APPENDIX
1 (Regulations on
Handbooks, Weapons, Smoking, Expulsion) APPENDIX
2 (Notice of Non
Discrimination) APPENDIX
3 (Sexual Harassment)
APPENDIX
4 (Sex Education
Parent Notification Policy and Procedures) APPENDIX
5 (Immunization
Policy) APPENDIX
6 (Truancy and
Attendance) APPENDIX
7 (School Improvement
Plan)
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SCHOOL POLICIES AND DISCIPLINE (INCLUDING REGULATIONS ON STUDENT HANDBOOKS, WEAPONS, SMOKING, EXPULSION)
MASS GENERAL LAWS CHAPTER 71, SEC. 37H
The Superintendent of every school district shall publish the district's policies pertaining to the conduct of teachers and students. Said policies shall prohibit the use of any tobacco products within the school buildings, the school facilities or on the school grounds or on school buses by any individual, including school personnel. Copies of these policies shall be provided to any person upon request and without cost by the principal of every school within the district.
Each school district's policies pertaining to the conduct of students shall include the following: disciplinary proceedings, including procedures assuring due process; standards and procedures for suspension and expulsion of students; procedures pertaining to discipline of students with special needs; standards and procedures to assure school building security and safety of students and school personnel; and the disciplinary measures to be taken in cases involving the possession or use of illegal substances or weapons, the use of force, vandalism, or violation of other student's civil rights. Codes of discipline, as well as procedures used to develop such codes shall be filed with the department of education for informational purposes only.
In each school building containing grades nine to twelve, inclusive, the principal, in consultation with the school council, shall prepare and distribute to each student a student handbook setting forth the rules pertaining to the conduct of students. The school council shall review the student handbook each spring to consider changes in the disciplinary policy to take effect in September of the following school year, but may consider policy changes at any time. The annual review shall cover all areas of student conduct, including but not limited to those outlined in this section.
Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, all student handbooks shall contain the following provisions;
(a). Any student who is found on school premises or at school-sponsored or school-related events, including athletic games, in possession of a dangerous weapon, including, but not limited to, a gun or a knife; or a controlled substance as defined in chapter ninety-four C, including, but not limited to, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, may be subject to expulsion from the school district by the principal.
(b). Any student who assaults a principal, assistant principal, teacher, teacher's aide or other educational staff in school premises or at school-sponsored or school-related events, including athletic games, may be subject to expulsion from the school or school district by the principal.
(c). Any student who is charged with a violation of either paragraph (a) or (b) shall be notified in writing of an opportunity for a hearing; provided, however, that the student may have representation, along with the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses at said hearing before the principal. After said hearing, a principal, may, in his/her discretion, decide to suspend rather than expel a student who has been determined by the principal to have violated either paragraph (a) or (b).
(d). Any student who has been expelled from a district pursuant to these provisions shall have the right to appeal to the superintendent. The expelled student shall have ten days from the date of expulsion in which to notify the superintendent of his[/her] appeal. The student has the right to counsel at a hearing before the superintendent. The subject matter of the appeal shall not be limited solely to a factual determination of whether the student has violated any provisions of this section.
(e). When a student is expelled under the provisions of this section, no school or school district within the commonwealth shall be required to admit such a student or to provide educational services to said student. If said student does apply for admission to another school or school district, the superintendent of the school district shall receive from the superintendent of the school expelling said student a written statement of the reasons for said expulsion.
Mass. General Laws
Chapter 71, Section 37H as amended by Section 36 of Chapter 71 of the
Acts of 1993 (the Education Reform Act), and further amended by
Section 1 of Chapter 380 of the Acts of 1993.
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NOTICE ON NONDISCRIMINATION
Applicants for admission and employment, students, parents, employees, sources or referral of applicants for admission and employment, and all unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with the Acton Public and Acton-Boxborough Regional School Districts are hereby notified that these institutions do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or handicap in admission or access to or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the Acton Public and Acton-Boxborough Regional School Districts' compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 or Chapter 622 is directed to contact Nancy M. Kolb, Director of Pupil Services, 16 Charter Road, Acton, MA, telephone # 978-264-4700, who has been designated by the Acton Public and Acton-Boxborough Regional School Districts to coordinate the Districts' efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, ADA and Chapter 622, or write to:
Office for Civil
Rights
John W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse
Room 222
Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109
TITLE IX GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The following is the procedure by which student and employee complaints alleging any action prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 may be resolved.
Any student or employee who believes that he or she has a legitimate complaint alleging any action prohibited by Title IX is urged to bring it to the School Districts attention through this grievance procedure. Any such grievance should be initiated within 15 days of the incident giving rise to it. The student or employee should follow Step I as follows:
STEP I - Contact the Director of Personnel or the Director of Pupil Services who will attempt to resolve the grievance in a fair and timely manner.
Should the attempt to resolve the issue at Step I fail, the grievance may be advanced to Step II within 5 days of the Step I response.
STEP II - The Director of Personnel or the Director of Pupil Services shall forward the grievance and his/her findings, together with any additional information provided by the student or employee, in writing, to the Superintendent. Normally within seven days, the Superintendent will make a final decision, based on all available information, and will forward his or her final written decision to the grievant, normally within 45 days of the original written grievance.
Appointment of Compliance Officer
The Director of Personnel is appointed the School's Compliance Officer.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The school district is committed to providing an educational environment that is free of sexual harassment. Sexual harassment compromises professional relationships and undermines the quality of the education environment. Sexual harassment is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the school systems.
The condoning of sexual harassment or the retaliation against an individual because he or she complains of sexual harassment or because he or she assists in the investigation of a complaint of sexual harassment is also prohibited.
A. Sexual Harassment
Employees, volunteers, contractors and students are prohibited from making unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors and from engaging in any other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when those advances, requests or conduct have a purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the education of a student or the working environment of any employee of the school by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating or sexually offensive educational or working environment. Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to, leering, pinching, grabbing, suggestive verbal comments, off-color jokes, and pressure for sexual activity.
B. Sexual Conduct Toward Students
It is also a violation of the school district policy for any school employee, volunteer or contractor to make any sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature toward a student, whether or not unwelcome.
It is the policy of the School Committee to have all complaints of sexual harassment promptly and fully investigated and to take any steps necessary to remedy the situation. Those steps or procedures are designed to correct, remedy and discipline violations of the policy.
COMPLAINT AND INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES
If any student, employee, volunteer or contractor believes that he/she has been subjected to any form of sexual harassment, the individual should report the incident as promptly as possible (but no later than six months from the time of the incident). A student should report the matter to a teacher or administrator with whom the student feels comfortable. An employee or volunteer should report the matter to the immediate supervisor or another administrator. A contractor should report to an administrator. The report should be written down immediately.
A complaint of sexual harassment by a student, or by a parent on the student's behalf, may also be made to any counselor or teacher. The report should be in writing. A counselor or teacher who receives such a complaint will notify the appropriate administrator to initiate an investigation.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the administrator will prepare a report, which will be shared with both the complainant and the person or persons accused of harassment. Either party may discuss the issue directly with the Superintendent.
The Title 9/622 Coordinator or Superintendent's designee will thereafter investigate the complaint and present findings to the Superintendent and the complainant within 15 days of receipt of the written complaint.
If the complainant is not satisfied with the response, he/she may submit a written appeal to the Superintendent within five days. The appeal should contain the specific reason why the complainant is dissatisfied with the response. The nature of the complaint, the parties involved, and the relief sought should also be delineated in the appeal. The Superintendent will consider the appeal and respond to the complainant after receipt of the appeal, normally within 15 days of receipt.
DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Any employee, volunteer, contractor or student found to have engaged in any form of sexual harassment will be subject to disciplinary action. In the case of a student, disciplinary action may include suspension and/or expulsion from school. In the case of an employee, disciplinary action may include suspension and/or dismissal. In the case of a volunteer or contractor, his/her services may be terminated.
Victims of sexual harassment are encouraged to find relief and closure through counseling service provided by the school district. Individuals who have been found to have engaged in sexual harassment may be required to seek counseling and provide documentation of involvement in a therapeutic intervention program as part of the disciplinary action.
Mass. General Laws Chapter 71, Section 37H
The Superintendent of every school district shall publish the district's policies pertaining to the conduct of teachers and students. Said policies shall prohibit the use of tobacco products within the school buildings, the school facilities or on the school grounds or on school buses by any individual, including school personnel. Copies of these policies shall be provided to any person upon request and without cost by the Principal of every school within the district.
Each school district's policies pertaining to the conduct of students shall include the following: standards and procedures for suspension and expulsion of students; procedures pertaining to discipline of students with special needs; standards and procedures to assure school building security and safety of students and school personnel; and the disciplinary measures to be taken in cases involving the possession or use of illegal substances or weapons, the use of force, vandalism, or violation of other student's civil rights. Codes of discipline, as well as procedures used to develop such codes shall be filed with the department of education for educational purposes only.
SEX EDUCATION PARENT NOTIFICATION POLICY
Pursuant to Chapter 291 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, the School
Committees direct the Superintendent to ensure timely parental/guardian notification of any curriculum used in the Acton Public or Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools which primarily involves human sexuality issues or human sexual education.
This policy allows parents/guardians the flexibility to exempt their children from any portion or completely from the curriculum being offered. The Committees want to encourage the flow information while recognizing the rights of parents.
The following courses contain sexuality issues or human sexual education:
Bio Forum
Senior Seminar
Health/Fitness
Biology
Parents with questions should contact the school nurse or Health Educator Coordinator to review the material.
SEX EDUCATION PARENT NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES
1. Central Office/Principals will notify parents in writing, through newsletters and posting, in advance, so that parents may review the materials that will be used. Parents should call the school nurse or Health Educator Director in order to review the material.
2. Parents must write a letter to their child's Principal exempting them from participation.
3. No child exempted shall be penalized.
4. The school will determine which alternative experience will be offered.
5. Any appeal of decisions made should follow the Acton and Acton-Boxborough appeals process.
Policy J750 IMMUNIZATION POLICY RELATING TO NEW STUDENTS
The School Committees support the Massachusetts School Immunization Law, Chapter 76, Section 15 which states, "No child shall, except as hereinafter provided, be admitted to school except upon presentation of a physicians' certificate that the child has been successfully immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, and poliomyelitis and such other communicable diseases as may be specified from time to time by the Department of Public Health.
Adopted: July 24, 1997
TRUANCY AND ATTENDANCE PARENT INFORMATION
There is no doubt that one of the keys to academic achievement is good attendance. Consistent participation in school and school-based activities is important for making a successful transition from youth to adulthood. Student tardiness and truancy are challenges that confront many communities in Middlesex and across the state. Often, these behaviors are the first indicators that a student may be experiencing stress or other difficulties in his or her life.
The following is a summary of some of the Massachusetts General Laws pertaining to attendance:
School Attendance
Chapter 76, section 1 of the Massachusetts General Laws states that all children between the ages of six and sixteen must attend school. A school district may excuse up to seven day sessions or fourteen half day sessions in any period of six months. In addition to this law, each school may have its own attendance policy with which parents and guardians should be familiar.
Who is a Supervisor of Attendance
Chapter 76, section 19 of the Massachusetts General Laws states that each school committee must employee a supervisor of attendance. A supervisor of attendance has the power to apprehend and take to school any child who is truant and is required to investigate all cases where a child in the district fails to attend school.
What is a CHINS?
A "CHINS" (Child in Need of Services) petition may be filed in court by a supervisor of attendance if a child between the ages of six and sixteen persistently violates lawful and reasonable regulations of her or her school. The Court's authority pursuant to a CHINS petition includes the power to placea child in the custody of the state agency known as the Department of Social Services.
What is a 51A?
A 51A is a report of suspected child abuse or neglect that is filed with the Department of Social Services. Under Chapter 119, section 51A of the Massachusetts General Laws, a report can be filed on behalf of a child under the age of eighteen for educational neglect if a child is not attending school on a regular basis.
Parent Responsibility
Parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring that a child under their control attends school. It is a crime for a responsible parent or guardian not to cause such a child to attend school. If a child fails to attend school for seven consecutive days or fourteen half day sessions within any six month period, the supervisor of attendance may file a criminal complaint in court against the responsible parent and/or guardian.
Inducing Absences
It is a crime to induce or attempt to induce a minor to miss school, or unlawfully to employ or to harbor a minor who should be in school.
School Improvement Plan Goals for 2004-2005.
Goal #
1: Focus on
advancing the literacy of all students at MCT. Faculty
will: Goal #
2: Maintain and
expand focus on the arts. Support the: Goal #
3: Collect and
share with the McCarthy-Towne Community useful resources
about elementary age children's physical well being and its
impact on s child's school day. Goal
#4: Continue
working with the Merriam School community. The priority is
to safeguard and nurture the distinct and highly-valued
philosophies and practices of each school.
a. continue work begun by the Literacy Support Team during
the 2003-04 school year;
b. create cross grade level groups to discuss ways to
consolidate and implement comprehension strategies that the
faculty learned during the 2003-04 school year.
a. new and veteran faculty in their understanding of art
integration in order to continue and solidify our commitment
to this area of our school's curriculum;
b. explore ways to make connections between CPAC assemblies
and grade level curriuclum, especially in the areas of
drama and narrative story telling.