Annual Notices
All Iowa School Districts are required to notify parents annually of the following notices.
Below are the notices currently available from The Mid-Prairie Community School District. They are also available in hard copy at the district office.
- Asbestos
- Corporal Punishment
- Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action
- Equity Statement
- Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act)
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
- Foster Care Single Point of Contact
- Harassment/Bullying
- HOMELESS INFORMATION
- PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (PPRA)
- REPORTING CHILD ABUSE
- SECTION 504
- TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
Asbestos
Annual Asbestos Notification
Asbestos has been an issue of concern for many years. The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (AHERA) was designed to determine the extent of asbestos concerns in the school and to act as a guide in formulating asbestos management policies for the schools.
Asbestos has been used as a building material for many years. It is a naturally occurring mineral that is mined primarily in Canada, South Africa and the USSR. The properties of asbestos make it an ideal material for insulating, sound absorption, decorative plasters, fireproofing and a variety of miscellaneous uses. There has been over 3,000 different products manufactured using asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began action to limit its use in 1973. Most of the asbestos products used as building materials were banned in 1978.
A certified asbestos inspector as required by AHERA has inspected the school district facilities. The inspector located, sampled and determined the condition and hazard potential of all material in the school facilities suspected of containing asbestos.
FINDINGS: Beyond the asbestos assumed to be located in concrete, roofing felts, pipe elbows, carpet glues, etc., which is of minimal public health concern, low risk asbestos was found in some types of materials in the district buildings.
The inspection and laboratory analysis records form the basis of the asbestos management plan for the school district which includes: notification letters, training for employees, a set of procedures designed to minimize the disturbance of asbestos-containing materials, and plans for regular surveillance of the materials. A copy of the management plan is available for inspection in the administrative offices of each building. Andrew Kahler is the school district’s asbestos program manager and may be reached at 319-656-2243. All inquiries regarding the plan should be directed to Andrew.
Corporal Punishment
Corporal Punishment, Restraint, and Physical Confinement and Detention
State law forbids school employees from using corporal punishment against any student. Certain actions by school employees are not considered corporal punishment. Additionally, school employees may use “reasonable and necessary force, not designed or intended to cause pain” to do certain things, such as prevent harm to persons or property.
State law also places limits on school employees’ abilities to restrain or confine and detain any student. The law limits why, how, where and for how long a school employee may restrain or confine and detain a child.
Refer to board policy 503.5.
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action
Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action
It is the policy of the Mid-Prairie Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, gender, disability, religion, age, political party affiliation, or actual or potential parental, family or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code sections 216.9 and 256.10(2), Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S.C.§§ 1681 – 1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.). The Mid-Prairie Community School District affirms its commitment to comply with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and orders. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the District’s Equity Coordinator, Frank Slabaugh, Virtual Academy Principal, 319-656-2241 or fslabaugh@mphawks.org.
Equity Statement
Annual Notice of Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
The Mid-Prairie Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:
- Business Education
- Family and Consumer Sciences Education
- Industrial Education
- Health Occupations Education
It is the policy of the Mid-Prairie Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the District’s Equity Coordinator, Frank Slabaugh, Virtual Academy Principal, 319-656-2241 or fslabaugh@mphawks.org.
Continuous Notice of Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
It is the policy of the Mid-Prairie Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the District’s Equity Coordinator, Frank Slabaugh, Virtual Academy Principal, 319-656-2241 or fslabaugh@mphawks.org.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act)
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Notification of Rights under FERPA for Elementary and Secondary Schools
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day the school receives a request for access.
Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer 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 school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.
4. The right to inform the school district that the parents does not want directory information, as defined below to be released. Any student over the age of eighteen or parent not wanting this information released to the public must make objection in writing by September 15 to the school principal. The object needs to renewed annually. (Student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, enrollment status, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student, photograph and other likeness, and other similar information.
5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Foster Care Single Point of Contact
Foster Care Single Point of Contact
According to ESSA Non-Regulatory Guidance (U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016), the Mid-Prairie Community School District has designated Amy Shalla (319-646-6096 | ashalla@mphawks.org) as the foster care point of contact for the Mid-Prairie Community School District.
Harassment/Bullying
Harassment/Bullying
The Mid-Prairie School District is committed to providing all students with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassment of or by students, staff, and volunteers is against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the board. Bullying and/or harassing behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of school employees to maintain a safe and civil environment, and the ability of students to learn and succeed. Therefore, it is the policy of the state and the school district that school employees, volunteers, and students shall not engage in bullying or harassing behavior in school, on school property, or at any school function or school-sponsored activity.
Reports of abuse should be reported to the Level 1 investigator (building administrator) so that an investigation may commence. Please refer to board policy 105 for details.
HOMELESS INFORMATION
HOMELESS COORDINATOR
FRANK SLABAUGH
(319)656-2241
Guidance: Chapter 33 of Iowa Administrative Code defines “homeless child or youth” as a child or youth from the age of 3 years through 21 years who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and includes the following:
- 1.A child or youth who is sharing the house of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; is living in a motel, hotel, trailer park, or camping rounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations; is living in an emergency or transitional shelter; is abandoned in a hospital; or is awaiting foster placement;
- 2.A child or youth who has primary nighttime residence that is public or private place not designated for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
- 3.A child or youth who is living in a car, park, public space, abandoned building, substandard housing, bus or train station, or similar setting; or
- 4.A migratory child or youth who qualifies as homeless because the child or youth is living in circumstance described in paragraphs 1 through 3 above.
Mid-Prairie Community School District has designated Frank Slabaugh, Virtual Academy Principal, to serve as the district’s liaison for homeless children and youth to carry out the duties specified. He can be contacted at 319-656-2241 or fslabaugh@mphawks.org.
PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (PPRA)
Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)
PPRA affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:
- Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)–
- 1.Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
- 2.Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
- 3.Sex behavior or attitudes;
- 4.Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
- 5.Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
- 6.Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
- 7.Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
- 8.Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –
- 1.Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
- 2.Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
- 3.Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.
Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –
- 1.Protected information surveys of students;
- 2.Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
- 3.Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
These rights transfer to from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.
Mid-Prairie Community School District has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. Mid-Prairie Community School District will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Mid-Prairie Community School District will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. Mid-Prairie Community School District will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:
Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.
Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202-5901
REPORTING CHILD ABUSE
Reporting Child Abuse
Mid-Prairie School Board Policy 402.2 requires that licensed employees (mandatory reporters) who have a reasonable belief that a child under 18 has been abused by a person responsible for the care of the child, as define by law, must report the suspected abuse to the Department of Human Services. Failure of the mandatory reporter to make a report as required by law may subject the employee to disciplinary actions up to and including termination
SECTION 504
Section 504
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the law that prohibits schools from discriminating against students with disabilities. Section 504 sets minimum standards for providing related services and aids to students with disabilities that substantially limits a major life activity. All accredited Iowa schools must comply with Section 504. Section 504 applies to elementary and secondary education, preschool and adult education, and private education.
The Mid-Prairie School District will not discriminate against any otherwise qualified individual solely by reason of his/her disability in any program or activity. Questions or concerns regarding compliance with this should be directed to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator, Amy Shalla at 319-646-6096 or ashalla@mphawks.org.
TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS
Teacher Qualifications
Parents/Guardians have the right to learn about the following regarding their child’s teacher’s qualifications: state licensure status, special endorsements for grade level/subject area taught, and baccalaureate/graduate certification/degree.
Parents/Guardians may request this information from the Central Office by calling (319)646-6093 or sending a letter of request to Brian Stone, Superintendent, 1636 Hwy 22 East, Wellman, IA 52356.