Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

The mission of the Warren County School District is to educationally empower all students to think critically and solve problems through a rigorous curriculum that will provide them with the skills necessary to graduate and pursue a career of their interest.

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

Executive Summary

The District will only be billed for each student, who takes the courses.  Cost for each semester per student will be $40.

Executive Summary

1215  HARASSMENT

Harassment is a form of misconduct which undermines the integrity of the District, its learning environment, or which is detrimental to the well being of the District’s students or staff. In fulfilling the Board’s obligation to maintain a positive and a productive environment, the administration will make every attempt to halt any harassment of which it becomes aware by calling attention to this policy, and other related policies, or by more direct disciplinary action.

Harassment refers to acts of physical, verbal, sexual or psychological harassment which create an intimidating, hostile or offensive atmosphere. Harassment also occurs as intimidation or abusive behavior toward a student based on disability, including verbal acts and name calling, as well as nonverbal behavior, such as graphic and written statements, or conduct that is physically threatening, harmful or humiliating.

Certain types of harassment are addressed more specifically elsewhere in this Policy Manual, for those particular types the more specific procedures established in those other sections may be employed. For types of harassment not addressed elsewhere any person who believes he/she has been harassed may file a complaint with the Director of Human Resources or the Superintendent.

1215  HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT

I. Purpose.

The Board prohibits all forms of unlawful harassment of employees, students, school board members, contracted individual, vendor, volunteers and other third parties on District property; on vehicles operated by the District’s transportation contractors; during District sponsored extra-curricular activities, co-curricular activities, and other District sponsored events. 

II. Definitions.

Harassment – For purposes of this Policy, the term “harassment” is defined as unwanted and unwelcome verbal, written, graphic or physical conduct related, but not limited to, an individual’s age, race, color, national origin/ethnicity, gender, disability, or religion when such conduct:

1. Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it affects an individual’s ability to perform job functions or school work; affects an individual’s ability to participate in a District sponsored extra-curricular activity, co-curricular activity, or other District sponsored event; or creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive working environment, educational environment, or other environment; and/or,
    
2. Is offensive or objectionable to the recipient and causes the recipient discomfort or humiliation; and/or,
    
3. Has the purpose or effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance, educational performance, or extra-curricular/co-curricular performance; and/or,
    
4. Otherwise adversely affects an individual’s employment, educational, or extra-curricular/co-curricular opportunities.

Sexual Harassment – For purposes of this Policy, the term “sexual harassment” is defined as  unwanted and unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other inappropriate verbal, written, graphic or physical conduct of a sexual nature when:

1. Acceptance of such conduct is a term or condition of an individual’s continued employment, continued contract status, continued volunteer status; the grade or credit received for school work; or participation, or the level of participation, in an extra-curricular/co-curricular activity; and/or
    
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for employment decisions, contract decisions, volunteer status decisions, academic decisions, or extra-curricular/co-curricular decisions affecting the individual; and/or,
    
3. Such conduct is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment, educational environment, or other environment

Examples of conduct that may constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to, (i) sexual flirtations, sexual advances, inappropriate touching or sexual propositions; (ii) verbal abuse of a sexual nature; (iii) graphic, suggestive, vulgar, abusive or inappropriate conduct, comments or innuendoes pertaining to an individual’s dress or body; (iv) sexually degrading comments or jokes regarding an individual; (v) drawings, images, pictures, graphics, or graffiti depicting an individual in a state of undress or referencing sexual activities; (vi) showing an individual objects pertaining to sexual activities or (vii) any conduct that has the effect of unreasonably interfering with an individuals’ ability to work, perform school work, learn or perform volunteer services creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment.         

III. Complaint Process.

A.     Complaint Process for Employees, School Board Members, Contracted Individuals, Vendors, Volunteers, and other Third Parties.

When an employee, school board member, contracted individual, vendor, volunteer or other third party believes he/she is the victim of harassment and/or sexual harassment, he/she shall report the complaint of harassment and/or sexual harassment to the Superintendent, who shall refer the complaint to the District’s Title IX Coordinator.  If the Superintendent is the person being accused of harassment and/or sexual harassment, the complainant shall report the complaint to the Human Resources Supervisor, who shall refer the complaint to the District’s Title IX Coordinator.  If the Title IX Coordinator is the person being accused of harassment and/or sexual harassment, upon receiving a complaint the Superintendent shall promptly consult with legal counsel to determine who shall be responsible for carrying out the complaint process.  Title IX Coordinator or other designated person (only if the Title IX Coordinator is the person being accused of harassment and/or sexual harassment) shall then process and investigate the complaint in accordance with the separate administrative procedure associated with this Policy. 

B.    Complaint Process for Students. 

When a student believes he/she is the victim of harassment and/or sexual harassment, he/she (or his/her parent/guardian) shall report the complaint of harassment and/or sexual harassment to an adult associated with the District (i.e. a teacher, guidance counsel, principal, aide, coach, etc.), who shall promptly notify the Superintendent.  The Superintendent shall refer the complaint to the District’s Title IX Coordinator.  If the Superintendent is the person being accused of harassment and/or sexual harassment, the adult to whom the report was made hall report the complaint directly to the District’s Title IX Coordinator.  If the Title IX Coordinator is the person being accused of harassment and/or sexual harassment, upon being notified of a complaint, the Superintendent shall promptly consult with legal counsel to determine who shall be responsible for carrying out the complaint and investigation process.  Title IX Coordinator or other designated person (only if the Title IX Coordinator is the person being accused of harassment and/or sexual harassment) shall then process and investigate the complaint in accordance with the separate administrative procedure associated with this Policy. 

IV. Retaliation Prohibited.

There shall be no retaliation against any person who has, in good faith, reported a complaint of harassment and/or sexual harassment, assisted in the reporting of such a complaint, served as a witness or representative of the complainant, rejected harassment and/or sexual harassment by others, or who has otherwise taken any reasonable action to stop harassment and/or sexual harassment.

Any individual who believes he/she has been subject to retaliation shall report the alleged retaliation to the Superintendent, who shall refer the matter to the Title IX Coordinator.  If the Superintendent is the person being accused of retaliation, the complainant shall report the alleged retaliation to the Human Resources Supervisor, who shall refer the complaint to the District’s Title IX Coordinator.  If the Title IX Coordinator is the person being accused of retaliation, upon receiving a complaint the Superintendent shall promptly consult with legal counsel to determine who shall be responsible for carrying out the complaint process.  Title IX Coordinator or other designated person (only if the Title IX Coordinator is the person being accused of retaliation) shall then process and investigate the complaint in accordance with the separate administrative procedure associated with this Policy. 

V.    Violations of this Policy & False Accusations.    

Any employee who violates this Policy, or who knowingly makes a false accusation of harassment and/or sexual harassment, shall be subject to disciplinary action, which may include termination, pursuant to the District’s employee discipline policies, procedures and/or practices.  As applicable, a violation or knowingly false accusation by an employee may also be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Education pursuant to the Professional Educator Discipline Act and/or law enforcement.   

Any volunteer who violates this Policy, or who knowingly makes a false accusation of harassment and/or sexual harassment, shall be subject to adverse actions which may include, but are not limited to, termination as a volunteer, denial of any facility use requests, and/or exclusion from District property for a period of time determined appropriate by the Superintendent or his/her designee.  As applicable, a violation or knowingly false accusation by a volunteer may also be reported to law enforcement.   

Any contractor or vendor who violates this Policy, or who knowingly makes a false accusation of harassment and/or sexual harassment, shall be subject to adverse actions which may include, but are not limited to, a termination of services and any applicable contract, a prohibition against visiting District employees, and/or the contractor/vendor being ineligible for, or an unqualified bidder for, any future contracts to be awarded by the District.  As applicable, a violation or knowingly false accusation by a contractor or vendor may also be reported to law enforcement.   

Any student who violates this Policy, or who knowingly makes a false accusation of harassment and/or sexual harassment, shall be subject to discipline, including expulsion, pursuant to the District’s Discipline Code (Policy 10510).  As applicable, a violation or knowingly false accusation by a student may also be reported to law enforcement pursuant to the Safe Schools Act and the District’s Memorandum of Understanding with its local law enforcement agencies. 

Any school board member who violates this Policy, or who knowingly makes a false accusation of harassment and/or sexual harassment, shall be subject to any adverse action that is permitted by law to be taken against a school board member.  As applicable, a violation or knowingly false accusation by school board member may also be reported to law enforcement.   

No punishment shall be imposed for a good faith report that is ultimately determined to be untrue, unverified, or unverifiable.  This Policy is only intended to punish knowingly making a false accusation.

Nothing contained in this Policy shall prevent person from taking any other action with respect to alleged harassment and/or sexual harassment including, but not limited to, filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the police, or other legal authorities. 

VI.  Handbooks and Website

This Policy and any associated administrative procedures shall be included in applicable handbooks and posted on the District website.  

VII.  Obligation of Independent Contractors

Independent contractors doing business with the District shall ensure that their employees who have interaction with students, or are present on school grounds or vehicles transporting District students, are informed of the provisions of this Policy and any associated administrative procedures.

VIII.  Delegation of Responsibility.

The Superintendent is hereby authorized to develop any administrative procedures which are either referenced in this Policy or otherwise deemed necessary by the Superintendent to implement this Policy. 

Adoption Date                 - April 9, 2001     

Review Date                     -

Revision Date                   - August 26, 2019        

Legal Reference               - 42 U.S.C. §2000d, et. seq.

     - 42 U.S.C. §2000e, et. seq.

     - 43 P.S. §952, et. seq.    

     - 29 C.F.R. §1604.11

     - 29 C.F.R. §1606.8 

     - 18 Pa.C.S.A. §2709

     - 20 U.S.C. §1232g

     - 34 C.F.R. Part 99

Cross Reference           - Policies  5002, 5404, 5415, 7135, 9646, 9950, 10450, 10460, 10495, 10510, & 10920

4105  Supplies Furniture, Equipment, Textbooks, School Supplies and Other Appliances

Except as set forth below, the acquisition of all furniture, equipment, textbooks, school supplies and other appliances for the use of the District shall be purchased by contract or purchase order approved by the Board in compliance with 24 P.S. §8-807.1.  The previous sentence notwithstanding, the Board hereby delegates to appoints the Superintendent or his/her designee as the purchasing agent for the District with the authority to purchase supplies furniture, equipment, textbooks, school supplies and other appliances costing less than $20,100.  Purchases for amounts less than $20,100 but more than $10,900 shall be made by the Superintendent or his/her designee purchasing agent only after obtaining written or telephonic price quotations from at least three qualified and responsible pursuant to the requirements set forth at 24 P.S. §8-807.1.  The dollar thresholds referenced herein shall automatically be modified pursuant to 24 P.S.  §8-807.1 and the consumer price index set forth at 24 P.S. § 1-120 without the need to amend this Policy. 

The expenditures made pursuant to this policy section need not be separately approved by the Board, it instead being the intention of the Board to vest in the Superintendent or his/her designee purchasing agent the authority to expend funds for the purposes set forth herein.  The Superintendent may from time to time establish procedures for the implementation of this policy, and upon request by the Board, the Superintendent and/or purchasing agent shall report to the Board details and information concerning acquisitions made pursuant to this policy.

The authority delegated to the Superintendent purchasing agent pursuant to this policy is limited to the restrictions of the annual budget adopted by the Board.  The Superintendent purchasing agent shall have no authority to authorize the expenditure of any funds not allocated for in the budget.

If the Superintendent designates someone other than himself/herself as the District’s purchasing agent, the Superintendent shall identify the purchasing agent in writing. 

Purchases made by the purchasing agent pursuant to this Policy may also be made through a legally compliant cooperative purchasing program. 

If federal grant funds are utilized for a purchase, the purchasing agent must comply with the District’s federal procurement policy (Policy 4112) and any associated administrative procedures. 

Adoption Date         -     September 13, 1999

Revised                    -     November 8, 2004; February 10, 2014,
October 29, 2018 (Thresholds); September 9, 2019

Reviewed                 -

Legal Reference       -    24 P.S. §8-807.1, 24 P.S. § 1-120

Cross Reference       -     Policy 4112 & 4125

Authority

It is the duty of the Board to ensure that all children living within its jurisdiction have an equal opportunity to receive a free and appropriate education and to require school attendance by all children living within the District, as prescribed by law.  

The educational program offered by the District is predicated upon the presence of the student in school.  In order for students to benefit from planned educational activities and classroom participation, it is essential that regular attendance be maintained. 

Definitions

“School age” shall be defined as the period from the earliest admission age for the District's kindergarten program until graduation from high school or the end of the school term in which a student reaches the age of twenty-one (21) years, whichever occurs first.

“District of residence” shall be defined as the school district in which a student's parents/guardians reside.

 “Compulsory school age,” shall be defined as the period of a child's life from the time the child enters school, which shall be not later than at the age of eight (8) years, until the age of seventeen (17) years. The term shall not include any child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited, licensed, registered, or approved senior high school.

Right to Attend Public School

The District shall enroll school age students eligible to attend District schools, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, Board policy and administrative regulations.

For purposes of the above definition of “school age,” in order to meet the earliest admission age for the District’s kindergarten program, the student must be five-years-old before the first day of school of the school year in which admission is sought.  Beginning with the 2020/2021 school year, and continuing thereafter, in order to meet the earliest admission age for the District’s kindergarten program, the student must be five-years-old on or before July 1.  No early admission to Kindergarten shall be permitted. 

In order to be eligible for first grade as a beginner, the student must be six-years-old before the first day of school of the school year in which admission is sought.  Beginning with the 2021/2022 school year, and continuing thereafter, in order to be eligible for first grade as a beginner, the student must be six-years-old on or before July 1.  No early admission to first grade as a beginner shall be permitted. 

Enrollment Requirements

School age resident students and eligible nonresident students shall be entitled to attend District schools.

The District shall not enroll a student until the parent/guardian has submitted proof of the student's age, residence, and immunizations and a completed Parent Registration Statement, as required by the applicable law and regulations.

The District shall administer a home language survey to all students enrolling in District schools for the first time.

The District shall normally enroll a school age, eligible student the next business day, but no later than five (5) business days after application.

The District shall not inquire about the immigration status of a student as part of the enrollment process, nor shall any child’s right to be admitted to school be conditioned on the child’s immigration status. 

Enrollment requirements and administrative regulations shall apply to nonresident students approved to attend District schools, in accordance with Board policy, by the Superintendent.

Residency Eligibility

When the parents of a student reside in different school districts, the student may attend school in the district of residence of the parent with whom the student lives for the majority of the time, unless a court order or court approved custody agreement specifies otherwise.

If the parents of a student share joint custody and time is evenly divided, the parents may choose which of the two (2) school districts the student will enroll in for the school year.

If the student is an emancipated minor, the resident school district shall be the one in which the student is then living.

Homeless students shall be enrolled immediately by the District in accordance with current federal and state regulations and Policy 10140.

The Superintendent or his/her designee is empowered to develop administrative procedures, in compliance with state requirements, which guarantee the right of every school-age resident student and eligible nonresident student to attend the public school.

A student’s assigned school shall be the school located in his/her attendance area unless special programs, services or facilities necessitate assignment to another building. 

Non-Resident Students

Non-resident students of school age who are living with and under the supervision of a District resident shall be entitled to the same educational programs and services as those enjoyed by resident students providing that authorization and an appropriate agreement with the non-resident student’s home district is in place. 

The Superintendent, or his/her designee, shall require that appropriate legal documentation showing dependency or guardianship or a sworn statement of full residential support be filed with the appropriate building Principal before an eligible nonresident student may be accepted as a student in District schools. The Superintendent, or his/her designee, may require a resident to submit additional, reasonable information to substantiate a sworn statement, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of Education.  The Superintendent, or his/her designee, reserves the right to verify claims of residency, dependency and guardianship and to remove from school attendance a nonresident student whose claim is invalid.

If information contained in the sworn statement of residential support is found to be false, the student shall be removed from school after notice is given of an opportunity to appeal the student's removal.  The District shall not be responsible for transportation to or from school for any nonresident student residing outside District boundaries.

Tuition rates shall be determined in accordance with statute. Tuition shall be charged monthly, in advance of attendance.

Nonresident Children Placed In The District

Any child placed in the home of a District resident by a court or government agency shall be admitted to District schools and shall receive the same benefits and be subject to the same responsibilities as resident children.

Other Nonresident Students

A nonresident student may be admitted to District schools without payment of tuition where attendance is justified on the grounds that the student lives full-time and not just for the school year with District residents who have assumed legal dependency or guardianship or full residential support of the student.

The category of “non-resident students” includes school-aged students residing in foster homes or an institution or other facility within the District.

The Superintendent, or his/her designee, shall develop procedures for the enrollment of nonresident students which:

1. Admit such students only on proper application and submission of required documentation by the parent/guardian.
    

2. Verify claims of residency.
    

3. Do not exclude any eligible student on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or handicap/disability.
    

4. Deny admission where the educational facilities or program maintained for District students is inadequate to meet the needs of the applicant.
    

5. Make continued enrollment of any nonresident student contingent upon maintaining established standards of attendance, discipline and academics.
    

6. Outline the appeal procedure relative to the removal of a student.

Absences from School

Students shall be excused from school only for absences which are stipulated as “excusable” in the school code.  When a student is absent from school for reasons which are not consistent with “excused absences” in the school code, the absences shall be recognized as “unexcused.” The District shall maintain procedures and attendance/absence records in compliance with the school code.

Excessive Absences

The District has a responsibility to investigate excessive absences by students.  This applies to students of compulsory school age as well as those beyond compulsory school age.  A Doctor’s excuse shall be requested when excessive absences occur.  Students beyond compulsory school age may not be maintained on District rolls when they do not attend school regularly.  The District shall maintain procedures regarding truancy and for investigating excessive absences

Withholding Academic Credit; Missed Tests, Assignments, and Other Work

Academic credit may not be withheld solely on the basis of excessive excused or unexcused absences.  A student shall be afforded the opportunity to make up any tests, assignments, or other work that is missed on a day the student has an excused or an unexcused absence.  A teacher, at his/her discretion, may also utilize a class participation grading component that is impacted by absences.  The timeframe within which any missed test, assignment, or other work must be made up; any penalty assessed for a test, assignment or other work that is completed late due to the fault of the student; and the parameters of a class participation grading component shall be governed by a separate administrative procedure that is approved by the Superintendent and included as a part of the Student Handbook. 

A student may be removed from the Warren County Career Center, awarded pro-rated credit for work completed at the Warren County Career Center, and returned to his/her home school if the student accrues an excessive number of absences during the school year and while enrolled at the Warren County Career Center.  The threshold number of absences and the procedure to remove a student shall be governed by a separate administrative procedure that is approved by the Superintendent and included as a part of the Student Handbook. 

Adoption Date                  September 13, 1999

Revision Date                   October 11, 2010; January 10, 2011; August 12, 2013;

January 11, 2016; July 31, 2017; January 8, 2018; August 26, 2019

Review Date                     -    

Legal Reference                -     School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 501, 502, 1301, 1302,

                                            1303a, 1305, 1306, 1306.2, 1309, 1310, 1316, 1326, 2503, 2561           

                                            State Board of Education Regulations – 22 PA Code

    Sec. 11.11, 11.12, 11.14, 11.15, 11.18, 11.19, 11.41, 12.1

    Pa. Dept. of Educ. BEC §13-1301 – §13-1306 (2009)

    Pa. Dept. of Educ. BEC §5-503 (2000)

Cross Reference

CJS/jf, AEH/lsn/rah

Executive Summary

Executive Summary