Annual Required Notifications - Fort Plain Central School District

The school district is required to adopt policies related to many aspects of school operations and state and federal law. It is also required to provide notifications related to a variety of topics and policies. Please use this page as a resource for the areas listed below.

Index

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR)

New York State Education Law requires each classroom teacher and school principal to receive an annual professional performance review (APPR) that results in a composite effectiveness score and rating. All parents/guardians have the right to obtain the APPR quality ratings and composite effectiveness scores for their child’s current teacher(s) and principal(s) once they are available. To request this information, please contact the superintendent at (518) 993-4000, ext. 1000.

View the Fort Plain Central School District APPR plan on New York State Education Department website.

Asbestos Management Plan Notification

In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1987 (40 CFR Part 763), Fort Plain Central School District conducts periodic asbestos review and required inspection. Asbestos projects shall be conducted according to all applicable local, state and federal regulations.

The Asbestos Management Plan for each building is available for review during normal business hours at the Business Office. For more information, please contact LEA asbestos designee Jeff Beam, 518-993-4000, ext. 2003.

Child Abuse Hotline

If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1-800-342-3720, a toll-free 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is available online.

Closing and delay information

In the event of a school closing or delay, parents/guardians will be notified in the following ways:

ParentSquare: Receive text messages on your phone by subscribing to ParentSquare.

Web: Announcements will be posted on the district homepage.

Television: WTEN Channel 10, WNYT Channel 13, WXXA Channel 23, Spectrum News, WKTV Channel 2 – Utica , and WRGB Channel 6.

Dignity for All Students Act

The goal of the Dignity for All Students Act is to provide students with a safe, supportive education environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying. Some of the law requirements include: establishing anti-harassment and discrimination policies, creating school training programs and including a course in civility, citizenship and character education in the curriculum for every grade level. To view the policies and process for reporting harassment, bullying and discrimination, go to https://www.fortplain.org/about-us/anti-bullying-initiative/.

DASA COORDINATORS

Harry Hoag Elementary School – Amy Bartholomew, acting principal,
518-993-4000 ext. 3059

Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School – Nicholas Comproski, principal.
518-993-4000 ext. 2124

Dignity for All Students Act Reporting Form

Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities

Eligibility is based on the five-week interim report or 10-week report card. On the Wednesday after report cards or interim reports are issued, the building principal will publish a list of students who have failing grades in one or more subjects for the period. The students on this list are not eligible to participate in any culminating extracurricular activities for 14 consecutive calendar days.

Students who continue to be ineligible to participate after 14 consecutive days shall not be eligible to participate in any extracurricular activity until they meet the minimum standards of eligibility. Examples of activities are as follows: the performance of a play, club meetings, club trips, etc. Students are eligible to continue to take part in practices, rehearsals, etc.

How a student can regain eligibility

To become eligible to participate again, the student will have to take the initiative – and follow the procedure below. Any time after two weeks, a student may once again become eligible by obtaining passing averages in at least all but one of his or her courses. The average must be for the immediate prior seven week period. The student must then obtain verification of a passing average by having each of his or her teachers sign the eligibility form. The necessary form may be obtained in the building principal’s office. It is up to the building principal to formally remove the student’s name from the ineligibility list.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination in Education and Employment Policy

The Fort Plain CSD does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, disability, or age in employment or in providing student access to educational program, courses and activities. The District provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.

This policy in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.

Any alleged grievances should be reported to the appropriate compliance officer:

Superintendent of Schools
25 High Street
Fort Plain, NY 13339
518-993-4000 ext. #1000
Title IX coordinator – Katrina Canallatos
Katrina.canallatos@fortplain.org
25 High Street
Fort Plain, NY 13339
518-993-4000 ext. #1000

Inquiries may be referred to the Office for Civil Rights, 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005, 646-428-3800, ocr.newyork@ed.gov.

Fire Inspection Notification

Notice is hereby given that the annual inspection for the current school year of all the schools and buildings of the Fort Plain Central School District for fire hazards which might endanger the lives of students, teachers, and employees therein, has been completed and the report thereof is available at the District Office during normal business hours. For additional information, please contact Director of Facilities Jeff Beam, 518-993-4000, ext. 2003.

Grade Promotion and Placement Policy

Decisions about student promotion and placement are guided by recommendations of teachers and staff members, past academic performance and parent/guardian input. Past academic performance refers to a variety of indicators of student achievement and growth.

Promotion and placement decisions are not based solely on student performance on New York state assessments in grades 3-8 English language arts or mathematics. The district’s promotion and placement policy was adopted by the Board of Education following a review by the district administration.

Integrated Pest Management

New York State education law requires schools to notify the school community that pesticide products may be used during the school year. Parents/guardians and staff members may request 48-hour advance written notification of certain pesticide applications.

If an emergency application is necessary to protect against an imminent threat to human health, a good faith effort will be made to supply written notification to those on the notification list.

To be included in a 24-hour notification, please contact the Director of Facilities, Operations & Transportation Paul VanAvery, 518-993-4000, ext. 2003. A new request must be submitted each year.

Procedural Safeguards Notice: Rights for parents of preschool and school-age students with disabilities

The Procedural Safeguards Notice is provided to parents/guardians of students with a disability at a minimum of one time per year and also upon:

initial referral or parental request for evaluation;
request by a parent;
the first filing of a due process complaint notice to request mediation or an impartial due process hearing;
a decision to impose a suspension or removal that constitutes a disciplinary change in placement; and
receipt of a parent’s first State complaint in a school year.

Access a copy of the Procedural Safeguards Notice at the New York State Education Department website.

Questions relating to the Procedural Safeguards Notice may be directed to Director of Special Education Katrina Canallatos at Katrina.canallatos@fortplain.org or the New York State Special Education Policy Unit at 518-473-2878 or speced@nysed.gov.

Student Directory Information

Parents/guardians and 18-year-old students have the right to opt out of the disclosure of directory information by contacting their school principal.

Parents should also inform the principal if they do not wish their child’s likeness to be included on the district website, Facebook page or in occasional photos or videos taken by district staff for school-related purposes.

Parents/guardians who do not want their child’s likeness to be included in district publications, released to the media or used on the district website should write a letter to the principal of their child’s school. The signed and dated letter should state that directory information about (name of student) should not be released under FERPA. You do not have to give a reason. This letter must be sent annually by Sept. 30.

In accordance with The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002, the school district routinely discloses names, addresses and telephone numbers of juniors and seniors to military recruiters upon request, unless a parent requests such information not be disclosed without their written consent. Typically, disclosed information includes names, addresses and telephone numbers. If parents do not wish this information be released, they should send a letter to the school principal.

Student Privacy

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) provides parents/guardians and eligible students with a series of rights as they relate to student privacy, access to information and involvement in surveys and information being gathered for marketing purposes.

Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment [PPRA], districts must notify parents/guardians and students age 18 and older:

That they have the right to inspect student surveys concerning one or more of the eight protected areas of student information. These include:
- Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parents/guardians;
- Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
- Sexual behavior or attitudes;
- Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
- Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
- Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors or ministers;
- Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent/guardian; or
- Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Access must be granted within a reasonable amount of time after the request and before administration of the survey.

That they can opt out their child (or themselves, for students 18 and older) out of the administration of any such survey, activities that involve the collection/disclosure of a student’s personal information for marketing purposes and any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening except for hearing, vision and scoliosis screenings or as permitted or required by state law.
Of the specific or approximate dates during the school year when survey activities are scheduled.

Parents/guardians will also receive a notice and an opportunity to opt students out of the following:

Any other survey that asks about the above protected areas;
Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attending school or school functions, with the exception of physical exams or screenings required or permitted by state law (e.g. hearing, vision or scoliosis); and
Activities involving collection, disclosure or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

Parents/guardians have the right to inspect any surveys that ask about the above protected areas, as well as surveys created by third parties that are used to collect personal information from students for marketing purposes and instructional materials used as part of the curriculum.

The school district will directly notify parents/guardians of its student privacy policy at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Parents/guardians will also be provided with reasonable notification of specific activities or surveys covered by this policy and the ability to opt their child out of such activities.

These rights transfer from the parents/guardians to their child who is at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor.

Anyone who believes 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.

Teacher Qualifications

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents/guardians have the right to know the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers, including:

Whether a teacher has state certification for the grade levels and subjects he or she is teaching;
The teacher’s baccalaureate degree major and any other certifications or degrees; and
Whether their child receives services from paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.

Parents/guardians may request their child’s classroom teacher’s professional qualifications by contacting the district office.