Quick Links
Skip to main contentSkip to navigation

Fullerton Public Schools

District

Working...

Ajax Loading Image

 

5000 Series Policies - Policies Regarding the School District's Students

5000 Series Policies

 

INDEX

 

 

5000          Policies Regarding the School District's Students

5001          Attendance and Excessive Absenteeism

5002          Admission of Students

5003          Admission of Part-Time Students

5004          Option Enrollment (and capacity resolution)

5006          Foreign Exchange Students

5007          Enrollment of Expelled Students

5008          Pregnant or Parenting Students

5009          Adult Education

5010          Immunizations

5011          Physical and Visual Examination of Students

5012          Testing and Assessment Program

5014          Homeless Students

5015          Protection of Pupil Rights

5016          Student Records

5018          Parent and Guardian Involvement in Education Practices

5019          Communicating with Parents

5020          Rights of Custodial and Non-Custodial Parents

5022          Investigations and Arrests by Police or Other Law Enforcement Officers

5023          Student Illness

5024          Administration of Medication of Students

5025          Student Insurance       

5026          Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment of Students

5028          Initiations and Hazing

5030          Dating Violence

5033          Student Driving and Parking

5034          Handbooks

5035          Student Discipline

5036          Lockers

5039          Fundraising Activities

5040          Work Permits

5041          Student Government

5042          Bulletin Boards

5043          School-Sponsored Publications

5044          Safe Pupil Transportation Plan (see 3011)

5045          Student Fees

5046          Secret Organizations

5049          Weapons and Firearms

5050          Reporting Related to Exempt (home) Schools

5052          School Wellness

5053          Self-Management of Diabetes or Asthma/Anaphylaxis

5054          Student Bullying

5055          Enrollment in Kindergarten

5056          Free Expression by Students

5057          District Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy  

5059          Emergency Medical Treatment

5062          Lice and Nits

5064          Title I Supplement, Not Supplant

5066          Early Graduation

5067          Student Assistance Team Process

 

5001

Attendance

 

 

The children who reside in the district and are of legal school age are eligible to attend school.

 

The admission of pupils shall be strictly in accordance with the provisions of the education code.

 

Any child between the ages of five (5) and seven (7) who is enrolled in the district shall attend the academic program on a regular basis, unless a written request to drop the child from the school rolls is made by the parent, guardian or other person having charge, control or custody of the child.

 

Children between the ages 7 and 16 (except those exempted by law) are required to attend full time day school; thereafter, if employed, they may attend part time with the permission of the principal to follow a program designed to help them earn a high school diploma.  The same expectations of regular attendance and academic performance will apply to such students as apply to regular day students.

 

Reporting and Responding To Truant Behavior

 

Any administrator, teacher, or member of the Board of Education who knows of any failure on the part of any child 7 to 16, his or her parent, the person in actual or legal control of such child, or any other person, to attend school regularly without lawful reason, shall within three (3) days report such violation to the superintendent.  The superintendent shall immediately cause an investigation of the case to be made by the building principal.  When of his/her knowledge, by report or complaint from any resident of the district, or by report or complaint as provided in this section the principal believes that any child is unlawfully absent from school, he/she shall immediately investigate.  The school shall render all services in its power or to compel such child to attend some public, private, denominational or parochial school, which the person having control of the child shall designate, in an attempt to remediate the child’s truant behavior.  Such services shall include, as appropriate, but need not be limited to:

 

1.    One or more meetings between school principal and/or guidance counselor, the child’s parent or guardian, and the child, if necessary, to report and to attempt to solve the truancy problem, unless the principal has documented the refusal of the parent or guardian to participate in much meetings;

 

2.    Educational counseling to determine whether curriculum changes, including, but not limited to, enrolling the child in an alternative education program that meets the specific educational and behavioral needs of the child, would help solve the truancy problem;

 

3.    Educational evaluation, which may include a psychological evaluation with the written consent of the parent of guardian, to assist in determining the specific condition, if any, contributing to the truancy problem, supplemented by specific efforts by the school to help remedy any condition diagnosed; and

 

4.    Investigation of the truancy problem by the principal to identify conditions which may be contributing to the truancy problem.  If services for the child and his/her family are determined to be needed, the principal and/or guidance counselor performing the investigation shall meet with the parent and/or guardian and the child to discuss any referral to appropriate community agencies for economic services, family or individual counseling, or other services required to remedy the conditions that are contributing to the truancy problem.

 

Truancy is a violation of school rule.  The services to be provided in response to truancies shall also include disciplinary measurers, including without limitation, restriction of extracurricular and other activities, additional work assignments before, during, or after regular school hours, loss of credit for particular class or classes, and detention. Suspension (short-term or long-term) or expulsion from school may be imposed for truancy provided that alternatives to such action have been used or determined by the principal to be inappropriate under the circumstances.

 

 

If the child continues to be or becomes habitually truant, the principal shall serve a written notice to the person violating the compulsory attendance statutes, warning him/her to comply with its provisions.  If in one week after the time such notice is given, such person is still violating such statutes, then the principal shall file a report with the county attorney of the county in which such person resides.

 

                                                                                                        

Excessive Absenteeism                                                                 

 

Regular attendance by the students at school is essential for students to obtain the maximum opportunities from the education program. Parents and students alike are encouraged to ensure an absence from school is a necessary absence. Students shall attend school unless excused by the principal of their attendance center.  This policy, developed in collaboration with the county attorney for the district’s principal office location, is an attempt to address the problem of excessive absenteeism.

 

Excessive absenteeism is the failure to attend school for the minimum number of days established in the school calendar by the board, with or without a reasonable cause.

 

The superintendent shall designate an attendance officer.  The attendance officer will investigate the report of any child who may be in violation of the state’s compulsory attendance statutes.

 

If any student has accumulated a total of five unexcused absences per quarter or the hourly equivalent of five absences, the school shall render all services in its power to compel the student's attendance.  These services shall include the following:

 

  1. A meeting or meetings between the school attendance officer, school social worker (or school principal or a member of the school administrative staff, if the school has no social worker), the student's parent/guardian and the student (if necessary) to solve the excessive absenteeism problem.

 

  1. Educational counseling to explore curriculum changes such as alternative educational programs to solve the excessive absenteeism problem.

 

  1. Educational evaluation to assist in determining the specific condition(s) contributing to the excessive absenteeism problem, supplemented by specific efforts by the school to help remedy any condition diagnosed.

 

  1. Investigation of the problem by a school social worker (or principal or administrative staff member) to identify conditions contributing to the excessive absenteeism problem.  If services for the student and student’s family are determined to be needed, the investigator shall meet with the parent/guardian and child to discuss any referral to appropriate agencies to remedy the conditions.

 

If the student is absent more than twenty days per year, or the hourly equivalent, the attendance officer shall file a report with the county attorney of the county.

 

Students are subject to disciplinary action for excessive absenteeism including suspension and expulsion. It shall be within the discretion of the principal to determine, in light of the circumstances, whether a student may make up work missed because of excessive absenteeism. Disciplinary action for students receiving special education services will be assigned in accordance with the goals and objectives of the student's Individualized Education Program.

 

The superintendent shall report on a monthly basis to the Commissioner of Education as directed by the commissioner regarding the number of and reason for any long-term suspension, expulsion, or excessive absenteeism of a student; referral of a student to the office of the county attorney for excessive absenteeism; or contacting of law enforcement officials other than school resource officers by the district relative to a student enrolled in the district.  The superintendent shall report annually to the Commissioner the required data for the number of students who have dropped out of school.

 

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to implement this policy. The implementation may include regulations indicating the disciplinary action to be taken for excessive absenteeism.

 

 

Policy Adopted:    02-04-78                                           FULLERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Policy Revised:     01-11-88                                           FULLERTON, NEBRASKA

Policy Revised:     08-14-95

Policy Revised:     06-10-13

Policy Revised:     05-11-20

 

5002

Admission of Students

 

Students shall be admitted to the school district who are:

 

  • legal residents of the school district or otherwise entitled by Nebraska law to attend the schools of the district tuition-free;

 

  • approved for option enrollment pursuant to policy;

 

  • approved as foreign exchange students pursuant to policy;

 

  • legal residents of a district that has contracted with this district for their educational services;

 

  • statutorily entitled to attend the schools of the district on a part-time basis pursuant to policy; or

 

  • out-of-state students who have been enrolled pursuant to policy.

 

Students who have been placed in a foster home within the school district are not residents of the district and will not be permitted to enroll unless the district has received a written determination from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services that it is in the best interests of the student not to attend his or her district of residence. 

 

Prior to enrolling any student who is a ward of the state of Nebraska or a ward of any court, the district will ask to review a completed copy of the “Education Court Report Form” promulgated by the Nebraska Supreme Court’s Commission on Children and Families in the Courts – Education Sub-Committee.  If there is no such completed form, district staff will offer assistance to the appropriate responsible individual in securing the information necessary to complete the form as part of the district’s enrollment process. 

 

Except in adult education classes or when otherwise required by law, no student who is of 21 years of age or older, or who has earned a high school diploma or its equivalent will be allowed to be enrolled in or continue to attend school in the district.

 

Students who seek to enroll in the district must comply with each board policy, state statute and regulation that applies to their situation.  Grade level placement will be determined in accordance with district policy.

 

Minimum Age:

A child shall be eligible for admission into kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if the child is five years of age or will be five years of age on or before July 31 of the current school year (starting in 2012-13).  The board of education may admit a child who will reach the age of five between August 1 and February 1 of the current school year if the parent or guardian requests such entrance and provides an affidavit stating that (a) the child attended kindergarten in another jurisdiction in the current school year or (b) the family anticipates a relocation to another jurisdiction would allow admission within the current year or (c) the child has demonstrated through recognized assessment procedures approved by the board his/her capability of carrying the work of the beginner grade.

 

A child shall be eligible to enter first grade at the beginning of the school year if the child has not attended kindergarten but is six years of age or will be six years of age on or before July 31 of the current school year, and school officials determine that such grade level is the appropriate placement for the child.

 

Graduates:

A student who has received a high school diploma or received a General Equivalency Diploma shall not be eligible for admission or continued enrollment.

 

Age 21:

A student shall not be admitted or continued in enrollment after the end of the school year in which the student reaches the age of 21.  The school year for this purpose ends at the last day of instruction for graduating seniors.

 

Birth Certificate, Physical, Visual Evaluation and Immunization:

The parents or legal guardian shall furnish:

 

(1)    A certified copy of the student’s birth certificate issued by the state in which the child was born, upon admission of a child for the first time, shall be provided within 30 days of enrollment. Other reliable proof of the child's identify and age, accompanied by an affidavit explaining the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate, may be used in lieu of a birth certificate.  An affidavit is defined as a notarized statement by an individual who can verify the reason a copy of the birth certificate cannot be produced.  (Failure to provide the birth certificate does not result in non-enrollment or disenrollment, but does result in a referral to local law enforcement for investigation).

 

(2)    Evidence of a physical examination by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner, within six months prior to the entrance of the child into the beginner grade and the seventh grade or, in the case of a transfer from out of state, to any other grade, unless the parent or legal guardian submits a written statement objecting to a physical examination.

 

 

Admission Requirements

 

(3)    Evidence of a visual evaluation by a physician, a physician assistant, an advanced practice registered nurse, or an optometrist, within six months prior to the entrance of the child into the beginner grade or, in the case of a transfer from out of state, to any other grade, unless the parent or legal guardian submits a written statement objecting to a visual evaluation.  The visual evaluation is to consist of testing for amblyopia, strabismus, and internal and external eye health, with testing sufficient to determine visual acuity. 

 

(4)    Evidence of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis,  polio, measles, mumps, and rubella, Hepatitis B, Varicella (chicken pox) and Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) and other diseases as required by applicable law, by immunization, prior to enrollment, unless the parent or legal guardian submits a written statement refusing immunization or meets other exceptions established by law.  

 

(5)    On and after July 1, 2010, every student entering the seventh grade shall have a booster immunization containing diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and an acellular pertussis vaccine which meets the standards approved by the United States Public Health Service for such biological products, as such standards existed on January 1, 2009.

 

The Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee shall notify the parent or guardian in writing of the foregoing requirements and of the right to submit affidavits or statements to object to the requirements, as applicable. The Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee shall also provide a telephone number or other contact information to assist the parent or guardian in receiving information regarding free or reduced-cost visual evaluations for low-income families who qualify.

 

A student who fails to meet the foregoing requirements shall not be permitted to enroll or to enter school, or if provisionally enrolled or enrolled without compliance, shall not be permitted to continue in school until evidence of compliance or an exemption from compliance is given.

 

Enrollment of Expelled Students

If a student has been expelled from any public school district in any state, or from a private, denominational, or parochial school in any state, and the student has not completed the terms or time period of the expulsion, the student shall not be permitted to enroll in this school district until the expulsion period from such other school has expired, unless the School Board of this school district in its sole and absolute discretion upon a proper application approves by a majority vote the enrollment of such student prior to expiration of the expulsion period.  As a condition of enrollment, the School Board may require attendance in an alternative school, class or educational program pursuant to Nebraska law until the terms or time period of the original underlying expulsion are completed.  A student expelled from a private, denominational, or parochial school or from any public school in another state, will not be prohibited from enrolling in the public school district in which the student resides or in which the student has been accepted pursuant to the enrollment option program for any period of time beyond the time limits placed on expulsion, pursuant to the Student Discipline Act, or for any expulsion for an offense for which expulsion is not authorized for a public school student under such Act.  For purposes of this policy, the term expulsion or expelled includes any removal from any school for a period in excess of twenty (20) school days. 

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5003

Admission of Part-Time Students

 

A student may be permitted to enroll on a part-time basis pursuant to this policy and applicable curricular practices when enrollment is appropriate for reasons that include but are not limited to the following: the student attends another education institution on a part-time basis; is enrolled for a limited number of credit hours needed to graduate; has a modified schedule because of a disability or as part of an individualized education plan; or is a student who resides in the school district but attends a private, denominational, or parochial school or a school that elects not to meet accreditation or approval requirements (referred to herein as an exempt school student or an exempt school, respectively).

 

Application for Enrollment.  The parent or guardian of an exempt school student who is of appropriate age to attend school, is a resident of the school district, has not graduated from high school, and has not received a graduate equivalency diploma must meet all of the district’s admission requirements and file an application for enrollment on forms provided by the school district by prior to the start of the year of enrollment.  For second semester high school courses, the application must be filed prior to the beginning of the semester.  For students who move into the district mid-semester, the application must be filed within 20 days of moving into the district.  The administration shall review the application, determine whether to approve or deny it, notify the parent or guardian, and schedule enrollment at an educationally appropriate time in the building or attendance center of the administration’s choice.  Enrollment does not carry over from one school year to the next, and the parent or guardian of an exempt school student must apply for enrollment each school year.

 

Limitations Based on Resources.  The enrollment of exempt school students is subject to limitations established by the district for grades, classes, courses, and programs based on the limited resources available to the school district.  Full-time students shall be given priority for enrollment in grades, classes, courses, and programs.

 

Placement of Students.  Exempt school students shall be placed in courses for which they have adequate preparation and which are determined to be educationally appropriate based on criteria that include, but are not limited to the student’s age, achievement test scores, academic record, evaluation by school personnel and any other standards used by the district for the placement of students.

 

Grades and Academic Honors.  Exempt school students shall receive grades, report cards, and transcripts, but shall not be eligible to graduate, receive a diploma or qualify for class ranking unless they meet all district requirements for such including earning a sufficient number of credit hours and semesters of attendance.

 

Applicability of School Rules.  Exempt school students are subject to all rules and standards of the board of education and administration as set forth in policy, handbooks or other communications, as well as the rules and directives of the building administration and teaching personnel.  They must remain on the school campus during scheduled classes but must leave the school campus when not engaged in a course or course-related activity unless the course or course-activity requires their presence or the building principal approves their presence.  Students who violate school policies, rules, or directives shall be subject to disciplinary procedures up to and including suspension and expulsion.

 

Extracurricular Sports and Activities.  Students who are enrolled in a private, denominational or parochial school may not participate in extracurricular sports and activities sponsored by the public school district if they participate in extracurricular sports and activities offered by the private, denominational or parochial school.  Exempt school students may participate in extracurricular sports and activities if they are enrolled in at least 20 credit hours per semester, with at least 5 credit hours of enrollment in the public school district.  All part-time students must also meet all other eligibility requirements set by the board, administration and coach/sponsor prior to participating and for continued participation in the sport or activity. This includes all eligibility and other requirements of the Nebraska School Activities Association and any other governing bodies for the activity.

 

Transportation. Part-time school students are not entitled to transportation or reimbursement for transportation to and from the school for class attendance purposes, unless required by law. Eligible part-time students are entitled to transportation to and from practices and extracurricular events to the same extent as the school district’s full-time students, but part-time students must arrange their own transportation and arrive timely to the designated pick-up point for such transportation.

 

Option Enrollment.  Students may not enroll on a part-time basis pursuant to the school’s option enrollment program.

 

Adopted on: ______5/11/20___________

Revised on: _______7/10/23____________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

   

 

                                                                                                                                     

5004

Option Enrollment

        

The board of education supports the concept embodied in the Enrollment Option Program that parents and legal guardians have the primary responsibility for ensuring that their children receive the best education possible.  Accordingly, the school district will participate in the option enrollment program and receive option students as provided herein.

                 

 

  1. Definitions

 

    1. Option Student Defined.  Option student means a nonresident student who has chosen to attend the school district under the provisions of the option enrollment program.

 

    1. Resident School District Defined.  Resident school district means the school district in which a student resides or in which the student is admitted as a resident of the school district pursuant to state law.

 

    1. Option School District Defined.  Option school district means the school district that a student chooses to attend other than his or her resident school district.

 

    1. Elementary School Defined.  Elementary school means grades K - 6.

 

    1. Middle School Defined.  Middle school means grades 7 - 8.

 

    1. High School Defined.  High school means grades 9-12 through 12.

 

  1. Persons Entitled to Apply for Option Enrollment of Students.  Only parents and legal guardians may apply for option enrollment of students.  Applications filed by foster parents and adults acting in loco parentis are not authorized and will be automatically denied.

 

  1. Duties, Entitlements and Rights of Option Students.  Except as otherwise provided herein, once an option student’s option enrollment application has been accepted he/she shall be treated as a resident student of the school district. 

        

  1. Standards for Acceptance or Rejection of Option Students. 

 

    1. Special Education Capacity.  Capacity for special education services will be determined on a case-by-case basis.  If an application for option enrollment received by the school district indicates that the student has an individualized education program under the  federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq., or has been identified as a student with a disability as defined in section 79-1118.01, the application will be evaluated by the director of special education services or the director's designee who must determine if the school district and the appropriate class, grade level, or school building has the capacity to provide the applicant the appropriate services and accommodations.  The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) permits the release of education records when a student seeks or intends to enroll in a different school district. 

 

    1. Numeric Capacity.  The board of education may set the numeric capacity of programs, classes, grade levels, or school buildings by operation of this policy or through freestanding action by the board.  Numeric Capacity will be determined based upon available staff, facilities, projected enrollment of resident students, and projected number of students with which the option school district will contract based on existing contractual arrangements. Individuals seeking information about the numeric capacity set by the board may contact the superintendent for a copy of that resolution. 

 

    1. Programmatic Capacity.   In addition to the numeric capacity standards referred to above, the board may, by resolution, prior to October 15 of each school year, declare a program, a class, or a school unavailable for the next school year to option students due to lack of capacity.  Individuals seeking information about the programs that have been declared to be unavailable due to lack of capacity may contact the superintendent for a copy of the board’s resolution. 

 

    1. Other Standards for Acceptance or Rejection of Option Enrollment Applications.   In addition to the numeric and programmatic capacity standards outlined above, the school district shall not accept an option student when acceptance of the student:

 

      1. Would increase the operating costs of the school district, such as by requiring the hiring of new staff or contracting with outside entities to provide services to the student;
      2. Would require the procurement of new equipment, technology, or furnishings;
      3. Would cause or require the rearrangement of caseloads for staff and contracted professionals;
      4. Is reasonably deemed by appropriate school staff to pose a potential risk to the health or safety of students or staff;
      5. May pose a risk of adversely affecting the quality of educational services being provided to resident students, as determined by appropriate school staff. 

 

    1. Prohibited Standards.  The school district shall not base the decision to accept or reject an option student on the student's previous academic achievement, athletic or other extracurricular ability, disabling condition(s), proficiency in the English language, or previous disciplinary proceedings.

 

    1. Order of Acceptance.  If there are more option student applicants for any program, class, grade level or school building than can be accepted into such program, class, grade level or school building, applicants shall be accepted in the following order: 

 

      1. students with brothers or sisters attending the school district, either as resident students or as option students, shall be granted first priority;

 

      1. thereafter, option students shall be accepted into such program, class, grade level or school building in the order in which written applications were received by the school district.

 

    1. Maximum Capacity Report.  The school district will annually establish, publish, and report the capacity for each school building under the district's control pursuant to procedures, criteria, and deadlines established by the Nebraska Department of Education.

 

  1. False or Misleading Option Applications.  If, prior to the student’s attendance as an option student, the school district discovers that a previously accepted option application contained false or substantively misleading information, the option application will be rejected.

 

  1. Academic Credits and Graduation.  The school district shall accept credits toward graduation that were awarded by another school district, and shall award a diploma to an option student if the student meets the graduation requirements of the school district. 

 

  1. Information Regarding Schools, Programs, Policies and Procedures.  The school district, its officers and employees, shall make information about the school district and its schools, programs, policies and procedures available to all interested people.

 

  1. Procedure for Students Optioning Into or Out of the School District.

 

    1. The parent or legal guardian of any student desiring to option into or out of the school district shall submit a proper and timely application to the board of education and the other affected school district for enrollment during the following and subsequent school years.  Any application requiring the approval of the school district shall be deemed submitted when the application is actually received in the school district's business office.

 

    1. On or before April 1st, the school district shall notify the parent or legal guardian of any student who has submitted an application to option into the school district and the resident school district, in writing, whether the application is accepted or rejected.  If an application is rejected, the reason for such rejection shall be stated in the notification.  This written notice shall be sent via certified mail to the address listed on the option application.

 

  1. Late Applications and Requests for Release

 

    1. The board of education may refuse a request of a student seeking to option out of the school district when the option application is submitted after March 15th under the following conditions:

 

      1. When the district has already entered into contracts with teaching staff for the following school year;

 

      1. When the district has already contracted for the performance of specific services for the student;

 

      1. When the release of the student would have a negative financial impact or loss of revenue for the district.

 

    1. The board of education will approve late applications to option into the district under the following conditions:

 

 

When the student’s late enrollment into the district meets the standards for acceptance or rejection of option students contained elsewhere in this policy;

 

 

The superintendent will notify parents or guardians who have submitted properly completed option applications after March 15th no later than 60 days following submission of the application of the board’s acceptance or rejection of the application.

 

  1. Students Who Do Not Need a Release from the Resident District

 

    1. A student does not need to be released from his/her resident district or the option school district the student is attending at the time of application under the following circumstances:
      1. When the student has relocated to a different resident school district after February 1
      2. When a student's option school district merges with another district effective after February 1

 

    1. The school district shall accept or reject an application from a student under this paragraph using the criteria set forth in this policy and will accept or reject the application within forty-five days.

 

  1. Cancellation of Option. 

 

Students who option either into or out of the school district shall: 

 

    1. Attend the option school district until graduation or relocation/re-option in a different resident school district unless the student chooses to return to the resident school district, in which case the student's parent or legal guardian shall timely submit a cancellation form to the school board or board of education of the option school district and the resident school district for approval for the following year. 

 

    1. Attend an option school district for not less than one school year unless the student relocates to a different resident school district, completes requirements for graduation prior to the end the school year, transfers to a parochial or private school, or upon mutual agreement of the resident and option school districts cancels the enrollment option and returns to the resident school district.

 

  1. Authority of Superintendent. 

 

The board of education authorizes the superintendent of schools to make decisions on its behalf pursuant to and to apply the criteria articulated by this policy in determining whether to grant or deny option enrollment applications.

 

Adopted on: ____5/11/20___

Revised on: ____6/10/24_____

Reviewed on: ______________

 

 

                                                            RESOLUTION - Policy 5004

                                                                             

            WHEREAS, the School Board is required by law to adopt by resolution policies and specific standards for acceptance or rejection of option enrollment applications; and,

 

            WHEREAS, the School Board has received and reviewed evidence and information submitted by the administration and other sources and made determinations thereon with respect to standards for acceptance or rejection and with respect to the capacity of this school district to accept option enrollment students based upon available staff, available facilities, projected enrollment, and availability of special education programs; and,

 

            WHEREAS, the School Board has determined that the educational interests of this school district would be best served by adoption of the resolutions, and the policies and specific standards herein contained.

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Option Enrollment Policy presented to the School Board as Policy 5004, and Appendix “1” to such Policy 5004, should be and the same are hereby adopted, and any previous policy or interpretation or application of the option enrollment program which is or has been inconsistent with the Policy 5004, and Appendix “1” to such Policy 5004, are repealed effective on the date of the passage of this resolution,

 

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all paragraphs, subparagraphs, and portions of words of this Resolution, of Policy 5004, and Appendix “1” to such Policy 5004 are severable and that in the event any of the same are determined to be invalid for any reason, such determination shall not affect the validity of any of the remainder of the same.

 

            BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that policies and specific standards for acceptance or rejection of option enrollment applications should be and are hereby adopted, for applications filed after adoption of this resolution, and are hereinafter set forth:

           

            The above Resolution, having been read in its entirety, member ____________ moved for its passage and adoption, member                           seconded the same.  After discussion and on roll call vote, the following members voted in favor of passage and adoption of the above Resolution:                                                                                                                                        .

The following members voted against the same:                                                                              .

The following members were absent or not voting:                                                                  .   The Resolution having been consented to and approved by more than a majority of the members of the School Board, was declared as passed and adopted by the President at a duly held and lawfully convened meeting in full compliance with the Nebraska open meetings law.

 

            DATED this ____ day of ____________________, _____.

 

                                               

[NAME] PUBLIC SCHOOLS

 

                                                                        By:       ________________________________                                                     

Attest:   ____________________________             President

Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                     Appendix “1” to Option Enrollment Policy 5004

 

            The following is Appendix “1” to Policy 5004 for the _______ School Year.  The Board of Education hereby sets forth the maximum number of option students for the _______ school year in any program, class, grade level or school building or in any special education programs operated by this school district, based upon available staff, facilities, projected enrollment of resident students, projected number of students with which this school district will contract based on existing contractual arrangements, and availability of appropriate special education programs.  Any program, class, grade level, or school building which has “0” as the No. of Option Students is hereby declared unavailable to option students due to lack of capacity.

 

PROGRAM

PROGRAM

CAPACITY

PROJECTED

ENROLLMENT

 

# OF OPTION STUDENTS

 

Kindergarten

 

 

 

First

 

 

 

Second

 

 

 

Third

 

 

 

Fourth

 

 

 

Fifth

 

 

 

Sixth

 

 

 

Building Capacity, Elementary (7 classrooms)

 

 

 

Level  I Elementary Special Education

 

 

 

Level  II & III Elementary Special Education

 

 

 

Seventh

 

 

 

Eighth

 

 

 

Ninth

 

 

 

Tenth

 

 

 

Eleventh

 

 

 

Twelfth

 

 

 

Building Capacity, Sr. High School Attendance Center

 

 

 

Level I Sr. High School Special Education Program

 

 

 

Level II and III Sr. High School Special Education

 

 

 

 

 

 

     5005

Transportation

 

The school district will provide free transportation, partially provide free transportation, or pay an allowance for transportation in lieu of free transportation on each day school is in session to the students who reside in the district and qualify for transportation according to the district’s transportation plan.  The families of students who will not be provided transportation pursuant to the district’s plan or who must drive students to a pick-up point will be reimbursed according to statute if they qualify for such reimbursement.  Parents seeking mileage reimbursement must submit requests to the district on forms which may be obtained from the office of the Superintendent of Schools. 

 

When a student who has been attending the district is placed into foster care, school district staff will collaborate with state and local child welfare agencies to determine whether transportation is required under state law when it is in the child’s best interest that their school of origin be maintained.  The district will only provide transportation to students placed in foster care when the responsible child welfare agency agrees to reimburse the school district for the cost of transportation or when transportation is otherwise required by law.  The board designates the Superintendent of Schools as the initial point of contact for child welfare agency representatives to discuss transportation issues related to children in foster care. 

 

Students who are homeless will be provided with transportation pursuant to Board Policy 5014.

 

The district will provide transportation to tuition students in accordance with the contract provisions, if any, for services from the contracting districts.

 

The use of buses for class parties, field trips, and similar purposes shall require the prior approval of the superintendent or appropriate principal.

 

Option Transportation. The board of education provides transportation to option students only if (a) the option student lives on an existing bus route or (b) the option student makes arrangements to be picked up and dropped off at preexisting stops along an existing bus route.  The district does not provide mileage reimbursement for option-enrolled students unless otherwise required by law.

 

 

 

 

Adopted on: ______7/8/24__________

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________

 

 

5006

Foreign Exchange Students

 

The school district may accept a ­­foreign exchange student on a non-tuition basis if the student is sponsored by an organized exchange program that is acceptable to the board of education, approved for enrollment, and resides with a host family that lives within district boundaries.

 

A foreign student is not entitled to tuition-free schooling in the school district merely because he or she resides with a family within the district.  The host family and/or sponsoring exchange program must file an application with the administration to enroll the student.  In reviewing the application, the administration will consider the following factors:

 

  • whether the student possesses a sufficient command of the English language;

 

  • whether an appropriate program is available;

 

  • whether the student meets the general admission requirements for the school; and

 

  • such other factors as are relevant to the admission of the student.

 

Foreign exchange students who are accepted and enrolled will be subject to all policies and regulations governing the conduct and behavior of resident students.

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: _______________________       

 

 

5007

Enrollment of Expelled Students

 

The administration shall not enroll any student during the term of any known expulsion of the student from any public school in any state unless the board of education has approved the enrollment by a vote of a majority of the members of the board.  The district shall not enroll any student during the known term of any expulsion of the student from a private school for an offense for which expulsion is authorized for a public school student unless the board has approved the enrollment by a vote of a majority of the members of the board.  This policy does not require the board to take a vote on the enrollment application of any such student.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5008

Pregnant or Parenting Students

 

The District will not discriminate in its education program or activity against any student based on the student’s current, potential, or past pregnancy.  Students who are pregnant or parenting are encouraged to continue participating in the district’s educational and extracurricular programs.

 

  1. Accommodations Regarding Attendance and Participation

 

  1. Generally

 

Students who anticipate deviations from their regular school experience or accrue absences due to pregnancy or parenting should notify their building principal as early as possible to discuss their educational programming.  The building principal will work with the student to develop a plan to assist the student in participating in district curriculum and extra-curricular activities.  Such a plan may include:

  1. If the student cannot regularly attend classes, the provision of online courses;
  2. The arrangement of meeting times with teachers;
  3. If the student has not identified appropriate childcare, the identification of child care providers that meet statutory requirements for quality and care; and
  4. All other curricular adjustments, modifications, and means of supplementing classroom attendance deemed appropriate by the school administrators including, but not limited to, modification of attendance policies. 

 

  1. Students with Disabilities

 

For students with disabilities who have an IEP or Section 504 plan, the administrators, student’s parents or guardians, and student if appropriate will collaborate with the student’s educational team to coordinate accommodations consistent with state and federal law.  As permitted by law, students may be entitled to accommodations as a result of pregnancy.

 

 

 

 

  1. Title IX

 

When a student, or a person with a legal right to act on a student’s behalf, informs a District employee of the student’s pregnancy or related conditions, the District will inform the student of the Title IX Coordinator’s contact information.  The employee will also inform the student that the Title IX Coordinator can coordinate actions to prevent sex discrimination and ensure the student’s equal access to the District’s education program or activity.

 

The District will make reasonable accommodations to the District’s policies, practices, and procedures as necessary to prevent sex discrimination and ensure equal access to the District’s education program or activity.  The District will coordinate reasonable modifications based on the student’s individualized need.  The District will consult with the student when determining what reasonable modifications may be appropriate, and the student has the discretion to accept or decline the reasonable modifications offered by the District.

 

The District will allow the student to voluntarily access any separate and comparable portion of the District’s education program or activity.  The District will allow the student to voluntarily take a leave of absence from the District’s education program or activity to cover, at a minimum, the period of time deemed medically necessary by the student’s licensed healthcare provider.  Upon the student’s return, the student will be reinstated to the student’s academic status, and as practicable, to the extracurricular status that the student held when the voluntary leave began.

 

  1. Accommodations Regarding Lactation and Breastfeeding

 

  1. Accommodations

 

  1. In order to accommodate lactating and breastfeeding students, the district will provide reasonable opportunities to express breast milk or breastfeed in a place, other than a bathroom, which is shielded from view and free from intrusion from district students, employees, and the public.
  2. Students who wish or need to express breast milk on a regular schedule will work with school administrators to create a schedule which accommodates the student’s needs while facilitating education to the maximum extent possible.
  3. The district will provide a location for students to store expressed breast milk in or near the location designated for students to express milk to create the least amount of disruption to the student’s participation in class or activities.

 

  1. Educational Process

 

In order to prevent interference with the educational process, no student shall express breast milk within school classrooms or buses.  Nothing in this policy limits the authority of the administration to impose consequences consistent with the Student Discipline Act and other state and federal law.

 

 

Adopted on: ____12/9/2019____________

Revised on: _____6/10/24_____________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5009

Adult Education

 

The board authorizes the administration to design and implement adult education as appropriate to the needs of the community and the programs of the district.  The specific courses offered and expenditures necessitated by the adult education program will be approved by the board on an ad hoc basis. 

 

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5010

Immunizations

 

 

  1. General Rule

 

    1. Each student wishing to enroll in the school district must be immunized as required by state law and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in effect at the time of the student’s enrollment.   

 

    1. The district is not responsible for the cost of such immunizations.

 

    1. Any student who does not comply with this policy shall not be permitted to continue attending school.

 

    1. The building principal shall be responsible for maintaining immunization records for the students enrolled in his/her building and shall share that information with the school’s threat assessment and crisis teams as appropriate. 

 

  1. Exceptions

 

    1. Provisional Enrollment

 

                  Students who meet the statutory requirements for provisional enrollment may be allowed to attend school for sixty days without the necessary immunizations.

 

    1. Immunization shall not be required if the student’s parent or guardian submits one of the following to the superintendent of schools:

 

      1. A statement signed by a medical professional stating that the required immunization would be injurious to the health and well-being of the student or any member of the student’s household; or

 

      1. An affidavit signed by the student or a legally authorized representative of the student, stating that the immunization conflicts with the student’s sincerely held religious beliefs. A letter from the minister stating this is part of the practice of this religion must accompany the affidavit.

 

    1. Students who are excepted from the immunization requirement may be excluded from school in the event of an outbreak of any contagious disease in the school population.

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20_________________________

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________

 

5011

Physical Examination and Visual Evaluation of Students

 

  1. Physical Examination

 

The following students shall provide evidence of a physical examination by a qualified health care provider:

 

  • all incoming students in the beginner grade;
  • students in seventh grade; and
  • all out-of-state transfer students. 

 

Evidence of a physical examination must be dated no more than six months prior to entrance  

 

  1. Visual Evaluation for Students

 

The following students shall provide evidence of a vision evaluation by a qualified vision health care provider:

 

  • all incoming students in the beginner grade and
  • all out-of-state transfer students  

 

The health care provider must test the student for amblyopia, strabismus and internal and external eye health, with testing sufficient to determine visual acuity.  Evidence of a visual evaluation must be dated no more than six months prior to entrance. 

 

Parents or guardians who wish to receive information regarding free or reduced-cost visual evaluations may contact Kids Connection at (877)-NEB-KIDS or the Nebraska Optometric Association at (800) 766-4466.      

 

  1. Objection to Examination

 

Any parent(s) or guardian(s) who object to a physical and/or vision examination and evaluation must submit a signed and dated refusal form to the school. 

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5012

Testing and Assessment Program

 

  1. Basic Testing and Assessment Program

 

The school district will use a basic testing and assessment program to evaluate the outcome of the educational program and to provide information needed in working with individuals.  The program will be supplemented by such individual and supplementary tests as the needs of the educational program and the district indicate.  The superintendent and designees will coordinate the program from Kindergarten through twelfth grade to provide continuity.  Teachers are prohibited from engaging in any behavior that adversely affects the validity of test scores as a measure of student achievement.  Teachers should consult with relevant board policies and district protocols assessment administration and security.

 

  1. Accountability Reporting

 

At the board of education’s regular July meeting, or as soon after as a report can be completed, the superintendent of schools shall provide an annual written report as required by NDE Rule 10.  The report shall be presented to the board and made available to the public.  The report must contain the elements required by Rule 10, including but not limited to: student academic performance as reported to NDE (demographics, achievement, educational input characteristics, as defined in section 005.02 of Rule 10); school system demographics; school improvement goals and progress; and financial information about the school district.  Building level results will be reported only to appropriate staff for review, goal setting, and intervention as needed.

 

This report shall not include any individual test scores or assessment, but individual student test scores or assessment results will be reported to the student's parents or legal guardian(s).  If the school has fewer than ten students in the grades being reported, or if reporting would allow for the identification of students because they all had comparable scores, no public reports of student performance are provided for those grades.

 

A comprehensive evaluation of the district shall be conducted at least once every five years using instruments and guides approved by NDE.

 

Adopted on: ________12/9/19________

Revised on: ______6/13/22____________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

 

5014

Homeless Students

 

  1.       General Policy.  The District will provide tuition free education for homeless children and youth who are in the district and accord them the educational rights and legal protections provided by state and federal law. Homeless children and youth shall not be stigmatized or segregated on the basis of their status as homeless and shall have access to the same services offered to other students.  It is the intent of this policy to remove barriers to the enrollment and retention of homeless children and youth in the District.

 

  1.       Homeless Liaison.  The District’s homeless liaison is the superintendent.  Students in homeless situations who require assistance should contact the liaison at 308-536-2431 or in person at Fullerton Schools  606 4th ST, Fullerton, NE).  The liaison’s responsibilities include:

 

  1. Ensuring homeless children and youth are identified through coordination with the Nebraska Department of Education, community groups, and other school personnel;
  2. Receiving training regarding state and federal law governing homeless children and youth;
  3. Ensuring homeless children and youth and their families are referred to appropriate health care, housing, and other relevant service providers and programs available in the community;
  4. Assisting other District personnel to work with homeless children and youth and their families on regular attendance, participation in programs and activities of the District, and completing academic work to meet academic standards of the District;
  5. Assisting homeless children and youth and working with other District employees to prepare for and improve college readiness, including assistance with applications, selection, financial aid, and status verification for purposes of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid; and
  6. Carrying out other aspects of this policy.

 

  1.       Definitions

 

    1.       “Homeless children and youth” means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes:

 

      1.        Children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;  
      2.       Children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
      3.       Children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
      4.      Migratory children who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).

 

    1.       The term “homeless” or “homeless individual” does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained by an act of Congress or by state law.

 

    1.       “Child” and “youth” refers to persons who, if they were children of residents of the District, would be entitled to a free education.

 

    1.      The term "unaccompanied youth" shall mean a homeless child or youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

 

    1.       “School of origin” means the school that the child or youth attended when permanently housed, or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled.

 

  1.      School Stability and Enrollment.  Generally, the District presumes that keeping a homeless child or youth in their school of origin is in the child’s best interest unless it is contrary to a request of the child’s parent, guardian, or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the youth.  The District will also consider factors including, but not limited to: the impact of mobility on achievement, education, health, and safety of the child.

 

  1.     Strategies to Address Enrollment Delays.  In order to address enrollment delays resulting from homelessness, the school district shall immediately enroll homeless students even if they are unable to produce records normally required for enrollment such as immunization and medical records, residency documents, birth certificates, school records, or other documentation, or guardianship documents. The school district shall immediately contact the school last attended by the student to obtain academic and other records. The school district’s homeless liaison shall assist in obtaining necessary immunizations, or immunization or medical records.

 

 

  1.     Transportation.  Transportation shall be provided to homeless students to the extent required by law and comparable to that provided to students who are not homeless. At the request of the parent or guardian (or in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the liaison), transportation shall be provided to and from the school of origin as follows:

        

    1.       If the homeless child or youth continues to live in the area served by the school district, the child's or youth's transportation to and from the school of origin shall be provided or arranged by the school district.

 

    1.      If the homeless child's or youth's living arrangements in the area served by the school district terminate and the child or youth, though continuing his or her education in the school district, begins living in an area served by another school district, the school district and the new school district in which the homeless child or youth is living shall negotiate to agree upon a method to apportion the responsibility and costs for providing the child with transportation to and from the school district.  If the districts are unable to agree, the responsibility and cost for transportation shall be shared equally.

 

  1.      Records.  The District will maintain and respond to requests for enrollment records for homeless children or youth consistent with its record policies and state and federal record laws.  Any information about a homeless child’s or youth’s living situation shall be treated as a confidential education record and shall not be deemed directory information.

 

  1.     Dispute Process.  If a dispute arises over school selection or enrollment in a school:

 

    1.       The child or youth shall be admitted immediately to the school in which enrollment is sought, pending resolution of the dispute;

 

    1.       The child, youth, parent, or guardian shall be referred to the district’s homeless liaison who shall carry out the dispute resolution process within (30) thirty calendar days after receiving notice of the dispute;

 

    1.       The parent or guardian of the child or youth or, in the case of an unaccompanied youth, the youth, shall be provided with a written explanation of the school's decision regarding school selection or enrollment, including the rights of the parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth to appeal the decision within (30) thirty calendar days of the time such complaint or dispute is brought.

 

    1.       In the case of an unaccompanied youth, the homeless liaison shall ensure that the youth is immediately enrolled in the school in which enrollment is sought pending resolution of the dispute.

 

  1.      Appeal Process

 

    1.       Nebraska Department of Education.  If the Complainant is not satisfied with the written decision of the District after the dispute resolution process, the Complainant may appeal the decision of the District to the Commissioner of the Nebraska Department of Education within (30) thirty calendar days of receipt of the decision from the District, pursuant to Nebraska Department of Education Rule 19.

 

    1.       State Board of Education. If the Complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the Commissioner, the Complainant may file a Petition with the State Board of Education within (30) thirty calendar days of the receipt of the decision of the Commissioner pursuant to Nebraska Department of Education Rule 19.

 

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Reviewed on: ____________

Revised on: _____________

 

5015

Protection of Pupil Rights

 

The Board of Education respects the rights of parents and their children, and has adopted this policy in consultation with parents to comply with the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).

 

  1.       Surveys
    1.       Surveys Created by a Third Party
      1.        This section applies to every survey:
        1.     that is created by a person or entity other than a district staff member or student;
        2.     regardless of whether the student answering the questions can be identified; and 
        3.     regardless of the subject matter of the questions
      2.       Parents have the right to inspect any survey created by a third party before that survey is distributed to their student.
    2.       Surveys Requesting Particular Sensitive Information
      1.        Sensitive information shall include:
        1.     Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent(s);
        2.     Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
        3.     Sexual behavior or attitudes;
        4.     Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
        5.     Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
        6.     Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers; physicians, and ministers;
        7.     Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent(s); or
        8.     Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program), without prior written consent of the parent or eligible student.
      2.       No student shall be required to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that requests sensitive information.
      3.       If a survey requesting sensitive information is funded, in whole or in part, by a program administered by the U.S. Department of Education, the school district must obtain the written consent of a student’s parent(s) before the student participates in the survey.
      4.      School officials and staff members shall not request, nor disclose, the identity of any student who completes any survey (created by any person or entity, including the district) containing any sensitive information. 
      5.       Parents have the right to inspect any survey which requests sensitive information before that survey is distributed to their student.
    3.       Survey Inspection Requests
      1.        School officials shall inform parents of their right to inspect surveys requesting sensitive information before the surveys are distributed to any student.
      2.       All survey inspection requests must be in writing to the building principal and delivered to the building principal prior to the date on which the survey is scheduled to be administered to the students.
      3.       The principal shall respond to survey inspection requests without delay.

 

  1.       Invasive Physical Examinations
    1.       The term “invasive physical examination” means:
      1.        any medical examination that involves the exposure of private body parts; or
      2.       any act during such examination that includes incision, insertion, or injection into the body; and
      3.       does not include a hearing, vision, or scoliosis screening.
    2.       Parents may refuse to allow their student to participate in any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening that is:
      1.        required as a condition of attendance;
      2.       administered by the school and scheduled by the school in advance; and
      3.       not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student, or of other students.
    3.       This policy does not apply to any physical examination or screening that:
      1.        is permitted or required by an applicable state law, including physical examinations or screenings that are permitted without parental notification;
      2.       is administered to a student in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq.)
      3.       is otherwise authorized by Board policy.

 

  1.       Collection of Personal Information from Students for Marketing
    1.       The term “personal information” means individually identifiable information including:
      1.        student’s and parent(s)’ first and last name;
      2.       home or other physical address;
      3.       telephone number; and/or
      4.      social security number.
    2.       No school official or staff member shall administer or distribute to students a survey or other instrument for the purpose of collecting personal information for marketing or for selling that information.
    3.       This policy does not apply to the collection, disclosure or use of personal information for the exclusive purpose of providing educational services to students, such as the following:
      1.        post-secondary education recruitment;
      2.       military recruitment;
      3.       tests and assessments to provide cognitive, evaluative, diagnostic or achievement information about students; and/or
      4.      student recognition programs.

 

  1.       Inspection of Instructional Material
    1.       Definition
      1.        The term “instructional materials” means instructional content that is provided to a student regardless of its format, printed or representational materials, audio-visual materials, and materials in electronic or digital formats (such as materials accessible through the Internet). 
      2.       The term does not include academic tests or academic assessments.
    2.       Parents may inspect, upon their request, any instructional material used as part of their child’s education curriculum.
    3.       Curriculum inspection requests must be made to the building principal in writing.
    4.       Building principals shall respond to inspection requests within a reasonable amount of time.

 

  1.       Notification of Rights and Procedures
    1.       The superintendent shall notify parents of:
      1.        this policy and its availability upon request from the office of the district;
      2.       how to opt their child out of participation in activities as provided for in this policy;
      3.       the approximate dates during the school year when a survey requesting personal information is scheduled or expected to be scheduled; and
      4.      how to request access to any survey or other material described in this policy.
    2.       This notification shall be given to parents as least annually, at the beginning of the school year and within a reasonable period after any substantive change in this policy.

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________

 

5018

Parent and Guardian Involvement In Education Practices

 

The school district recognizes the importance of parental and guardian involvement in the education of their children.  The school district will take the following steps to ensure that the rights of parents and guardians to participate in the education of their children are preserved.

 

 
  1. Parents/Guardians will be provided access, as described in district procedures, to district-approved textbooks and other curricular materials and tests used in the district upon request.

 

    1. A parental request to review specific approved textbooks and other district- or building-approved curricular materials (written, visual, and audio) should be made to the principal of the building where the textbooks and curriculum materials are used. 
    2. Parents may check out textbooks and may review curricular materials such as video and audio recordings within a time frame determined by the building principal to prevent disruption of the instructional process. 
    3. A parental request to review specific standardized and criterion- referenced tests used in the district should be made in writing to the building principal.  Copies of the most recent tests used in the district will be available for parent review.  Parents wishing to review statewide assessments will be provided with sample questions and a copy of a practice test, but will not be provided with copies of the actual assessment due to testing security.  In the case of other secure tests such as the ACT, parents must contact the publisher to obtain copies of the test.

 

 

  1. Parents/guardians will be permitted, within district procedures, to ask that their children be excused from school experiences that parents find objectionable.

 

    1. Building principals may excuse a student from any single school experience at the parent's written request. 

 

    1. When appropriate, alternative experiences will be provided for the student by the school.

 

  1. Parents/guardians will be informed through the student handbook and district policies of the manner that the district will provide access to records of students.

 

  1. Parents/guardians will be informed of the standardized and criterion-referenced district testing program.  Parents may request additional information from the building principal.

 

  1. Parents/guardians will be informed of the circumstances under which they may opt-out of state and federal assessments.

 

    1. In accordance with federal law, at the beginning of the school year, the District shall provide notice of the right to request a copy of this policy to parents/guardians of students attending schools receiving Title I funds. The District will provide a copy of this policy to a requesting parent in a timely manner.

 

    1. State Assessments

 

The District cannot approve requests to opt out of state assessments. Approval of such requests is contrary to state law.

 

    1. National Assessment of Educational Progress

 

As a condition of receiving federal funds, the District participates in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).  To help ensure that the District has a representative sample of students taking the NAEP, which will allow the District to assess the quality and effectiveness of its programming on a national level, the District strongly encourages all eligible students to participate. However, student participation in NAEP is voluntary.

 

The District shall provide parents/guardians of eligible students with reasonable notice prior to the exam being administered.  Parents/guardians wishing to opt their students out of the NAEP assessment must notify the district in writing at least three days prior to the exam date to ensure that the District can coordinate supervision and alternative activities for students who have opted out.

 

  1. Parents/guardians will be notified of their right to remove their children from surveys prior to district participation in surveys.

 

    1. The principal must approve all surveys intended to gather information from students before they are administered to students. 

 

    1. Students’ participation in surveys is voluntary.  Parents/guardians may restrict their child from participating in any survey.

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: __________________

Reviewed on: ___7/8/24_____________________  

 

 

 

 

5019

Communicating with Parents

 

Parents shall be kept informed of student progress, grades, and attendance through report cards, progress reports, and parent/teacher conferences.  The school district will notify parents if their students are failing or close to failing, either through communication from the school or through parental access to the district’s student information system.  The school district will endeavor to notify parents of failing students prior to entry of the failing grade on the student’s report card.  Parents will also be notified of their student’s possible failure to meet graduation requirements.  Other pertinent information will be communicated to parents by mail, electronic communication, telephone calls, by personal contact or other appropriate method.  Official transcripts of student progress, grades, and attendance will be sent to other school systems upon the student’s transfer when the district receives a written request signed by the student’s parent or guardian or upon being notified that the student has enrolled in another school.  By providing the school district with their telephone number(s), parents agree to receive notifications from the school district’s automatic notification system. 

 

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5020

Rights of Custodial and Non-Custodial Parents

 

The school district will honor the parental rights of natural and adoptive parents unless those rights have been altered by a court.

 

The term “custodial parent” refers to a biological or adoptive parent to whom a court has given primary physical and legal custody of a child, and a person such as a caseworker or foster parent to whom a court has given legal custody of a child. 

 

The district will not restrict the access of custodial and non-custodial parents to their students and their students’ records, unless the district has been provided a copy of a court order that unambiguously prohibits access to the records or child by either parent.  If the district is provided such a court order, school officials will follow the directives set forth in the order. 

 

The district will provide the custodial parent with routine information about his or her child, including notification of conferences.  The district will not provide the non-custodial parent with such information on a routine basis, but will provide it upon the non-custodial parent’s request unless it has been denied by the courts.

 

A non-custodial parent who wishes to attend conferences regarding his or her child will be provided information about conference times so both parents may attend a single conference.  The district is not required to schedule separate conferences if both parents have been previously informed of scheduled conference times.

 

If either or both parents’ behavior is disruptive, staff members may terminate a conference and reschedule it with appropriate modifications or expectations.

 

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5022

Investigations, Arrests, and Other Student Contact by Law Enforcement and Health and Human Services

 

 

 

The school district and its administrators and staff desire to maintain a positive working relationship with law enforcement officers and other representatives of governmental bodies in the discharge of their duties.  However, this desire must be balanced against other equally important factors such as a student’s legal rights, ensuring that a student’s time spent in school is for education, and acknowledging that the school stands in loco parentis to the students. 

 

“Law enforcement officer” means police officers, county sheriffs, state patrolmen, Health and Human Service workers, Child Protective Services workers, Office of Juvenile Services workers, probation officers, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, Federal Bureau of Investigations agents, or any other government investigatory workers.

 

“Parent” means the biological or adoptive mother or father, guardian, responsible relative, or any other person who has claimed legal or actual charge or control of the student pursuant to Nebraska law or Title 92 Nebraska Administrative Code Chapter 19.

 

Law enforcement officers are encouraged whenever possible to talk to a student away from the school before or after school hours so as to cause as little disruption as possible to the student’s education.

 

Law enforcement officers may be called to the school at the request of school administration, or they may initiate contact with the school for their own purposes.  Contact between the school and law enforcement officers on matters involving students shall be made through the office of the superintendent or building principal and the law enforcement officer.  All reasonable attempts should be made to avoid embarrassing the student before his or her teachers and peers, and to avoid disrupting the student’s and school’s education program.  Any questioning by law enforcement officers that is permitted should be conducted in a private room or area where confidentiality can be maintained.  This should be an area removed from observation by or contact with other pupils and school personnel.

 

School staff shall promptly notify the superintendent when a student is questioned, arrested, or removed from school grounds by law enforcement officers.

 

School Related Criminal Activity

 

This section applies to alleged or suspected criminal activity that occurs on school grounds; in a vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by a school being used for a school purpose or in a vehicle being driven for a school purpose by a school employee or by his or her designee; or at a school-sponsored activity or athletic event.

 

Law enforcement officers will be allowed to contact and question students at school regarding school related criminal activity as provided below. 

 

The building principal must be notified before a student may be questioned in school or taken from a classroom by law enforcement.  The building principal should request identification of the officers, their affiliation with the identified law enforcement agency, and whether their purpose is to interview, interrogate, or take custody of the student.

 

The building principal will make reasonable attempts to contact a student’s parent for their consent and/or presence before the student is interviewed.  In the event that a parent cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts, the student will be questioned only if the law enforcement officer identifies emergency circumstances requiring immediate questioning.  A building principal or designee shall be present for such questioning solely to further school purposes or avoid duplication of the investigative process.  The student will be brought to a private room and the contact will be made out of sight of others as much as practicable.

 

If the student is suspected of criminal activity, it is the responsibility of the law enforcement officer to advise a student of his or her rights against self-incrimination.

 

 

The building principal shall document steps taken to notify parents, summarize the law enforcement activities, identify the actions taken by the District on behalf of the student, and any further contacts with law enforcement officer.

 

Non-School Related Criminal Activity

Law enforcement officials may not question students at school.

  

Taking a Student into Custody

 

Law enforcement officers seeking custody of a student must contact the superintendent or building principal.  The principal will request the arresting law enforcement officer to provide a copy of the arrest warrant, written parental consent, court order, or other document giving authority to take the student into legal custody.  If there is no document presented, the principal should obtain the officer’s name, badge number identifying the law enforcement agency, date, time, the reason for the arrest, and the place to which the student is reportedly being taken.  Whenever practicable, the arrest or release of the student should be conducted in a location and in a manner that minimizes observation by others. 

 

When a law enforcement officer removes a student from the school, the building principal will take immediate steps to notify the parent about the student’s removal and the place to which the minor is reportedly being taken, except when a minor has been taken into custody as a victim of suspected child abuse. 

 

Child Abuse and Neglect

 

When law enforcement officers seek to investigate reports of alleged child neglect or abuse regarding a student, the building principal shall obtain a proper identification from the authorities or officials.  If a student interview is conducted on school grounds, the building principal or designee and such other school personnel as appropriate shall observe the interview.

 

If the law enforcement officer decides to remove the student from school, school officials shall provide the law enforcement authorities with the address and telephone number of the student’s parent or guardian.  The principal or other school official shall, as a condition of releasing the student to the law enforcement officer, require the officer to sign a statement certifying that the child is being removed from school premises because he or she is believed to be the victim of child abuse and that the officer understands and will comply with the legal requirements of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-294.

 

 

 

 

Student Records

 

Student records will be shared with law enforcement officers only as allowed by state and federal law. 

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5023

Student Illness

 

Students who suffer from a significant illness which has an actual or expected duration of six months or more may be eligible for accommodations and supports under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act.  The school will provide accommodations to students who are returning to school after a prolonged absence due to illness, including pediatric cancer, through a 504 plan or an IEP, as appropriate.  The student’s plan will include informal or formal accommodations, modifications of curriculum and monitoring by medical or academic staff as determined by the student’s IEP team or 504 committee.  Parents and staff will engage in ongoing communication about the needs of a student who is facing these circumstances.  

 

Students who become ill at school will be sent to the building office where the school nurse or other school employee will determine the appropriate response.  When a child is too ill to remain at school, a school employee will contact the child’s parent(s) and make arrangements for the child to be picked up or sent home.  If an illness or injury requires immediate medical attention, school officials shall attempt to contact the child’s parent(s) regarding treatment for the child.  If the parents cannot be contacted, school officials may have the child treated by an available physician.  Students who show symptoms of a contagious disease may be sent home, and the district may require a physician’s statement before allowing such students to return to school.

 

Parents must complete an emergency information sheet for each child enrolled in the district.  The card should list the family physician’s name, where parents or a responsible adult can be located, and any necessary emergency instructions.

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

 

 

5024

Administration of Medication to Students

Students may be required to take medication during the school day. The district shall establish procedures which may allow students to self-administer medications for diabetes and asthma/anaphylaxis. Other medications shall be administered by the school nurse, a registered Medication Aide, or other school staff member meeting the minimum competency standards for the Medication Aide Act.

 

Self-Management of Diabetes and Asthma/Anaphylaxis

 

Upon completion of required procedures, the district and parent or guardian, in consultation with the student’s physician, will develop a diabetes or asthma/anaphylaxis  medical management plan for the current school year. The plan shall:

  1. Identify the health care services the student may receive at the school relating to the condition;
  2. Evaluate the student’s understanding of and ability to self-manage his/her condition;
  3. Permit regular monitoring of the student’s self-management of his/her condition by an appropriately credentialed health care professional; and
  4. Be signed by the student’s parent or guardian and the physician responsible for treatment of the student’s condition.

 

For asthma/anaphylaxis the plan will also:

  1. Include the name, purpose, and dosage of the prescription medication prescribed for such student; and
  2. Include procedures for storage and access to backup supplies of such prescription medication.

 

The parent or guardian shall sign a statement that:

  1. The district and its employees and agents are not liable for any injury or death arising from a student’s self-management of his/her condition; and
  2. Shall indemnify and hold harmless the district and its employees and agents against a claim arising from a student’s self-management of his/her condition.
  3. Any injury to others as a result of the student’s self-medication shall be the parents’ responsibility

 

The student shall promptly notify the person designated in the student’s self-management plan when the student has self-medicated.

 

The superintendent shall develop all necessary procedures and forms to implement the self-management plans and student disciplinary procedures regarding the misuse or

threatened misuse of medications and supplies.  The school will promptly notify the parent/guardian of such disciplinary action. 

 

Medication for Conditions other than Diabetes or Asthma/Anaphylaxis

Medication will not be administered without written authorization that is signed and dated from the parent and physician, and the medication must be in the original container which is labeled by the pharmacy or the manufacturer with the name of the child, name of the medication, the time of the day which it is to be given, the dosage and the duration.

 

Written authorization will also be secured when the parent requests student co-administration of medication for other than diabetes or asthma/anaphylaxis when competency is demonstrated. When administration of the medication requires ongoing professional health judgment, an individual health plan will be developed by the licensed health personnel with the student and the student's parents.

 

A written record of the administration of medication procedure must be kept for each child receiving any medication including the date; student's name; prescriber or person authorizing the administration; the medication and its dosage; the name, signature and title of the person administering the medication; and the time and method of administration and any unusual circumstances, actions or omissions. Administration of medication records shall be kept confidential.

 

Records shall be available to the Department of Health and Human Services Regulation and Licensure, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the State Department of Education for inspection and copying.

 

Medication will be kept in a secured area.  Students may carry medication only with the approval of the parents and building principal of the student's attendance center. Emergency protocol for medication‑related reactions will be in place.

 

The superintendent shall be responsible, in conjunction with the school nurse or Medication Aide, for developing rules and regulations governing the administration of prescription and nonprescription medication to students, including emergency protocols, and for ensuring persons administering medication have met the requirement of state statutes. Annually, each student shall be provided with the requirements for administration of medication at school.

 

Administering Medication

 

Certain administrative precautions must be established before the staff may administer or supervise the administration of medicine to students during the school day.  In accordance with the acceptance of this responsibility, and according to the directives established in board of education policy, the following regulations are established:

 

         1.   Before any medication will be administered by school personnel the child’s parents must file with the building principal a written statement that releases the school district and its personnel from liability in the administration of the medication.

 

         2.   Medicines which is to be administered under the supervision of school personnel shall be stored at all times in locked cabinet in the main office of the school.

 

         3.   Medicine shall be brought to school in a bottle with a pharmaceutical label which states the prescription dosage and manner of administration.

 

         4.   Medicine requiring refrigeration will be brought to the school daily.

 

         5.   School personnel will administer non-prescription drugs on the verbal authorization of the parents.

 

         6.   Medications that must be administered by injection shall not be administered by school personnel.

 

         7.   Detailed records shall be kept for each student receiving prescription medication administered by school personnel.  The records will identify the medication dosage, date, time and school employee administering the drug.

 

         8.   Parents shall be informed when a student refuses or forgets to take the medication.

 

         9.   School employees shall receive training relative to possible side affects for the prescription drugs they are to administer prior to administering such drugs.

 

 

 

Policy Adopted:    01/11/88                                    FULLERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Policy Revised:     07/20/98                                    FULLERTON, NEBRASKA

Policy Revised:     07/10/06

Policy Revised:     06/11/12

Policy Revised :    06/11/18

Policy Revised:     05/11/20

 

 

5025

Student Insurance

 

The school district is not an insurer of student safety, and parents are encouraged to secure insurance covering their students’ healthcare needs, including catastrophic coverage for injuries which may be sustained while participating in athletics or other extracurricular activities.  The school district may disseminate information about insurance plans available for purchase by parents for their students from third party vendors.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5026

Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment of Students

 

  1. Sex Discrimination

 

    1. The district prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity except when it is necessary to accomplish a specific purpose that does not impinge upon essential equality or fairness in the treatment of students or employees.  Employees are required to comply with this policy as well as with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the regulations of the U.S. Department of Education as applicable to this district.

 

    1. Any individual who believes he or she is being discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, or age may seek relief by filing a complaint pursuant to the board’s complaint policy or contacting the district’s Title IX coordinator. 

 

  1. Sexual Harassment

 

    1. Students should be provided with an environment that is free from unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct constituting sexual harassment.  The board of education unequivocally prohibits sexual harassment of its students, even when the affected student does not complain to the faculty or the administration.

 

    1. Sexual harassment is a form of misconduct that wrongfully deprives students of their dignity and the opportunity to study and be in an environment free from unwelcome sexual overtones.  Sexual harassment includes all unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other such verbal or physical misconduct.  Sexual harassment means:

 

    1. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical misconduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual's educational opportunities or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive learning environment.

 

    1. A student who feels he or she has been sexually harassed should directly inform the offending student that the conduct or communication is offensive and must stop.  If the student does not wish to communicate directly with the offending student, or if direct communication has been ineffective, the student should report the conduct or communication to the Title IX coordinator or to a teacher, principal or counselor with whom she or he feels comfortable. 

 

    1. Retaliation against students who make good faith reports of sexual harassment is prohibited.

 

  1. Disciplinary Decisions

 

    1. A decision to take disciplinary action under this policy may be based on the statements of a complaining student, statements, observations of educators, or any other credible evidence.

 

    1. All complaints against staff members will follow the investigation, decision, and appeal process established in the district’s complaint policy.

 

    1. Any student who sexually harasses another student will be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion, depending on the severity of the misconduct, as established in the district’s student discipline policy.

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5028

Initiations and Hazing

 

Initiations and hazing by members of classes, clubs, athletic teams, or any other organization affiliated with the district are prohibited except as otherwise permitted by this policy.  Any student engaging in hazing or non-approved initiations is subject to discipline as permitted by policy and law.

 

Initiations are defined as any ritualistic expectations, requirements, or activities placed upon new members of a school organization for the purpose of admission into the organization, even if those activities do not rise to the level of “hazing” as defined below. Initiations are prohibited except by permission of the superintendent.  

 

Hazing is defined as any activity by which a person intentionally or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health or safety of an individual for the purpose of initiation into, admission into, affiliation with, or continued membership in any school organization.  Hazing activities include, but are not limited to, whipping, beating, branding, an act of sexual penetration, an exposure of the genitals of the body done with the intent to affront or alarm any person, a lewd fondling or caressing of the body of another person, forced and prolonged calisthenics, prolonged exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor, beverage, drug, or harmful substance not generally intended for human consumption, prolonged sleep deprivation, or any brutal treatment or the performance of any unlawful act that endangers the physical or mental health or safety of any person.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5030

Dating Violence

 

Dating violence, as that term is defined by Nebraska law, will not be tolerated by the school district.  Students who engage in dating violence on school grounds, in a school vehicle or at a school activity or that otherwise violates the Nebraska Student Discipline Act will receive consequences consistent with the Act and the district’s student discipline policies. 

 

The school district shall provide dating violence training to staff deemed appropriate by the administration and in accordance with Nebraska law. 

 

A copy of this policy shall be included in the student handbook.

 

 

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________

 

5033

Student Driving and Parking

 

Students who drive to school are required to park their vehicles and leave them unoccupied until it is time to drive home.  Students may not drive or have access to their vehicles during the school day without the express permission of their building principal or the superintendent of schools.

 

Students are to park appropriately and in the assigned areas on school property.  Student parking shall not be permitted in bus loading zones.  When the buses are loading or unloading, all vehicles must stop and wait for the loading or unloading process to be completed.

 

By driving a vehicle to school and parking on school grounds, students consent to having that vehicle searched by school officials if school officials have reasonable suspicion that such a search will reveal a violation of school rules.

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5034

Handbooks

 

The student handbook is an extension of these policies and has the force and effect of board policy when approved by the board of education.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

5035

Student Discipline

 

Administrative and teaching personnel may take actions regarding student behavior, other than those specifically provided in this policy and the Student Discipline Act, which are reasonably necessary to aid the student, further school purposes, or prevent interference with the educational process. Such actions may include, but need not be limited to, counseling of students, parent conferences, referral to restorative justice practices or services, rearrangement of schedules, requirements that a student remain in school after regular hours to do additional work, restriction of extracurricular activity, or requirements that a student receive counseling, psychological evaluation, or psychiatric evaluation upon the written consent of a parent or guardian to such counseling or evaluation.  Disciplinary consequences may also include in-school suspension, Saturday School, and any other consequence authorized by law.  District administrators may develop building-specific protocols for the imposition of student discipline. 

 

Any disciplinary action taken by staff must be consistent with the requirements of other applicable laws, including but not limited to the IDEA, Section 504, and Title IX.

 

In this policy, references to "Principal" shall include building principals, the principal's designee, or other appropriate school district administrators. 

 

Any statement, notice, recommendation, determination, or similar action specified in this policy shall be effectively given at the time written evidence thereof is delivered personally to or upon receipt of certified or registered mail or upon actual knowledge by a student or his or her parent or guardian.

 

Any student who is suspended or expelled from school pursuant to this policy may not participate in any school activity during the duration of that exclusion including adjacent school holidays and weekends.  The student activity eligibility of a student who is mandatorily reassigned shall be determined on a case-by-case basis by the principal of the building to which the student is reassigned.

 

Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade Students

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this policy, an elementary school shall not suspend a student in pre-kindergarten through second grade unless the student brings a deadly weapon as defined in section 28-109 on school grounds, in a vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by a school being used for a school purpose or in a vehicle being driven for a school purpose by a school employee or his or her designee, or at a school-sponsored activity or athletic event.  As an alternative to suspension, the school district may take any action authorized by law, including those provided in section 79-258.

 

Makeup Work for Suspended Students

 

Any student who is suspended must be given an opportunity to complete any classwork and homework missed during the period of suspension, including, but not limited to, examinations (“makeup work”).  Any makeup work must be completed and turned in within 2 school days after completion of the suspension.  This makeup guideline shall be provided to the student and a parent or guardian at the time of suspension.  Suspended students may not be required to attend the school’s alternative program for expelled students in order to complete classwork or homework.

 

Short-Term Suspension

 

The Principal may exclude students from school or any school function for a period of up to five school days (short-term suspension) on the following grounds:

 

  1. Conduct constituting grounds for expulsion as hereinafter set forth; or,
  2. Other violations of rules and standards of behavior adopted by the Board of Education or the administrative or teaching staff of the school, that occur on or off school grounds, if such conduct interferes with school purposes or there is a connection between such conduct and school.

 

The following process applies to short-term suspension:

 

  1. The Principal shall make a reasonable investigation of the facts and circumstances.  Short-term suspension shall be imposed only after a determination that the suspension is necessary to help any student, to further school purposes, or to prevent an interference with school purposes.
  2. Prior to commencement of the short-term suspension, the student will be given oral or written notice of the charges against the student.  The student will be advised of what he or she is accused of having done, be given an explanation of the evidence the authorities have, and be given an opportunity to explain the student's version of the facts.
  3. Within 24 hours or such additional time as is reasonably necessary, not to exceed an additional 48 hours, following the suspension, the Principal will send a written statement to the student, and the student's parent or guardian, describing the student's conduct, misconduct or violation of the rule or standard and the reasons for the action taken.  An opportunity will be given to the student, and the student's parent or guardian, to have a conference with the Principal ordering the short-term suspension before or at the time the student returns to school and shall document such effort in writing.  The Principal shall determine who, in addition to the parent or guardian, is to attend the conference.
  4. Students who are short-term suspended must be given the opportunity to complete classwork and homework missed during the period of suspension, including but not limited to examinations, as provided herein.

 

Emergency Exclusion

 

Students may be emergency excluded from school pursuant to the board's separate policy on emergency exclusion or state law. 

 

Weapons and/or Firearms

 

Weapons.  No student may possess, handle, or transmit any weapon while on school grounds, in a school vehicle, or at any school activity or event off school grounds except as permitted by this policy.  Definition of Weapon.  The term “weapon” means any object, device, instrument, material, or substance which is capable of causing injury in the manner it is used or intended to be used. 

 

Firearms.  No student may bring, possess, handle or transmit a firearm on school grounds, in a school owned vehicle, or at a school activity or event off school grounds, except as permitted by this policy.  Definition of Firearm.  The term “firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921, means any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any firearm muffler or firearm silencer, or any destructive device (excluding an antique firearm).

 

Exceptions Regarding Firearms and Weapons.  The only exceptions for a student to bring or possess a weapon, including a firearm, are as follows:

 

  1. The issuance of firearms to or possession of firearms by members of the Reserve Officers Training Corps when training or
  2. Firearms which may lawfully be possessed by the person receiving instruction under the immediate supervision of an adult instructor who may lawfully possess firearms.

 

Consequences - Firearm.   Any student who brings a firearm, as that term is defined in 18 United States Code 921, to school will be expelled from school for one calendar year.  The superintendent of schools and the board of education shall have the authority to modify the expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.

 

Consequences – Weapon.  State law and this policy provide that any student who violates this policy by knowingly bringing, possessing, handling or transmitting a weapon, other than a firearm, on school grounds, in a school owned vehicle, or at a school activity or event off school grounds may be suspended on a long-term basis, mandatorily reassigned, or expelled for the remainder of the school year in which the expulsion takes effect (if the misconduct occurs during the first semester) or the remainder of the second semester, summer school, and the first semester of the following school year (if the misconduct occurs during the second semester). 

 

Confiscation of Firearms and Weapons.  Administrative and teaching personnel are statutorily authorized, without a warrant, to confiscate any firearm or weapon possessed in violation of this policy.  Any firearm that is confiscated by school personnel shall be delivered to a peace officer as soon as practicable.  Such firearms are subject to being destroyed by law enforcement authorities.

 

Report to Law Enforcement Authorities.  All school personnel are required to report any violation of this policy to a principal or the superintendent of schools.  Pursuant to state and federal law, school personnel are required to report to law enforcement authorities when a student brings a firearm to school. 

 

Long-Term Suspension 

 

Students may be excluded by the Principal from school or any school function for a period of more than five school days but less than twenty school days (long-term suspension) for any conduct constituting grounds for expulsion as hereinafter set forth.  The process for long-term suspension is set forth below.

 

Expulsion

 

  1. Meaning of Expulsion.  Expulsion means exclusion from attendance in all schools, grounds and activities of or within the system for a period not to exceed the remainder of the semester in which it took effect unless the misconduct occurred (a) within ten school days prior to the end of the first semester, in which case the expulsion shall remain in effect through the second semester, or (b) within ten school days prior to the end of the second semester, in which case the expulsion shall remain in effect for summer school and the first semester of the following school year, or (c) unless the expulsion is for conduct specified in these rules or in law as permitting or requiring a longer removal, in which case the expulsion shall remain in effect for the period specified therein.  Such action may be modified or terminated by the school district at any time during the expulsion period.
  2. Summer Review.  Any expulsion that will remain in effect during the first semester of the following school year will be automatically scheduled for review before the beginning of the school year.  The review will be conducted by the hearing officer who conducted the initial expulsion hearing, or a hearing officer appointed by the Superintendent in the event no hearing was previously held or the initial hearing officer is no longer available or willing to serve, after the hearing officer has given notice of the review to the student and the student's parent or guardian.  This review shall be limited to newly discovered evidence or evidence of changes in the student's circumstances occurring since the original hearing.  This review may lead to a recommendation by the hearing officer that the student be readmitted for the upcoming school year.  If the school board or board of education or a committee of such board took the final action to expel the student, the student may be readmitted only by action of the board.  Otherwise the student may be readmitted by action of the Superintendent.
  3. Suspension of Enforcement of an Expulsion:  Enforcement of an expulsion action may be suspended (i.e., "stayed") for a period of not more than one full semester in addition to the balance of the semester in which the expulsion takes effect, and as a condition of such suspended action, the student may be assigned to a school, class, or program/plan and to such other consequences which the school district deems appropriate. 
  4. Alternative School or Pre-expulsion Procedures. The school shall either provide an alternative school, class or educational program for expelled students, or shall follow the pre-expulsion procedures outlined in Neb. Rev. Stat. 79-266.
  5. Conclusion of Expulsion.  At the conclusion of an expulsion, the school district will reinstate the student and accept nonduplicative, grade-appropriate credits earned by the student during the term of expulsion from any Nebraska accredited institution or institution accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies in the United States. 

 

Grounds for Long-Term Suspension, Expulsion or Mandatory Reassignment:

 

The following conduct constitutes grounds for long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment, subject to the procedural provisions of the Student Discipline Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-254 through 79-296, when such activity occurs on school grounds, in a vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by a school being used for a school purpose or in a vehicle being driven for a school purpose by a school employee or by his or her designee, or at a school-sponsored activity or athletic event:

 

  1. Use of violence, force, coercion, threat, intimidation, or similar conduct in a manner that constitutes a substantial interference with school purposes. The board has determined that the use of synthetic media such as deepfakes may constitute “similar conduct”;
  2. Willfully causing or attempting to cause substantial damage to property, stealing or attempting to steal property of substantial value, or repeated damage or theft involving property;
  3. Causing or attempting to cause personal injury to a school employee, to a school volunteer, or to any student. Personal injury caused by accident, self-defense, or other action undertaken on the reasonable belief that it was necessary to protect some other person shall not constitute a violation of this subdivision;
  4. Threatening or intimidating any student for the purpose of or with the intent of obtaining money or anything of value from such student;
  5. Knowingly possessing, handling, or transmitting any object or material that is ordinarily or generally considered a weapon (see also board policy on weapons and firearms);
  6. Engaging in the unlawful possession, selling, dispensing, or use of a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance, as defined in section 28-401, a substance represented to be a controlled substance, or alcoholic liquor as defined in section 53-103.02 or being under the influence of a controlled substance or alcoholic liquor (note:  the term “under the influence” for school purposes has a less strict meaning than it does under criminal law; for school purposes, the term means any level of impairment and includes even the odor of alcohol on the breath or person of a student; also, it includes being impaired by reason of the abuse of any material used as a stimulant);
  7. Public indecency as defined in section 28-806, except that this prohibition shall apply only to students at least twelve years of age but less than nineteen years of age;
  8. Engaging in bullying as defined in section 79-2,137 and in these policies;
  9. Sexually assaulting or attempting to sexually assault any person if a complaint has been filed by a prosecutor in a court of competent jurisdiction alleging that the student has sexually assaulted or attempted to sexually assault any person, including sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults which occur off school grounds not at a school function, activity, or event. For purposes of this subdivision, sexual assault means sexual assault in the first degree as defined in section 28-319, sexual assault in the second degree as defined in section 28-320, sexual assault of a child in the second or third degree as defined in section 28-320.01, or sexual assault of a child in the first degree as defined in section 28-319.01, as such sections now provide or may hereafter from time to time be amended;
  10. Engaging in any other activity forbidden by the laws of the State of Nebraska which activity constitutes a danger to other students or interferes with school purposes; or
  11. A repeated violation of any of the following rules if such violations constitute a substantial interference with school purposes:
    1. The use of language, written or oral, or conduct, including gestures, which is profane or abusive to students or staff members.  Profane or abusive language or conduct includes, but is not limited to, that which is commonly understood and intended to be derogatory toward a group or individual based upon race, gender, national origin, or religion;
    2. Dressing or grooming in a manner which violates the school district’s dress code and/or is dangerous to the student's health and safety, a danger to the health and safety of others, or which is disruptive, distracting or indecent to the extent that it interferes with the learning and educational process;
    3. Violating school bus rules as set by the school district or district staff;
    4. Possessing, using, selling, or dispensing tobacco, drug paraphernalia, an electronic nicotine delivery system, or a tobacco imitation substance or packaging, regardless of form, including cigars, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and any other form of tobacco, tobacco derivative product or imitation or electronic cigarettes, vapor pens, etc.;
    5. Possessing, using, selling, or dispensing any drug paraphernalia or imitation of a controlled substance regardless of whether the actual substance possessed is a controlled substance by Nebraska law;
    6. Possession of pornography, including creation, possession, dissemination, accessing, sale, or any other use of synthetic media, such as deepfakes;
    7. Sexting or the possession of sexting images (a combination of sex and texting - the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically), including creation, possession, dissemination, accessing, sale, or any other use of synthetic media, such as deepfakes;
    8. Engaging in hazing, defined as any activity expected of someone joining a group, team, or activity that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person's willingness to participate.  Hazing activities are generally considered to be:  physically abusive, hazardous, and/or sexually violating and include but are not limited to the following: personal servitude; sleep deprivation and restrictions on personal hygiene; yelling, swearing and insulting new members/rookies; being forced to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire in public; consumption of vile substances or smearing of such on one's skin; branding; physical beatings; binge drinking and drinking games; sexual simulation and sexual assault;
    9. Bullying which shall include cyberbullying, defined as the use of the internet, including but not limited to social networking sites such as Facebook, cell phones or other devices to send, post or text message images and material intended to hurt or embarrass another person.  This may include, but is not limited to; continuing to send e-mail to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender; sending or posting threats, sexual remarks or pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech); ganging up on victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, and posting false statements as fact intended to humiliate the victim; disclosure of personal data, such as the victim's real name, address, or school at websites or forums; posing as the identity of the victim for the purpose of publishing material in their name that defames or ridicules them; sending threatening and harassing text, instant messages or emails to the victims; and posting or sending rumors or gossip to instigate others to dislike and gang up on the target;
    10. Violations of the district’s acceptable computer use policy;
    11. Knowingly possessing, handling, or transmitting any object or material that is ordinarily or generally considered a simulated or “look-a-like” weapon;
    12. Using any object to simulate possession of a weapon;
    13. Knowingly making a false statement or knowingly submitting false information during the Title IX grievance process or any other school investigation or making a materially false statement in bad faith in the course of a Title IX grievance proceeding or any other school investigation;
    14. Violation of the school’s audio and video recording policy; and
    15. Any other violation of any board policy, handbook provision, or rule or regulation established by a school district staff member pursuant to authority delegated by the board.

 

Due Process Afforded to Students Facing Long-term Suspension or Expulsion

 

The following procedures shall be followed regarding any long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment:

 

  1. The decision to recommend discipline shall be made within two school days after learning of the alleged student misconduct.  On the date of the decision to discipline, the Principal shall file with the Superintendent a written charge and a summary of the evidence supporting such charge. 
  2. The Principal shall serve the student and the student's parents or guardian with a written notice by registered or certified mail or personal service within two school days of the date of the decision to recommend long-term suspension or expulsion.  The notice shall include the following:

 

    1. The rule or standard of conduct allegedly violated and the acts of the student alleged to constitute a cause for long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment, including a summary of the evidence to be presented against the student;
    2. The penalty, if any, which the principal has recommended in the charge and any other penalty to which the student may be subject;
    3. A statement that, before long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment can be invoked, the student has a right to a hearing, upon request, and that if the student is suspended pending the outcome of the hearing, the student may complete classwork and homework, including, but not limited to, examinations, missed during the period of suspension pursuant to district guidelines which shall not require the student to attend the school district's alternative programs for expelled students in order to complete classwork or;
    4. A description of the hearing procedures provided by the act, along with procedures for appealing any decision rendered at the hearing;
    5. A statement that the principal, legal counsel for the school, the student, the student's parent, or the student's representative or guardian has the right (i) to examine the student's academic and disciplinary records and any affidavits to be used at the hearing concerning the alleged misconduct and (ii) to know the identity of the witnesses to appear at the hearing and the substance of their testimony; and
    6. A form on which the student, the student's parent, or the student's guardian may request a hearing, to be signed by such parties and delivered to the principal or superintendent in person or by registered or certified mail to the address provided on the form.

 

  1. When a notice of intent to discipline a student by long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment is filed with the superintendent, the student may be suspended by the principal until the date the long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment takes effect, if the principal determines that the student must be suspended immediately to prevent or substantially reduce the risk of (a) interference with an educational function or school purpose or (b) a personal injury to the student himself or herself, other students, school employees, or school volunteers.
  2. Nothing in this policy shall preclude the student, student's parents, guardian or representative from discussing and settling the matter with appropriate school personnel prior to the time the long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment takes effect.
  3. If a hearing is requested within five days after receipt of the notice, the Superintendent shall recommend appointment of a hearing examiner within two school days after receipt of the hearing request.  The student or the student’s parent or guardian may request designation of a hearing examiner other than the hearing examiner recommended by the superintendent if notice of the request is given to the superintendent within two school days after receipt of the superintendent’s recommended appointment.  Upon receiving such request, the superintendent must provide one alternative hearing examiner who is not an employee of the school district or otherwise currently under contract with the school district and whose impartiality may not otherwise be reasonably questioned.  The student or the student’s parent or guardian must, within five school days, select a hearing examiner to conduct the hearing who was recommended or provided as an alternative hearing examiner, and shall notify the superintendent in writing of the selection.  The superintendent must appoint the selected hearing examiner upon receipt of such notice.
  4. The hearing examiner must, within two school days after being appointed, give written notice to the principal, the student, and the student’s parent or guardian of the time and place for the hearing.
  5. The hearing shall be held within a period of five school days after appointment of the hearing examiner, but such time may be changed by the hearing examiner for good cause with consent of the parties. No hearing shall be held upon less than two school days' actual notice to the principal, the student, and the student's parent or guardian, except with the consent of all the parties.
  6. The principal or legal counsel for the school, the student, and the student's parent, guardian, or representative have the right to receive a copy of all records and written statements referred to in the Student Discipline Act as well as the statement of any witness in the possession of the school board or board of education no later than forty-eight hours prior to the hearing.
  7. If a hearing is requested more than five school days following the receipt of the written notice, but not more than thirty calendar days after receipt, the Superintendent shall appoint a hearing examiner.  The hearing will be held according to the requirements of section 79-269.  The student shall be entitled to a hearing but the consequence imposed may continue in effect pending final determination. 
  8. If a request for hearing is not received within thirty calendar days following the mailing or delivery of the written notice, the student shall not be entitled to a hearing.

 

In the event a hearing is requested, the hearing, hearing procedures, the student's rights and any appeals or judicial review permitted by law shall be governed by the applicable provisions of the Nebraska Student Discipline Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 79-254 to 79-294). 

 

Reporting Requirement to Law Enforcement

 

Violations of this section will result in a report to law enforcement if:

 

  1. The violation includes possession of a firearm;
  2. The violation results in child abuse;
  3. It is a violation of the Nebraska Criminal Code that the administration believes cannot be adequately addressed solely by discipline from the school district;
  4. It is a violation of the Nebraska Criminal Code that endangers the health and welfare of staff or students;
  5. It is a violation of the Nebraska Criminal Code that interferes with school purposes;
  6. The report is required or requested by law enforcement or the county attorney.

 

 

Adopted on: _____12/9/19_____________

Revised on: ____6/10/24____________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

 

 

5036

Lockers

 

Lockers are the property of the school district and students are permitted to use them without charge.  The assignment of a locker is on a temporary basis and may be revoked at any time.  School officials may inspect student lockers without any particularized suspicion or reasonable cause.

 

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5039

Fundraising Activities

 

All fundraising activities shall require authorization by the school board.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5040

Work Permits

 

The building principal or other authorized school official shall be responsible for the issuance of work permits for children in accordance with state law.

 

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5041

Student Government

 

Students are encouraged to formulate and participate in elective and representative student government activities.  The organization, operation and scope of the student government shall be administered by the superintendent or designee.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5042

Bulletin Boards

 

Bulletin boards and other electronic publishing spaces of the district may be provided for the use of students and student organizations for purposes of notifications related to student activities and student groups.  The following general limitations apply to all posting or publishing:

 

 

  1. All postings must be approved by the appropriate building principal or designee.  Students may not post any material containing any statement or expression that is libelous, obscene, or vulgar; that would violate board of education policies, including the student code of conduct; or that is otherwise inappropriate for the school environment.

 

  1. All postings must identify the student or the student organization posting or publishing the notice.

 

  1. Published material may be removed after a reasonable time.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5043

School-Sponsored Publications

 

School-sponsored student publications and electronic media productions are part of the school district’s instructional program.  The board of education supports the development of student communication skills through school-sponsored newspapers, annuals, magazines, and electronic media including computer, video and digital productions.

 

Student publications and productions must conform to all good scholastic and professional journalistic standards.  The board delegates to the superintendent of schools the right to prohibit dissemination of any school-sponsored publication or media production that does not conform to these standards, or which the superintendent or designee deems inappropriate for the school environment.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________   

 

                                                                                                                    

STUDENTS                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                    

STUDENTS                                                                                                            5045

STUDENT FEES POLICY                                        

 

The Board of Education of Fullerton Public Schools adopts the following student fees policy in accordance with the Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fee Authorization Act. 

 

The District’s general policy is to provide for the free instruction in school in accordance with the Nebraska Constitution and state and federal law.  This generally means that the District’s policy is to provide free instruction for courses which are required by state law or regulation and to provide the staff, facility, equipment, and materials necessary for such instruction, without charge or fee to the students. 

 

The District does provide activities, programs, and services to children which extend beyond the minimum level of constitutionally required free instruction. Students and their parents have historically contributed to the District’s efforts to provide such activities, programs, and services.  The District’s general policy is to continue to encourage and, to the extent permitted by law, to require such student and parent contributions to enhance the educational program provided by the District. 

 

Under the Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fee Authorization Act, the District is required to set forth in a policy its guidelines or policies for specific categories of student fees.  The District does so by setting forth the following guidelines and policies.  This policy is subject to further interpretation or guidance by administrative or Board regulations which may be adopted from time to time.   The Policy includes Appendix “1,” which provides further specifics of student fees and materials required of students for the 2024-2025 school year.  Parents, guardians, and students are encouraged to contact their building administration or their teachers or activity coaches and sponsors for further specifics.

 

      (1) Guidelines for non-specialized attire required for specified courses and activities.  Students have the responsibility to furnish and wear nonspecialized attire meeting general District grooming and attire guidelines, as well as grooming and attire guidelines established for the building or programs attended by the students or in which the students participate.  Students also have the responsibility to furnish and wear nonspecialized attire reasonably related to the programs, courses and activities in which the students participate where the required attire is specified in writing by the administrator or teacher responsible for the program, course or activity. 

           

            The District will provide or make available to students such safety equipment and attire as may be required by law, specifically including appropriate industrial-quality eye protective devices for courses of instruction in vocational, technical, industrial arts, chemical or chemical-physical classes which involve exposure to hot molten metals or other molten materials, milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting, grinding, or stamping of any solid materials, heat treatment, tempering, or kiln firing of any metal or other materials, gas or electric arc welding or other forms of welding processes, repair or servicing of any vehicle, or caustic or explosive materials, or for laboratory classes involving caustic or explosive materials, hot liquids or solids, injurious radiation's, or other similar hazards.  Building administrators are directed to assure that such equipment is available in the appropriate classes and areas of the school buildings, teachers are directed to instruct students in the usage of such devices and to assure that students use the devices as required, and students have the responsibility to follow such instructions and use the devices as instructed.

 

      (2)  Personal or consumable items & miscellaneous

            (a)  Extracurricular Activities.  Students have the responsibility to furnish any personal or consumable items for participation in extracurricular activities.  

            (b)  Courses

                  (i)   General Course Materials.  Items necessary for students to benefit from courses will be made available by the District for the use of students during the school day.  Students may be encouraged, but not required, to bring items needed to benefit from courses including, but not limited to, pencils, paper, pens, erasers, notebooks, trappers, protractors and math calculators. A specific class supply list will be published annually in a Board-approved student handbook or supplement or other notice.  The list may include refundable damage or loss deposits required for usage of certain District property.

 

                  (ii)  Damaged or Lost Items.  Students are responsible for the careful and appropriate use of school property.  Students and their parents or guardian will be held responsible for damages to school property where such damage is caused or aided by the student and will also be held responsible for the reasonable replacement cost of school property which is placed in the care of and lost by the student.

 

                  (iii) Materials Required for Course Projects.  Students are permitted to and may be encouraged to supply materials for course projects.  Some course projects (such as projects in art and shop classes) may be kept by the student upon completion.  In the event the completed project has more than minimal value, the student may be required, as a condition of the student keeping the completed project, to reimburse the District for the reasonable value of the materials used in the project.  Standard project materials will be made available by the District.  If a student wants to create a project other than the standard course project, or to use materials other than standard project materials, the student will be responsible for furnishing or paying the reasonable cost of any such materials for the project.

 

                  (iv) Music Course Materials.  Students will be required to furnish musical instruments for participation in optional music courses.  Use of a musical instrument without charge is available under the District’s fee waiver policy.  The District is not required to provide for the use of a particular type of musical instrument for any student.

 

                  (v)  Parking.  Students may be required to pay for parking on school grounds or at school-sponsored activities, and may be subject payment of fines or damages for damages caused with or to vehicles or for failure to comply with school parking rules.

 

      (3) Extracurricular Activities–Specialized equipment or attire. Extracurricular activities means student activities or organizations which are supervised or administered by the District, which do not count toward graduation or advancement between grades, and in which participation is not otherwise required by the District.  The District will generally furnish students with specialized equipment and attire for participation in extracurricular activities.   The District is not required to provide for the use of any particular type of equipment or attire.  Equipment or attire fitted for the student and which the student generally wears exclusively, such as dance squad, cheerleading, and music/dance activity (e.g. choir or show choir) uniforms and outfits, along with T-shirts for teams or band members, will be required to be provided by the participating student. The cost of maintaining any equipment or attire, including uniforms, which the student purchases or uses exclusively, shall be the responsibility of the participating student.  Equipment which is ordinarily exclusively used by an individual student participant throughout the year, such as golf clubs, softball gloves, and the like, are required to be provided by the student participant.  Items for the personal medical use or enhancement of the student (braces, mouth pieces, and the like) are the responsibility of the student participant.   Students have the responsibility to furnish personal or consumable equipment or attire for participation in extra curricular activities or for paying a reasonable usage cost for such equipment or attire. For musical extracurricular activities, students may be required to provide specialized equipment, such as musical instruments, or specialized attire, or for paying a reasonable usage cost for such equipment or attire.

 

      (4)  Extracurricular Activities–Fees for participation. Any fees for participation in extracurricular activities for the 2022-2023 school year are further specified in Appendix “1.” Admission fees are charged for extracurricular activities and events.

 

      (5) Post secondary education costs. Students are responsible for post secondary education costs.  The phrase “post secondary education costs” means tuition and other fees only associated with obtaining credit from a post secondary educational institution. For a course in which students receive high school credit and for which the student may also receive post secondary education credit, the course shall be offered without charge for tuition, transportation, books, or other fees, except tuition and other fees associated with obtaining credits from a post secondary educational institution.

 

      (6) Transportation costs. Students are responsible for fees established for transportation services provided by the District as and to the extent permitted by federal and state laws and regulations.

 

      (7) Copies of student files or records. The Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee shall establish a schedule of fees representing a reasonable cost of reproduction for copies of a student's files or records for the parents or guardians of such student. A parent, guardian or student who requests copies of files or records shall be responsible for the cost of copies reproduced in accordance with such fee schedule.   The imposition of a fee shall not be used to prevent parents of students from exercising their right to inspect and review the students' files or records and no fee shall be charged to search for or retrieve any student's files or records.  The fee schedule shall permit one copy of the requested records be provided for or on behalf of the student without charge and shall allow duplicate copies to be provided without charge to the extent required by federal or state laws or regulations.

     

      (8) Participation in before-and-after-school or prekindergarten services. Students are responsible for fees required for participation in before-and-after-school or prekindergarten services offered by the District, except to the extent such services are required to be provided without cost.

 

      (9) Participation in summer school or night school. Students are responsible for fees required for participation in summer school or night school.  Students are also responsible for correspondence courses.

 

      (10) Breakfast and lunch programs.  Students shall be responsible for items which students purchase from the District’s breakfast and lunch programs.  The cost of items to be sold to students shall be consistent with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.  Students are also responsible for the cost of food, beverages, and personal or consumable items which the students purchase from the District or at school, whether from a “school store,” a vending machine, a booster club or parent group sale, a book order club, or the like.  Students may be required to bring money or food for field trip lunches and similar activities.

 

(11)  Waiver Policy.

The District’s policy is to provide fee waivers in accordance with the Public Elementary and Secondary Student Fee Authorization Act.   Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches under United States Department of Agriculture child nutrition programs shall be provided a fee waiver or be provided the necessary materials or equipment without charge for: (1) participation in extracurricular activities and (2) use of a musical instrument in optional music courses that are not extracurricular activities.  Participation in a free-lunch program or reduced-price lunch program is not required to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches for purposes of this section.  Students or their parents must request a fee waiver prior to participating in or attending the activity, and prior to purchase of the materials.

 

      (12)  Distribution of Policy. The Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee shall publish the District's student fee policy in the Student Handbook or the equivalent (for example, publication may be made in an addendum or a supplement to the student handbook).   The Student Handbook or the equivalent shall be provided to every student of the District or to every household in which at least one student resides, at no cost.

 

      (13)  Student Fee Fund. The School Board hereby establishes a Student Fee Fund.  The Student Fee Fund shall be a separate school district fund not funded by tax revenue, into which all money collected from students and subject to the Student Fee Fund shall be deposited and from which money shall be expended for the purposes for which it was collected from students.  Funds subject to the Student Fee Fund consist of money collected from students for: (1) participation in extracurricular activities, (2) post secondary education costs, and (3) summer school or night school.

 

CERTIFICATION

 

            On the 8th day of July, 2024, the school board held a public hearing at a meeting of the school board on a proposed student fee policy.  Such public hearing followed a review of the amount of money collected from students pursuant to, and the use of waivers provided in, the student fee policy for the 2024-2025 school year.  The foregoing student fee policy was adopted after such public hearing by a majority vote of the school board at an open public meeting in compliance with the public meetings laws.

                                                                                    

                                                            ______________________________________________

                                                               Superintendent or Other Authorized School Official

 

 

            Policy Adopted:      July 15, 2002                             FULLERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

            Policy Revised:      July 14, 2003                                    FULLERTON, NEBRASKA

            Policy Revised:      July 12, 2004

            Policy Revised:      July 11, 2005

            Policy Revised:      July 10, 2006

            Policy Revised:      July   9, 2007

            Policy Revised:      July 14, 2008

            Policy Revised:      July 20, 2009

            Policy Revised:      July 12, 2010

            Policy Revised:      July 11, 2011

            Policy Revised:      July 09, 2012

            Policy Revised:      July 08, 2013

            Policy Revised:      July 14, 2014

            Policy Revised:      July 13, 2015

            Policy Revised:      July 12, 2016

            Policy Revised:      July 11, 2017

            Policy Revised:      July  9, 2018

            Policy Revised:      July  8, 2019

            Policy Revised:      July 13, 2020
            Policy Revised:      July 12, 2021
            Policy Reviewed:   July 11, 2022
             Policy Reviewed:   July 10, 2023
            Policy Reviewed:   July 8, 2024

                                                                                           

Apendix I Student Fees Policy - Click to Open as PDF                   

 

                                                                                           

5046

Secret Organizations

 

Secret organizations are prohibited.  School officials shall not allow any person or representative of any such organization to enter upon school grounds or school buildings for the purpose of rushing or soliciting students to participate in any secret fraternity, society or association.

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5049

Firearms and Weapons

 

 

Weapons.  No student may possess, handle, or transmit any weapon while on school grounds or at any school activity or event off school grounds except as permitted by this policy.  No visitor under the age of 18 may possess, handle, or transmit any weapon while on school grounds or at any school activity or event off school grounds except as permitted by this policy.  Definition of Weapon.  The term “weapon” means any object, device, instrument, material, or substance which is capable of causing injury in the manner it is used or intended to be used. 

 

Firearms.  No person may bring, possess, handle or transmit a firearm on school grounds, in a school owned vehicle, or at a school activity or event off school grounds, except as permitted by this policy.  Definition of Firearm.  The term “firearm, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921, means any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any firearm muffler or firearm silencer, or any destructive device (excluding an antique firearm).

 

Exceptions Regarding Firearms.  The prohibition against firearms does not apply to:

  1. The issuance of firearms to or possession by members of the armed forces of the United States, active or reserve, National Guard of this State, or Reserve Officers Training Corps or peace officers or other duly authorized law enforcement officers when on duty or training; or

 

  1. Firearms that may lawfully be possessed by a person who is receiving instruction at the school under the immediate supervision of an adult instructor;

 

  1. Firearms which may lawfully be possessed by a person for the purpose of using them, with the approval of the school, in a historical reenactment, in a hunter education program, or as part of an honor guard;

 

  1. Firearms contained within a private vehicle operated by a nonstudent adult that are not loaded and are encased or are in a locked firearm rack that is on a motor vehicle; or

 

  1. A handgun carried as a concealed handgun by a nonstudent adult in a vehicle or on his or her person while riding in or on a vehicle into or onto any parking area, which is open to the public and used by the school if, prior to exiting the vehicle, the handgun is locked inside the glove box, trunk, or other compartment of the vehicle, a storage box securely attached to the vehicle, or, if the vehicle is a motorcycle, a hardened compartment securely attached to the motorcycle while the vehicle is in or on such parking area, except as prohibited by federal law. 

 

Definition of Encased.  The term “encased” means enclosed in a case that is expressly made for the purpose of containing a firearm and that is completely zipped, snapped, buckled, tied, or otherwise fastened with no part of the firearm exposed. 

 

Exceptions for Students.  The only exceptions for a student to bring or possess a weapon, including a firearm, are as follows:

 

 1. The firearm or weapon has been brought to school grounds or to an activity or event off school grounds for some educational purpose;

    

 2. The person bringing the firearm or weapon has requested and received the prior approval of both the instructor and the building principal to do so; and

 

3.  All arrangements to use and store the firearm or weapon safely while it is on school premises have been agreed to and carried out.

 

Consequences - Firearm.   Any student who brings a firearm, as that term is defined in 18 United States Code 921, to school will be expelled from school for one calendar year.  The superintendent of schools and the board of education shall have the authority to modify the expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.

 

Consequences – Weapon.  State law and this policy provide that any student who violates this policy by knowingly bringing, possessing, handling or transmitting a weapon, other than a firearm, on school grounds, in a school owned vehicle, or at a school activity or event off school grounds may be suspended on a long-term basis, mandatorily reassigned, or expelled for the remainder of the school year in which the expulsion takes effect (if the misconduct occurs during the first semester) or the remainder of the second semester, summer school, and the first semester of the following school year (if the misconduct occurs during the second semester). 

 

Confiscation of Firearms.  Administrative and teaching personnel are statutorily authorized, without a warrant, to confiscate any firearm possessed in violation of this policy.  By statute, any firearm that is confiscated by school personnel shall be delivered to a peace officer as soon as practicable.  Such firearms are subject to being destroyed by law enforcement authorities.

 

Report to Law Enforcement Authorities.  All school personnel are required to report any violation of this policy to a principal or the superintendent of schools.  Pursuant to state and federal law, school personnel are required to report to law enforcement authorities when a student brings a firearm or weapon to school.

 

Adopted on: 7/10/23_______________

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________

 

 

5050

Reporting Related to Exempt (Home) Schools

 

 

Students in Nebraska may choose to be educated at an exempt (home) school that meets the requirements of statute and the Nebraska Department of Education. 

 

Pursuant to state law, he school district's administration will inform the appropriate agency of the names of all students who are school age and known not to be in attendance at a public, private, parochial or denominational school that has met the requirements for legal operation prescribed in statute and the rules of the Nebraska Department of Education.

 

 

 

 

Adopted on: December 9, 2019

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

 

5052

 

A mission of Fullerton Public Schools (“District”) is to provide curriculum, instruction, and experiences in a health-promoting school environment to instill habits of lifelong learning and health. Therefore, the Board adopts the following School Wellness Policy.

1.         School Wellness Committee

Committee Role and Membership

The District will convene a representative District Wellness Committee (“DWC”) or work within an existing school health committee that meets at least four times per year to establish goals for and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development, implementation and periodic review and update of this District wellness policy. 

The DWC membership will represent all school levels and may include (to the extent possible), but not be limited to: parents and caregivers; students; representatives of the school nutrition program; physical education teachers; health education teachers; school health professionals or  staff; mental health and social services staff; school administrators; school board members; and the general public.

Leadership

The Superintendent or designee(s) will convene the DWC and facilitate development of and updates to the wellness policy, and will ensure each school’s compliance with the policy.

  1. Wellness Policy Implementation, Monitoring, Accountability and Community Engagement

Implementation Plan

The District will develop and maintain a plan for implementation to manage and coordinate the execution of this wellness policy. The plan delineates roles, responsibilities, actions and timelines specific to each school; and includes information about who will be responsible to make what change, by how much, where and when; as well as specific goals and objectives for nutrition standards for all foods and beverages available on the school campus, food and beverage marketing, nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, physical education and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.  

This wellness policy and the progress reports can be found at the District’s website. 

Recordkeeping

The District will retain records to document compliance with the requirements of the wellness policy at the Superintendent’s office and/or on the District’s computer network. Documentation maintained in this location may include but will not be limited to:

  • The written wellness policy;
  • Documentation demonstrating that the policy has been made available to the public;
  • Documentation of efforts to review and update the Local Schools Wellness Policy; including an indication of who is involved in the update and methods the district uses to make stakeholders aware of their ability to participate on the DWC;
  • Documentation to demonstrate compliance with the annual public notification requirements;
  • The most recent assessment on the implementation of the local school wellness policy;
  • Documentation demonstrating the most recent assessment on the implementation of the Local School Wellness Policy has been made available to the public.

 Annual Notification of Policy

The District will actively inform families and the public each year of basic information about this policy, including its content, any updates to the policy and implementation status. The District will make this information available via the District website and/or district-wide communications.

Triennial Progress Assessments

At least once every three years, the District will evaluate compliance with the wellness policy to assess the implementation of the policy and include:

  • The extent to which the District’s schools are in compliance with the wellness policy;
  • The extent to which the District’s wellness policy compares to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s model wellness policy; and
  • A description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the District’s wellness policy.

The position/person responsible for managing the triennial assessment and contact information is the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee.    

Revisions and Updating the Policy

The DWC will update or modify the wellness policy based on the results of the annual School Health Index and triennial assessments and/or as District priorities change; community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science, information, and technology emerges; and new Federal or state guidance or standards are issued. The wellness policy will be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years, following the triennial assessment.

Community Involvement, Outreach and Communications

The District is committed to being responsive to community input, which begins with awareness of the wellness policy. The District will actively communicate ways in which representatives of DWC and others can participate in the development, implementation and periodic review and update of the wellness policy through a variety of means appropriate for that district.

 

 

 

Nutrition

School Meals

The District is committed to serving healthy meals to children, with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free and low-fat milk; that are moderate in sodium, low in saturated fat, and have zero grams trans fat per serving (nutrition label or manufacturer’s specification); and to meeting the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements. The school meal programs aim to improve the diet and health of school children, help mitigate childhood obesity, model healthy eating to support the development of lifelong healthy eating patterns and support healthy choices while accommodating cultural food preferences and special dietary needs.

All schools within the District participate in USDA child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and any additional Federal child nutrition programs in which the District participates.

  • Are accessible to all students;
  • Are appealing and attractive to children;
  • Are served in clean and pleasant settings;
  • Meet or exceed current nutrition requirements established by local, state, and Federal statutes and regulations. (The District offers reimbursable school meals that meet USDA nutrition standards.)
  • Promote healthy food and beverage choices using at some of the following Smarter

Staff Qualifications and Professional Development

All school nutrition program directors, managers and staff will meet or exceed hiring and annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA professional standards for child nutrition professionals. Staff participate in state food service programs each summer.

Competitive Foods and Beverages

  • Definitions. “Competitive food” means all food and beverages other than meals reimbursed under programs authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 available for sale to students on the school campus during the school day.  For the purpose of competitive food standards implementation, “school day” means the period from the midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day.
  • Applicability.  Except as otherwise allowed by the South Dakota Department of Education or applicable law, all competitive foods sold during the school day must meet the USDA Smart Snacks Standards and the nutrition standards found in 7 CFR § 210.11.   The competitive food restrictions do not apply to food sold during non-school day hours, weekends, and off-campus fundraising events such as concessions during after-school sporting events, school plays or concerts; or to bulk food items that are sold for consumption at home. (Ex: frozen pizzas, cookie dough tubs, etc.)

 

  • Fundraiser food or beverages are NOT exempt from the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards. Therefore, if food is sold as a fundraiser:
    • It shall not be sold in competition with school meals in the food service area during the meal service.
    • It shall not be sold or otherwise made available to students anywhere on school premises during the period beginning one half hour prior to the serving period for breakfast and/or lunch and lasting until one half hour after the serving of breakfast and/or lunch.
    • The sale of food items during the school day shall meet the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition requirements
    • This restriction does not apply to food sold during non-school hours, weekends, and off-campus fundraising events such as concessions during after-school sporting events, school plays or concerts; or to bulk food items that are sold for consumption at home. (Ex: frozen pizzas, cookie dough tubs, etc.)

 

Celebrations and Rewards

All foods offered on the school campus should meet or exceed the USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards or, if the state policy is stronger, will meet or exceed state nutrition standards, including through. The district will provide a list of healthy party ideas to parents and teachers, including non-food celebration ideas.  

 

Nutrition Promotion

Nutrition promotion and education positively influence lifelong eating behaviors by using evidence-based techniques and nutrition messages, and by creating food environments that encourage healthy nutrition choices and encourage participation in school meal programs.

Nutrition Education

The District will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating by all students. Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that:

  • Is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and protect their health;
  • Is part of not only health education classes, but also integrated into other classroom instruction through subjects such as math, science, language arts, social sciences and elective subjects;
  • Includes enjoyable, developmentally-appropriate, culturally-relevant and participatory activities, such as cooking demonstrations or lessons, promotions, taste-testing, farm visits and school gardens;
  • Promotes fruits, vegetables, whole-grain products, low-fat and fat-free dairy products and healthy food preparation methods;
  • Emphasizes caloric balance between food intake and energy expenditure (promotes physical activity/exercise);
  • Links with school meal programs, cafeteria nutrition promotion activities, school gardens, Farm to School programs, other school foods and nutrition-related community services;
  • Teaches media literacy with an emphasis on food and beverage marketing; and
  • Includes nutrition education training for teachers and other staff. 

Essential Healthy Eating Topics in Health Education

The District may include in the health education curriculum the following essential topics on healthy eating:

  • Relationship between healthy eating and personal health and disease prevention
  • Food guidance from MyPlate
  • Reading and using FDA's nutrition fact labels
  • Eating a variety of foods every day
  • Balancing food intake and physical activity
  • Eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grain products
  • Choosing foods that are low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol and do not contain trans fat
  • Choosing foods and beverages with little added sugars
  • Eating more calcium-rich foods
  • Preparing healthy meals and snacks
  • Risks of unhealthy weight control practices
  • Accepting body size differences
  • Food safety
  • Importance of water consumption
  • Importance of eating breakfast
  • Making healthy choices when eating at restaurants
  • Eating disorders
  • The Dietary Guidelines for Americans
  • Reducing sodium intake
  • Social influences on healthy eating, including media, family, peers and culture
  • How to find valid information or services related to nutrition and dietary behavior
  • How to develop a plan and track progress toward achieving a personal goal to eat healthfully
  • Resisting peer pressure related to unhealthy dietary behavior
  • Influencing, supporting, or advocating for others’ healthy dietary behavior


Food and Beverage Marketing in Schools

The District is committed to providing a school environment that ensures opportunities for all students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors throughout the school day while minimizing commercial distractions. The District strives to teach students how to make informed choices about nutrition, health and physical activity. Water is offered at all school meals.

 

  1. Physical Activity

Children and adolescents should participate in physical activity every day.

To the extent practicable, the District will ensure that its grounds and facilities are safe and that equipment is available to students to be active. The District will conduct necessary inspections and repairs. 

Physical Education

The District will provide students with physical education, using an age-appropriate, sequential physical education curriculum consistent with national and state standards for physical education.  The physical education curriculum will promote the benefits of a physically active lifestyle.

All students will be provided equal opportunity to participate in physical education classes. The District will make appropriate accommodations to allow for equitable participation for all students and will adapt physical education classes and equipment as necessary. 

All elementary students in each grade will receive physical education for at least 60-89 minutes per week throughout the school year.

All secondary students (middle and high school) are required to take the equivalent of one academic year of physical education. 

Essential Physical Activity Topics in Health Education

Health education will be required in all elementary grades, and high school students will take and pass at least one health education course. The District should include in the health education curriculum a variety of activities that bring about physical, psychological and social benefits.

 

Recess (Elementary)

All elementary schools will offer at least 20 minutes of recess on all days during the school year.  Exceptions may be made as appropriate, such as on early dismissal or late arrival days. If recess is offered before lunch, schools will have appropriate hand-washing facilities and/or hand-sanitizing mechanisms located just inside/outside the cafeteria to ensure proper hygiene prior to eating and students are required to use these mechanisms before eating. Hand-washing time, as well as time to put away coats/hats/gloves, will be built in to the recess transition period/timeframe before students enter the cafeteria.

Outdoor recess will be offered when weather and other conditions make it feasible for outdoor play.

Classroom Physical Activity Breaks (Elementary and Secondary)

Students will be offered periodic opportunities to be active or to stretch throughout the day on all or most days during a typical school week.

Active Academics

Teachers will incorporate movement and kinesthetic learning approaches into “core” subject instruction when possible (e.g., science, math, language arts, social studies and others) and do their part to limit sedentary behavior during the school day.

Policy Adopted:       07/10/06                                               

Policy Revised:         10/08/07                                                FULLERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS         

Policy  Revised:        09/08/08                                                FULLERTON, NEBRASKA

Policy  Revised:        07/20/09

Policy  Revised:        07/12/10

Policy Revised:         07/11/11

Policy Revised:         11/12/12

Policy Revised:         03/10/14

Policy Revised:         04/13/16

Policy Revised:        06/12/17 

Policy Revised:        07/09/18

Policy Revised:        05/11/20

Policy Reviewed:                                  07/12/21

Policy Reviewed:                                  06/13/22

Policy Reviewed:                                  07/10/23

Policy Reviewed and Revised:              04/08/24

Policy Reviewed and Revised:               6/10/24

 

 

 

 

5054

Students

 

Anti –Bullying Policy

 

One of the missions of the District is to provide a physically safe and emotionally secure environment for students and staff.

 

The administration and staff are to implement strategies and practices to reinforce and encourage positive behaviors by students.  Positive behaviors include non-violence, cooperation, teamwork, understanding and acceptance of others.

 

The administration and staff are to implement strategies and practices to identify and prevent inappropriate behaviors by all students, including anti-bullying education for all students.  Inappropriate behaviors include bullying, intimidation and harassment.  Bullying means any ongoing pattern of physical, verbal or electronic abuse (cyber bullying) on school grounds or with school equipment, in a vehicle owned, leased or contracted by the school or at school-sponsored activities or school-sponsored athletic events.

 

The school district shall review the anti-bullying policy annually.

 

 

 

                                  

 

Policy  Approved:   08-11-08                                     FULLERTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Policy  Revised:      07-20-09                                     FULLERTON, NEBRASKA

Policy  Revised:     07-12-10

Policy Revised:       07-11-11

Policy Revised:       06-11-12

Policy Revised:       06-10-13

Policy Reviewed:    06-09-14

Policy Reviewed:    06-08-15

Policy Reviewed:    06-13-16

Policy Reviewed:    06-12-17

Policy Reviewed:    06-11-18

Policy Reviewed:    06-10-19

Policy Reviewed:    05-11-20

Policy Reviewed:    07-12-21

Policy Reviewed:   07-11-22

Policy Reviewed:   07-10-23

Policy Reviewed:  07-08-24

 

5055

Enrollment in Kindergarten

 

A child must reach the age of five on or before July 31st of the calendar year to be enrolled in kindergarten.  The school district will enroll a child who will reach the age of five between August 1st and October 15th of the year of enrollment if the parent or guardian requests such enrollment and provides an affidavit stating:

 

(a) the child attended kindergarten in another jurisdiction in the current school year; or

(b) the family anticipates relocating to another jurisdiction that would allow admission within the current year; or

(c) the child has demonstrated through recognized assessment procedures approved by the board that he or she is capable of performing the work of kindergarten.

 

 

The board delegates to the elementary principal responsibility for determining whether the conditions of this policy have been met.


Parents or guardians of students who become legal residents of the district after the Assessment Period, and thus were unable to participate in the Assessment Period, must contact the elementary principal about registering and/or scheduling a time for assessment.

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _______________

Reviewed on: ______________

 

5056

Free Expression by Students

The board of education recognizes that students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate.  However, the board of education is responsible for balancing those rights against its responsibility to provide a program of education for students in this district.  The board is authorized to preserve order so that the system may function properly. 

Students may not engage in any expressive conduct that causes a material and substantial disruption to the educational program; that is lewd, obscene, profane, defamatory, threatening or contains “fighting words;” that advocates the use of substances that are illegal to minors; that incites violence or constitutes a “true threat;” or that urges the violation of law or school rules. Violators will be disciplined in accordance with law and board policy.

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _______________

Reviewed on: ______________

5057

District Title I Parent and Family Engagement Policy

 

The school district will jointly develop with parents a School-Parent-Student Compact that outlines how the parents, school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership to help children achieve the State’s high standards.

 

The written District Parent and Family Engagement Policy will be jointly developed and distributed to parents and family members of participating children and the local community in an understandable format and to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.  An annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the Parent and Family Engagement Policy will be used to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental involvement, to revise the Parent and Family Engagement Policy and to remove barriers to participation.

 

The school district recognizes the unique needs of students who are being served in its Title I program, and the importance of parent and family engagement in the Title I program.  Parent and family engagement in the Title I Program shall include, but is not limited to:

 

  1. An annual meeting to which all parents of participating children will be invited to inform parents of their school’s participation under this part, to explain the requirements of this part, and the right of the parents to be involved.  Invitations may take the form of notes sent with students or announcements in the school newsletter.  Additional meetings may be scheduled, based upon need and interest for such meetings.

 

  1. An explanation of the details for the child’s and parents’ participation, including but not limited to: curriculum objectives, the forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress and the achievement levels of the challenging State academic standards, type and extent of participation, parental input in educational decisions, coordination and integration with other Federal, State, and district programs, and evaluations of progress. 

 

  1. Opportunities for participation in parent involvement activities such as training to help parents work with their children to improve achievement. A goal of parent activities is to provide parents with opportunities to participate in decisions relating to the education of their students, where appropriate.

 

  1. The district will, to the extent practicable, provide parents of limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, parents with limited literacy, are economically disadvantaged, are of a racial or minority background or parents of migratory children with opportunities for involvement in the Title I Program. Communication to parents about student progress and the district’s other Title I Program communications will be provided in the language used in the home to the extent practicable.  Responses to parent concerns will be provided in a timely manner.

 

  1. Opportunities for parent-teacher conferences, in addition to those regularly scheduled by the school district, if requested by the parents or as deemed necessary by school district staff.

 

  1. The district will coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs and activities with other programs in the community.  These may include cooperation with other community programs such as Head Start and preschools and other community services such as the public library. 

 

  1. Educate teachers, specialized instructional support personnel, principals, and other school leaders, with the assistance of parents in the value and utility of contributions of parents, how to reach out to, communicate with and work with parents as equal partners.

 

This policy shall be reviewed annually at the annual meeting where concerned parties can have a conversation about possible changes to the Parent and Family Engagement Policy. 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: __

Reviewed on: _7/8/24______

  

5059

Emergency Medical Treatment

 

If a child becomes ill or is injured while at school or while being supervised by a member of the school district’s staff, the staff member shall take reasonable steps to render assistance and, when appropriate, summon medical assistance.  Staff will notify a student’s parent or guardian when a student needs medical attention. 

 

The school district is not qualified under law to comply with directives to physicians limiting medical treatment and will not accept such directives.  School district staff members will not honor “do not resuscitate/do not intubate” (DNR/DNI) orders, requests for transport to particular medical facilities, and any similar requests.    Parents/Guardians must arrange for all such requests with rescue squad and medical providers directly. 

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5062

Lice and Nits

 

Upon discovering the presence of live lice or louse eggs, the school will notify the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s).  The student will be isolated from contact with other students and their belongings, and a parent or guardian must pick the child up from school immediately.

 

By Nebraska DHHS regulation, students are not permitted to return to school until the student is treated such that no live lice or louse eggs can be detected.  The parent(s) or guardian(s) will be required to treat the student and accompany the student to school to be examined.  The student cannot ride the school bus until the district has cleared the student to return to school.

 

 

 

Adopted on: ______5/11/20____________

Revised on: _______7/10/23____________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5063

Audio and Video Recording

 

Students and their parents or guardians should assume that any class in which students are enrolled may be recorded by the school district or other students for legitimate educational purposes.  Recordings permitted pursuant to this policy may only be used by students for personal academic purposes and may not be republished without additional, written consent from a school administrator.  For purposes of this policy “recording” includes still photographs, video, audio, and other similar data captured in any medium.

 

Recordings Made by The District.  The district may use cameras or other devices for purposes of making security, safety, or other recordings without a specific purpose or for a specific purpose when such recordings are deemed necessary or appropriate by the administration.  The district will not maintain the recordings unless the recording is purposefully copied and saved, and the recordings will only be available for review for a limited time based on the district’s then-current recording capacity.  The district administrators estimate that this is approximately 10 days but may change at any time.

 

Classroom Recordings by Staff.  Staff members may make audio and video recordings of classroom instruction and school activities upon authorization of the superintendent or supervising administrator. 

 

Prohibited Recordings by Students.  Unless otherwise authorized by this policy or law, students are prohibited from making audio or video recordings during the school day on school grounds; when being transported to and from school activities or programs in a vehicle owned, leased, or contracted by a school being used for a school purpose by a school employee or by his or her designee; or at a school-sponsored activity or athletic event, unless the recording is made in a manner permitted by the school for members of the public.  In such an instance, the students remain subject to the district’s appropriate use and student discipline policies.

 

For example, this policy does not prohibit students from making recordings of an athletic event for their personal use similar to a parent or other patron, subject to other applicable board policy. However, this policy generally prohibits students from using smart-speakers or other devices which actively or passively create or transmit audio or video recordings, including Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomePod, and AngelSense devices.

 

 

Permitted Classroom Recordings by Students.  Students may make audio or video recordings of classroom lectures or discussions:

 

  1. For their convenience after providing notice to the classroom teacher and receiving the teacher’s permission;
  2. For the benefit of another student who is absent after providing notice to the classroom teacher and receiving the teacher’s permission;
  3. If recording is necessary to accommodate the student’s disability and is required by the student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 Plan.

 

Staff may revoke permission to record if the recording distracts from or disrupts the classroom environment, unless the recording is necessary to accommodate a student’s disability. 

 

Permitted Non-classroom Recordings.  Students may make audio or video recordings otherwise prohibited by this policy outside the classroom only with the permission of a teacher or school administrator, provided that such recordings otherwise comply with any applicable state and federal laws and district policy.  In no event shall photographs or video recordings be taken or made in restrooms, locker rooms, or other areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________

 

5064

Supplement, Not Supplant

 

The district will use Title I, Title II, Title IV, and any other funds subject to Supplement, Not Supplant requirements as required by law.  The district will use said funds to Supplement, Not Supplant, state and local funds that would, in the absence of such funds, be spent on Title programs.  The district will ensure that Title funds will not be used to provide services which otherwise take the place of public education services that are to be provided to all students.

 

The district maintains records of the professional development provided at the district level that is funded with Title funds. The Superintendent will ensure that professional development is aligned with the needs of the district's Title programs. Title professional development will not duplicate that which the district provides for non-Title purposes which, in the absence of Title funds, would be provided to all staff.

 

Adopted on: _____12/9/19____________

Revised on: _____7/10/23_____________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

 

5066

Early Graduation

 

General Policy.  Students most effectively obtain the skills and experience necessary to graduate from high school by completing grades 9 through 12 over the course of 4 years.  Unless otherwise permitted by Board policy or other applicable law, students must finish all 4 grade levels in order to graduate.

 

Requirements for Application.  In unique circumstances, the Board may waive the four-year attendance requirement for high school graduation, provided that the student has met the requirements of this policy.   

 

Students must make an application to the high school principal before they may seek permission to graduate early from the Board.  The principal may consult with appropriate instructional and guidance staff members in making the determination.  The student's application must include:

 

  1. Proof that the student will meet all academic requirements necessary to graduate on or before the proposed graduation date;
  2. A transcript showing that the student has no grade lower than “C” in any required course at the time of application;
  3. A detailed essay that (a) addresses the reasons for seeking early graduation and (b) articulates the student’s post-graduation plans,  including goals and objectives justifying the need to graduate early; and
  4. A completed consent form from a parent/guardian must accompany the application.

 

The student may submit any additional materials which support the student's efforts to graduate early.  Such materials may include, but are not required to include: letters of support from staff and community members; proof of admission in a postsecondary program; and/or any other materials which the student believes to support the student's application.

 

Consideration by the Board of Education.  The principal will make a written recommendation to the Board based on the submitted application from the student.  The Board will consider but is not bound by the principal's recommendation.  Along with the application, the Board may consult with members of the administration, staff, or anyone else the Board deems appropriate.  The Board will grant a student’s application only if it determines that the student is best served by permitting the student to graduate early.

 

 

 

Participation in District Activities.  Early graduates will be considered graduates of the district at the time the Board confers such status upon them.  Therefore, early graduates will no longer be considered members of the student body and will forfeit those rights and privileges accorded such students.

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _________________________

Reviewed on: ________________________     

 

5067

Student Assistance Team Process

 

Pursuant to the Rules of the Nebraska Department of Education, the school district uses general education student assistance teams (SATs).  SATs consider and create problem-solving and intervention strategies to assist classroom teachers to meet the needs of students who may be struggling in the general curriculum or who are struggling to comply with the student code of conduct or to meet acceptable behavioral and social norms.      

 

All teaching staff must:

 

  1. Support the SAT process by appropriately referring students who may benefit from the SAT process; and

 

  1. Faithfully and consistently implementing the intervention strategies recommended by the SAT.

 

The failure to support the SAT process is a serious matter and may constitute just cause for terminating or canceling a teacher’s employment. 

 

 

Adopted on: 5-11-20

Revised on: _______________

Reviewed on: ______________