The Fine Print - Legal notices for families and community

Annual public hearing about proposed school district budget
Each winter and into the summer season, the district finance office prepares a budget for the upcoming school year.

Each summer, the School Board holds a public hearing about the planned budget. That meeting is usually held during the last board meeting of August, in time for a board-approved budget to be sent to the Office of Public Instruction in Olympia by August 31.

Any person may attend this public hearing to speak on any aspect of the budget. Copies of the proposed budget are available to anyone by calling 425-837-7024. Board meeting dates are available on line or by calling 425.837.7002. Public notices about budget hearings are also printed annually in local newspapers.

Asbestos Notification
The EPA requires the Issaquah School District to notify the school community that asbestos building materials are present in some buildings. The District has taken steps to provide for safety of students, staff, and parents related to such materials. Asbestos building materials are safe when they are maintained in a stable condition. The District's asbestos management program has been in place since 1988 and consists of surveillance, inspections, response actions, records, and training for maintenance and custodial staff. For a copy of the plan or for more information, please call Keith Simmonds, Director of Facilities Services, at (425) 837-5069.

Childfind
The 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires all school districts to locate, evaluate and provide services for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children between the ages of birth and 21, who may have a disability. If you are concerned about your infant, toddler or preschooler's development or if you have a school-age child or adolescent who is having learning or behavioral difficulties, call the school psychologist at your child's school or contact the Special Services Secretary at 425-837-7090.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act - families' right to restrict what information is released about students.

Safeguarding personal information is important to parents/guardians, students and staff. Some federal and state laws and district policies govern what personal information about students might be released to whom and under what circumstances.

Federal law (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act -FERPA) allows school districts to define what each district designates as "FERPA directory information". Directory information will be released ONLY for non-commercial, school-related purposes.

If you do not want "FERPA Directory Information" to be shared, make that request by sending it in writing to your school principal no later than September 15 of each school year.

Harrassment
The District is committed to a safe and civil educational environment for all students, employees, volunteers and parents, free from harassment, intimidation or bullying.

See complete text of Policy 3214.

Nondiscrimination
The district shall provide equal educational opportunities and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities programs without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, previous arrest or incarceration or non-program-related physical, sensory or mental handicaps.

The superintendent/designee shall provide for the annual evaluation, periodic surveys, annual notice and complaint procedures as required by law to ensure that there is, in fact, equal opportunity for all students in the district.

Upon recommendation of the superintendent, the board of directors shall designate a staff member to serve as affirmative action officer.

Legal References:
RCW 28A.85 Sexual equality mandated for public schools
RCW 49.60 Laws against discrimination
WAC 180-40-215 Student rights
WAC 392-190 Equal educational opportunity- sex discrimination prohibited

Pest Management Pre-Notification
On rare occasions, the District uses chemicals to control weeds and insects, and those occasions are usually during times when school is not in session. Treated areas are clearly marked if pesticides/herbicides are used during school sessions.

If you need to know ahead of time that chemicals will be used at your school, please complete an Integrated Pest Management Pre-Notification Form available here or by calling the Facilities Services Department at (425) 837-5050. Send the completed form to Keith Simmonds, Director of Facilities Services, 16430 SE May Valley Rd, Renton, WA 98059. If you have questions about this notification process or the District's IPM program, please call Keith at (425) 837-5069.

Possession of firearms
Possession of firearms on school property will result in a one year mandatory expulsion, subject to appeal with notification to parents and law enforcement. (RCW 28A.600.420)

Puget Sound School Coalition
The Puget Sound School Coalition is a group of Puget Sound school districts that collaborates on issues such as land use, planning, impact fees, school construction, school funding, and other projects of mutual interest. The savings achieved by working together to solve issues is very significant in both manpower and money.

Puget Sound School Coalition Interlocal Agreement

Rights, Responsibilities, and Due Process in the Issaquah School District
It is the intent of the Board of Directors of the Issaquah School District that all students, teachers, administrators, and parents have access to and understanding of the state laws and regulations governing student rights, responsibilities and due process. This brochure presents these laws and regulations, along with a summation of district policy.

Sexual harrassment
It is the policy of the Issaquah School District that there be no discrimination against any student on the basis of sex. In keeping with that policy, the district will not tolerate sexual harassment of or by any of its employees, students, volunteers or parents. Sexual harassment is a violation of the district's rules of conduct for the work place and/or educational setting.

At a minimum sexual harassment recognition and prevention and the elements of this policy will be included in staff, student and regular volunteer orientation. This policy shall be posted in each district building in a place available to staff, students, parents, volunteers and visitors. The policy shall be reproduced in each student, staff, volunteer and parent handbook.

See complete text of Policy 3213.

Surplus district property
Three or four times each year, the district advertises the sale of "surplus" school equipment. This may include such items as worn or outdated computer monitors or CPU's, furniture, books, sporting equipment or musical instruments. These used items are offered for sale at used prices - first to students, other private or public schools, and non-profit organizations supporting young people, then to the public.

The district prints notifications of this sales, including date, time, and location in local newspapers. More information about the sales is available at 425-837-7070.

Title I Schools: No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Request for Public Records
If you are a parent of a student at a school that receives Title I funds, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask for certain information about your child’s classroom teachers, and requires us to give you this information in a timely manner if you ask for it. Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:

• Whether the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
• Whether OSPI has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances that have caused OSPI to waive the licensing or qualification criteria.
• The teacher’s college major; whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of the degrees.
• Whether any teachers’ aides or similar paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.

Schools in the Issaquah School District that receive Title I funds are: Apollo Elementary, Briarwood Elementary, Clark Elementary, Issaquah Middle School, Issaquah Valley Elementary, Maywood Middle School, and Newcastle Elementary. Title I under the No Child Left Behind federal law distributes funding to schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families.

If you would like to receive any of this information, please submit your written request to Kathy Miyauchi, Executive Director of Personnel Services, 565 NW Holly St., Issaquah, WA 98027

Title IX
The Issaquah School District complies with all federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate in education programs, services, and activities. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district's Title IX/RCW 28A.640 officer and/or Section 504/ADA coordinator.