NORTH CRAWFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT

TRANSPORTATION NOTES
From: Mr. Turben

With the start of a new and exciting school year comes a chance to provide all students and parents with a few reminders that will assist in keeping our buses running efficiently and safely. Changes have been made to previous bus routes. Pick-up and drop-off times for your child(ren) may have changed. We will try to contact everyone who has a major change.

If your child(ren) will not need bus transportation to school on a certain day or for 1 pick up or drop off please call the bus garage at 624-3484. If no one is available for your call, please leave us a message.

We ask that parents/child care providers meet the young students, or give a visual sign to the bus driver, after the students have departed from the bus throughout the entire school year.

Bus routes are developed to maintain maximum efficiency in the use of school transportation vehicles. Frequently large numbers of children will ride to an alternate location using a bus different from their normal or usual bus creating the potential of an overload situation of available student seating on the bus. In an effort to prepare for the necessary adjustments and accommodate these changes, parents are asked to please contact the transportation director at the beginning of the school year or in advance of a route change.

This advance notice is sometimes needed to ensure seating availability on the bus route. If the requested change is outside of an existing bus route, advance notification is crucial. Your understanding and cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Please contact Stan Turben at 624-3484 with questions or to discuss this matter further.

PLEASE...

• Be at all assigned bus stops 5 minutes before bus arrives.
• Dress appropriately for the weather.
• Demonstrate proper and safe behavior while at bus stop and on the bus.
• No inappropriate language.
• Respect the bus and its Driver.
• Listen to local radio on days of inclement weather for delays or cancellations.
• Treat all riders with respect.
• Stay seated, keep objects out of the isle, and nothing out the window.
• Be a good listener. The driver is here to assist and keep you safe.
• Remember, misconduct on the bus may cause a loss of bus riding privileges.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the North Crawford School District is required to give annual notice to parents and adult students of their rights regarding student records.

The School Board has adopted a policy to insure the confidentiality of student records. A copy of this policy is available from the office of the Superintendent in the District Office, (phone number 735-4318).

If you believe that the district is not complying with the Federal Students' Records Laws, you may file a complaint at the office of the Superintendent.

The school district must locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, including children with disabilities attending private schools in the school district, regardless of the severity of their disabilities. The school district has a special education screening program to locate and screen all children with suspected disabilities who have not graduated from high school. Upon request the school district will screen a child who has not graduated high school to determine whether a special education referral is appropriate. A request may be made by contacting Pat Wenske, Director of Special Education, North Crawford school district, at 608.624.5201, or by writing her at 47050 County Road X, Soldiers Grove, WI 54655. Annually the district conducts developmental screening of preschool children. Each child's motor, communication, and social skills are observed at various play areas. Each child is weighed and measured, and the child's hearing and vision is checked. The information is used to provide the parent with a profile of their child's current development and to provide suggestions for follow-up activities. Parents learn about community services available to them and speak with representatives of agencies serving families. The information from screening is also used to determine whether a child should be evaluated for a suspected disability. When school staff reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability, they refer the child for evaluation by a school district Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Developmental screening will be part of the kindergarten screening this Spring. Watch for the dates at your local school. A physician, nurse, psychologist, social worker or administrator of a social agency who reasonably believes a child brought to him or her for services is a child with a disability has a legal duty to report the child to the school district in which the child resides. If the child attends a private school in another school district, the child should be reported to the school district where the child attends school. Before referring the child, the person making the referral must inform the child's parent that the referral will be made. The referral must be in writing and include the reason why the person believes the child is a child with a disability. Others who reasonably believe a child is a child with a disability may also refer the child. A referral for North Crawford School District may be sent to Pat Wenske at the school district address above. The school district maintains pupil records, including information from screening and special education referral. All records directly related to a student and maintained by the school district are pupil records. They include records maintained in any way including, but not limited to, computer storage media, video and audiotape, film, microfilm, and microfiche. Records maintained for personal use by a teacher and not available to others and records available only to persons involved in the psychological treatment of a child are not pupil records. The school district maintains several classes of pupil records.

"Progress records" include grades, courses the child has taken, the child's attendance record, immunization records, required lead screening records, and records of school extra-curricular activities. Progress records must be maintained for at least five years after the child ceases to be enrolled.

"Behavioral records" include such records as psychological tests, personality evaluations, records of conversations, written statements relating specifically to the pupil's behavior, tests relating specifically to achievement or measurement of ability, physical health records other than immunization and lead screening records, law enforcement officers' records, and other pupil records that are not "progress records." Law enforcement officers' records are maintained separately from other pupil records. Behavioral records may be maintained for no longer than one year after the child graduates or otherwise ceases to be enrolled, unless the parent specifies in writing that the records may be maintained for a longer period of time. The school district informs parents when pupil records are no longer needed to provide special education. At the request of the child's parents, the school district destroys the information that is no longer needed.

"Directory data" includes the student's name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, photographs, degrees and awards received, and the name of the school most recently previously attended by the student.

"Pupil physical health records" include basic health information about a pupil, including the pupil's immunization records, an emergency medical card, a log of first aid and medicine administered to the pupil, an athletic permit card, a record concerning the pupil's ability to participate in an education program, any required lead screening records, the results of any routine screening test, such as for hearing, vision or scoliosis, and any follow-up to the test, and any other basic health information, as determined by the state superintendent. Any pupil record relating to a pupil's physical health that is not a pupil physical health record is treated as a patient health care record under sections 146.81 to 146.84, Wisconsin Statutes. Any pupil record concerning HIV testing is treated as provided under section 252.15, Wisconsin Statutes. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and section 118.125, Wisconsin Statutes, afford parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") the following rights with respect to education records:

The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of receipt of the request. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal [or appropriate school official] a written request that identifies the records(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. The school district will comply with the request without unnecessary delay and before any meeting about an individualized education program, or any due process hearing, and in no case more than 45 days after the request has been made. If any record includes information on more than one child, the parents of those children have the right to inspect and review only the information about their child or to be informed of that specific information. Upon request, the school district will give a parent or eligible student a copy of the progress records and a copy of the behavioral records. Upon request, the school district will give the parent or eligible student a list of the types and locations of education records collected, maintained, or used by the district for special education. The school district will respond to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of the records. A representative of the parent may inspect and review the records.

The right to request the amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes is inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask North Crawford School District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the district decides not to amend the record, the district will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and the right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in the student's education records, except to the extent that federal and state law authorize disclosure without consent. The exceptions are stated in 34 CFR 99.31, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations; Sec. 9528, PL107-110, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001; and section 118.125(2)(a) to (m) and sub. (2m), Wisconsin Statutes. One exception that permits disclosure without consent is disclosures to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the school board; a person or company with whom the district has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the district discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Also the district discloses "directory data" without consent, unless the parent notifies the district that it may not be released without prior parental consent.

The right to file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20202-4605.Rev. 9/30/05

The North Crawford School District is committed and dedicated to the task of providing the best education possible for every child in the district for as long as the student can benefit from attendance and the student's conduct is compatible with the welfare of the entire student body.

The right of a student to be admitted to school and to participate fully in curricular, extracurricular, student services, recreational or other programs or activities shall not be abridged or impaired because of a student's sex, race, religion, color, national origin ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability or handicap.

In keeping with the requirements of state law, the North Crawford School District shall strive to remove any vestige of discrimination in admission to any school, class, program or activity; standards and rules of behavior, including student harassment; disciplinary actions, including suspensions and expulsions; acceptance and administration of gifts, bequests, scholarships and other aids, benefits or services to students from private agencies, organizations or persons; instructional and library materials used in the district; methods, practices and materials used for testing, evaluating and counseling students; location and use of facilities; opportunity for participation in athletic programs or other extracurricular activities; and in school-sponsored food service programs.

Students who have been identified as having a handicap or disability, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act, shall be provided with reasonable accommodations in educational services or programs. Students may be considered handicapped or disabled under this policy even if they are not covered under the district's special education policies and procedures.

The District shall also provide for the reasonable accommodation of a student's sincerely held religious beliefs with regard to examinations and other academic requirements. Requests for accommodations shall be made in writing and approved by the building principal. Any accommodations granted under this policy shall be provided to students without prejudicial effect.

Complaints regarding the interpretation or application of the district's student nondiscrimination policy shall be referred to Daniel M. Davies, North Crawford School District, 47050 County Road X, Soldiers Grove, WI, 54655, 735-4318. All complaints will be processed in accordance with established procedures.