YFSD Student Handbook

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

Admission

The School Board believes that all children should have the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education.
A child three years of age before August 15th may be admitted to preschool. A child five years of age before August 15th may be admitted to kindergarten. A child six years of age before August 15th may be admitted to first grade. The Board may admit students under school age who exhibit the ability to perform satisfactorily. Students under school age who were previously enrolled in public school shall be admitted to school at the grade level determined by the superintendent or designee.
The Board reserves the right to verify the residency or anticipated residency of any student and the validity of guardianship.

Exemptions from Attendance

The School Board is responsible for enforcing state compulsory attendance laws. The Board may excuse a child from compulsory public school attendance as allowed by law. Parents/guardians of children granted exemption shall not incur penalties for violations of the compulsory attendance laws.

Exclusions from Attendance

The School Board recognizes that there may be cases where denying admission is necessary because a student's presence in school presents a danger to the life, safety or health of students or school personnel.
The Board may exclude children from school because of a physical or mental condition that will render the child unable to benefit from the programs available or which will cause the attendance of the child to endanger the welfare of other students.
Children and their parents/guardians will be afforded due process rights to which they are entitled by law, board policy or administrative regulations.

Absences and Excuses

The School Board believes that regular attendance plays a key role in student success. The Board recognizes its responsibility under the law to ensure that students attend school regularly. Parents/guardians of children aged 7 to 16 shall send their children to public school except as allowed by law. The Board shall abide by all state attendance laws and may use any legal means to correct the problems of excessive absence or truancy.

Excused Absences

The superintendent or designee may excuse student absences for health reasons, family emergencies or other reasons the superintendent or designee determines.
Student absence for religious instruction or participation in religious exercises away from school property may be excused.
No student excused for a religious holiday shall be denied the opportunity to make up a test given on the religious holiday or denied an award or eligibility to compete for an award.

Unexcused Absences/Truancy

The Board is committed to keeping students in school. The superintendent or designee shall take whatever steps he/she thinks appropriate to reduce student absences and to ensure that all children living within the district are receiving appropriate educational services as required by law.
The superintendent or designee shall report to the Board any apparent violations of compulsory attendance laws. The Board shall investigate such reports and any public complaints of violations of state compulsory attendance laws. When warranted, the Board shall initiate a complaint with the district court against any person believed to be in violation of state compulsory attendance laws.
A student's grades may be affected by excessive unexcused absences.

Interdistrict Attendance

Although students generally must attend school in the district where their residency has been established, the School Board recognizes justifiable reasons for interdistrict transfers.
Upon request, the superintendent or designee may accept students from another district and may also allow students who live within the district to attend out-of-district schools. Interdistrict attendance may be approved for reasons such as the following:

When child care needs of the student are met by a parent/guardian, relative or sitter in another district;
When special mental or physical health needs, as certified by a physician, school psychologist or other appropriate school personnel, can be met in another district;
When the student has brother(s) or sister(s) attending school in a different district, to avoid splitting the family's attendance;
To start or complete a school year when parents/guardians are moving during that year;
To allow students to remain with a class graduating from an elementary, junior or senior high school;
When a student's interest would be best served by the educational program not offered in the district of residency or by a change in school environment;
When the student will be living out of the district only for one year or less;
When serious home or community problems make it inadvisable for the student to attend the school of residence.

Students admitted by interdistrict agreement may continue attending district schools only as long as they do academically acceptable work and obey school rules.
The parent/guardian of a student who is denied a transfer shall receive notice regarding the process for appeal to the Board.
Transportation shall not be provided for students on interdistrict agreement.

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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND RECORDS

Academic Honesty

The School Board believes that personal integrity is basic to all solid achievement. Students will reach their full potential only by being honest with themselves and with others.
The Board expects students to respect the educational purpose underlying all school activities. All students need to satisfy themselves that they can do successful work as a result of their own efforts. The Board expects that students will not cheat, lie or plagiarize (take credit for another's work).
Each school shall provide an environment that encourages honesty. Students must know that their teachers will not ignore or excuse cheating and that anyone discovered cheating will be penalized.

Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement

The School Board believes that students and parents/guardians have the right to receive course grades that represent an accurate evaluation of the student's achievement. Teachers shall evaluate a student's work in relation to standards that apply to all students at his/her grade level, not in relation to the work of other students in one particular class.
Grades should be based on impartial, consistent observation of the quality of the student's work and his/her mastery of course content and objectives as demonstrated through classroom participation, homework and tests. The student's behavior and effort shall be reported in separate evaluations, not in his/her academic grade.
In order to promote self-esteem and experiences of success, students in kindergarten through third grade shall receive narrative performance or skill-based evaluations rather than letter grades.

Promotion

Students shall progress through the school system's grade levels by demonstrating growth in learning the required basic skills.
Progress toward high school graduation shall be based on the student's ability to pass the subjects and electives necessary to earn the required number of credits.

Acceleration

Acceleration is possible when high academic achievement is evident. However, the student's social and emotional growth shall be taken into consideration before placing him/her in a higher grade.

Retention

The School Board recognizes that research indicates that very few children benefit from being retained during the elementary and middle grades. The superintendent or designee shall promote alternatives to retention among certificated staff.
When a teacher believes that retention is necessary to meet a student's needs, he/she shall ask the building administrator to establish a student study team to consider the child's academic, social and emotional performance. The student's parent/guardian shall be invited to participate on the student study team.
Before retaining a student, the building administrator or designee shall determine that:

The student has not met grade-level standards of expected student achievement;
Remedial help for the student has not sufficiently prepared the student for advancement;
Treatment appropriate to the student's needs will be provided;
The student's parent/guardian has been notified and given reasons for the retention.

Parental agreement is suggested, but not required, for retention.

Student Records

The School Board recognizes the importance of keeping accurate, comprehensive student records as required by law. Information about a student shall be used carefully in ways that contribute to the student's welfare, in accordance with law.
The superintendent or designee shall establish regulations for Board approval governing the maintenance of student records. These regulations shall ensure parental rights to review, inspect and photocopy student records, and the protection of the student and the student's family from invasion of privacy.

Release of Directory Information

The superintendent or designee may authorize the release of student directory information to representatives of the news media, prospective employers or nonprofit organizations. Directory information which school officials may disclose consists of the following: student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and most recent previous school attended.
At the beginning of each school year, the superintendent or designee shall inform all parents/guardians that directory information may be released without prior consent, and that parents/guardians shall be given opportunities to prohibit the release of directory information.
Directory information shall not be released regarding any student whose parent/guardian notifies the district in writing that such information may not be disclosed.

Request to Amend Records

The parent of a student or an eligible student who believes that information in a record collected, maintained or otherwise used by the district and pertaining to the student is inaccurate or misleading or violates the privacy or other rights of the student, may request that the District amend the record. Such requests shall be made in writing to the superintendent or the superintendent's designated representative.
Within a reasonable period of time following such a request, the superintendent or the superintendent's designee shall decide whether to amend the record and shall inform the parent or the eligible student in writing of his/her decision. If the district decides not to amend the record, it shall advise the parent or eligible student of the right to a hearing to challenge the district's decision.

Right to a Hearing

If the District refuses to amend a student record after an appropriate written request is made, the parent of the student or the eligible student may request a hearing to challenge that decision by writing their request to the Board.
Requests for a hearing shall be made within a reasonable time after notice of the district's decision is delivered to the parent or eligible student. The request for a hearing must be in writing, and shall be made to the superintendent or the superintendent's designated representative.

Conduct of the Hearing

Hearings to challenge a district refusal to amend information pertaining to a student which is contained in a record collected, maintained or otherwise used by the district, shall be conducted before a hearing officer in accordance with the regulations established by the Alaska Department of Education.

Remedies

If, after hearing, the hearing officer that the information contained in the records is not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other rights of the student, the district shall so inform the parent or eligible student. The hearing officer's decision shall be final. However, the parent or eligible student may place a statement in the record commenting on the information in dispute, or describing why the parent or eligible student disagrees with the hearing officer's decision. A copy of the hearing officer’s findings shall accompany this statement.

Withholding Grades, Diploma or Transcripts

When school property has been willfully damaged or not returned upon demand, the superintendent or designee shall inform the parent/guardian in writing of the responsible student's alleged misconduct and the reparation that may be due.
This notice shall include a statement that the district may withhold grades, diploma or transcripts from the student and parent/guardian until reparation is made.
If reparation is not made, the district shall afford the student a due process hearing and may withhold the student's grades, diploma or transcripts if found to be justified.
If the student and parent/guardian are unable to pay for the damages or return the property, the superintendent or designee shall provide a program of voluntary work for the student. When this voluntary work is completed, the student's grades, diploma or transcripts shall be released.

Awards for Achievement

The School Board encourages excellence as a goal for all students and wishes to recognize students publicly for unique or outstanding achievements in academic, extracurricular or community service activities.
Student awards may include verbal recognition, a letter, certificate or Board resolution, a public ceremony, or a sum of money.
The Board shall budget funds for an awards recognition program at each school site, to be administered by the building administrator in accordance with established site procedures.

Non-School Awards

The superintendent or designee may approve or reject proposed trophies, prizes, or other awards from non-school donors. The purpose of any such proposed award must be consistent with school goals, and criteria for making the award must be either under professional staff control or acceptable to the staff. Such awards shall be rejected when offered primarily to achieve personal or corporate gain and publicity.
When funded by legislature, each high school shall select one student as a legislative guest in accordance with procedures established by the building administrator.

Graduation Ceremonies and Activities

High school graduation ceremonies shall be held to recognize those students who have successfully completed the district graduation requirements and earned the right to receive a diploma.
In accordance with school rules, the building administrator may deny a student the privilege of participating in graduation or promotion activities because of misconduct.
Invocations and/or benedictions shall not be included in graduation ceremonies, unless the students do it themselves.

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STUDENT CONDUCT

School Board

The School Board believes that all students have the right to a public education in a positive environment free from disruptions that interfere with teaching and learning activities. In order to promote an atmosphere conducive to learning, it is imperative that the Board, parents/guardians, students, teachers and the administration know their responsibilities relating to student conduct.
The School Board is responsible for prescribing rules for the government and discipline of the schools under its control. The Board holds the certificated personnel responsible for the proper conduct and control of students under their charge within the behavioral guidelines established by the Board and the administration. The Board shall provide all reasonable support to certificated personnel in student conduct and discipline.

Building Administrator

The school-building administrator shall initiate and enforce school rules in keeping with district policy and regulation, which facilitate effective learning and promote good habits and attitudes.
The building administrator or designee shall inform students of their rights and responsibilities.
The building administrator shall support the classroom teacher in his/her efforts to promote improved and acceptable behavior in students.

Teachers

Teachers shall conduct a well-planned effective classroom program and initiate and enforce a set of classroom regulations that facilitate effective learning.
Teachers shall work with administrators and other classroom teachers in enforcing general school rules.

Parents/Guardians

Parents/guardians are expected to comply with the laws governing the conduct and education of their children. They shall also be expected to cooperate with school authorities regarding the behavior of their children. Parents/guardians may be held liable for misconduct of their children to the extent provided by law.

Students

Students shall be properly instructed in the rules and regulations for acceptable conduct as set by the Board. All students shall keep the regulations of the school district, complete the course of study and submit to the authority of the teachers and administration of the schools.
Students should have the freedom and be encouraged to express their individuality in any way as long as their conduct does not infringe upon the freedom of other students or interfere with the instructional program.
Students who violate the law or the rules and regulations of the school district may be transferred to alternative programs, disciplined, suspended, or expelled.

Bus Conduct

Bus transportation is a privilege extended only to students who display good conduct while preparing to ride, riding or leaving the bus. Continued disorderly conduct or persistent refusal to submit to the authority of the driver shall be sufficient reason for a student to be denied transportation.
The superintendent or designee shall inform parents/guardians and students regarding regulations related to bus conduct, bus driver authority, and the suspension of riding privileges.

Dress and Grooming

The School Board believes that appropriate dress and grooming contribute to a productive learning environment. The Board expects students to give proper attention to personal cleanliness and to wear clothes that are suitable for the school activities in which they participate. Students have the right to make individual choices from a wide range of clothing and grooming styles, but they must not present a health or safety hazard or a distraction that would interfere with the educational process.
Students and parents/guardians shall be informed about the school dress code at the beginning of the year and when revised. A student who violates the dress code shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Vandalism, Theft and Graffiti

Vandalism includes the negligent, willful, or unlawful damaging or theft of any district-owned real or personal property, including the writing of graffiti.
Any district student who commits an act of vandalism shall be subject to disciplinary action and reparation for damages, and also may be reported to the appropriate authorities for legal prosecution. If reparation is not made, the district may withhold the student's grades, diploma and/or transcripts.

Weapons and Dangerous Instruments

Students shall not possess or use weapons, dangerous instruments, or their replicas in school buildings, on school grounds or district-provided transportation, or at any school-related or school-sponsored activity away from school unless written permission has been previously obtained from the superintendent or designee specifically authorizing that possession or use. Students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary action in accordance with district policy and procedures.
School employees may confiscate weapons or dangerous instruments on school grounds or at school-related or school-sponsored activities in order to maintain discipline and to protect the welfare and safety of students, staff, and the public.
The Board shall expel any student who brings a firearm to school in violation of this policy for a period of not less than one (1) calendar year. The superintendent may, on a case-by-case basis, recommend a modification of this period of expulsion. Such modification recommendation shall involve consideration of all relevant factors, including those in aggravation and mitigation of the violation, and whether suspension is appropriate if the student has an individual education plan.
The superintendent shall be responsible for reporting all violation of this policy to the Board and shall make all required reports to state, local, and federal agencies.

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SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Because the use of alcohol and other drugs adversely affects a student's ability is physically and emotionally harmful, and has serious social and legal consequences, the School Board intends to keep district schools free of alcohol and other drugs.
Like any other controlled substance, alcohol is illegal for use by minors. The Board desires that every effort be made to reduce the chances that our students will begin or continue the use of alcohol and other drugs. The superintendent or designee shall develop a comprehensive prevention program that includes instruction, intervention, recovering student support, and enforcement/discipline. The superintendent or designee shall clearly communicate all Board policies, regulations, procedures and school rules related to this prevention program to students, staff and parents/ guardians. Special efforts shall be made to ensure that these materials are understood by parents/guardians and students of limited literacy or limited English proficiency.
Recognizing that keeping schools free of alcohol and other drugs is a concern common to the district and community, the Board supports cooperation among schools, parents/guardians, law enforcement and other appropriate community organizations involved in preventing alcohol and other drug abuse.
To obtain the widest possible input and support for district policies and programs, the Board shall appoint a district-wide school-community advisory committee to make recommendations to prevent alcohol and other drug abuse. The Board also encourages the use of site-level advisory groups in this area.

Instruction

The district shall provide instruction which helps students avoid the use of alcohol or other drugs and teaches students how to influence their peers to avoid and/or discontinue the use of alcohol or other drugs. Instruction shall be designed to answer students' questions about alcohol and other drugs.
Instructional programs will help students obtain and use current and accurate information, develop and maintain a positive self-concept, take positive actions to cope with stress, and use appropriate social and personal skills to resist involvement with alcohol and other drugs.
The K-12 curriculum will be comprehensive and sequential in nature and meet the needs of students at their respective grade levels. All instruction and related materials shall stress the concept of "no unlawful use" of alcohol or other drugs and shall not include the concept of "responsible use" when such use is illegal.

Intervention

The Board recognizes that there are students on our campuses who use alcohol and other drugs and can benefit from intervention. The Board supports intervention programs that include the involvement of students, parents/guardians and community agencies/organizations.
The Board finds it essential that school personnel be trained to identify symptoms that may indicate use of alcohol and other drugs. The superintendent or designee shall identify responsibilities of staff in working with, intervening, and reporting students suspected of alcohol and other drug use.
Students and parents/guardians shall be informed about the signs of alcohol and other drug use and about appropriate agencies offering counseling.

Non-Punitive Self-Referral

The Board strongly encourages any student who is using alcohol or drugs to discuss the matter with his/her parent/guardian or with any staff member. Students who disclose past use of alcohol or other drugs when seeking help from an intervention or recovery program shall not be punished or disciplined for such past use.

Recovering Student Support

The Board recognizes the presence of recovering students in the schools and supports these students in avoiding re-involvement with alcohol and other drugs. The Board shall provide ongoing school activities that enhance recovery.

Enforcement/Discipline

The superintendent or designee shall take appropriate action to eliminate possession, use or sale of alcohol and other drugs and related paraphernalia on school grounds, at school events, or in any situation in which the school is responsible for the conduct and well-being of students. Students possessing, selling and/or using alcohol or other drugs or related paraphernalia shall be subject to disciplinary procedures which may result in suspension or expulsion.
School authorities may search students and school properties for the possession of alcohol and other drugs as long as such searches are conducted in accordance with law.

Tobacco

Smoking presents a health hazard that can have serious consequences both for the smoker and the nonsmoker. Students shall not be allowed to smoke, chew or possess tobacco or nicotine products on school property or during school hours, at school-sponsored events, or under the supervision of district employees. Students who violate this policy shall be subject to disciplinary procedures that may result in suspension from school.
The Board may provide instruction on the effects of smoking on the human body and may take steps to discourage students to smoking.

Anabolic Steroids

The School Board recognizes that the use of anabolic steroids presents a serious health hazard to students. The superintendent or designee shall make every effort to ensure that students do not begin or continue the use of anabolic steroids.
Teachers of science, health, physical education and drug education shall include a lesson on this hazard for grades 7-12.
Students who participate in athletics shall also receive information about the dangers of anabolic steroids from their coaches.

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SCHOOL CLIMATE

School Responsibilities

The School Board desires to provide orderly and caring learning environments in which all students feel comfortable, share the responsibility for maintaining a positive school climate, and take pride in their school and their achievements.
The district shall encourage attitudes and behaviors that promote mutual respect and harmonious relations. The schools shall promote nonviolent conflict resolution techniques and provide students with opportunities to voice their concerns about school policies and practices. The superintendent or designee may initiate student courts, school beautification projects, buddy systems, vandalism prevention campaigns, and other programs in which students may identify and solve problems that affect their school.
The schools shall not tolerate any comments or gestures which are vulgar or obscene or which demean others on account of gender, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability or disadvantage. Students shall be subject to disciplinary procedures for bullying other students or for using insults, slurs, or fighting words which may disrupt school activities.
The curriculum and counseling programs shall foster positive racial and ethnic identity, help students understand different cultures, teach them to think critically about racial bias, and show them how to deal with discriminatory behavior in appropriate ways. The Board encourages the use of cooperative learning strategies in the classroom in order to foster positive social interactions among students.
School staff shall encourage and reward success and achievement, participation in community projects, and positive student conduct.

Child Abuse and Neglect

With concern for the well being of each student, teachers and school administrators shall be trained to report known or suspected incidences of child abuse in accordance with state law. District employees shall cooperate with the child protective agencies responsible for reporting, investigating and prosecuting cases of child abuse.
The superintendent or designee shall provide training in recognizing and reporting child abuse for all certificated personnel and for classified personnel who have regular contact with students and wish to participate in such training.

Child Abuse Prevention

Every child has the right to live free of physical and emotional abuse, including neglect and sexual assault. The School Board recognizes that such abuse has severe consequences for the child, sometimes resulting in the child's own violent behavior or in drug addiction. Schools are in a position to promote the prevention of child abuse and its reoccurrence, and to reduce the general vulnerability of children.
An age-appropriate and culturally appropriate child abuse prevention curriculum shall be a component of the district's health and safety instruction. This curriculum shall explain students' rights to live free of abuse, inform them of available support resources, and teach them how to obtain help and disclose abuse. The curriculum also shall include training in self-protection.
The superintendent or designee shall provide coordinated training for teachers who will use the child abuse prevention curriculum, including instruction in the physical and behavioral indicators of abuse, crisis counseling techniques, community resources, rights and responsibilities to report abuse or neglect, and care for a child's needs after a report is made.
The superintendent or designee shall seek to incorporate community resources into the schools' child abuse prevention programs. To the extent feasible, the superintendent or designee shall also use these community resources to provide parents/guardians with instruction in parenting skills and child abuse prevention.

At-Risk Youths

The School Board believes that, in order to benefit from a learning environment, students must be as free as possible from the dilemma imposed by personal and societal problems. Danger signs for the various at-risk categories must be taken seriously. District personnel must be concerned for the personal development of students, as well as their academic development.
The superintendent or designee shall investigate and recommend programs that will address the needs of at-risk youths. At-risk youths include, but are not limited to, those students who abuse drugs or alcohol, are suicidal, exhibit serious attendance problems, drop out of school, are abused or disadvantaged, or are pregnant or parenting.
Program planning should examine, but is not limited, to the following:
Classroom learning experiences and the integration of primary prevention programs into the classroom:

Staff development requirements.
District liability.
Community resources.
Crisis response/intervention teams.
Peer counseling.
Parent/guardian education.
Student Study Teams.
Kindergarten through 12 counseling and guidance curriculum.
Attendance and policy procedures.
Student discipline.
Alternative programs.

Suicide Prevention

The School Board recognizes that during the past 20 years, the rate of adolescent suicide has almost tripled and that suicide is now the third leading cause of death between the ages of 15 and 24. The School Board finds it imperative that this tragic situation be openly addressed and that all staff, students and parents/guardians be made aware of warning signs and procedures by which they may help suicidal students at this especially vulnerable age.
The Board recognizes that all suicide threats must be taken seriously. The superintendent or designee shall provide all staff members with procedures for intervening in low-risk and in high-risk crisis situations. These procedures shall include guidelines by which staff members may assess the seriousness of a student's risk for suicide.
The Board believes that school staff, students and parents/guardians all can contribute significantly towards the prevention of adolescent suicide. The district shall, therefore, provide suicide prevention training for each of these segments of the school community.

Parent/Guardian Awareness

The Board believes all parents/guardians should be aware of the severity of the youth suicide problem. Before suicide prevention is taught in classrooms, parents/guardians shall be invited to attend a meeting at which the school-building administrator shall present the curriculum goals and the district suicide prevention policy. The meeting shall also be designed to help parents/guardians recognize warning signs of suicide, learn basic steps for helping suicidal youths and identify community resources that can help teenagers in crisis.

Staff Awareness

The Board strongly encourages teachers to help students of all ages develop both a positive self-image and a realistic attitude towards potential accomplishments.
In order that all district staff may learn to recognize the warning signs of suicidal crisis, understand how to help suicidal youths and identify helpful community resources, the superintendent or designee shall arrange annual inservice suicide prevention training for all certificated and classified staff. The district suicide prevention policy and procedures shall be thoroughly reviewed at this time. All staff shall be expected to learn to identify potentially suicidal students, to assess the degree of risk, to take preventive precautions and to report suicide threats to the appropriate authorities.
Inservice training shall be offered under the direction of a trained district counselor/psychologist or in cooperation with one or more community mental health agencies able to assist with district staff training.

Curriculum

The Board finds it appropriate that suicide prevention instruction be incorporated into the ninth and tenth grade curriculum. This instruction shall help students:

Understand how feelings of depression and despair can lead to suicide.
Identify alternatives to suicide and develop new coping skills.
Recognize the warning signs of suicidal intentions in their friends.
Learn to listen, be honest, share feelings and get help when communicating with friends who show signs of suicidal intent.
Identify community resources where teenagers can get crisis intervention help.

Peer Counseling

The Board endorses the use of peer counselors who can provide an effective support system for students who are uncomfortable communicating with adults. Peer counselors shall be expected to have completed the suicide prevention curriculum and demonstrated that they are able to identify the warning signs of suicidal behavior, make contact rapidly, and get a suicidal student to adult help.

Safety

The School Board places a high priority on safety and on the prevention of student injury. The district shall make reasonable effort to ensure the safety and proper conduct of students from the time they come under school supervision until they leave school supervision, whether on school premises or not. The superintendent or designee shall establish procedures as necessary to protect students from dangerous situations.
Personnel responsible for releasing a student from school custody shall exercise extreme diligence to prevent such release to any unauthorized or unidentified person.

Playgrounds

The Board recognizes that playgrounds present children with visible challenges which they may choose to take in order to test their skills and courage. Playground equipment shall be carefully selected and installed, so that while presenting such challenges, it minimizes accidents and presents no unseen hazards. Safety shall receive prime consideration whenever playgrounds are planned or upgraded.
The building administrator or designee shall ensure that playgrounds and other school facilities are regularly inspected, well maintained, and adequately supervised when in use by students during the school day or at school-sponsored activities. The building administrator or designee shall establish playground safety rules.

School Safety Patrol

The School Board is concerned for the safety of students and recognizes that responsible supervision may be needed to help elementary children in crossing high traffic or hazardous streets and highways safely.
Where necessary, the superintendent or designee may establish school safety patrols in accordance with law for the purpose of assisting students in crossing streets and highways adjacent to or near the school.
The superintendent or designee shall periodically examine traffic patterns within the boundaries of each elementary school attendance area, so as to identify locations where crossing assistance is needed.

Gifts to School Personnel

The School Board believes that feelings of appreciation can be expressed in many ways. The Board discourages students and parents/guardians from giving gifts to staff members, and instead encourages them to write personal notes of appreciation. District staff accepting gifts from students or parents/guardians should be sensitive to the feelings of other students and use discretion if gifts are opened in front of others.

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HEALTH CARE AND EMERGENCIES

School Responsibilities

The School Board recognizes the importance of taking appropriate action whenever an accident or illness threatens the safety, health or welfare of a student at school or during school-sponsored activities. To facilitate immediate contact with parents/guardians on such occasions, the Board requires parents/guardians to furnish the schools with the current information specified below:

Home address and telephone number.
Parent/guardian's business address and telephone number.
Name, address and telephone number of a relative or friend who is authorized by the parent/guardian to care for the student in cases of emergency when the parent/guardian cannot be reached.
Local physician to call in case of emergency.
A list of medicines the child is taking.

The superintendent or designee shall establish procedures to minimize the effects of an injury by providing first aid and/or medical attention as quickly as possible, to notify parents/guardians of the accident and to take whatever other steps are deemed necessary in the interests of the student and the district.

Administering Medication

The School Board recognizes that students sometimes may need to take prescribed medication during the school day in order to be able to attend school without jeopardizing their health. In such cases, when the district has received written statements from the student's physician and parent/guardian as required by law, designated personnel shall assist the student in taking the medication.

Infectious Diseases

The School Board recognizes its dual responsibility to protect the health of students from risks posed by infectious diseases and to uphold the right of students to a free and appropriate education. The district requires all staff routinely to observe universal precautions to prevent exposure to blood borne pathogens and prevent the spread of all infectious disease.
The superintendent or designee according to standard health procedures shall determine the admission of a student with an infectious disease identified by state health officials. The superintendent or designee shall consult with the student's parent/guardian and, with the student's physician and/or the local health department as required.

Students with Blood Borne Pathogen Infections

The Board recognizes that HIV and hepatitis B viruses are blood borne pathogens and not casually transmitted. Students with blood borne pathogens are entitled to the rights and services accorded to other students. The sole presence of blood borne pathogens is not sufficient reason to exclude students from attending school.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to inform the superintendent or designee if their child has HIV infection and/or AIDS so that any such child will have access to appropriate district programs and services. The superintendent or designee shall convene a review panel to make recommendations regarding appropriate programs and services for the student.
The superintendent or designee shall ensure that all of the student's rights to confidentiality are strictly observed in accordance with law.
The superintendent or designee shall request that parents/guardians sign a release form to provide confidential medical information and records to the review panel.

Infectious Disease Prevention

The School Board recognizes its responsibility consistently to take precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. A comprehensive approach to disease prevention requires the cooperation of the home and the community.
All students and employees shall be informed of the universal precautions to be used whenever anyone is exposed to blood or other body fluids through injury or accident. Science laboratory instruction shall be designed to protect students from contact with body fluids and with contaminated needles and other objects.

Precautions for Infectious Disease Prevention

Hand washing is the single most important technique for preventing the spread of casually transmitted diseases. Liquid soap is preferable to bar soap. Hands should be washed thoroughly for 15 to 30 seconds with soap and warm running water, rinsed under running water, and thoroughly dried with paper towels:

Before eating, drinking or feeding.
Before handling food, clean utensils or kitchen equipment.
Before and after using the toilet or diapering.
After accidental contact with body secretions such as blood, urine, feces, mucus, saliva or drainage from wounds or with soiled garments, equipment, diapers or menstrual pads.

Non sterile disposable gloves should be worn when handling blood (such as providing care for nosebleeds, bleeding gums, cuts or wounds); blood-soiled items (such as menstrual pads, bandages or clothing); secretions (particularly from open sores or wounds); vomit, urine or feces; as well as surfaces, materials, and objects exposed to them.
Gowns or smocks should be worn if soiling of clothing by body fluids, secretions or excretions is anticipated. Hands should be washed thoroughly after removing gowns or gloves.
Personnel and students with open skin lesions (such as chapped or broken skin, eczema, sores, cuts or wounds) should particularly avoid contact with blood, blood-soiled items, or secretions, and should cover their lesions with occlusive dressings or gloves when possible.
Extraordinary care should be taken to prevent accidental wounds from potentially contaminated sharp instruments such as needles, scissors, or knives.
Food and drinks should not be shared. Separate eating utensils, glasses and cups should be used.
Sanitary conditions should be maintained throughout the facility, with established routines for frequently cleaning floors, sinks, faucets, table tops, door knobs, etc.
Surfaces contaminated with body secretions should be washed with soap and water and disinfected promptly with a freshly prepared solution of bleach (ten parts water to one part bleach). Disposable towels should be used whenever possible and mops should be rinsed in the bleach solution.
Articles and clothing soiled with blood, vomit, feces, urine or other body discharges should be placed in leak proof plastic bags for proper disposal or washing.

Health Examinations

The School Board recognizes the importance of periodic health examinations conducted according to state health regulations. To determine the health status of students, facilitate the removal of handicaps to learning, and determine whether special adaptations of the school program may be necessary, the Board shall require that physical examinations be conducted, including tests for vision and hearing upon entry into school or as soon as practical.
All personnel employed to examine students shall exercise proper care of each student being examined and shall ensure that the examination results are kept confidential.

Immunizations

Before first entering school, a child must be fully immunized as required by law against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, and rubella. Children over the age of six shall not be required to be immunized against pertussis and children over the age of 12 shall not be required to be immunized against rubella .
Any student who does not show evidence of required immunization or who does not present a letter or affidavit from the parent/guardian or physician stating reasons for exemption based on medical reasons or personal beliefs shall be excluded from school until such time as the immunization is obtained or affidavit of exemption has been filed with the school.
The superintendent or designee shall exclude those students who fail to meet immunization requirements as required by law.

Provisional Admission

Where regular weekly medical services are not available, the superintendent or designee may grant provisional admission to students in exceptional circumstances for up to 90 days.
Provisional admissions shall be reported to the Department of Health and Social Services. The superintendent or designee shall inform parents/guardians of available immunization services and state or federal assistance.

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INTERNET ACCESS

Student Access to Networked Information Resources

In a free and democratic society, access to information is a fundamental right of citizenship. The Board supports access by students to rich information resources along with the development by staff of appropriate skills to analyze and evaluate such resources.
BS00252_.WMF (19548 bytes)Telecommunications, electronic information sources and networked services significantly alter the information landscape for schools by opening classrooms to a broader array of resources. Telecommunications, because they may lead to any publicly available file server in the world, will open classrooms to electronic information resources that have not been screened by educators for use by students of various ages.
Staff and faculty will blend thoughtful use of such information throughout the curriculum and will provide guidance and instruction to students in the appropriate use of such resources. Staff will consult the guidelines for instructional materials contained in Board Policy 6162 and will honor the goals for selection of instructional materials contained therein.
The network is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others. Access to network services will be provided to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.
Independent student use of telecommunications and electronic information resources will be permitted upon submission of permission forms and agreement forms by parents of students (under 18 years of age) and by students themselves.
The Yukon Flats School District supports and respect each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for independent access.

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