H.School Community Relations

SCHOOL-COMMUNITY RELATIONS Code H1

Policy

It is the policy of the Town of Grand Isle School District to encourage the involvement of the community in its schools.

Implementation

An effective community outreach program is a necessary component of the District's organization and operation. Therefore, the Board will provide the means necessary to develop and implement such a program.

The District's community outreach program should:

1. create a planned, systematic, two‑way communications process between the Board and the school community;

2. encourage a better understanding of the objectives, accomplishments and needs of the school system within the community;

3. create opportunities for school involvement through volunteerism, business/organizational partnerships, sponsorships, internships and other joint projects;

4. use a variety of media including but not limited to meetings, minutes, letters and e-mail, circulars, web sites, seminars, publications, communications media, personal contacts, and the Islander;

5. provide the channels necessary for resolving grievances and eliminating misunderstandings;

6. inform concerned persons as to their rights, privileges and responsibilities.

The Board delegates to the Principal the responsibility for developing a community relations program which conforms with the above principles.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §165 (School Quality Standards)

Cross Reference: Local Action Plan (G8)

Parental Involvement (H2)

Visits to Schools (H5)

Annual School Reports (H6)

CODE H2

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Policy

It is the policy of the Town of Grand Isle School District to encourage and support the involvement of parents in their children’s education.

Background

Research shows that parent involvement is a key factor in the academic and social success of students. The Board believes it is important that parents are involved in their child's education at home, in school, and within the larger community. New educational initiatives mandate or encourage the strengthening of the parent/school/community relationship.

Implementation

The Principal shall develop and implement programs and procedures to accomplish the following objectives:

1. Parents should be informed about their children's educational programs, instructional methods and objectives, and notified directly of any significant changes.

2. Parents should be provided with opportunities to become informed about program design, operation and evaluation, and to communicate with educators on these subjects.

3. Parents should be encouraged to observe instructional activities, attend program meetings, discuss concerns with educators, participate in program evaluation and improvement efforts, and give recommendations to school staff, administration, and Board members.

4. Parents should be provided with information and opportunities intended to improve their abilities to work with their children at home and in school, and to build partnerships between homes and schools.

5. Professional and non‑professional staff members, administrators, School Board members, and school‑community partners should be provided with training opportunities intended to improve their abilities to build more effective relationships with parents.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §165 (School Quality Standards)

Cross Reference: Visits to Schools (H5)

School Community Relations (H1)

CODE H3-R

PROCEDURES FOR COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

All users will:

1. Pay any fees in advance of use, or as otherwise approved by the Principal.

2. Ensure that two‑thirds of the participants will be county residents except when specific arrangements have been made.

3. Ensure that no unauthorized third party will be granted permission to use the facility or any portion thereof without prior approval.

4. Ensure that participants will not be restricted from participation for reasons of race, religion, sex, creed, national origin, or handicapping condition.

5. Ensure that the representative specified in the contract as responsible for school facilities is present at the scheduled event, or a designee approved by the Principal.

6. Ensure that prior approval is received before signs, banners, and pennants are erected, and that they do not deface school property.

7. Provide required number of chaperons for children (one adult per 25 or fewer students).

8. Ensure that the number of attendees does not exceed the authorized capacity of the facility.

9. Ensure that participants’ vehicles are parked only in areas designated for parking.

10. Ensure that usage and users are restricted to assigned areas.

11. Allow food and drink only in areas designated for eating and only after receiving written permission in advance of the event.

12. Guarantee that activities will be orderly and lawful and not of a nature to incite others to disorder, and demonstrate on the application that reasonable security arrangements appropriate for the use have been provided for.

13. Prohibit smoking in buildings.

14. Ensure that alcoholic beverages are not served or consumed in buildings or on grounds.

15. Ensure that gambling is not permitted.

16. Ensure that animals are not permitted inside of school buildings and that users will clean any school grounds used by animals participating in scheduled events.

17. Observe contracted time limits.

18. Leave the building in a neat and orderly condition.

19. Ensure reimbursement for the cost of damages occurring during use.

20. Agree to hold harmless and indemnify the School Board with respect to any claim of loss, injury, or damage because of negligence of the user or user's employees or agents, including damage to School Board property or property for which the Board is liable. (An insurance policy for such coverage is recommended and may be required.)

21. Comply with safety procedures and policies of the School Board and the fire department. (Every applicant will be given and should read Procedures ____ and ____ before using buildings or grounds, with special attention directed to the procedures regarding cafeteria tables and smoking.)

22. Comply with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and licensing requirements.

FORM: H3-1

- S A M P L E F O R M -

Waiver, Indemnification and Hold Harmless Agreement

In consideration of having the benefit of the use of the Grand Isle Town School facilities at ____________________________ (location), of the Town of Grand Isle School District, the undersigned organization, for itself and its officers, directors, employees, agents and members, hereby waives any claim for any personal injury, property damage, or other loss, expense or other damage that any of them may incur as a result of or related to such use, and does further hereby agree to indemnify and hold the above District and their directors, officers, employees, agents and contractors, harmless for and from any claim, demand, action, liability, expense or damage incurred as a result of or relating to such use.

ORGANIZATION:

________________________________________

BY:

________________________________________

FORM: H3-2

- S A M P L E F O R M -

Application For Use of School Facilities:

__________________________________________ School District

Date: ______________________

Please submit this form, in duplicate, to:

(Name, address, fax)

The undersigned hereby makes application on behalf of _______________________________________

for permission to use the __________________________________ (facilities desired) on ____________(date) from _________(am/pm) to _________ (am/pm) for the following purpose:

________________________________________________________________

The charge for use of above referenced facility and purpose will be $___________. The proceeds will be donated to _________________________________________.

If said permission is granted, we hereby agree to comply with the rules, procedures and policies of the Board of School Directors governing the use of school facilities and to take the utmost care in the use of school property, and to pay for any damage to or loss of school property arising from our use of the building.

Furthermore, we agree to pay the fee charged for the rent, if any, and services of any personnel required and appointed by the school.

Organization: ________________________________________________________________

Representative and Title: ___________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________

Telephone: _____________________ Day _________________ Evening

FOR DISTRICT PERSONNEL ONLY:

The above application is approved and charges will be as follows, payable to the ___________________ School District.

Rental $_______________ Custodian $_______________ Deposit $_______________

Supervisory: $_______________ Police $_______________ No charge _______________

Other charges/conditions: ____________________________________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________, Principal Date: __________________

The above application is DENIED for the following reason: ___________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________

Signed: ____________________________________, Principal Date: __________________

CODE H4

PUBLIC SOLICITATIONS/ADVERTISING IN SCHOOLS

Policy

It is the policy of the Grand Isle Town School District to discourage and restrict solicitation of students and staff on school premises for commercial or political purposes.

Implementation

1. Permission to post bulletins announcing services to students or staff will be obtained from the Principal.

2. Permission to distribute commercial or political materials will be obtained from the Principal.

3. Fund‑raising activities will require approval of the Principal.

4. Sales or solicitation on the school premises require the approval of the Principal.

5. Distribution of any informational materials not related directly to the instructional program of the school will require the Principal's approval.

6. The Principal or his/her designee will develop procedures that will guide the decision making process.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s):

Cross Reference(s):

CODE H5

VISITS BY PARENTS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS OR MEDIA

INTERVIEWING, FILMING, VIDEOTAPING OR RECORDING

Policy

It is the policy of the Board to balance the need of the public and media to be informed about school programs and activities with the privacy interests of students and the responsibility of the school to operate with a minimum of disruption.

Implementation

The Principal or his or her designee may regulate visits to the school by parents, community members or news media subject to the following guidelines:

1. Parental visits. In the absence of a court order denying unsupervised visitation rights to a parent, both custodial and non-custodial parents may schedule visits to their children's classes. Arrangements for classroom visits shall be made by contacting the Principal. The Principal will consult with the teacher involved, and may grant the request or suggest a more convenient time for a visit. Requests by parents to visit classes may be denied by the Principal when the visit would result in disruption to the learning process in the classroom.

2. Visits by community members. Persons who are not parents of school children may obtain permission to visit the school while it is in session from the Principal or his or her designee. Requests to visit specific classrooms will be granted or denied after consultation with the teacher or teachers involved, and will be based on a consideration of the informational needs of the person making the request and the potential for disruption or invasion of the privacy of students.

3. Visits by news media. Visits to the school by representatives of the news media or other persons seeking to interview, photograph, record, videotape or film students, staff members or school activities must be arranged after consultation with the Principal or his or her designee. Affected teachers will be consulted before permission for such activities in classrooms is granted. At the discretion of the administration, parents may be asked to sign general or specific permission slips to authorize interviewing, photographing, filming or videotaping of their children while at school or while participating in school activities. Written parental permission will be obtained before the release, photography or recording of any student record. Photographing, filming or recording of special education students will be allowed only after specific parental permission is obtained in writing.

All visitors to the school will be required to check in at the office when they enter the school building. The Principal or his or her designee will keep a log showing the names of visitors and the date, time and purpose of each visit.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 20 U.S.C. §1232f-1232j (Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974)

34 C.F.R. Part 99

15 V.S.A. §670 (Non-custodial parents)

Cross Reference: Student Records (F5)

Parental Involvement (H2)

CODE H6

ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORTS

Policy

It is the policy of the Grand Isle Town School District to develop and use the annual school report to communicate with the public about the effectiveness of educational programs and about how resources are utilized to improve student achievement. The annual report is intended to be an accountability instrument and a communication tool for delivering factual information broadly throughout the community and to initiate formal and informal opportunities for community members to become involved with their school system.

Implementation

1. progress toward achieving learning standards from the most recent measures taken;

4. other statistics about the school and community that will create a context for examining student performance; this may include community issues such as dropout, transfer, and retention rates, course enrollment patterns, gender differences, student poverty, and access to technology;

8. a description of how the school ensures that each student receives appropriate career counseling and program information regarding availability of education and apprenticeship program offerings at technical centers;

11. how the school budget supports the annual action plan goals and objectives, and other long-range plans;

1. data describing student participation in technical education, regional job opportunities and the number of graduates from the previous year who have entered post-secondary education, the military and the job market.