ARROWHEAD SCHOOL NOTICE TO PARENTS

SCHOOL YEAR 2008 – 2009

PARENTS RIGHT-TO-KNOW CHECKLIST:

     Parents can request information

     Requested information will be provided (in a timely manner)

     Professional qualifications of classroom teacher:

      All Arrowhead classroom teachers are licensed and properly endorsed for

all areas of the teaching assignment. 

     No teachers are teaching under waiver, emergency or provisional status

     The degree major, graduate degree and field of discipline of the teachers

     Paraprofessional support students in grades pk-8, writing, music and art class.

     Additional Information:

     Standardized test scores are mailed home by the school for the CRT in grades 3-8.

NOTIFICATION OF PARENTS/STUDENTS OF RIGHTS CONCERNING A STUDENT'S RECORDS:

BOARD POLICY 3600F / STUDENTS RECORDS

The District will maintain two (2) sets of school records for each student, a permanent record and a cumulative record. The permanent record shall include:

basic identifying information
academic transcripts
immunization records
attendance record

The cumulative record may include:

intelligence and aptitude scores
psychological reports
achievement test results
participation in extracurricular activities
honors and awards
teacher anecdotal records
verified reports or information from non-educational persons
verified information of clear relevance to the student’s education
information pertaining to release of this record
disciplinary information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents/guardians and students over eighteen (18) years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. They are:

1. The right to inspect and copy the student’s education records, within a reasonable time from the day the District receives a request for access.

Students less than eighteen (18) years of age have the right to inspect and copy their permanent record. Parents/guardians or students should submit to the school principal (or appropriate school official) a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent(s)/ guardian(s) or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

The District charges a nominal fee for copying, but no one will be denied their right to copies of their records for inability to pay this cost.

The rights contained in this section are denied to any person against whom an order of protection has been entered concerning a student.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, irrelevant, or improper.

Parents/guardians or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate, misleading, irrelevant, or improper. They should write the school principal or records custodian, clearly identifying the part of the record they want changed, and specify the reason.

If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student, the District will notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student of the decision and advise him or her of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to permit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA or state law authorizes disclosure without consent.

Disclosure is permitted without consent to school officials with legitimate educational or administrative 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 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(s)/guardian(s) or student serving on a 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 has enrolled or intends to enroll as well as to any person as specifically required by state or federal law. Before information is

released to individuals described in this paragraph, the parent(s)/guardian(s) will receive prior written notice of the nature and substance of the information, and an opportunity to

inspect, copy, and challenge such records. The right to challenge school student records does not apply to: (1) academic grades of their child, and (2) references to expulsions or out-of-school suspensions, if the challenge is made at the time the student’s school student records are forwarded to another school to which the student is transferring.

Disclosure is also permitted without consent to: any person for research, statistical reporting or planning, provided that no student or parent(s)/guardian(s) can be identified; any person named in a court order; and appropriate persons if the knowledge of such information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.

4. The right to a copy of any school student record proposed to be destroyed or deleted.

5. The right to prohibit the release of directory information concerning the parent’s/guardian’s child.

Throughout the school year, the District may release directory information regarding students, limited to:

name
address
gender
grade level
birth date and place
parents’/guardians’ names and addresses
academic awards, degrees, and honors
information in relation to school-sponsored activities, organizations, and athletics
major field of study
period of attendance in school

6. 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, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

Annual Asbestos Notification to Parents, Students, and Employees of the Arrowhead School District:

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral which has, until about 1980, been commonly used in building materials.  Asbestos will not burn, is an excellent insulator, has great strength, is resistant to chemicals, and absorbs sound. Examples of asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) are vinyl floor tile, sprayed-on acoustical ceiling material, and pipe insulation. As ACBM deteriorate over time, or are disturbed by maintenance, renovation, or demolition activities, asbestos fibers may be released into the air.  Inhalation of these airborne, microscopic fibers has been proven to cause such deadly diseases as lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs), and asbestosis (scarring of lung tissues). Uncontrolled asbestos contamination in buildings has been, and remains, a significant environmental and public health issue.  In 1986 Congress enacted the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) to require public and private, secondary and elementary schools to identify ACBM in their school buildings and take appropriate actions to control the release of asbestos fibers. In 1987, the US Environmental Protection Agency finalized a regulatory program which enforces the HERA mandate. These regulations are incorporated within the AHERA Rule (10 C.F.R Part 763, Subpart E)

In compliance with AHERA Rule, the Arrowhead School District 75 had its school building inspected by an asbestos inspector, accredited by the State of Montana . During that inspection, areas of suspect ACBM were identified.  The type, condition, and location of this ACBM was noted.  Samples were taken of some or all of the suspect ACBM.  Laboratory analysis of these samples confirmed the presence or absence of ACBM. Suspect ACBM not sampled and analyzed were assumed to contain asbestos.  Confirmed and/or assumed ACBM currently remain in certain locations in our school building(s).  These materials, and their locations are the splash area of the boiler room, behind the hall water fountain, possibly between the ceiling and unused furnace in original building basement.

Upon confirmation of the presence of ACBM in the school building, an Asbestos Management Plan was developed for the Arrowhead School by an asbestos management planner, accredited by the State of Montana .  The Asbestos Management Plan includes a description of the measures currently being taken to ensure that ACBM remaining in our school building(s) is maintained in condition what will not pose a threat to the health of our students and employees. The Plan describes past response action taken to abate ACBM, as well as response actions planned for the future.  Information is provided on the periodical monitoring of the condition of ACBM remaining in our school building through triennial reinspections, conducted by accredited asbestos inspectors, and through semiannual surveillance, conducted by trained school maintenance staff.  Finally, the asbestos awareness training program for maintenance and custodial personnel is documented.  

A copy of the Asbestos Management Plan is available for your review in the Arrowhead School District 75 administrative office during regular office hours.  Mr. Galvin is the designated Asbestos Program Coordinator for the School District . Please direct all inquiries regarding the Asbestos Management Plan to him at 406-333-4359