NOTIFICATIONS AS REQUIRED BY LAW
OSHA REGULATIONS
Ottawa-Glandorf Schools is subject to all regulations for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to restrict the spread of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the workplace. These regulations are designed to protect employees of the district who are, or could be, exposed to blood or other contaminated bodily fluids while performing their job duties.
Because of the very serious consequences of contracting HBV or HIV, the district is committed to taking the necessary precautions to protect both students and staff from its spread in the school environment.
Part of the federally mandated procedures includes a requirement that the district request the person who was bleeding to consent to be tested for HBV or HIV. This information would then be provided both to the exposed employee and the treating physician to determine proper medical treatment.
The law does not require parents or guardians to grant permission for the examination of their child's blood, but it does require the district to request the consent. Although we expect that incidents of exposure will be few, we wanted to notify parents of these requirements ahead of time. That way, if a situation does develop, you will understand the reason for our request and will have had an opportunity to consider it in advance.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Federal OSHA Regulations, please contact our school nurse at 419-523-5702.
SAFE SCHOOLS (Policy 8400)
The Board of Education declares it to be the policy of the district that each school building has a school safety plan in place in order to keep students and staff safe in case of a real emergency.
ACHIEVEMENT TEST SECURITY PROVISIONS
It is important for every child to have an opportunity to take the state-wide Ohio Assessments. The Ohio Revised Code directs every district to have detailed security provisions for all statewide tests. Upon due process, a test will be invalidated for any student who is proven to have cheated on the test. Every school office has a copy of the district security procedures available for public review during school hours. Anyone who wishes to have a copy may obtain one by contacting the Superintendent's Office.
PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS (Policy 8431)
Pesticide applications shall be conducted by an applicator who is certified/licensed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture to use or directly supervise the use of pesticides in the manner specified in his/her certification/licensure. Applications must be made in accordance with the pesticide labeling, State and Federal law and regulations, and the pesticide enforcement policy statements issued by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The applicator shall use the necessary safety equipment as set forth on the pesticide label or as required by the pesticide being used, including any necessary protective equipment that is appropriate relative to the potential exposure.
DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS
In accordance with federal law, the Board of Education prohibits the use, possession, concealment, or distribution of drugs by students on school grounds, in school or school-approved vehicles, or at any school-related event. Drugs include any alcoholic beverage, anabolic steroid, dangerous controlled substances as defined by state statute, or substance that could be considered a "look-a-like" controlled substance. Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all students. Any student who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, in accordance with due process and as specified in the student handbooks, up to and including expulsion from school. When required by state law, the district will also notify law enforcement officials.
The District is concerned about any student who is a victim of alcohol or drug abuse and will facilitate the process by which s/he receives help through programs and services available in the community. Students and their parents should contact the school principal or counseling office whenever such help is needed.
ACCESS TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES (Policy 1422, 2260)
Equal educational opportunities shall be available to all students, without regard to their membership in the Protected Classes, race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and transgender identity), disability, age (unless age is a factor necessary to the normal operation or the achievement of any legitimate objective of the program/activity), place of residence within the boundaries of the District, or social or economic background, to learn through the curriculum offered in this district. Educational programs shall be designed to meet the varying needs of all students.
The Superintendent (compliance officer) is responsible for coordinating the District's efforts to comply with applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, including the District's duty to address in a prompt and equitable manner any inquiries or complaints regarding discrimination or denial of equal access. Nondiscrimination for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended), Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended), and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 is provided to students, their parents, staff members, and the general public.
Upon request to the superintendent or building principal, Ottawa-Glandorf Schools shall make reasonable accommodation(s) for a disabled person to participate in any school-related activity. The Board also does not discriminate on the basis of Protected Classes in its employment policies and practices as they relate to students, and does not tolerate harassment of any kind.
INTENSIVE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
The Ohio Department of Education is conducting an intensive awareness campaign in accordance with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Ohio Revised Code, and the State Board of Education's Rules for the Education of Handicapped Children. Each public school district and the Ohio Department of Education is responsible to identify children with disabilities, birth through age 21, who may be in need of special education services. Many unidentified children with disabilities are preschoolers.
For children birth to three, a disability means an established condition known to result in delay, or a documented developmental delay. For children ages three through five, a disability means that a child has a documented deficit in one or more of the following developmental areas: communication, vision, hearing, motor skills, social emotional/behavioral functioning, self-help skills, and/or cognitive skills. For school-age students, a disability means that a student has been identified as having one or more of the following conditions: autism, deaf-blindness, hearing impairment including deafness, cognitive disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and/or visual impairment including blindness.
Your public school offers evaluation for all children with suspected disabilities, birth through age 21; and education for all children with disabilities, ages three through 21 years. Once the school district is notified about a child who is suspected of having a disability the child's parent(s) are contacted and informed of their rights, as required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Ohio Revised Code, and the State Board of Education's Rules for the Education of Handicapped Children; arrangements are made to evaluate the child in cooperation with the parent(s).
IF YOU KNOW A CHILD WHO IS SUSPECTED OF HAVING A DISABILITY...CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SPECIAL SERVICES DIRECTOR.
SUSPENSION OF BUS RIDING/TRANSPORTATION PRIVILEGES (Policy 5610.04)
Students on a bus or other authorized Board of Education transportation vehicles are under the authority of and directly responsible to the bus/vehicle driver. The driver has the authority to enforce the established regulations for bus/vehicle conduct. Disorderly conduct or refusal to submit to the authority of the driver will be sufficient reason for refusing transportation service to any student.
A student may be suspended/expelled from school bus/vehicle riding privileges for all or part of a school year for any violation of established regulations for bus conduct and/or for conduct occurring on the bus/vehicle in violation of the Student Code of Conduct/Student Discipline Code.
Before a suspension/expulsion from bus/vehicle riding privileges is imposed, the building principal/ superintendent or other designated district personnel will provide a student with notice of an intended suspension/expulsion and an opportunity to appear before the building principal/superintendent or other designated district personnel. Disciplinary suspension periods will be commensurate with the infraction(s) committed as determined by the building principal/ superintendent or designated district personnel.
EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT (ESEA)
As a parent of a student at Ottawa-Glandorf Schools, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for certain information about your child’s classroom teachers, and requires us to give you this information in a timely manner if you request it. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:
- whether the Ohio Department of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches;
- whether the Ohio Department of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances;
- the teacher’s college major; whether the teacher has any advanced degrees, and if so, the subject(s) of the degrees;
- whether any teachers’ aides or similar para-professionals provide services to your child, and if they do, their qualifications.
If you would like to receive any of this information, please call the Superintendent at 419-523-5261.
SCHOOL BOARD POLICY ON PARENT INVOLVEMENT
The Board believes that durable and significant learning by a student is more likely to occur when there is an effective partnership between the school and the student's parents. Such a partnership means a mutual belief in, and commitment to, significant educational goals for a student, collaboration on the means for accomplishing those goals, cooperation on developing and implementing solutions to problems that may be encountered and continuing communication regarding the progress in accomplishing the goals.
The Superintendent shall implement administrative guidelines by which a school-parent partnership can be established and maintained throughout the student's career in the district. Such guidelines should encompass parent participation, through meetings and other forms of communication, in:
- establishing the learning outcomes for their child with the goal of developing a responsible, adult member of society;
- developing and implementing appropriate strategies for helping their child achieve the learning objectives that lead to accomplishing the learning outcomes;
- providing a school and home environment which encourages learning and augments, at home, the learning experiences provided by the school;
- establishing and supporting a consistent and shared approach to child guidance and discipline;
- providing for the proper health, safety, and well-being for their child.
Relations with Parents
The Board feels that it is the parents who have the ultimate responsibility for their children's behavior, including the behavior of students who have reached the legal age, but are still, for all practical purposes, under parental authority. During school hours, the Board, through its designated administrators, recognizes the responsibility to monitor students' behavior and, as with academic matters, the importance of cooperation between the school and the parents in matters relating to conduct.
For the benefit of the child, the Board believes that parents have a responsibility to encourage their child's career in school by:
- supporting the schools in requiring their child observe all school rules and regulations, and by accepting their own responsibility for their child's willful in-school behavior;
- sending their children to school with proper attention to his/her health, personal cleanliness, and dress;
- maintaining an active interest in their child's daily work and making it possible for him/her to complete assigned homework by providing a quiet place and suitable conditions for study;
- reading all communications from the school, signing, and returning them promptly when required;
- cooperating with the school in attending conferences set up for the exchange of information of their child's progress in school.
PROHIBITION FROM EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (Policy 5610.05)
Participation in extracurricular activities, including interscholastic sports, is a privilege and not a right. Therefore, the Board of Education authorizes the superintendent, principals, assistant principals and other authorized personnel employed by the district to supervise or coach a student activity program, to prohibit a student from participating in any particular or all extra-curricular activities of the district for offenses or violations of the Student Code of Conduct/Student Discipline Code for a period not to exceed the remainder of the school year in which the offense or violation of the Student Code of Conduct/Student Discipline Code took place.
In addition, student athletes are further subject to the Athletic Code of Conduct and may be prohibited from participating in all or part of any interscholastic sport for violations therein.
Students prohibited from participation in all or part of any extra-curricular activity are not entitled to further notice, hearing, or appeal rights.
NOTIFICATION OF RIGHTS (Policy 8330)
The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
In compliance with federal regulations, the Ottawa-Glandorf School District has established the following guidelines concerning student records:
1. The Superintendent is the Records Control Officer for the district and is responsible for the processing and maintenance of all student records. His office is located at 630 Glendale Avenue or he can be reached by calling 419-523-5261.
2. Each student's records will be kept in a confidential file located in his/her school of attendance. The information in a student's record file will be available for review (within 45 days after receipt of request) only by the parents or legal guardian of a student, an adult student (18 years of age or older), and those authorized by state and federal law or district regulation.
3. A parent, guardian, or adult student has the right to request a change or addition to a student's records and to either obtain a hearing with district officials or file a complaint with the U.S. Office of Education if not satisfied with the accuracy of the records or with the district's compliance with the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
4. The district has established the following information about each student as "directory
information" and will make it available upon a legitimate request unless a parent, guardian, or adult student notifies the Records Control Officer in writing within ten (10) days from the date of this notification that s/he will not permit distribution of any or all of such information: name; address; telephone number; date and place of birth; major field of study; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; height and weight, if a member of an athletic team; dates of attendance; date of graduation and awards received; and any other information the district considers would not be harmful or an invasion of privacy, if disclosed.
- A copy of the Board of Education's policy and the accompanying district regulations are available in the Superintendent's Office. There will also be a person available to answer any questions concerning the policy and regulations.
FEDERAL FUNDS ASSIST STUDENTS
Every year Ottawa-Glandorf Schools receive funds from the Federal and State government that enable the district to provide supplemental services to many students. Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed budgets described below should contact the Superintendent at 419-523-5261.
IDEA Part B funds are provided to school districts based on the number of students in special education programs. In Ottawa-Glandorf Schools, these funds are used to pay for speech, language and psychological services at Sts. Peter and Paul School, to pay the salary for three intervention specialists (special education teachers), to provide occupational therapy, physical therapy and vision services for qualifying Ottawa-Glandorf students. The preschool handicapped VI-B funds are used to pay a portion of the salary for a teacher's aide for the special education classroom unit.
Title I - Ottawa-Glandorf Schools once again will receive funds to improve student achievement in reading and math for at-risk students at the elementary school level. Ottawa Elementary continues to qualify as a school-wide Title I building.
Title II-A - Ottawa-Glandorf Schools receive government funds to improve teacher quality and reduce the classroom student/teacher ratio in one primary grade.
Public School Preschool - The Division of Early Childhood Education of the Ohio Department of Education has awarded competitive grant funds to the Titan T.I.K.E.S. Program of the Ottawa-Glandorf Schools. These funds are used to pay for the salaries and benefits of the staff. Free and reduced tuition fees are available for families who qualify.
HOUSE BILL #204 - "NO DIPLOMA - NO DRIVE BILL"
Whenever a superintendent or a county, exempted village, or city school district receives information that a student of compulsory school age has withdrawn from school, the superintendent must, within two weeks after the withdrawal, notify the registrar and the juvenile judge of the county in which the school district is located. For the purposes of this law, "withdraw from school" means withdrawing for some reason other than a change of residence.
After receiving the information provided by a superintendent concerning dropouts, the registrar of motor vehicles is required to suspend the temporary instruction permit or driver's license of the student who is the subject of the notice. If a temporary permit or a license has not been issued for that student, the registrar is prohibited from issuing a temporary permit or license.
Any denial of privileges would remain in effect until the student reaches age 18 or until the denial of driving privileges is terminated for another reason.
STUDENT PRIVACY AND PARENTAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION (Policy 2416)
No student shall be required, as part of the school program or curriculum, to submit to or participate in any survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning:
- political affiliations or beliefs of the student or his/her parents
- mental or physical problems of the student or his/her family
- sex behavior or attitudes
- illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior
- critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships
- legally-recognized privileged and analogous relationships
- religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or his/her parents
- income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for programs)
Parents have the right to inspect any materials used in conjunction with any survey, analysis, or evaluation. Parents also have the right to inspect, upon request, any instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
ANTI-HARASSMENT (Policy 3362, 4362)
It is the policy of the Board of Education to maintain an education and work environment which is free from all forms of unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment. This commitment applies to all school district operations, programs, and activities. All students, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of unlawful harassment. This policy applies to unlawful conduct occurring on school property, or at another location if such conduct occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.
The Board will vigorously enforce its prohibition against discriminatory harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and transgender identity), disability, age, religion, ancestry or genetic information that are protected by Federal civil rights laws, and encourages those within the school district community as well as third parties, who feel aggrieved to seek assistance to rectify the problems. The Board will investigate all allegations of harassment and in those cases where unlawful harassment is substantiated, the Board will take immediate steps to end the harassment, prevent its reoccurrence, and remedy its effects. Individuals who are found to have engaged in unlawful harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
BULLYING / OTHER FORMS OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR (Policy 5517.01)
The Board of Education is committed to providing a safe, positive, productive, and nurturing educational environment for all of its students. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying toward a student, whether by other students, staff, or third parties is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. This prohibition includes aggressive behavior, physical, verbal, and psychological abuse, and violence within a dating relationship. The Board will not tolerate any gestures, comments, threats, or actions which cause or threaten to cause bodily harm or personal degradation. This policy applies to all activities in the District, including activities on school property, on a school bus, or while enroute to or from school, and those occurring off school property if the student or employee is at any school-sponsored, school-approved or school-related activity or function, such as field trips or athletic events where students are under the school's control, in a school vehicle, or where an employee is engaged in school business.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying means any intentional written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that a student or group of students exhibits toward another particular student(s) more than once and the behavior both causes mental or physical harm to the other student(s) and violence within a dating relationship. Aggressive behavior is defined as inappropriate conduct that is repeated enough, or serious enough, to negatively impact a student's educational, physical, or emotional well being. It would include, but not be limited to, such behaviors as stalking, bullying/cyberbullying, intimidating, menacing, coercion, name calling, taunting, making threats, and hazing.
Any student or student's parent/guardian who believes s/he has been or is the victim of aggressive behavior should immediately report the situation to the building principal or the Superintendent. Every student is encouraged, and every staff member is required, to report any situation that they believe to be aggressive behavior directed toward a student.
If the investigation finds an instance of harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying/cyberbullying by an electronic act or otherwise, has occurred, it will result in prompt and appropriate remedial and/or disciplinary action. Retaliation against any person who reports, is thought to have reported, files a complaint, or otherwise participates in an investigation or inquiry concerning allegations of aggressive behavior is prohibited and will not be tolerated.
The District will respect the privacy of the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible, consistent with the Board's legal obligations to investigate, to take appropriate action, and to conform with any discovery or disclosure obligations. All records generated under this policy and its related administrative guidelines shall be maintained as confidential to the extent permitted by law.
NOTIFICATION OF PARENT/STUDENT RIGHTS IN IDENTIFICATION, EVALUATION, AND PLACEMENT
The following is a description of the rights granted by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to students with disabilities. The intent of this federal law is to keep you fully informed concerning decisions about your child and to inform you of your rights. If you disagree with any of the decisions made by the school district,
You have the right to:
- have your child take part in, and receive benefits from, public education programs without discrimination because of his/her disabling condition and for which the child is otherwise qualified;
- have the school district advise you of your rights under federal law;
- receive notice with respect to identification, evaluation, or placement of your child;
- have your child receive a free appropriate public education. This includes the right to be educated with non-disabled students to the maximum extent appropriate. It also includes the right to have the school district make reasonable accommodations to allow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school and school related activities for which the child is otherwise qualified;
- have your child educated in facilities and receive services comparable to those provided to non-disabled students;
- have your child receive special education and related services if she/he is found to be eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act;
- have evaluation, educational, and placement decisions made based upon a variety of information sources, and by persons who know the child, the evaluation data, and placement options;
- have transportation provided to and from an alternative placement setting at no greater cost to you than would be incurred if the student were placed in a program operated by this District;
- have your child be given an equal opportunity to participate in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities offered by the district;
- examine all relevant records relating to decisions regarding your child's identification, evaluation, educational program, and placement;
- obtain copies of educational records at a reasonable cost unless the fee would effectively deny you access to the records;
- a response from the school district to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of your child's records;
- request amendment of your child's educational records if there is reasonable cause to believe that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy rights of your child. If the school district refuses this request for amendment, it shall notify you within a reasonable time, and advise you of the right to a hearing;
- request mediation or an impartial due-process hearing related to decisions or actions regarding your child's identification, evaluation, educational program, or placement. You and your child may take part in the hearing and have an attorney represent you. Hearing requests must be made to the Superintendent;
- ask for payment of reasonable attorney fees if you are successful on your claim;
- file a local grievance.
The person in this district who is responsible for assuring the district complies with Section 504 is the Superintendent, 419-523-5261.
POLICIES AND GUIDELINES
Can be found at http://www.neola.com/Ottawa-Glandorf-OH/