Legally Required Notices                                                  8/2018

To be in compliance with federal and state law, the school district is required to inform residents about various programs, policies, and procedures that are in place in the district.  All board policy and guidelines referenced may be accessed at http://www.neola.com/northcanton-oh/

Accessibility of District Facilities

Upon request to the Superintendent/designee, the district shall make reasonable accommodation for a disabled person to be able to participate in activities.

 

AHERA Management Plan

1.   The EPA has indicated that schools should be free of friable asbestos.

2.   Air samples are required every three years.

3.   All potential areas of concern are to be inspected by the environmental support network, the Industrial Commission of

 Ohio, our maintenance staff, and an independent testing laboratory.

4.   Asbestos testing and inspection has been done to bring all buildings into compliance with AHERA standards.

5.   Any friable materials in buildings have been inspected and repaired to meet current standards.

6.   Inspections will be done twice each year by the maintenance/custodial staff to notify the administration of any friable

material.

7.   Any areas of concern will be reviewed by the Board of Education during its annual building tour and placed on a priority

list for permanent improvement.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s document titled, “How to Manage Asbestos in Schools” may be accessed at:  www.epa.gov/region2/ahera/e23.pdf

 

Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.)

The North Canton City Board of Education welcomes and encourages any and all comments from individuals interested in the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A) The A.D.A. contains Title I-Employment, Title II-Public Services, and Title III-Public Accommodations. Please contact the Special Services Office at 330-497-5665.

Anti-Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying Policy
Ohio Revised Code 3313.666 defines harassment, intimidation, or bullying to mean any intentional written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that a student or group of students exhibits toward another particular student(s) more than once and the behavior both causes mental or physical harm to the other student(s) and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student(s).  Ohio Revised Code 3313.666 additionally requires the board of education of each school district to establish a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and bullying and requires each district to bi-annually report the number of verified acts of harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying, whether in the classroom, on school property, to and from school, or at school-sponsored events.  The following charts show the number of such verified acts in the North Canton City School District:

Grade Level	2016-17 Sem 1	2016-17 Sem 2	2017-18 Sem 1	2017-18 Sem 2	2018-19 Sem 1
Elementary (K-5)	1	0	2	1	2
North Canton MS (6-8)	3	3	0	2	5
Hoover HS (9-12)	3	1	7	0	2

Please contact Assistant Superintendent Dave Pilati at 330-497-5600 with any questions. 

Asbestos Management Plan

The US EPA published their AHERA (Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act) Regulations in 1986. These regulations require all local education agencies (LEA’s) to have their buildings inspected for asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM), to have a written Asbestos Management Plan created, and to institute an Asbestos Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Program to train in-house personnel how to properly manage and work around the ACBM in their buildings. An annual notification is required to be sent to all school district employees, parents, groups and organizations to explain the Management Plans and any current relevant activities. The Jackson Local School District has completed all of these requirements.

 

The master copy of the Asbestos Management Plan for all school buildings is maintained in the office of Todd Henee, Building and Grounds Supervisor, at (330) 497-5600. A copy of the Asbestos Management Plan that is specific to each building is maintained in the principal’s office.

  

The purpose of this Annual Notification is to explain the status and availability of the Asbestos Management Plan, to review recent asbestos-related activities in the school district, and to list the asbestos-related activities that are planned to take place in the upcoming calendar year.  

 

Board of Education

The Board of Education is a policy-making body comprised of five residents of the school district.  Members of the Board are elected by voters of the district and serve a four-year term. The Board derives its powers and responsibilities from the Ohio General Assembly to establish a sound educational philosophy. The Board establishes policy:

 

•      To be responsible to the residents of the North Canton City School District

•      To serve as a policy-making body

•      To develop sound financial plans based upon educational needs and available resources

•      To provide leadership for educational progress

•      To be solely responsible for the employment and evaluation of the Superintendent and Treasurer

•      To recognize the Superintendent’s responsibility for all administrative functions

•      To refer applications, complaints, communication, and other matters directly to the Superintendent

•      To approve an annual school calendar

•      To levy taxes when residents approve a tax issue

 

The Board of Education meetings are open to the public.  The regular meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. and are held on the third Wednesday of every month in the high school library unless otherwise announced.  The Board, under Ohio law, may hold executive sessions during the meeting to discuss:

 

•      Personnel matters

•      Purchase of property for public purposes

•      Pending or imminent court action

•      Negotiations with employees

•      Matters to be kept confidential by federal or state statutes

•      Specialized details of security arrangements

 

Executive sessions are for discussion only. All board action is taken in public session.

 

In order to present helpful suggestions to the North Canton City Schools, public participation is encouraged during the “Recognition of visitors and hearing of the public” portion of each meeting.  To allow the Board to deal with all items on the agenda in an effective and efficient manner, public input may be limited.  Each person wishing to address the Board shall sign up at the meeting location prior to the start of the meeting.  When signing up, each individual must provide his/her first and last name, full address, telephone number, email address, and the issue to be addressed.  The speaker will have a maximum of five (5) minutes to address the Board.

 

Child Find
Each year school districts throughout Ohio participate in an effort to identify, locate and evaluate all children with disabilities, birth through 21; for age birth to 3, an established condition known to result in delay or documented developmental delay; for ages 3 through 21, identification of one or more of the following conditions: Autism Spectrum  Disorder, developmental disability, deaf-blindness, hearing impairment-including deafness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury and/or visual impairment- including blindness.  Parents are not always aware that there are programs and services available for children identified with a disability.

If you know of a child who may have one or more of the above suspected disabilities, including preschool age children, please contact the Special Services Office at (330) 497-5665. 

 

Child Nutrition Programs

North Canton City School District participates in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s document titled “Eligibility Guidance for School Meals Manual” contains notices, an application form, and a chart describing information regarding free and reduced eligibility status. This document may be accessed at: www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Guidance/eligibility_guidance.pdf.

 

 

Copyright Law

WARNING CONCERNING COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS:  The copyright law of the U.S. (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.  Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction.  One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.”  If a user makes a request for, or later use, of a photocopy or reproduction for purpose in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement.   This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.

 

County Plan of Service

The Stark County Educational Service Center developed a core services plan during the 1988-89 school year for its member districts. The North Canton City School District is one of 21 member districts served by this plan. The purpose of this core services plan is to promote excellence through cooperation while acknowledging the diversity and uniqueness of each member district. The plan is on file and available for review at the North Canton City Board of Education office at 525 7^th Street NE.+

Drug Free School

In accordance with Federal Law, the Board of Education prohibits the use, possession, concealment, or distribution of drugs by students on school grounds, in school or school-approved vehicles, or at any school- related event.  Drugs include any alcoholic beverage, anabolic steroid, and dangerous controlled substance as defined by State statute, or substance that could be considered a “look-a-like” controlled substance. Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all students.  Any student who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action, in accordance with due process and as specified in the student handbooks, up to and including expulsion from school.  When required by State law, the District will also notify law enforcement officials.   The District is concerned about any student who is a victim of alcohol or drug abuse and will facilitate the process by which s/he receives help through programs and services available in the community. Student and their parents should contact the school principal or counseling office whenever such help is needed.

 

Equal Opportunity Notice

North Canton City School District does not discriminate in education, employment practices, services, programs, or activities because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or age. 

 

Federal Grants Program

Federal grants provide valuable supplemental instructional support and staff development in the following areas:

      Title I – Elementary reading and math intervention

      Title II A & D – Technology intervention and support

      Title III – Limited English Proficiency (LEP) intervention

      Title IV – Elementary counseling services

      Title V – Gifted intervention

      IDEA-B – Special education support services

 

A Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan (CCIP) must be submitted annually to comply with the requirements and accountability standards of the No Child Left Behind Act.

 

FERPA:  Notification of Rights for Elementary and Secondary Districts

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

 

(1) The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 

 

(2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate. Parents or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the Director of Pupil Services, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

 

(3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to District officials with legitimate educational interests. A District official is a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the District Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another District official in performing his or her tasks. A District official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the District discloses education records without consent to officials of another District in which a student seeks or intends to enroll.

 

(4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

 

Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education

400 Maryland Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20202-5901

 

Student records shall be available only to students and their parents, eligible students, designated school officials, and designated school personnel, who have a legitimate educational interest in the information, or to other individuals or organizations as permitted by law.

 

Both parents shall have equal access to student records unless stipulated otherwise by court order or law. In the case of eligible students, parents may be allowed access to the records without the student's consent, provided the student is considered a dependent under section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code. Only "directory information" regarding a student shall be released to any person or party, other than the student or his/her parent, without the written consent of the parent, or, if the student is an eligible student, without the written consent of the student, except to those persons or parties stipulated by the Board's policy and administrative guidelines and/or those specified in the law.

 

Each year the District provides public notice to students and their parents of the District's intent to make available, upon request, certain information known as "directory information." The Board designates as student "directory information": a student's name; major field of study; participation in officially-recognized activities and sports; height and weight, if a member of an athletic team; dates of attendance; date of graduation; awards received; honor rolls; and scholarships. Directory information shall not be provided to any organization for profit-making purposes. The Board may disclose "directory information" on former students without student or parental consent. For information about parent and student rights to inspect, review and request amendments to educational records, or if parents/students believe their rights under Federal law have been violated, please contact the Special Services Office at 330-497-5665.

 

Gifted Education Program

Our gifted/talented program offers a wide range of services to students.  The Gifted Coordinator works within the district to identify and coordinate services to gifted students. Gifted intervention specialists serve students directly through enrichment groups in math and reading, pullout classes, field trips, mentorship programs, and whole class enrichment presentations. Gifted students may also be served through accelerated classes, and enrollment in honors, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate classes. In addition, the gifted program offers support to classroom teachers through staff development seminars, teaching materials, and funding to attend conferences that deal with issues in the gifted area.  Our goal is to help students become independent, lifelong learners who have all the skills they need to purse their passion.

 

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

HIPAA requires that North Canton School District provide notice of its privacy practices.   The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services “Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule” may be accessed at: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacysummary.pdf