Manchester Community Schools - Policies & Procedures

Notice of Rights to Confidentiality of Education Records - The school district has compiled records for use in the provision of appropriate education programs and services.  Federal and state legislation provide you with certain rights regarding the confidentiality of these records.  These rights include the following:

1. Your right of access to education records, which includes the right to inspect and to review them, to request explanation or interpretation of portions you do not fully understand, and to request copies or portions thereof.  Request for access shall follow procedures specified in the agency policy .

2. Your right to request amendment to records if you think records or portions thereof are inaccurate and misleading and therefore, violate their confidentiality, and your rights to a due process hearing. Notice of hearing and corresponding process shall follow procedures established in the agency policy.

3. Your right to limit disclosure of education records which includes the right to know persons or agencies that shall have access to records, together with specific records or portions thereof and proposed uses of records disclosed.

4. Your right to request the destruction of education records, if and when educational agency has decided that records are no longer needed for the educational and/or administrative purposes for which they were collected, including your right to be notified at such times as graduation or other forms of termination of enrollment, or when your child reaches age 26.  The following directory information may be made available for publication in directories, school catalogs, sport programs, etc .
a. The student’s name, address and date of birth; the names of the student’s parents .
b. The student’s class designation, extra-curricular participation, achievement awards or honors, major fields of study and dates of school attendance for any school district the student has attended.
c. The student’s photograph .
d .The student’s weight and height if a member of an athletic team.

5. Your right to protest if you think that the administrative procedures of the school district are not in compliance with the law, to: The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act Office, United States Department of Education, 330 Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, D.C.  20201.The school district will arrange to provide translations of this notice to non-English speaking parents and eligible students in their native language.  Copies of the Student Education Records Policy shall be available for public review at the school superintendent’s office.

Dual Enrollment - The State of Michigan has passed legislation to allow seniors to dual enroll in college while still attending high school.  Classes that seniors take must be academic in nature and cannot be classes offered at the high school.  The school district will pay for the classes up to the amount of money per hour that Manchester receives from the State.  Books, fees and transportation are the student and parent’s responsibility.  Interested students should see their counselor for more information.

Manchester Community Schools - Notice of Nondiscrimination Policy - The Manchester Board of Education complies with all federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and with all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education.  It is the policy of the Manchester Board of Education that no person on the basis or race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status or handicap shall be discriminated against, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subject to, discrimination in any program or activity to which it is responsible or for which it receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.  Any question on Title VI which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, Section 504 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap, or Title IX of the Education Amendments should be directed to: Mrs. Cherie Vannatter, Superintnedent, 410 City Road, Manchester, MI 48158..

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity - To assure that affirmative action and equal employment opportunity continue in the school district, the Manchester Board of Education adopts the following policy. The Manchester Community School District, in compliance with state and federal laws, adopts a policy of affirmative action, with respect to minorities, women, and persons with disability or handicap in all employment practices, in the recruitment, hiring, deployment, upgrading, and retention.  Further, the Manchester Community Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Manchester Community Schools to afford equal opportunity regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, marital status, height, weight, disability or handicap, except where age, sex or physical requirements constitute a bona fide occupational qualification necessary to proper and efficient performance of the duties and responsibilities inherent in the position.

Complaint/Grievance Procedure - Grievance/Complaint Procedures for Title VI and Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Section I — If any person believes that the Manchester Community Schools district or any part of the school organization has inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of (1) Title VI of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, (2) Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, and (3) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, he/she may bring forward a complaint, which shall be referred to as a grievance, to the local Civil Rights Coordinator at the following address: Ms. Shanna Spickard, 710 E. Main St., Manchester, MI 48158.

Section II — The person who believes he/she has a valid basis for grievance shall discuss the grievance informally and on a verbal basis with the local Civil Rights Coordinator, who shall in turn investigate the complaint and reply with an answer to the complaint. He/she may initiate formal procedures according to the following steps:

Step 1:  A written statement of the grievance signed by the complainant shall be submitted to the local Civil Rights Coordinator within five (5) business days of receipt of answers to the informal complaint. The coordinator shall further investigate the matters of grievance and reply in writing to the complainant within five (5) days.

Step 2:  If the complainant wishes to appeal the decision of the local Civil Rights Coordinator, he/she may submit a signed statement of appeal to the Superintendent of Schools within five (5) business days after receipt of the Coordinator's response. The superintendent shall meet with all parties involved, formulate a conclusion, and respond in writing to the complainant within ten (10) business days.

Step 3:  If the complainant remains unsatisfied, he/she may appeal through a signed, written statement to the Board of Education within five (5) business days of his receipt of the superintendent's response in step two. In an attempt to resolve the grievance, the Board of Education shall meet with the concerned parties and their representative within forty (40) days of the receipt of such an appeal. A copy of the Board's disposition of the appeal shall be sent to each concerned party within ten (10) business days of this meeting.

Upon completion of, or at any point in, the grievance process, complainants have the right to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, D.C. 20201.  The complainant should first be directed to the following address:  Office for Civil Rights, 600 Superior Avenue, Suite 750, Cleveland, OH 44114, (216) 522-4970 (phone), (216) 522-2573 (fax).  

The local Coordinator on request will provide a copy of the district’s grievance procedure and investigate all complaints in accordance with this procedure.  A copy of each of the Acts and the regulations on which this notice is based may be found in the Central Office, Ackerson Building.

Physical Well-Being and Safety  - The Board of Education of Manchester Community Schools, as both employer and a public  school district, is concerned with and interested in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of students, employees, and visitors.  The Board recognizes that school buildings, facilities, vehicles, grounds, and other school property are best utilized in the educational process in the absence of threats to physical well-being and safety by students committing acts of physical and verbal assault.

Student to Adult Assault (Physical)

Requires permanent expulsion (grade 6 or above).

Requires districts to report expulsions to law enforcement.

Parents required to find a “suitable educational program”.

Student to Adult Assault (Verbal)

Requires expulsion up to 180 days (grade 6 or above).

Requires districts to report expulsions to Michigan Dept. of Education.

Student-to-Student Assault (Physical)

All fights are considered assaults.

Requires expulsion up to 180 days (grade 6 or above).

Requires districts to report expulsions to Michigan Department of Education.

Classroom Snap Suspension

Teachers can suspend students for repeated classroom disruption for a class/subject/activity.

All K-12 students are subject to this policy.

Tobacco Free Schools - It is the policy of the Manchester Community Schools to comply with Senate Enrolled Bill 459, Tobacco Free School Law.  The use of all tobacco products is prohibited at all times in all buildings owned and operated by the Manchester Community Schools district.  Additionally, there will be no use of tobacco products on any school property, except during weekends, on holidays, and after 6:00 p.m. on school days.

Sexual Harassment of Students - It is the policy of the Manchester Community Schools to establish and maintain for all students and staff a safe and effective learning and working environment, which provides for fair and equitable treatment, including freedom from sexual harassment. Sexual harassment of students by other students, or by employees, volunteers or contractors of the district is unlawful under both Michigan and Federal law and is contrary to the commitment of this district to provide an effective learning environment.  The school district will investigate all complaints of sexual harassment brought to the attention of an administrator or supervisor.  Any person who is found to have sexually harassed any other person will be subject to disciplinary action.

Definition of Sexual Harassment

It is a particular form of sex discrimination.

It is unwelcome sexual advances or attention. 

It includes physical actions, gestures, and/or spoken or written words or comments of a sexual nature made by a student that have the purpose or effect of interfering with a student'sability to do school work or participate in school activities or substantially interfering with a staff member's ability to do her or his job.  It includes requests for sexual favor.

It includes actions or words of a sexual nature that create an intimidating, hostile, demeaning, humiliating, embarrassing or offensive learning or teaching environment.

Forms of Sexual Harassment Include But Are Not Limited To:

Sexual gestures with the hands and body, suggestive or insulting sounds, whistling or obscene gestures.  Cornering, blocking, standing too close to or following.

-Unwelcome and unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature, such as touching, pinching and patting.

-Suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats.

-Pressure for sexual activity, implied or expressed.  Obscene or sexually explicit clothing, accessories, locker decorations.

-Profane or sexually explicit remarks, either verbal or written, direct or indirect which ridicule another's sexuality.

-Unwanted sexual comments about a person's body.

-Sexually suggestive objects, books, magazines, photographs, cartoons or pictures.

-Spreading rumors or jokes of a sexual nature.

-Staring or leering with sexual overtones.

-Rape or attempted rape

-Complaint procedures, administration responsibilities and discipline actions are outlined in the implementation procedures of this policy available in the student and employee handbooks and/or the central office.

Dangerous Weapons, Arson and Rape in the School - Students in possession of a dangerous weapon/firearm, who commit arson or rape on district grounds, in district buildings or at district or school sponsored events shall be permanently expelled from school and referred to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system and the appropriate county department of social services or community mental health agency. The parent, legal guardian and/or student shall also be notified of the referral.

Medication Policy - All medication to be taken at school must be taken to the building office.  Medication must be in a prescription container accompanied by written directions from the doctor instructing school personnel to give the medicine.  Medication procedures include all medications including aspirin and non-prescription drugs.  Please contact the building office for additional information.

Fair Treatment/Non-Discrimination-The Manchester Board of Education hereby declares its commitment to exercise fair and impartial treatment of all students, parents, and employees of the Manchester Community School District.

-No student shall be excluded nor prohibited from participating in any educational program or activity available in any school on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, linguistic and language differences or ancestry, creed, religion, disability, socio-economic status, or other inappropriate criteria as prescribed by law; neither shall any student be compelled to participate in such program or activity because of the above criteria. Any such discriminatory practice or conduct shall constitute just cause for grievance and/or remedy. Encouragement or discouragement of students to participate in programs or activities shall be based solely on sound educational reasons.

-All students, parents, employees, and citizens of the Manchester Community School District have the right to a due process procedure in the handling of their complaints against the school system.

-This policy shall not limit the Board's power to discipline or dismiss personnel under the Tenure Act, nor may it violate any procedure described in master agreements with the various unions and associations. This policy shall not limit the Board's power to add or maintain any educational or activity program.  The superintendent of schools shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this policy.

Right to Know - Copies for review of the Manchester Community Schools Pollution Incident Prevention Plan and Material Safety Data Sheets are available at each school office:  Transportation, Maintenance Office and Central Administration Office, 410 City Road, Manchester, MI 48158.

Notice of Asbestos - An inspection of all school facilities has been completed as required by the Federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulations and a management plan has been approved by the State of Michigan.  Asbestos containing material was found in Klager Elementary, Middle School, Nellie Ackerson, and Maintenance Building.  The management plan describes general recommendations and the school district response in dealing with materials that were tested to contain asbestos.  These materials include: acoustical ceiling, pipe joints, pipe insulation, floor tile, adhesives, mastics, fire doors and frames, slate lab tops and boiler insulation.  Detailed descriptions of the inspection and the management plan can be reviewed at the offices of the building principals and the central administration office.

Notice to the Public of Pesticide Application - The Manchester Community Schools have contracted with Aardvark for periodic application of pesticides at each of the school buildings. The word pesticide is derived from words meaning to kill a pest.  That is what almost all pesticides do; they kill weeds, disease organisms, insects, mites, nematodes, and other pests.  Aardvark sprays monthly (usually on a Friday) and posts stickers on the main doors of each building for up to 48 hours – so that anyone entering the building will be able to see if spraying has occurred.