of the source of funding. These measures may include limiting access to the completed surveys and the survey results as allowed by law. All student educational records will be protected in accordance with law and Board Policy JO. The provisions of this policy applicable to parents will transfer to a student who is 18 years old or emancipated. Pettis County R-XII School District Procedures Regarding Prevention and Crisis Intervention/Physical Restraint for Safety Promotion The Pettis County R-XII School District will/has develop[ed] and adopt[ed] policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. The Pettis Count R-XII School District will directly notify parents and eligible students of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Definitions: Emergency situation - when a child’s behavior places the child or others at risk of violence or injury if no intervention occurs. Physical restraint - utilizing physical assistance through natural body positioning and painless physical holding that helps the student choose to relax while preserving the student’s dignity. The least restrictive alternative is utilized while providing continuous feedback. Authorized personnel - trained practitioners and instructors holding current certification in the districts adopted behavioral crisis intervention program. Isolation room - a space designed to isolate a student that is unlocked, cannot be locked from the inside, without structural barriers to exit, free of any condition that could be a danger to the student, well ventilated, sufficiently lighted, and where school personnel are in direct visual contact with the student at all times. Such spaces must comply with all applicable state and local fire codes. Intent: The intent of these procedures is to ensure that student participation in school is free from unreasonable and unnecessary physical restraint and that such an intervention is used only in emergency situations after other less intrusive alternatives have failed or been deemed inappropriate. These procedures reflect a policy prohibiting corporal punishment. They promote the use of positive, preventive behavioral supports that significantly limit the need for physical intervention, restrict the use of physical force, and ensure that physical restraint is administered in the least intrusive manner possible. These procedures delineate appropriate practice in those instances where physical restraint is absolutely necessary to protect a student or students, staff and/or other school members from imminent, serious physical harm. The Pettis Count R-XII School District has established the procedures described in this document for the purposes of:
Emergency Situations: The Pettis Count R-XII School District is committed to maintaining a safe school environment. While the procedures contained herein direct the use of crisis intervention/physical restraint, they do not prohibit any teacher, employee or agent from using reasonable force to protect students, other persons or themselves from imminent, serious physical harm.
Each school year, The Pettis Count R-XII School District policies and procedures described in this document are reviewed and provided to all school staff and made available to parents. Others wishing to review a copy of this document can access it by inquiring at the principal's office. Within the first month of school, the staff training is conducted. Annual training shall include but not limited to:
Staff who is employed after the school year begins is provided this training as part of their initial orientation within the first month of their employment. The principal will develop a schedule for these professional development activities within prescribed timeframes.
1. Social and Emotional Learning for All Students: Social and emotional learning and positive behavioral supports for students are addressed as appropriate as part of ongoing school improvement and professional development plans:
2. Behavioral Interventions to Support Students Facing or Posing Behavioral Challenges: To support productive relationships, learning and to enhance connection to school for students who face or pose emotional or behavioral challenges, the following procedures are established in the Pettis Count R-XII School District:
3. Crisis Intervention - De-escalation Procedures: Despite the use of positive behavioral supports and interventions, there may be instances when the behavior of one or more students escalates beyond the student’s immediate control, creating danger of violence or self-injury. Safety precautions considered, the first course of action should be the application of specific intervention strategies designed to diffuse the situation by addressing students’ emotional needs and de-escalating the immediate behavior. The intent of de-escalation is to restore the student’s capacity to control the immediate impulse/behavior and move toward safer or more constructive resolution of the immediate problem situation. In the event of student behavior representing a crisis, trained personnel will employ de-escalation strategies derived from advanced training in a crisis intervention program. 4. Crisis Intervention - Physical Restraint: Restraint Procedures: It is the policy of the Pettis County R-XII School District that physical restraint/crisis intervention is used only in the following circumstances:
The Pettis County R-XII School District limits the use of such force to the amount and duration necessary and reasonable to protect a student or another member of the school community from assault or imminent, serious physical harm. In the event that physical restraint becomes necessary:
Physical restraint is prohibited in the following circumstances:
Restraint Procedures: The following safety procedures are in effect:
Only trained personnel authorized by the Pettis Count R-XII School District may administer physical restraint/crisis intervention with students. Whenever possible, the administration of a physical restraint/crisis intervention shall be witnessed by at least one adult who does not participate in the restraint. This training requirement does not preclude any teacher, employee or agent of the Pettis Count R-XII School District from using reasonable force necessary to protect students, other persons, or themselves from imminent, serious physical harm. A list of the staff that has received advanced training in the use of crisis intervention/physical restraint and is authorized either to administer restraint or to also serve as a school-wide resource to assist staff in ensuring proper administration of crisis interventions and physical restraint is available at the principal’s office. This list is updated annually by the Principal/designee. D. Advanced Training for Authorized Staff - Training Requirements: In addition to the basic training provided all staff regarding these procedures, advanced training is required for staff considered by the Pettis Count R-XII School District to be qualified to administer physical restraint/crisis intervention procedures with students. Documentation of completion of an advanced training program to include:
For staff designated to serve as staff trainers or resource persons for colleagues and parents in the use of crisis intervention/physical restraint, documented completion (and annual updates) of a trainers program to teach the elements delineated above is required. E. Reporting Instances of the Use of Physical Restraint/Crisis Intervention: As soon as possible, but not later than the next school day, the staff member who administers a physical restraint/crisis intervention submits a written report to the Principal, using the reporting format in Appendix A. The Administration maintains an ongoing written record of all reported instances of physical restraint. As soon as possible, but not later than two schools days, the student's parent(s) or guardian(s) are notified of the restraint incident in writing. Records of parent notification are maintained at the school. For students without established written behavior intervention plans an immediate attempt will be made to notify the parent by phone. F. Procedures for Investigating Complaints: Complaints regarding restraint practices should be submitted in writing to the principal. |
| discipline_policy.pdf |