Asbestos

In accordance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986, all buildings of the Phoenix Central School District have been inspected for asbestos containing building materials (ACBM). The original inspection and triennial re-inspection reports identifying the location of ACBM, the management plan detailing how the district is managing the asbestos material and the semiannual surveillance reports are available in the main office of each building and in the Building & Grounds Office. If you have any questions, please contact the Supervisor of Operations and Maintenance at 315.695.1537.

Access to Student Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 20 USC § 1232g) requires school boards to establish policies on student records and directory information. In accordance with the law, Phoenix Central School District’s School Board’s Student Records Policy contains the following information you should be aware of:

1. The right of the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) and eligible students to inspect and review the student’s education records;
2. The intent of the school district to limit the disclosure of information contained in a student’s
   education records except:
   a. by prior written consent of the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) or the eligible student;
   b. as directory information; or
   c. under certain limited circumstances, as permitted by FERPA
3. Parent(s) or guardian(s) of a student under 18 years of age or a student 18 years of age or older shall have an opportunity to challenge the content of their child’s (their own) school records, to ensure that the records are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of students, and to provide an opportunity for the correction or deletion of any such inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise inappropriate data contained therein;
4. The right of any person to file a complaint with the Department of Education if the district violates FERPA; and
5. The procedure that a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) or an eligible student should follow to obtain copies of this policy and the locations where copies may be obtained.
6. The Phoenix Central School District forwards education records to other schools that have requested the records and in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

The district shall arrange to provide translations of this notice to non-English speaking parents in their native language.

Annual Professional Performance Review of Teachers and Principals

As required by Education Law 3012-c, the Phoenix Central School District will fully disclose and release to the parents and legal guardians of a student the final quality rating and composite effectiveness score for each of the teachers and/or principal of the school building to which the student is assigned for the current school year upon the written request of such parents and legal guardians. Parents interested in obtaining this information should complete and submit a Request for
Teacher/Principal Overall Composite Score and Effectiveness Rating in the Main Office of the school your child attends. Parents may access the requested information (orally) 7 days after the form listed above is submitted. If you are requesting this information on more than one teacher, you will need to submit multiple forms.

Attendance

The Phoenix Central School District complies with all attendance regulations required by the New York State Education Department. An outline of the Comprehensive Attendance Policy and Attendance Regulation can be found in Policy and Attendance Regulation can be found in Policy No. 5100 and 5100-R.1 of the Phoenix Central Schools Board of Education Policy Handbook. Regularity of attendance and punctuality shall be required of all pupils. Absence, tardiness or departure from school before the end of the school day shall be excused for the following reasons:

1. illness of the pupil;
2. serious illness or death in the pupil’s family;
3. serious contagious or epidemic disease in the household where the pupil resides;
4. medical or dental appointments which cannot be arranged for any other time;
5. religious observance;
6. religious education;
7. required court attendance;
8. impassable roads.

Parents/guardians should be aware that absence due to family trips does not fall under the legal excuses for absences as listed above.

Dignity for all Students

The Board of Education recognizes that learning environments that are safe and supportive can increase student attendance and improve academic achievement. A student's ability to learn and achieve high academic standards, and a school's ability to educate students, is compromised by incidents of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to bullying, taunting and intimidation. Therefore, in accordance with the Dignity for All Students Act, Education Law, Article 2, the District has developed a policy to strive to create an environment free of discrimination and harassment and will foster civility in the schools to prevent and prohibit conduct, which is inconsistent with the District's educational mission. The District condemns and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment of students based on actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex by school employees or students on school property and at school-sponsored activities and events that take place at locations off school property. In addition, any act of discrimination or harassment, outside of school sponsored events, which can reasonably be expected to materially and substantially disrupt the education process may be subject to discipline.

Disclosure of Secondary Student Information to the Military

A parent or eligible student may request that directory information not be released. Such request must be made in writing. If you have questions concerning this policy, please contact the principal of the building your child attends. Under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) two federal laws now require school districts to provide military recruiters, upon request, with names, addresses, and telephone numbers of students who are juniors or seniors-unless parents have submitted a written request not to disclose their child’s information. See policy 5415.

Homeless Family/Students Policy

If your family lives in any of the following situations:

• Shares the housing of another person(s) due to loss of housing or economic hardship;
• Lives in a motel, vehicle, or campground;
• Lives on the street or in an abandoned building or trailer;

Then, your preschool-aged and school-aged children have certain rights or protections under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act. Your children have the right to:

• Attend a school and participate in school programs with children who are not homeless. Children cannot be separated from the regular school program because they are homeless.
• Enroll in school without giving a permanent address. Schools cannot require proof of residency for homeless children that might prevent or delay school enrollment.
• Go to school in the school district in which you found shelter, no matter where you live or how long you have lived there. Your children must be given access to the same public education, including preschool education, provided to other children.
• Or, continue in the school your children attended before your family became homeless if that is your choice and is feasible. If a school district sends your child to a school other than one of these you requested, the school district must provide you with a written explanation and offer you the right to appeal the decision.
• Enroll and attend classes while the school arranges for the transfer of school and immunization records or any other documents required for enrollment.
• Receive the same special programs and services, if needed, as provided to all other children served in these programs.
• Receive transportation to school and to school programs.
• Receive transportation to the school your children attended before your family became homeless, if you or a guardian requests such transportation.
• Receive free or reduced priced meals if your children qualify.

During these difficult economic times our desire is to help. If your family is living in a homeless condition please contact: Tim Ristau, Homeless Student Liaison, 315.695.1648.

Non-Discrimination Notice

The Board of Education, its officers and employees, shall not discriminate against any student, employee, or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, religion, marital status, sex, age, or disability. This policy of nondiscrimination includes: access by students to educational programs, counseling services for students, course offerings and student activities, recruitment and appointment of employees and employment pay, benefits, advancement and/or terminations. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to establish any and all rules, regulations and procedures necessary to implement and maintain this policy.

Parents' Bill of Rights: Data Privacy and Security

1. A student’s personally identifiable information (PII) cannot be sold or released by the District for any commercial or marketing purposes.
2. Parents have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child's education record including any student data stored or maintained by the District. This right of inspection is consistent with the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). In addition to the right of inspection of the educational record, Education Law §2‐d provides a specific right for parents to inspect or receive copies of any data in the student’s educational record. NYSED will develop policies and procedures pertaining to this right sometime in the future.
3. State and federal laws protect the confidentiality of PII, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices, including, but not limited to, encryption, firewalls, and password protection, must be in place when data is stored or transferred.
4. A complete list of all student data elements collected by the state is available for public review. Parents may also obtain a copy of this list by writing to the Office of Information & Reporting Services, New York State Education Department, Room 863 EBA, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234.
5. Parents have the right to file complaints with the District about possible privacy breaches of student data by the District’s third‐party contractors or their employees, officers, or assignees, or with NYSED. Complaints regarding student data breaches should be directed to the district's technology department. Complaints to NYSED should be directed in writing to the Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany NY 12234, email to CPO@mail.nysed.gov. The complaint process is under development and will be established through regulations to be proposed by NYSED’s Chief Privacy Officer, who has not yet been appointed.

Pesticide Notice

New York State Education Law Section 409-H, requires all public and non-public elementary and secondary schools to provide written notification to all persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the year. The Phoenix School District is required to maintain a list of persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff who wish to receive a 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications. The following pesticide applications are not subject to prior notification requirements:

• A school remains unoccupied for a continuous 72 hours following an application
• Anti-microbial products;
• Nonvolatile rodenticides in tamper resistant bait stations in areas inaccessible to children;
• Silica gels and other nonvolatile ready-to-use pastes, foams, or gels in areas inaccessible to children;
• Boric acid and disodium octaborate tetrahydrate;
• The application of EPA designated biopesticides;
• The application EPA designated exempt materials under 40CFR152.25;
• The use of aerosol products with a directed spray in containers of 18 fluid ounces or less when used to protect individuals from an imminent threat from stinging and biting insects including venomous spiders, bees, wasps, and hornets.

In the event of an emergency application necessary to protect against an imminent threat to human health, a good faith effort will be made to supply written notification to those on the 48-hour prior notification list. If you would like to receive 48-hour prior notification of pesticide applications that are scheduled to occur in your school, please contact the District pesticide representative at 315.695.1537.

Student Privacy, Parental Access to Information and Administration of Certain Physical Examinations to Minors

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) governs the administration to students of a survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight protected areas:

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent/guardian;
2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
3. Sex 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/guardian;
8. Income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

PPRA also concerns marketing surveys and other areas of student privacy, parental access to information, and the administration of certain physical examinations to minors. The full details of these regulations can be found in Policy 5415.

Teacher Qualification Requests

As required by Education Law 3012-c, the Phoenix Central School District will fully disclose and release to the parents and legal guardians of a student the final quality rating and composite effectiveness score for each of the teachers and / or principal of the school building to which the student is assigned for the current school year upon the written request of such parents and legal guardians. Parents interested in obtaining this information should complete and submit a Request for Teacher / Principal Overall Composite Score and Effectiveness Rating in the Main Office of the school your child attends. Parents may access the requested information (orally) 7 days after the form listed above is submitted. If you are requesting this information on more than one teacher, you will need to submit multiple forms.

Tobacco-Free Policy

For the health and well-being of our students, staff and visitors, our district has adopted a 100% tobacco-free policy. Tobacco use shall not be permitted and no person shall use, distribute, or sell tobacco, including any smoking device, on school grounds (buildings, athletic fields, parking lots, student drop-off areas, personal and school vehicles) or at school-sponsored events on or off campus. Students shall not possess any type of tobacco products or paraphernalia on school grounds or at school-sponsored events. Please refer to the district’s Smoking/Tobacco policy for more information. For help quitting, please contact the New York State Smoker’s Quitline at 1-866-697-8487.