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District-wide
policies and notifications
| Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) |
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As required
under FERPA, the district would like to inform
parents/guardians, and students 18 years of age or
older currently in attendance, to their right to:
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inspect
and review the student's education records,
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request
that records be amended to ensure that they are
accurate and not misleading, or otherwise in
violation of the student's privacy or other
rights, and
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control
disclosures from the student's education records,
with certain exceptions.
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| Public
relations use of student data/photos |
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From time to time, school
district officials may release student information (name, address, grade level,
photograph, art work, academic interest, participation in officially
recognized activities and sports, terms of school attendance and
graduation, awards received, etc.) for use in school district
publications or within school building Web sites, or to the media for
public relations purposes. Parents who object to the release of their
child's information and/or photograph should notify both their child's
building principal and the district's communications office, attn. Amy Zurlo, at 6076 State Farm Road, Guilderland, NY 12084, in writing on or before September 15 in any school year.
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| Release
of student information to military recruiters |
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Pursuant to the federal No
Child Left Behind Act, the school district must disclose to military
recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon request, the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of our high school juniors and seniors. However,
parents or students may request, in writing, that the district not
release such information. Parents, or students who are at least 18 years
old, wishing to exercise their option to withhold their consent to the
release of this information must contact the high school principal's
office by October 15 in any school year.
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Administrative
advisory:
Latex allergy alert |
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Latex allergy is dramatically
on the rise. In fact, one of our students is severely allergic to all
forms of latex products which in this case can be life threatening.
Exposure at even very low levels can trigger allergic reactions in some
sensitized individuals, leading to serious respiratory side effects such
as runny nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, breathing difficulty,
coughing spells and wheezing.
It is unrealistic for the
Guilderland Central School District to be able to ban latex from being
brought into all of our school buildings. We recognize that it is
difficult, if not impossible, to completely avoid all latex
allergy-causing products because they can be hidden or accidentally
introduced. Instead of a ban, school employees need to cooperatively
form a safety net around those children at risk. Knowledge about latex
containing products among school personnel, students and parents is a
key factor for reducing the risk of a severe latex reaction. Staff
should become aware of products containing latex and to use alternatives
whenever possible.
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Latex-Containing
Products (partial list): Balloons, surgical gloves, band-aids,
rubber bands, pencil erasers, some shoes and articles of clothing,
art supplies, and certain sporting equipment such as tennis balls.
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Possible Substitutes
for Latex-Containing Products: In some cases, mylar can
be used as a substitute for latex (i.e., balloons). Vinyl or
non-latex disposable gloves should be used in science labs and spill
kits. Also, vinyl erasers should be used as an alternative to
unidentified pencil erasers. Non-latex gloves should be used
throughout the school. Non-latex medical supplies should be used.
Barriers need to be provided between skin and any latex product if
no alternative is available (i.e., gym floors and mats).
The school nurse in each
building will take a lead role so that everyone understands what
products can cause a latex allergy, what the symptoms of an allergic
reaction are, what action to take, and where medications are stored. The
school nurse will develop a system of identifying children with
life-threatening allergies and be prepared to deal with allergic
reactions despite precautions. As district employees under the direction
of the school nurse and building principal, we can reduce a child’s
exposure to latex within a school setting by taking precautions as
outlined below:
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Identify a core team which
includes: the school nurse, a teacher, the principal, member of the
cafeteria staff, and social worker or counselor to work with parents
and latex-allergic students to develop a prevention plan, an
emergency health care plan, and an individualized health care plan.
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Ensure that all staff who
interact with the student on a regular basis understands latex
allergy, can recognize symptoms and know what to do in an emergency.
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Be prepared to handle a
reaction and designate school personnel who are properly trained to
administer medications, regardless of time or location.
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Make sure medications are
properly stored and easily accessible to designated school personnel
and that there is an emergency kit that contains a physician’s
standing order for epinephrine, the medication for an anaphylactic
reaction.
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Work with the
transportation supervisor to ensure that the school bus driver
recognizes the latex allergy symptoms and what to do if a reaction
occurs.
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Discuss appropriate
management of the latex allergy and strategies for handling field
trips with affected families.
In developing guidelines for
dealing with allergies, it is important for school personnel to work
with students, parents, and physicians to minimize risks and provide a
safe educational environment for the allergic student. Everyone has a
role to play: the family, the student, and the school officials.
If you have any additional
questions, please contact the school nurse or principal in your
building.
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Title
IX:
Discrimination laws |
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Title IX of the federal
government's education amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on
the basis of gender, race, national origin, creed, age, or handicap as
defined by law in education programs benefiting from federal assistance.
The Guilderland Central School District complies with the Title IX
provisions in its educational programs and activities. Any parent,
student or district employee who believes they have been discriminated
against should contact the district's Title IX coordinator,
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Susan Tangorre.
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| Pesticide
application notice |
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The Guilderland Central School
District is required by law to maintain a list of staff and persons in
parental relation who wish to receive forty-eight (48) hour prior
written notification of pesticide applications at relevant facilities.
To register and be on the list, please fill out a notification form -
located in the main office at each school building.
You may also
download a notification form here. (PDF)
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| Release
of children from school |
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Board of Education policy
provides for the release of children from school to authorized persons
only. Each year, parents will be asked to designate, in writing, any
persons so authorized.
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Computer Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) |
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Please click on a link below
to view the full text of the document.
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"No Idling" Policy |
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BOE policy: 8440, adopted
October 25, 2005
The Board of Education
recognizes the need to promote the health and safety of students and
staff and to protect the environment from harmful emissions found in bus
exhaust, in particular diesel exhaust, by eliminating the unnecessary
idling of all school buses on school property including all schools
within the District or at any school or school related activities to
which District students are transported. For purposes of this policy, an
“idling school bus” shall mean a school bus that is parked or stopped at
a school or other location and has its engine running. This policy
applies to the operation of every District-owned and/or contracted
school bus as well as other District-owned vehicles (i.e., maintenance
trucks). The District shall strive to eliminate all unnecessary idling
of school buses and District-owned vehicles such that idling time is
minimized in all aspects of operation.
In accordance with the Rules
and Regulations of the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC), excessive idling of certain vehicles is illegal in
New York State. State regulations provide in part that buses exceeding
8,500 pounds and designed primarily for transporting persons or
properties (i.e., “a heavy duty vehicle”) shall not idle for more than
five (5) consecutive minutes when not in motion unless otherwise
authorized by the regulations. Significantly, the state regulations
apply to a heavy duty vehicle whether or not powered by a diesel or
non-diesel fueled engine.
Further, the five (5)
consecutive minute limitation on idling applies to buses whether owned,
operated or leased; or to one who owns, leases or occupies land and has
the actual or apparent dominion or control over the operation of the bus
present on such land.
Exceptions to the five (5)
consecutive minute limitation on idling of school buses will be as
enumerated in state regulations and include, but are not limited to, the
following:
a) The bus is forced to remain motionless because of the traffic
conditions over which the driver has no control;
b) Idling to maintain an interior temperature of fifty (50) degrees
Fahrenheit when the outside temperature is less than fifty (50) degrees
or an interior temperature of seventy (70) degrees Fahrenheit when the
temperature outside is more than (80) degrees.
c) Auxiliary function such as wheelchair lifts if the operation requires
the engine to continue running.
d) When operation of the vehicle is required for maintenance, including
necessary pre-trip safety inspections.
This policy shall be posted at
the Transportation and Maintenance Departments; and the respective
supervisors shall provide training to bus drivers/transportation and
maintenance personnel on the District’s idling reduction program and
other practices for environmentally friendly bus and school vehicle
operations to reduce emissions and minimize exposure to exhaust.
Appropriate signage shall be posted at each school to remind drivers and
school staff of the policy.
Also, as may be applicable,
the District shall ensure that vendors and contract bus companies
receive a copy of the District policy regarding no idling and shall
provide any educational materials, regulations and/or procedures
developed by the District with regard to meeting training requirements
of the District’s idling reduction program. Vendors and contract bus
companies will be responsible to provide training for all currently
employed bus drivers, transportation, and delivery personnel. The
vendors and contract bus companies must also ensure that newly hired
drivers, upon employment, are informed of the District policy and
provided appropriate training regarding the expectations while on
campus.
The District shall otherwise
publish its No Idling Policy at its discretion which may include
publication in the local newspaper, District calendar, the district
website, and its local designated cable channel. Information shall be
included in the District’s transportation manual as well.
The District will
monitor and enforce compliance with this policy. Any person may report
incidents of noncompliance by contacting the Transportation Supervisor
or Maintenance Supervisor. Any significant violations by vendors and
contract bus companies of District policy and/or regulations regarding
excessive idling of vehicles while on a school campus shall result in
revocation of their contract and they may be subject to sanctions
provided for in law and/or regulations.
Ref.: State Regulations: 6 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)
Subpart 217-3
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Notification of
releases of Level 3 sex offenders |
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BOE policy: 5450.1, adopted February 7, 2006
The Board of
Education recognizes its responsibility to ensure the safety and
well-being of its students with respect to the notification of parents
and staff regarding the release from prison of sex offenders who then
choose to reside within school district boundaries. The Board of
Education acknowledges the efforts of the New York State Division of
Parole, the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and local law
enforcement agencies to inform the district when persons with a history
of sex offenses against children are being paroled into the community.
The purpose of such notification is to enlist the assistance of district
personnel in identifying such persons so that the Division and local law
enforcement personnel may act to prevent any new criminal activity. The
district shall cooperate with the police and parole agencies in this
endeavor.
The Board directs
the Superintendent of Schools to ensure the dissemination of any
identifying information provided by the Division of Parole and local law
enforcement agencies regarding level 3 sex offenders only to parents and
employees. The list of employees receiving the information will include
teachers, administrators, supervisors, bus drivers, monitors, security
personnel, teaching assistants, office staff, coaches, etc. Staff
members shall notify their supervisor or the principal immediately if
they observe any suspicious person(s) in an area where children
congregate. In turn, the supervisor or administrator shall be directed
to contact law enforcement agencies, if a paroled sex offender is so
observed.
The
Superintendent of Schools shall notify parents of students about the
release of level 3 sex offender information and remind them of the
security measures and personal safety instruction provided at school.
The
Superintendent shall establish any necessary regulations for
implementing this policy with the advice of the school attorney.
Cross-ref: 1120, School District Records
1240, Visitors to the Schools
5450, Student Safety
Ref: Shante D. v. City of New York, 83 NY2d 948 (1994)
Mirand v. City of New York, 84 NY2d 44 (1994)
Stoneking v. Bradford Area S.D., 882 F.2d 720 (2d Cir. 1989)
Guidelines for the Supervision of Sex Offenders (Revised), NYS
Div. of Parole, August 1994. Information relating to Notification by
Parole of Release of Sex Offenders, Memorandum to Superintendent of
Schools from Executive Director, NYS Council of School Superintendents,
November 9, 1994
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