100 - EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
100 - EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY Jen@iowaschool… Tue, 11/23/2021 - 17:09100 - Legal Status of the School District
100 - Legal Status of the School DistrictIowa law authorizes the creation of a Common Schools System. As part of this Common Schools System, this school district is a school corporation created and organized under Iowa law. This school district is known as the Graettinger-Terril Community School District.
This school corporation is located in Palo Alto County, and its affairs are conducted by elected school officials, the Graettinger-Terril Community School District Board of Directors. This school corporation has exclusive jurisdiction over school matters in the territory of the school district.
Approved 3-17-09
Reviewed 1-29-14, 11-15-21
Revised
101 - Educational Philosophy of the School District
101 - Educational Philosophy of the School DistrictAs a school corporation of Iowa, the Graettinger-Terril Community School District, acting through its board of directors, is dedicated to promoting an equal opportunity for a quality public education to its students. The board’s ability may be limited by the school district's ability and willingness to furnish financial support in cooperation with students’ parents and school district community. The board is also dedicated to providing the opportunity to develop a healthy social, intellectual, emotional, and physical self-concept in a learning environment that provides guidance to and encourages critical thinking in the students for a lifetime.
The board endeavors, through the dedication of the school district's resources, to encourage students, who come to the school district from a variety of backgrounds, to look forward to the time when they will have jobs, homes, families, places in the school district community, and attain recognition as individuals. In order to achieve this goal, the board will seek qualified employees dedicated to development of their professional skills for the betterment of the education program and for the expertise for educational productivity.
Instruction and curriculum are the key elements of a public education. Critical thinking and problem solving skills that will assist the students' preparation for life is instructed as part of a sequentially coordinated curriculum. The school district strives to prepare students for employment, to discover and nurture creative talent and to prepare them to meet and cope with social change in an atmosphere conducive to learning.
The support and involvement of the home and the school district community are essential to achieve educational excellence in the school district. The school district strives to maintain an active relationship with the home and the school district community to create within the students an awareness of dignity and worth of the individual, civic responsibility and respect for authority.
Approved 3-17-09
Reviewed 1-29-14
Revised 11-15-21
102 - Equal Educational Opportunity
102 - Equal Educational OpportunityIt is the goal of the board to develop a healthy social, intellectual, emotional, and physical self-concept in the students enrolled in the school district. Each student
attending school will have the opportunity to use its education program and services as a means for self-improvement and individual growth. In so doing, the students
are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that assures each student the same educational opportunity.
The Graettinger-Terril Community School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex disability, religion, creed, age (for employment),
marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity, and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. The
belief in equal educational opportunity serves as a guide for the board and employees in making decisions relating to school district facilities, employment, selection of
educational materials, equipment, curriculum, and regulations affecting students. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have
questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact
Matt Borchers - maborc@gt.ratitans.org
205 South Lincoln Avenue
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 859-3286
Board policies, rules, and regulations affect students while they are on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school
owned and/or operated school or chartered vehicles; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect
the good order, efficient management, and welfare of the school district.
The board requires all persons, agencies, vendors, contractors and other persons and organizations doing business with or performing services for the school district to
subscribe to all applicable federal and state laws, executive orders, rules and regulations pertaining to contract compliance and equal opportunity.
Inquiries by students regarding compliance with equal educational opportunity and affirmative action laws and policies, including but not limited to complaints of
discrimination, are directed to the Affirmative Actor Coordinator by contacting:
Matt Borchers – maborc@gt.ratitans.org
205 South Lincoln Avenue
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 839-3286
Inquiries by students regarding compliance with equal educational opportunity and affirmative action laws and policies, including but not limited to complaints of
discrimination, may also be directed in writing to the Director of the Region VII office of Civil Rights, United States Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski
Federal Building, 230 South Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60604 (312) 730-1560, fax (312) 730-1576 OCR.Chicago@ed.gov, the Iowa Civil Rights
Commission, https://icrc.iowa.gov, (515) 281-4121 or the Iowa Department of Education, Grimes State Office Building., Des Moines, IA 50319. (515) 281-5294. This
inquiry or complaint to the federal or state office may be done instead of, or in addition to, an inquiry or complaint at the local level.
Approved 3-17-09
Reviewed 1-29-14
Revised 10-22-13, 12-17-15, 11-15-21
102.E1 - Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination
102.E1 - Annual Notice of NondiscriminationThe Graettinger-Terril Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:
Business Education
Industrial Technology
Family Consumer Science
Vocational Agriculture
It is the policy of the Graettinger-Terril Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its 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:
Matt Borchers - maborc@gt.ratitans.org
205 South Lincoln Avenue
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 859-3286
102.E2 - Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination
102.E2 - Continuous Notice of NondiscriminationIt is the policy of the Graettinger-Terril Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its 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:
Matt Borchers - maborc@gt.ratitans.org
205 South Lincoln Avenue
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 859-3286
102.E3 - Notice of Section 504 Student and Parental Rights
102.E3 - Notice of Section 504 Student and Parental RightsThe Graettinger-Terril Community School District does not discriminate in its educational programs and activities on the basis of a student's disability. It has been determined that your child has a qualifying disability for which accommodations may need to be made to meet his or her individual needs as adequately as the needs of other students. As a parent, you have the right to the following:
- Participation of your child in school district programs and activities, including extracurricular programs and activities, to the maximum extent appropriate, free of discrimination based upon the student's disability and at the same level as students without disabilities;
- Receipt of free educational services to the extent they are provided students without disabilities:
- Receipt of information about your child and your child's educational programs and activities in your native language;
- Notice of identification of your child as having a qualifying disability for which accommodations may need to be made and notice prior to evaluation and placement of your child and right to periodically request a re-evaluation of your child;
- Inspect and review your child's educational records including a right to copy those records for a reasonable fee; you also have a right to ask the school district to amend your child's educational records if you feel the information in the records is misleading or inaccurate; and
- Hearing before an impartial hearing officer if you disagree with your child's evaluation or placement; you have a right to counsel at the hearing and have the decision of the impartial hearing officer reviewed.
It is the policy of the Graettinger-Terril Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its 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:
Matt Borchers - maborc@gt.ratitans.org
205 South Lincoln Avenue
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 859-3286
102.E4 - Discrimination Complaint Form
102.E4 - Discrimination Complaint Form
Date of complaint: |
|
Name of Complainant: |
|
Are you filling out this form for yourself or someone else (please identify the individual if you are submitting on behalf of someone else): |
|
Who or what entity do you believe discriminated against you (or someone else)? |
|
Date and place of alleged incident(s): |
|
Names of any witnesses (if any): |
|
Nature of discrimination alleged (check all that apply):
|
Age |
|
Religion |
|
Disability |
|
Creed |
|
Gender Identity |
|
Sex |
|
Marital Status |
|
Sexual Orientation |
|
National Origin |
|
Socio-economic Status |
|
Race/Color |
|
Other – Please Specify |
In the space below, please describe what happened and why you believe that you or someone else has been discriminated against. Please be as specific as possible and attach additional pages if necessary.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________
102.E5 - Witness Disclosure Form
102.E5 - Witness Disclosure Form
Name of Witness: |
|
Date of interview: |
|
Date of initial complaint: |
|
Name of Complainant (include whether the Complainant is a student or employee): |
|
|
|
Date and place of alleged incident(s): |
|
|
|
Nature of discrimination alleged (check all that apply):
|
Age |
|
Religion |
|
Disability |
|
Creed |
|
Gender Identity |
|
Sex |
|
Marital Status |
|
Sexual Orientation |
|
National Origin |
|
Socio-economic Status |
|
Race/Color |
|
Other – Please Specify |
Description of incident witnessed: _________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Additional information: _________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: __________________________
102.E6 - Disposition of Complaint Form
102.E6 - Disposition of Complaint Form
Date: |
|
Date of initial complaint: |
|
Name of Complainant (include whether the Complainant is a student or employee): |
|
|
|
Date and place of alleged incident(s): |
|
Name of Respondent (include whether the Respondent is a student or employee): |
|
|
|
Nature of discrimination, harassment, or bullying alleged (check all that apply):
|
Age |
|
Religion |
|
Disability |
|
Creed |
|
Gender Identity |
|
Sex |
|
Marital Status |
|
Sexual Orientation |
|
National Origin |
|
Socio-economic Status |
|
Race/Color |
|
Other – Please Specify |
Summary of Investigation: _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I agree that all of the information on this form is accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.
Signature: _____________________________________ Date: _________________________
102.R1 - Grievance Procedure
102.R1 - Grievance ProcedureIt is the policy of the Graettinger-Terril Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its 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 :
Matt Borchers - maborc@gt.ratitans.org
205 South Lincoln Avenue
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 859-3286
Students, parents of students, employees, and applicants for employment in the school district have the right to file a formal complaint alleging discrimination. The school district has policies and procedures in place to identify and investigate complaints alleging discrimination. If appropriate, the school district will take steps to prevent the recurrence of discrimination and to correct its discriminatory effects on the complainant and others.
A complainant may attempt to resolve the problem informally by discussing the matter with a building principal or a direct supervisor. However, the complainant has the right to end the informal process at any time and pursue the formal grievance procedures outlined below. Use of the informal or formal grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies. Please note that informal processes and procedures are not to be used in certain circumstances (e.g., sexual harassment and sexual assault).
Filing a Complaint
A complainant who wishes to avail himself/herself of this grievance procedure may do so by filing a complaint with the equity coordinator(s). An alternate will be designated in the event it is claimed that the equity coordinator or superintendent committed the alleged discrimination or some other conflict of interest exists. Complaints shall be filed within 180 days of the event giving rise to the complaint or from the date the complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence. The complainant will state the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested. The equity coordinator(s) shall assist the Complainant as needed.
Investigation
Within 15 working days, the equity coordinator will begin the investigation of the complaint or appoint a qualified person to undertake the investigation (hereinafter “equity coordinator”). If the complainant is under 18 years of age, the equity coordinator shall notify his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) that they may attend investigatory meetings in which the complainant is involved. The complaint and identity of the complainant, respondent or witnesses will only be disclosed as reasonably necessary in connection with the investigation or as required by law or policy. The investigation may include, but is not limited to the following:
- A request for the complainant to provide a written statement regarding the nature of thecomplaint;
- A request for the individual named in the complaint to provide a written statement;
- A request for witnesses identified during the course of the investigation to provide a written statement;
- Interviews of the complainant, respondent or witnesses;
- An opportunity to present witnesses or other relevant information; and
- Review and collection of documentation or information deemed relevant to the investigation.
Within 60 working days, the equity coordinator shall complete the investigation and issue a report with respect to the findings.
The equity coordinator shall notify the complainant and respondent of the decision within 5 working days of completing the written report. Notification shall be by U.S. mail, first class.
Decision and Appeal
The complaint is closed after the equity coordinator has issued the report, unless within 10 working days after receiving the decision, either party appeals the decision to the superintendent by making a written request detailing why he/she believes the decision should be reconsidered. The equity coordinator shall promptly forward all materials relative to the complaint and appeal to the superintendent. Within 30 working days, the superintendent shall affirm, reverse, amend the decision or direct the equity coordinator to gather additional information. The superintendent shall notify the complainant, respondent, and the equity coordinator of the decision within 5 working days of the decision. Notification shall be by U.S. mail, first class.
The decision of the superintendent shall be final.
The decision of the superintendent in no way prejudices a party from seeking redress through state or federal agencies as provided by in law.
This policy and procedures are to be used for complaints of discrimination, in lieu of any other general complaint policies or procedures that may be available.
If any of the stated timeframes cannot be met by the school district, the school district will notify the parties and pursue completion as promptly as possible.
Retaliation against any person, because the person has filed a complaint or assisted or participated in an investigation, is prohibited. Persons found to have engaged in retaliation shall be subject to discipline by appropriate measures.
103 - Long-Range Needs Assessment
103 - Long-Range Needs AssessmentLong-range needs assessment enables the school district to analyze assessment data, get feedback from the community about its expectation of students, and determines how well students are meeting student learning goals. The board will conduct ongoing and in-depth needs assessment, soliciting information from business, labor, industry, higher education, and community members, regarding their expectations for adequate student preparation as responsible citizens and successful wage earners.
In conjunction with the in-depth needs assessment of the school district, the board will authorize the appointment of a committee, representing administrators, employees, parents, students, and community members, to make recommendations and assist the board in determining the priorities of the school district in addition to the basic skills areas of the education program.
A Community Involvement Action Plan will be implemented whose purpose will be to:
* Conduct community needs assessment with input from all stakeholders.
* Hold focus group sessions with representative samples of the community.
* Select advisory committee members to serve on action planning teams and other committees.
* Analyze results of needs assessments: student surveys, and focus group sessions.
* Review revise school district missions, beliefs, philosophy, and student learning goals with input from all stakeholders.
* Review district data on state indicators, district long range and annual goals and action plans and share in APR and newsletters.
* Review current research and best practices in curriculum areas and in areas of incorporation and safe and drug free, at-risk, gifted and talented students and share
in monthly newsletters.
* Present recommendations to advisory committee(s) and board and share in newsletters and APR.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure the school district community is informed of students' progress on state and locally determined indicators. The superintendent will report annually to the board about the means used to keep the community informed.
As a result of the board and committee's work, the board will determine major educational needs and rank them in priority order; develop long-range goals and plans to meet the needs; establish and implement short-range and intermediate-range plans to meet the goals and to attain the desired levels of student performance; evaluate progress toward meeting the goals and maintain a record of progress under the plan that includes reports of student performance and results of school improvement projects; and annually report the school district's progress made under the plan to the committee, community, and Iowa Department of Education.
Approved 3-17-09
Reviewed 1-29-14
Revised 11-15-21
103.R1 - Long-Range Needs Assessment Process
103.R1 - Long-Range Needs Assessment ProcessSchool districts also need to develop a process for long-range needs assessment. The process needs to include three items.
- provisions for collecting, analyzing and reporting information derived from local, state and national sources;
- provisions for reviewing information acquired on the following:
- state indicators and other locally determined indicators,
- locally established student learning goals,
- specific data collection required by state and federal programs;
- provisions for collecting and analyzing assessment data on the following:
- state indicators,
- locally determined indicators,
- locally established student learning goals.
104 - Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex
104 - Discrimination and Harassment Based on SexIn accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Graettinger-Terril Community School District prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment as defined by the regulations implementing Title IX (34 C.F.R. § 106.30), against any individual participating in any education program or activity of the school district. This prohibition on discrimination applies to students, employees, and applicants for employment.
The board authorizes the superintendent to adopt procedures for any individual to report sexual harassment to the school district’s Title IX Coordinator for the provision of supportive measures to anyone who has been subjected to sexual harassment whether or not they proceed with a formal complaint under those procedures, and for the investigation and resolution of such complaints, as required by Title IX. This Title IX grievance process shall be used to respond to all complaints of sexual harassment that fall within the scope of Title IX. For complaints of sexual harassment that do not fall within the scope of Title IX, the school district may still offer supportive measures to the subject of such conduct and shall apply any other policy or procedure applicable to the alleged conduct.
Any individual with questions about the school district’s Title IX policy and procedures or who would like to make a report or file a formal complaint of sex discrimination or sexual harassment may contact the school district’s designated Title Coordinator
Matt Borchers - maborc@gt.ratitans.org
205 South Lincoln Avenue
Graettinger, IA 51342
(712) 859-3286
Retaliation against a person who made a report or complaint of sexual harassment, assisted or participated in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a sexual harassment report or complaint is strictly prohibited. Retaliation includes threats, coercion, discrimination, intimidation, reprisals, and/or adverse actions related to employment or education. Any individual who believes they have been retaliated against in violation of this policy should immediately contact the school district’s Title IX Coordinator.
Approved 11-15-21
Reviewed
Revised .