Section V – Keene School District Policies & Compliance Statements
Notification of Rights Under FERPA
It is the policy of the Keene School District to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 USC §1232(g). This act provides parents and eligible students with access to educational records maintained by the district, including the right to inspect and review educational records and to request their amendment to ensure that the records are not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of a student’s privacy or other rights.
The Keene School District shall not disclose the educational records of a student without the consent of a parent or eligible student except as specifically authorized under the act.
A parent or eligible student who believes that a school district is not in compliance with the act has a right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education at the following address:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605
A procedure is established for the inspection and review of student educational records. A copy of the Keene School District’s policy and procedure is available from the building principal of each school. Upon any inconsistency between FERPA and its regulations and the policy and procedures of the Keene School District, FERPA shall control. The school board authorized the Superintendent of Schools to inform parents, students and public of FERPA and to use administrative resources to implement this policy and procedure and to deal with individuals who violate FERPA, this policy, and/or its procedures.
Directory information is not published by the Keene School District except as it may occur in school formats such as yearbooks, award announcements, programs/bulletins published for athletic or other co-curricular events, and similar achievement-oriented publications. A parent or eligible student who objects to a student’s directory listing in such publications should contact the building principal or the Superintendent of Schools in writing by September 20 of the school year.
Photo Waiver
Periodically N.H. School Administrative Unit 29 publishes printed material, prepares Power Point presentations and updates websites that may use photographs of students in a classroom or school setting. Names of students are not used except to celebrate achievement. If you do not want your child’s photo used, please notify the principal of your child(ren)’s school(s) by September 30th.
Age of Entrance
Children who are five years old on or before September 30th may attend kindergarten. Children who are six years old on or before September 30th may attend first grade.
Title IX Compliance Statement
This school district receives federal financial assistance. In order to continue receiving such federal assistance, this school district will not discriminate in their educational programs, acitivities, or employment practices on the basis of race, language, sex, age, or handicapping condition, under the provisions of Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Compliants regarding compliance with Title IX regulations should be submitted in writing to Mr. Paul Cooper, Title IX Lianson for School Administrative Unit #29, 34 West Street, Keene, New Hampshire.
Complaints regarding compliance with Rehabitation Act of 1973-Section 504 should be submitted to the Director of Special Education, 34 West Street, Keene, New Hampshire.
Civil Rights
The Keene School district does not discriminate in the administration of its admissions and educational programs, activities or employment practice on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex disability, sexual orientation or marital status. If you think there is a problem please contact: The Title IX Coordinator: (Paul Cooper, Director of Human Resources, SAU 29, 34 West St., Keene, NH 03431 or pcooper@sau29.org) or The Section 504 Coordinator: (William Gurney, Assistant Superintendent, SAU 29, 34 West St., Keene, NH 03431 or wgurney@sau29.org).
Pupil Harassment/”Bullying”
The School is committed to providing a safe school environment in which the members of the school community are treated with respect. ‘Bullying’ interferes with this proper school environment. Accordingly, the school follows a procedure intended to minimize and prevent bullying by dealing with such acts of verbal or physical abuse. THIS INCLUDES AN INVESTIGATION INTO ALL REPORTS OF BULLYING, WITH RECOURSE TO THE SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE, THE KEENE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. Please see Keene School District Policy and Procedure #4125/5148 or Policy JICK available at the office of the school.” The handbooks may contain such further statements intended to minimize the occurrence of bullying as the principal may determine is useful.
Sexual Harassment
No student should be made to feel uncomfortable because of remarks or touching directed to or about the student in a way that is sexually offensive. That is sexual harassment. Students are encouraged to discuss such harassment, whether by a peer or by an adult, with their parents and/or with school personnel - teacher, counselor or administrator - with whom the student feels comfortable. The teacher, counselor or administrator shall immediately involve the building principal for appropriate resolution. A copy of Keene School Board Policy 4124/5147 on sexual harassment can be obtained by contacting SAU #29 Title IX Compliance Administrator, Paul Cooper, Director of Human Resources, at 34 West Street, 357-9007.
Alcohol and Other Drugs
In today's society, alcoholic beverages and other drugs are issues which concern us all. Problems caused by the use and abuse of alcoholic beverages and other drugs directly affect all people in our schools and community. Alcohol and other drug use, by students, can reduce a teacher's ability to teach and prevent students from developing to their full potential. With this in mind, we plan to identify problems at the earliest level possible to best help the individual student and the entire school community.
Keene School District Policy # 5144 and various state and federal laws provide for substantial sanctions for the possession or use of alcohol or other drugs on school premises, including mandatory suspension or expulsion from school and the filing of a report to applicable police authorities. A copy of policy 5144 and/or related laws pertaining to alcohol and other drugs on school premises is available from the superintendent’s office.
Weapons on School Premises
Weapons on school premises or in connection with school activities may lead to dangerous and violent behavior and will not be tolerated. Keene School District Policy JICI (#5108) and various state and federal laws provide for substantial sanctions for the possession of weapons on school premises, including mandatory suspension or expulsion from school and the filing of a report to applicable police authorities. A copy of policy 5108 and/or related laws pertaining to weapons and violence on school premises is available from the superintendent’s office.
A weapon is defined as: (1) a firearm (see 18 USC Section 921), to include a pellet or BB gun; (2) any object prohibited, licensed, or regulated under R.S.A. 159; (3) a knife, but not a folding pocket knife or cafeteria-issued dining utensil; and/or (4) a knife and/or any other substance or object which, in the manner it is used, intended to be used, or threatened to be used, is known to be capable of producing serious injury.
School premises shall include the school and surrounding school property, including, without limitation, parking areas, athletic fields, and playgrounds; school busses or other vehicles furnished by the District or its agents for transportation to or from school or a school-related activity; school bus stops; and/or those premises and surroundings being used for a school-related activity. For purposes of this procedure and without intending to interfere with the rights and duties of the police and/or private property owners, school premises shall also be deemed to include streets and exterior property in the school neighborhood during the course of travel to and from school or a school-related activity.
Possession shall include, but not be limited to having control over a weapon during any part of a school day or during any part of a school-related activity, including transporting the weapon to school or to a school-related activity and/or storage of the weapon anywhere n school premises.
Student Conduct, Discipline and Due Process
The Board endorses the following principles of student conduct (Policies JIC, JIA, JICD and 5108):
1. Respect for law and those given the authority to administer it shall be required of all students. This includes conformity to school rules as well as general provisions of the law regarding minors.
2. Respect for the rights of others, consideration of their privileges, and cooperative citizenship shall be expected of all members of the school community.
3. Respect for real and personal property, pride in one's work, achievement within the range of one's ability, and exemplary personal standards of courtesy, decency, honesty, and wholesome attitudes shall be maintained.
4. Respect for individual worth to the end that all students shall be assisted to the extent of their ability is an obligation of the school. Diligence and a sincere desire to profit from the opportunity offered is an obligation of the student.
The Board expects student conduct to be such as to contribute to a productive learning climate. Individual rights are to be honored and protected in all instances; however, the rights of one individual shall not take precedence over those of another individual or of the group itself, and all pupils shall have equal rights and equal responsibilities in their demeanor in the classroom or on any school property.
The Board further recognizes the right of each school to establish disciplinary procedures in accordance with R.S.A. 193:13 and R.S.A. 193-D through the development of administrative procedures which are approved by the Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Due process and equal protection of the law shall be afforded to any pupil involved in a proceeding which may result in suspension, exclusion, or expulsion. Students expelled from school may be reinstated by the Board under the provisions of R.S.A. 193:13.
Administrative Procedure
The following Keene School District rules relative to student conduct, discipline and due process in the schools are adapted from the Rules of the New Hampshire State Board of Education. See Part Ed 317. The purpose of the State Board rules is set forth as follows:
I. Purpose
a. These rules provide due process and statewide uniformity in the enforcement of R.S.A. 193-D relative to disciplinary action for misconduct by a pupil in a safe school zone, including possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapon, and R.S.A. 193:13 relative to suspension and expulsion of pupils.
b. Since R.S.A. 193-D:2, II provides that local school boards may adopt local policies relative to pupil conduct and disciplinary procedures, these rules also provide a standard so that the policies of local school boards are consistent throughout the state.
c. These rules also link discipline and due process in safe school zones to the requirements of Ed 1109 relative to special needs students.
II. Definitions
a. "Expulsion" means the permanent denial of a pupil's attendance at school for any of the reasons listed in R.S.A. 193:13, II and III.
b. "Weapon" means: (1) a firearm (see 18USC Section 921), to include a pellet or BB gun; (2) any object prohibited, licensed, or regulated under R.S.A. 159; (3) a knife, but not a folding pocket knife or cafeteria-issued dining utensil; and/or (4) a knife and/or any other substance or object which, in the manner it is used, intended to be used, or threatened to be used, is known to be capable of producing serious injury.
c. "Gross misconduct" means an act or acts which: (1) results in violence to another's person or property; or (2) poses a direct threat to the safety of others in a safe school zone; or (3) is identified in R.S.A. 193-D:1; or (4) involves repeated instances of misconduct or inappropriate behavior for which the pupil has been previously warned or disciplined.
d. "Neglect," in the context of R.S.A. 193:13, I and II, means the failure of a pupil to pay attention to an announced, posted, or printed school rule.
e. "Pupil" means a child through age 21 in attendance at a Keene school during the school day. (If the pupil is age 18 or older and not under guardianship, the written notices required below to issue to a parent shall issue instead only to the pupil and, further, all consents or decisions required in the suspension or expulsion process will issue from the pupil.)
f. "Refusal," in the context of R.S.A. 193:13, I and II, means the defiance of a pupil to comply with an announced, posted or printed school rule.
g. "Safe school zone" means "safe school zone" as defined in R.S.A. 193-D:1, II.
Normal Channel of Complaints
The citizens of the Union School District of Keene may address their concerns and/or complaints relative to any operation of the Keene Public Schools in several alternate channels.
1. The most preferable channel of resolving the complaint would be at the point of origin. Therefore, the employee or teacher involved should first be aware of the concern. If not resolved, the complaint may carry it to the appropriate administrative assistant, (Middle School, High School); the directors, e.g. student activities, media services; the appropriate building principal, the Superintendent's office; the Board of Education.
2 If the citizen desires, the complaint may be directed to members of the Keene Board of Education and /or Superintendent of Schools. Any concerns and/or complaints relative to the operation of the Keene Public Schools received by members of the Keene Board of Education should be referred to the Superintendent of Schools, in writing, for disposition and/or action. Within a reasonable length of time, concerns or complaints that have been received in writing by the Superintendent of Schools will be reported to the appropriate board member(s) as to the resolution and/or disposition. If the concerns and/or complaints have not been acted upon to the satisfaction of the board member(s) or complainant, the matter shall be called to the attention of the Keene Board of Education at its regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
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