Arrival Procedures

 

A.   Arrival

Students will be permitted to enter the school building through the main entrance beginning at 8:00 a.m.  Students should proceed to their designated area where they will be supervised. Children are tardy at 8:31 a.m. Please do NOT drop your child off at any other location. For your child’s safety, students are only allowed to enter the building at the main entrance doors. All other doors will be locked. If you arrive after 8:30 a parent or guardian must come into the front office and sign in your child.

 

2. Bus Riders

Students riding the bus will be dropped off in the front entrance semi-circle. Bus riders will enter the school through the front double glass doors and proceed to their designated area. Staff members will be on duty to direct your child to their assigned area where they will be supervised until they are dismissed to class. Cars are not allowed in the bus lanes during arrival and dismissal.

 

3.  Car Riders

Students arriving by cars will turn into the school grounds and proceed around the north side of the building.  When you arrive at the east side of the building, pull into the far-right lane closest to the sidewalk. Cars will line up on the far-right lane only; thus, allowing your child to exit safely. ALL CHILDREN MUST EXIT THE CARS ON THE SIDEWALK SIDE.  If the first car pulls up to the front of the sidewalk area, then six to eight cars can unload all at once. Parking is NOT permitted in the arrival drop-off lane.

 

4. Walk-Ins

If you would like to walk your child into the school building, please park in the east parking lot. Cross the car lanes at the cross walk only, then proceed through the main entrance doors. You will need to sign in and get a visitor’s pass at the front office before proceeding into the school area.

E. Independence Day

The Tuesday after Labor Day Moore celebrates Independence Day.  Independence Day is a way to celebrate and encourage all students (K-4) to walk independently to their classroom each morning.  We feel it is important for students to learn how to transition independently to their classroom with their peers.  Parents are welcome to walk their child to the front door of the school in the morning and say their goodbyes before entering the building.  We have ample staff members on duty both in and outside the building to ensure all children make it to their classrooms safely.

 Cafeteria

A.  Breakfast Rules

• • Students must eat breakfast before going to walking club or their designated area
  • All food must stay in the cafeteria
  • Students will be dismissed from the cafeteria at 8:20

 

 

B.  Lunch Rules

      Be Ready

·      Walk only

·      Have your lunch lanyard/Know your code

·      Get all lunch materials

                 Be Respectful

·      Remain seated

·      Clean up after yourself

·      Follow directions

·      Be kind

 Be Responsible

·      Use good table manners

·      Talk in a soft voice

·      Keep food to self without sharing

·      Raise your hand if you need an adult

 

C. Consequence

If a child is behaving inappropriately in the cafeteria, he/she will be moved to the “Quiet Zone” table where he/she will eat lunch quietly by his/herself for the remainder of the lunch period.  Repeat offenders will be given an assigned seat during lunch. The MES cafeteria rules also apply to guest tables.

 

Parents are welcome on any day to join their child for lunch. Please sign in at the front office and receive a visitor sticker. Space in the cafeteria is limited due to high enrollment. Your child will join you at a parent table to enjoy lunch together. Classmates will remain at their assigned table.

2.   Conferences

A.   Administrative

Parents are urged to contact the child’s teacher first with any concerns.  While the principal urges you to contact your child’s teacher first, please feel free to contact MES administration whenever you feel the need.  Both the principal (Janet Carroll) and the assistant principal (Aimee Butler) have an open door policy.  We would appreciate you calling and making an appointment, if at all possible.  This assures that they will be available at the appropriate time.

B.   Teachers

Please do not come in unannounced before school to talk with the teacher.  They are planning and getting ready for the day.  An unannounced visit may keep the teacher from getting materials ready for the day.  Please call the school office (615-790-4700) and set up an appointment with your child’s teacher should you need to talk with him/her.  Each teacher has a planning time that may be used for conferences. The teacher is responsible for a room full of children and cannot leave the room unattended. A short conversation in the hall can disrupt a classroom and interrupt an entire day’s schedule. Thank you for adhering to this policy.

Discipline Policy

Please talk with your child about your expectations of his/her behavior and performance at school.  We will work with students and parents to help students develop self-discipline, but we will not allow a disruptive student to interfere with the learning of other students. The faculty of Moore Elementary has adopted a school wide discipline policy. 

 

Moore Elementary Discipline Policy

All personnel are responsible for all students all the time. It is the responsibility of each teacher to maintain discipline in his/her classroom.  A child will be sent to the office if he/she has done the following:

·      Inappropriate language heard by an adult

·      Fighting

·      Consistently disruptive behavior

·      Bullying

·      Disrespectful conduct toward an adult

·      Other  - reason not listed as designated by staff member

Faculty members may issue a discipline referral on a child if the child has had inappropriate behavior. The parent, the issuing teacher, and the homeroom teacher all receive a copy of the discipline referral. It will be the responsibility of the homeroom teacher to follow-up to ensure a copy of the discipline referral is returned and signed by a parent.

B.    Bus Conduct/Discipline

Since the school bus is an extension of school activity, bus riders should conduct themselves in a manner consistent with established safety standards and classroom conduct.  If a student behaves inappropriately while riding the bus, he/she will face the following consequences:

1.    A bus conduct report will be completed by the bus driver as a first warning and forwarded to the principal and/or assistant principal. They will make the decision if a consequence is needed.

2.    Two bus conduct reports will result in a 3-5 day suspension from the bus.

3.    Three bus conduct reports will result in an additional 10-day suspension from riding the bus.

4.    Four bus conduct reports or zero tolerance offenses will result in suspension from the privilege of riding the bus for the remainder of the school year.

5.    The parent/legal guardian is held legally responsible for any damage to the bus and/or bus equipment by his/her child.

C.  PBIS

Franklin Special School District has implemented a district-wide behavior initiative called PBIS, or Positive Behavior Support. PBIS is a positive way to support appropriate behavior. It is a multi-tiered approach that promotes safe and effective learning environments.  Moore has outlined specific behavior expectations for various areas of the school, which will be taught and modeled to students.  These expectations also support our school rules: Be Ready, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful. 

D.    Gum ChewingBecause of maintenance problems, students will not be permitted to chew gum on school property.

 

Dismissal Procedures

A. Bus Riders

Students will be dismissed beginning at 3:25 P.M.  Students will be called by bus number as it arrives. Students will be loaded onto the bus by a MES staff member in the front semi-circle driveway. Car riders may not be picked up in this area.

B. Car Riders

Parents of car riders will proceed around the north side of the building and continue to the east side where parents will park in the car holding lanes. Please remain in your vehicle and wait for your child. Please turn off engines and refrain from using cell phones during dismissal.  All cars are to wait for a signal from a staff member who is directing traffic.  NO CAR SHOULD MOVE UNTIL ALL CHILDREN ARE IN THEIR CARS AND A SIGNAL IS GIVEN FOR CARS TO MOVE. Each family will be given a car tag to hang on their rearview mirror.  Cars without this sign will delay the dismissal process, as ID will have to be presented and checked.  Car tags will be sent home during the first week of school. Children will be dismissed by name and they will cross to the cars using the sidewalk or crosswalk.  Cars will be signaled to leave beginning with the lane closest to the school building.

C. Parent Pick-Up

If you wish to come into the building and wait for your child, please park in the east parking lot and enter through the front entrance doors. If it is before 3:30 p.m., you must go to the main office to sign out your child.

D. Walkers

Students who walk home will be escorted by a teacher to the sidewalk area in front of the semi-circle driveway parking spaces.  All parents and guardians should wait in this area to meet your child with their school issued walker badge.  Parents or guardians without this badge will have to present their ID and have it checked before a child will be released. These badges will be sent home the first week of school. This will help ensure the safety of all students.

Thank you for your cooperation during arrival and dismissal times. The safety of all children is very important. Your patience and consideration for the safety of our students is appreciated!

Dress Code

Children are expected to dress appropriately.  Any dress that is potentially disruptive will be evaluated. Clothing should fit the student and should not contain advertising for products that are inappropriate for children. Administration reserves the right to call home for appropriate clothing to be brought to school if the student’s attire is inappropriate.  Children should wear or have tennis shoes at school each day so they may safely participate in daily PE classes and recess.Field Trips

When field trips are planned, we MUST have parental permission for a child to participate.  We do not like to see children miss field trips because of “forgotten” permission slips.  Please send permission slips and money, if required, as quickly as possible.  Administration reserves the right to request a chaperone to accompany a child on a field trip if there are safety concerns due to behavior issues.
Homework

The purpose of homework is to review, practice skills, and study. It is not to learn new skills and concepts. For younger students, it should foster positive attitudes, good work habits, and responsibility. For older students, it should facilitate knowledge acquisition in specific topics. Each grade level has a homework policy. The frequency and duration of assignments per week is determined by your child’s grade level.

Academic and Behavior Support Team (ABST)

Everyone at Moore Elementary and in the Franklin Special School District keeps the district vision of “excellence in teaching and learning for all” at the forefront of all our decisions.  Meeting the varied needs of students is the most important task we have as educators.  Teachers design and implement instruction with each student’s ability level in mind, making sure success is within reach at all levels.  To achieve this goal, teachers use flexible, tiered instruction in math, reading, and language arts.  This means that students who excel will be challenged at higher levels and students who need additional instruction or intervention to understand the material will receive that help in his/her level.  This extra learning time may be provided by the student’s regular teacher or by another qualified teacher in the building.  A variety of assessments are used to determine how well the interventions are working to meet the student’s needs.

Sometimes teachers need assistance from a team of teachers or other specialists at school to determine the best strategies for student success.  This team, known as the Academic and Behavior Support Team (ABST), is in place to provide necessary support to teachers as they work to find the best interventions for each student.  On occasion, the ABST will suggest a change in strategy or may ask for a parent conference.  When the Academic and Behavior Support Team meets to discuss a student’s progress, families will receive a confidential, brief summary of that discussion.  Families will be notified of the support that they may provide at home to help the child reach his/her learning target.  If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact our ABST coordinator and school psychologist– Emily Todd at toddemi@fssd.org. 
Library

All students have a library period each week.  We have an excellent selection of books available for loan to children. The librarian and her assistant ensure that students check out books on their reading level. If library books are lost or damaged, the student to whom the books were loaned must pay for them.
Lost and Found

Misplaced clothing, lunch boxes, and other items are always a persistent problem in the elementary school.  We encourage parents to label clothing, lunch boxes, etc. so that we might return misplaced items to the owner.  Any lost and found item will be sent to the office and then placed on the Lost and Found rack and table located by the cafeteria.  Please feel free to check for any lost item. 

MAC (Morning and Afternoon Care

The MAC Program is a morning and afternoon care program for the children of Moore Elementary from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.  Students receive academic tutoring, enrichment activities, healthy snacks, and social connections with other children outside of the school day, in a safe and caring environment. If you would like more information on this program, please call 615-790-4719.

Parties

A. Classroom Parties

Classroom parties will be held three times a year in your child’s classroom. There is a fall party in October, a winter party in December, and a Valentine’s party in February.   Students are NOT permitted to wear costumes on party days.  If your child’s classroom party is at the end of the day, all visitors will be asked to sign out at 3:00 before dismissal begins.  This will help ensure a safe, smooth, and orderly departure for all of our students. 

B.  Birthday Celebrations

FSSD has adopted a district-wide protocol which prohibits food items being brought to school for birthday celebrations.  This decision was based on various factors including the dietary restrictions of many students and protecting instructional time. If you would like to send something for your child to pass out to classmates on his/her birthday, you may bring non-edible items such as pencils, bookmarks, stickers, erasers, etc.  You may also choose to dedicate a new book to the library for your child’s birthday.  The librarian will help select the perfect book and will place a dedication sticker inside the front cover with your child’s name and the date. This is a great way to celebrate their day, leave a lasting legacy at MES, and allows the teacher to highlight your child’s birthday in a very special way.  Teachers may also have their own ways of recognizing the birthday child and making him/her feel special that day.

You may purchase an ice-cream treat for all students in the classroom to enjoy at lunch time. This can be done by ordering and purchasing from the cafeteria two weeks prior to your child’s celebration day.  Ice-cream treats available to the students will include options for those students with food allergies and other dietary restrictions.  Food items will still be allowed for the classroom parties which occur throughout the year around holidays including October, December, and February, and at other school specific special events.  Food items brought in for these celebrations must be clearly labeled with all ingredients and those being brought in to “Allergy Alert” classrooms must not contain items restricted in that classroom.  

Personal party invitations should not be distributed at school unless they are given to every child in the classroom.
PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)

The Parent-Teacher Organization enables parents to become aware of and participate in the educational process. Administrators and staff work closely with the PTO in a supportive relationship. The goal of the organization is to promote the welfare of Moore Elementary School and its students, to foster a closer relationship between school and home, and to support the activities and programs of MES through financial and voluntary support. Each parent is invited to join and participate in the activities and meetings of the PTO. Information will be sent home with your child concerning PTO early in the school year.

Report Cards

Grades on report cards are simply used to communicate a child’s progress during that given nine weeks.  If the parent or guardian wishes to discuss the report card, he/she may call the school office (615-790-4700) and make an appointment to meet with the teacher. FSSD uses a standards based report card for all elementary grades.   This reporting system enables teachers to clearly report on a student’s progress toward meeting academic standards.

Textbooks

If a textbook is damaged or lost, the student to whom the book was loaned must pay for book at the end of the school year. The final report card will be held until damaged/ lost textbooks are paid for in full.

Visitors

Any visitors to the building must enter through the main office, present a valid, government-issued photo ID, and acquire a visitor’s sticker.

 In a continuing effort to prioritize the safety and security of our school campuses and the students and employees therein, the Franklin Special School District Board of Education amended its Board Policy 1.501 (Visitors to School/District Properties – Security Management.) on Monday, May 8, 2017. From this date forward, “all visitors shall be required to present a valid, government-issued photo ID when they enter any school building or office during normal hours of operation and all visitors may be subject to a background check.”

If you do not have a current government-issued photo ID, please speak to the school principal, assistant principal, or secretary and they will be glad to assist you.

Those who are simply visiting the office for the purpose of speaking to staff, filling out paperwork, or dropping items off do not need to present identification. However, anyone who wishes to visit an area beyond the office must abide by this revised policy.

Public schools are not public places and school officials have a duty to protect the students while they are on campus. While we always welcome visitors and guests, we understand this very serious obligation and are proud that our school board has deemed this a priority by placing it in policy.

 Upon leaving the building, all visitors must leave through the main office and return their visitor sticker. The purpose for this policy is to ensure the safety of all students and faculty.  If you need to bring lunch, money, etc., to your child during the day, please give it to the secretary in the office. We will ensure that your child will receive the item.  Make sure to label the item with your child’s name and the teacher’s name.  Please do not go to your child’s classroom unless you have permission from the office and/or your child’s teacher.  We are making a special effort to eliminate as many interruptions as possible in the classroom.  Each time someone enters a classroom, the students’ attention is lost from the class work. Thank you for your cooperation!

 REMEMBER ALL VISITORS MUST WEAR A VISITOR’S STICKER AT ALL TIMES.

 Volunteer Program

Volunteers play an important role at Moore Elementary.  Moore Elementary welcomes parents, grandparents, etc., to participate in our volunteer program.  Volunteers are needed to assist in areas such as: individual classrooms, library, field trips, special event days, and other related activities. If you are interested in volunteering, please let your child’s teacher know or call the school office.

 

Moore Elementary Discipline Policy

All personnel are responsible for all students all the time. It is the responsibility of each teacher to maintain discipline in his/her classroom.  A child will be sent to the office if he/she has done the following:

·      Inappropriate language heard by an adult

·      Fighting

·      Consistently disruptive behavior

·      Bullying

·      Disrespectful conduct toward an adult

·      Other  - reason not listed as designated by staff member

 

Faculty members may issue a discipline referral on a child if the child has had inappropriate behavior. The parent, the issuing teacher, and the homeroom teacher all receive a copy of the discipline referral. It will be the responsibility of the homeroom teacher to follow-up to ensure a copy of the discipline referral is returned and signed by a parent.

Bus Conduct/Discipline

Since the school bus is an extension of school activity, bus riders should conduct themselves in a manner consistent with established safety standards and classroom conduct.  If a student behaves inappropriately while riding the bus, he/she will face the following consequences:

1.    A bus conduct report will be completed by the bus driver as a first warning and forwarded to the principal and/or assistant principal. They will make the decision if a consequence is needed.

2.    Two bus conduct reports will result in a 3-5 day suspension from the bus.

3.    Three bus conduct reports will result in an additional 10-day suspension from riding the bus.

4.    Four bus conduct reports or zero tolerance offenses will result in suspension from the privilege of riding the bus for the remainder of the school year.

5.    The parent/legal guardian is held legally responsible for any damage to the bus and/or bus equipment by his/her child.

PBIS

Franklin Special School District has implemented a district-wide behavior initiative called PBIS, or Positive Behavior Support. PBIS is a positive way to support appropriate behavior. It is a multi-tiered approach that promotes safe and effective learning environments.  Moore has outlined specific behavior expectations for various areas of the school, which will be taught and modeled to students.  These expectations also support our school rules: Be Ready, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful. 

Gum Chewing

Because of maintenance problems, students will not be permitted to chew gum on school property.

The sole authority for the enforcement of the compulsory attendance laws are placed on the local Board Of Education & its designated employees (TCA 49-6-3006).

1. Excused Absences

FSSD Board policy on attendance lists excused absences as (FSSD Board Policy 6.200):

·    Personal illness or illness of immediate family member

·    Personal injury

·    Homebound

·    Hospitalization

·    Pregnancy

·    Death in the family                                                  

·    Extreme weather conditions

·    Religious observances

·    Military service of parent or guardian

·    School sponsored or school endorsed activities

·    Summons, subpoena, or court order

• Extenuating circumstances which, in the judgement of the principal, create emergencies over which the student has no control, determined on a case-by-case basis

Absences not due to reasons above will be considered unexcused, and the student will be responsible for making up missed work upon his/her return. When a student is absent, please call the school by 9:00 A.M.​ and state the reason for the absence. This communication helps as the attendance secretary is verifying absences and assists her with accountability of all students. The attendance secretary will call a student’s parent/guardian regarding all absences not verified. When your child returns to school, please email Linda Zehring, at zehringlin@fssd.org or hand deliver a note to the attendance secretary explaining the absence(s) within 7 days from the day the child returns to school. Otherwise, the absence will be marked as unexcused. If you send the note to school through your child, we encourage you to follow up by phone or email with the attendance secretary to ensure that it has been received and properly documented.

B.   Unexcused Absence Laws

LAWS (Tennessee Code Annotated – TCA)

TCA 49-6-3007 authorizes judges to assess a $50.00 fine against parents when a child has more than 5 unexcused absences during a 6-week period.

TCA 49-6-3007 requires the principal to notify parents when a child is absent 5 cumulative days.

TCA-49-6-3001 School Attendance Law which requires all children ages 6-17 inclusive to attend school each day.

(TCA-49-6-3007) communicates the steps involved in the required Tiered Truancy Intervention Plan

Notification Sequence and Consequences

When a student accumulates 5 unexcused absences or 5 unexcused tardies, the parent will receive a letter from the attendance secretary. When a student accumulates 8 unexcused absences or 8 unexcused tardies, the parent will receive a letter from the attendance secretary. When a student accumulates 10+ absences (excused or unexcused) and/or 10+ tardies (excused or unexcused), a referral will be made to the district safety and attendance supervisor. A letter will be sent to the parent from the district safety and attendance supervisor indicating that excessive absences may result in juvenile court proceedings. Once a student accrues 10+ absences or tardies, he/she will also be required to submit a doctor’s note for absences or tardies to be excused for the remainder of the school year.  It should be noted that if a student is not in school for three (3) hours and 15 minutes, the student is considered absent according to state regulations.

New Truancy Plan – Unexcused Absences

New Truancy Plan – Unexcused Absences

Truancy only refers to UNEXCUSED absences. All schools now must follow a new state law that requires school personnel to follow a truancy intervention plan for students who are accruing unexcused absences. Tier 1 intervention will be implemented when a child has accrued 5 unexcused absences. Tier 1 will require tasks to be completed by parent/guardian and student. Should Tier 1 requirements not be met and the student acquires 3 more UNEXCUSED absences, totaling 8 UNEXCUSED absences, Tier 2 will be implemented for the parent/guardian and the student. If UNEXCUSED absences continue to accumulate, Tier 3 will be implemented for the parent/guardian and the student. Tier 3 interventions may result in a referral to the Williamson County Juvenile Court for truancy and a referral to the Department of Children’s Services.

Chronic Absenteeism – Excused and Unexcused Absences

Chronic absenteeism includes both excused and unexcused absences. Research indicates numerous absences from school negatively impact a student’s achievement and success. In FSSD, attendance is monitored to determine what barriers, if any, are impacting a child’s ability to be in school on time and for the full day. We want to help eliminate ALL barriers that keep children out of school so our school attendance secretaries, principals and/or the district safety and attendance supervisor will contact parents/guardians if absences appear to be leading toward chronic absenteeism. The Tennessee Department of Education’s reporting standards use attendance data as an indicator of school quality and student success.

3. Early Dismissal

Leaving school early is strongly discouraged due to the loss of instructional time and disruption to the learning environment. However, if you know your student will need to be checked out early, please send a note to the teacher. Students leaving early must be signed out in the school office by parents/guardians.​ ​If the student is leaving early because of a medical appointment, parents/guardians are encouraged to get an excuse note prior to leaving the medical facility and provide it to the front office upon the student’s return. We appreciate your efforts to make appointments during non-school hours. Please note, an early dismissal is also considered a tardy.

4. No Advance Assignments

Teachers will not send makeup work for days absent in advance.  It will be the parent and student’s responsibility to get the work when the student returns. This allows the teacher to set aside work as the week goes on, rather than having to take the time to prepare it prior to the absence. 

5. Tardiness

A student is considered tardy to school if he/she is not in the classroom at 8:30 a.m. or if he/she is checked out from the office before the school day ends. There will be exceptions for students arriving on a late bus. Tardiness related to oversleeping, traffic, weather, or not leaving home on time is unexcused.  A student who is tardy to school must report promptly to the office with a parent to sign in and get a class admission slip. If a student is late because of a medical appointment, please provide an excuse note from the medical office. Students who leave school before 3:30 are also considered tardy. We trust that you will make a concerted effort to have your child at school before 8:30 a.m.  When a child comes to school late, it causes him/her to get off to a negative start and disrupts the classroom. The attendance secretary keeps a record of the number of tardies and early dismissals per child and regularly reports to the state.

1. Student Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying, Cyber-bullying, and Intimidation – FSSD Board Policy 6.304

 

All FSSD schools have Board approved guidelines and procedures in place to ensure that appropriate actions take place in the event of an emergency. Each staff member has been trained on emergency procedures and provided a MES School Safety Plan which provides information and procedures to follow in the event of an emergency situation.

 

As part of the Franklin Special School District’s ongoing commitment to student and staff safety, the district has instituted threat assessment procedures. These procedures are used in every school, when or if a student makes an expression of intent to harm someone or something (written, verbal, or other way). These threat assessment procedures, which have been thoroughly developed in conjunction with law enforcement and school counseling professionals, enable administrators to quickly and effectively deal with the incident. These procedures provide a process for evaluating the context and credibility of the threat and the evidence and circumstances surrounding it. Additionally, the assessment will assist in determining what resources, if any, need to be applied to the situation or provided to the student/family. 

 

It is important to note that any and all threats of harm made by a student of any age or in any grade will be taken seriously and that the threat assessment procedure will be followed accordingly.

We must give both parents equal access to their child and that child’s records unless you have provided the school office with a copy of a court document signed by a Judge and stamped “filed” with a Court stating otherwise. Please provide us at the beginning of the school year with a copy of any Court Order, Marital Dissolution Agreement, Parenting Plan, or other legal document which affects these issues. If anything changes during the school year, please provide us with an updated document “filed” with the Court. This is the only way we can “hold” a child if the other parent comes to pick up the child.  We cannot stop a parent from picking up his/her child until we have the appropriate documentation.

 

 

Emergency Procedures

FSSD uses a communications service to help keep parents connected to their children's school. Blackboard Connect is an internet-based school-to-parent communication service that enables school administrators to schedule, send and track personalized messages to thousands of staff and parents ensuring they all receive the same message quickly. The Blackboard Connect service will be used to complement our emergency preparedness procedures and to inform parents of unplanned school closings or upcoming school events. It is imperative to have current and correct phone numbers for all families. Feel free to update your contact information with corrections by calling (615) 472-3773. Please leave your name and number that should be removed from our calling list.

 

Custodial or Primary Care Parents

            Parents may access information about child advocacy groups and information on             how to contact the state department of education for information on student rights    and services from the following agencies:

            Tennessee Department of Education Legal Services Division,

            710 James Robertson Parkway, Andrew Johnson Tower, 5th floor, Nashville, TN 37243-0380, 615-741-2851, Fax: 615-253-5567 or 615-532-9412.

            Franklin Special School District, 507 Highway 96 West, Franklin, TN 37064, 615-        794-6624, Fax: 615-790-4716.

 

Blackboard Connect

The Franklin Special School District Child Find program identifies preschool through eighth-grade children with special education needs including mental retardation, developmental delays, autism, specific learning disabilities, serious emotional disturbance, multiple disabilities, intellectually gifted, traumatic brain injury, blindness, and the following impairments: speech/language, hearing, orthopedic, visual, and physical.

Screenings and/or evaluations may be provided free of charge by the school district.  If deemed necessary, the child may then be referred for special education services. If you suspect your child needs additional support to achieve his or her educational potential, please contact the FSSD Special Populations Department at 615-794-6624.

 

 

Children with Disabilities Rights & Responsibilities

The monthly Character Builders are:

·      Respect                    I will show respect for myself and others.                                                                             

·      Responsibility         I will be responsible in what I say and do.                                                                              

·      Perseverance         I will show perseverance when I keep on trying.                                                                                  

·      Caring                       I will show caring with my actions.                                                                                                  

·      Courage                    I will show courage when I do the right thing.                                                                             

·      Citizenship               I will be a good citizen in my school and community.                                                            

·      Trustworthiness     I will be trustworthy and tell the truth.                                                                                          

·      Cooperation             I will show cooperation as I work with others.                                                                                                               

·      Fairness                   I will be fair in how I treat others.

 

Child Find Initiative

The Franklin Special School District Board of Education has determined that a safe, civil, and supportive environment in school is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. In order to maintain that environment, acts of bullying, cyber-bullying, discrimination, harassment, hazing or any other victimization of students, based on any actual or perceived traits or characteristics, are prohibited.

This policy shall cover employees, employees' behaviors, students and students' behaviors while on school property, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided equipment or transportation, or at any official school bus stop. If the act takes place off school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity, this policy is in effect if the conduct is directed specifically at a student or students and has the effect of creating a hostile educational environment or otherwise creating a substantial disruption to the educational environment or learning process.

DEFINITIONS

Bullying/Intimidation/Harassment - An act that substantially interferes with a student’s educational benefits, opportunities, or performance, and the act has the effect of:

·       Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property;

·       Knowingly placing a student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the student’s property;

·       Causing emotional distress to a student or students; or

·       Creating a hostile educational environment.

Bullying, intimidation, or harassment may also be unwelcome conduct based on a protected class (race, nationality, origin, color, gender, age, disability, religion) that is severe, pervasive, or persistent and creates a hostile environment.

Cyber-bullying - A form of bullying undertaken through the use of electronic devices. Electronic devices include, but are not limited to, telephones, cellular phones or other wireless telecommunication devices, text messaging, emails, social networking sites, instant messaging, videos, web sites or fake profiles.

Hazing - An intentional or reckless act by a student or group of students that is directed against any other student(s) that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the student(s) or that induces or coerces a student to endanger his/her mental or physical health or safety. Coaches and other employees of the school district shall not encourage, permit, condone or tolerate hazing activities.

“Hazing” does not include customary athletic events or similar contest or competitions and is limited to those actions taken and situations created in connection with initiation into or affiliation with any organization.

COMPLAINTS AND INVESTIGATIONS

Alleged victims of the above-referenced offenses shall report these incidents immediately to a teacher, counselor or building administrator.2 All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the principal/designee. All other members of the school community, including students, parents, volunteers, and visitors, are encouraged to report any act that may be a violation of this policy.

While reports may be made anonymously, an individual's need for confidentiality must be balanced with obligations to cooperate with police investigations or legal proceedings, to provide due process to the accused, to conduct a thorough investigation or to take necessary actions to resolve a complaint, and the identity of parties and witnesses may be disclosed in appropriate circumstances to individuals with a need to know.

The principal/designee at each school shall be responsible for investigating and resolving complaints. Once a complaint is received, the principal/designee shall initiate an investigation within forty-eight (48) hours of receipt of the report.4 If a report is not initiated within forty-eight (48) hours, the principal/designee shall provide the director of schools with appropriate documentation detailing the reasons why the investigation was not initiated within the required time frame.

The principal/designee shall notify the parent/legal guardian when a student is involved in an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyber-bullying. The principal/designee shall provide information on district counseling and support services. Students involved in an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyber-bullying shall be referred to the appropriate school counselor by the principal/designee when deemed necessary.

The principal/designee is responsible for determining whether an alleged act constitutes a violation of this policy, and such act shall be held to violate this policy when it meets one of the following conditions:

It places the student in reasonable fear or harm for the student’s person or property;
It has a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health;
It has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance; or It has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

Upon the determination of a violation, the principal/designee shall conduct a prompt, thorough, and complete investigation of each alleged incident. All investigations shall be completed and appropriate intervention taken within twenty (20) calendar days from the receipt of the initial report.4 If the investigation is not complete or intervention has not taken place within twenty (20) calendar days, the principal/designee shall provide the director of schools with appropriate documentation detailing the reasons why the investigation has not been completed or the appropriate intervention has not taken place.4 Within the parameters of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) at 20 U.S.C. §1232g, a written report on the investigation will be delivered to the parents of the complainant, parents of the accused students and to the Director of Schools.

RESPONSE AND PREVENTION

School administrators shall consider the nature and circumstances of the incident, the age of the violator, the degree of harm, previous incidences or patterns of behavior, or any other factors, as appropriate to properly respond to each situation.

Remedial measures shall be designed to:

·       Correct the problem behavior;

·       Prevent other occurrences of the behavior; and

·       Protect the victim of the act.

A substantiated charge against an employee shall result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. A substantiated charge against a student may result in corrective or disciplinary action up to and including suspension.

An employee disciplined for violation of this policy may appeal the decision by contacting the Federal Rights Coordinator or the Franklin Special School District Director of Schools. Any student disciplined for violation of this policy may appeal the decision in accordance with disciplinary policies and procedures.

REPORTS

When a complaint is filed alleging a violation of this policy where there is physical harm or the threat of physical harm to a student or a student's property, the principal/designee of each intermediate / middle school shall report the findings and any disciplinary actions taken to the director of schools and the chair of the board of education.

By July 1 of each year, the director of schools/designee shall prepare a report of all of the bullying cases brought to the attention of school officials during the prior academic year. The report shall also indicate how the cases were resolved and/or the reasons they are still pending. This report shall be presented to the board of education at its regular July meeting, and it shall be submitted to the state department of education by August 1.
The director of schools shall develop forms and procedures to ensure compliance with the requirements of this policy and TCA 49-6-4503.

RETALIATION AND FALSE ACCUSATIONS

Retaliation against any person who reports or assists in any investigation of an act alleged in this policy is prohibited. The consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person who engages in retaliation shall be determined by the administrator after consideration of the nature, severity, and circumstances of the act.

False accusations accusing another person of having committed an act prohibited under this policy are prohibited. The consequences and appropriate remedial action for a person found to have falsely accused another may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension and expulsion.

Character Education                                                                                                            It is a widely held belief that much of the violence exhibited in school today can be prevented by teaching the children essential values of character. In keeping with this belief, the State of Tennessee has mandated that character education be taught in the schools. FSSD has incorporated a character education component in their curriculum. The program, under the leadership of counselors, is called Character Under Construction. The initiative has nine character building words to be emphasized throughout a particular month. In order to reinforce the program in school, parents are asked to emphasize the monthly character words at home. It is the goal of the FSSD to help students develop positive values, improve conduct and become good citizens in their school, home, community and society.
 

1.   Tennessee Department of Education

Answers to many questions may be obtained from the Tennessee Department of Education - Special Education by calling 1-888-212-3162.

Legal Services Division                                        West Tennessee Regional Resource Center
Division of Special Education, TDOE           100 Berryhill Drive
710 James Robertson Parkway                        Jackson, TN 38301      
Andrew Johnson Tower, 5th Floor                  Phone: 731-421-5074
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-0380                  Fax: 731-421-5077
Phone: 615-741-2851
Fax: 615-253-5567 or 615-532-9412

2.   Child Advocacy Information

In addition to the state and local resources available to parents and children, there are many agencies and organizations that offer support, information, training, and help in advocating for persons with disabilities in Tennessee. A few of these organizations are listed below:

The ARC of Williamson County, 129 W. Fowlkes Street, Suite 151, Franklin, TN 37064, 615-790-5815, Fax: 615-790-5891 

Support and Training for Exceptional Parents (STEP), 712 Professional Plaza, Greeneville, TN   37745, 615-463-2310, Web: http://www.tnstep.org

Tennessee Protection and Advocacy (TP&A), 416 21st Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212, 615-298-1080, Toll free: 1-800-287-9636, TTY: 615-298-2471, Fax:  615-298-2046

Tennessee Voices for Children, 1315 8th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203, 615-269-7751, Fax: 615-269-8914, TN Toll Free: 800-670-9882, TVC@tnvoices.org

These are but a few of the organizations available to help with information, training, and advocacy. For a more extensive list visit the Tennessee Disability Services-Disability Pathfinder Database.

The Department of Education and Franklin Special School District do not intend this as an endorsement or recommendation for any individual organization or service represented in this list.

 

3. Homeless Education

Children may qualify for consideration under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act if any of the following apply: you live in a shelter, motel, vehicle, campground, abandoned building or trailer, or other inadequate accommodations, or if you live with friends or relatives because of the inability to afford adequate housing.  If any of these apply, you may be entitled to all services, rights, and protection provided under this law. Children have the right to attend school. They have the right to continue in the school last attended before becoming homeless (if that is your choice and it is feasible) and receive transportation to the school last attended prior to becoming homeless if requested. Children may enroll in a school without a permanent address, school records, or immunization records in hand. The school will provide assistance in obtaining proper documentation and homeless children will receive the same special programs and services provided to all other children. For more information, please call 615-794-6624.

4. Unsafe School Choice

Under the Tennessee State Board of Education’s Unsafe School Choice Policy, any public school student who is the victim of a violent crime as defined under Tennessee Code Annotated 38-111(g), or the attempt to commit one of these offenses as defined under Tennessee Code Annotated 39-12-101, shall be provided an opportunity to transfer to another grade-level appropriate school within the district.

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1.   Equal Educational Opportunities

It is the policy of FSSD not to discriminate on the basis of sex, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status, or status of disability in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments and Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Inquiries about compliance may be directed to the Civil Rights Coordinator at the FSSD Board of Education at 615-794-3015 or 615-794-6624.

 

Grievance Procedures

Initial grievance regarding complaints relative to Title VI, Title IX or Section 504 must be directed to the Civil Rights Coordinator.

Complaints must be filed in writing to the Civil Rights Coordinator with a copy sent to the person or persons against whom allegations are made.

The coordinator will notify all parties involved in the allegation of discrimination within five (5) days of receiving the initial grievance as to the date and time of the hearing.  The hearing must be held no later than thirty (30) days from the time of the initial filing of the complaint.

If an allegation of discrimination involves student admissions or programs, the entire hearing will be called by the coordinator before a committee composed of the principal, guidance counselor, and homeroom teacher.  Ample opportunity will be given for the presentation of evidence by all parties involved. 

If the complaint cannot be resolved in the meeting, another hearing will be scheduled within five (5) days of the appeal and will be called no later than forty-five (45) days from the date of the first hearing.  This hearing will be before the director of schools and the Board of Education.

The results of each hearing will be presented in writing to all parties involved within five (5) days of the grievance hearing.

If a satisfactory solution cannot be obtained locally, appeals can be made to the Office of Civil Rights, Washington, DC.  The completion of a hearing at the local level is not a prerequisite for filing a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. No person who files a grievance or participates in a grievance hearing shall be subjected to harassment, reprisals, or retaliation in any form. Forms for filing initial grievance are available in the office of the Board of Education.

 

Right to Review Teacher Qualifications
Parents of Franklin Special School District students have the right to know professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct their children. Federal law, under ESSA § 1112(e)(1)(A), allows them to ask for certain information about classroom teachers, which the school district will provide in a timely manner.

Specifically, parents have the right to ask for the following information about each child’s classroom teacher:

• Whether the Tennessee Department of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
• Whether the Tennessee State Department of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances.
• Whether the teacher is teaching in the field of discipline of their certification.
• Whether any teachers’ aides or similar paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.

 

If you would like to receive any of this information, call the FSSD Human Resources Department at 615-794-6624.

 

Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act- Title IV-A   

The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act is designed to support programs that prevent violence in and around schools; that prevent the illegal use of     alcohol, tobacco, and drugs; that involve parents and communities; and that are             coordinated with related Federal, State, school, and community efforts and resources to foster a safe and drug-free learning environment that supports student academic achievement.

 

Section 504

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans With Disabilities            Act (ADA) prohibit discrimination against persons with a disability in any program receiving federal assistance, among others. Both federal acts define a person with a disability as anyone who:

·       has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (major life activities include caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working);

·       has a record of such impairment;

·       is regarded as having such an impairment, or has had a record of such an impairment.

 

In order to fulfill its obligations under Section 504 and the ADA, the Franklin Special School District recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person on the basis of a disability will knowingly be permitted in any of the district’s programs or practices.

 

The school district has specific responsibilities under both acts, which include the responsibility to evaluate and determine if the child is eligible under Section 504/ADA, and to then afford access to appropriate educational accommodations. If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he/she has the right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.

 

Inquiries or complaints regarding nondiscrimination policies should be directed to FSSD’s Section 504 compliance coordinator.  For more information, please call 615-794-6624.  Inquiries and complaints may also be directed to the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue S.W., Washington D.C. 20202, or by calling (800) 421-3481 or (877) 521-2172.

 

 

Inquiries or complaints regarding nondiscrimination policies should be directed to FSSD’s Section 504 compliance coordinator.  For more information, please call 615-794-6624.  Inquiries and complaints may also be directed to the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue S.W., Washington D.C. 20202, or by calling (800) 421-3481 or (877) 521-2172.