GABRIEL ABBOTT MEMORIAL SCHOOL

56 North County Road

Florida, MA 01247

(413) 664-6023

HANDBOOK FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS

Updated: January 2007

MISSION

The mission of the Abbott Memorial School is to provide opportunities that promote individual growth, excellence in education, and lifelong learning for all in a framework of cooperation, responsibility, and respect.

INTRODUCTION

The Gabriel Abbott Memorial School handbook is the culmination of the collaborative efforts of the School Governance Council, the school administration, and the School Committee to design a resource guide for the students and parents of the school to have. It contains many of the basic policies and procedures that the school uses for its students, staff, and visitors. It covers many of the questions and concerns that a student or parent would want to know if a situation came up at the school. Parents are asked to sign that their student has received the handbook and that the parents have read it also. The school will also maintain a copy of the handbook on its website located at http://www.abbottmemorial.org.

It should be noted that every effort is made to keep the handbook up to date and as comprehensive as possible, however, we can not publish all of the policies and procedures for the school within it. Feel free to contact the school at (413) 664-6023 with any questions that you may have.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Click titles to go directly to section)

*Title*	*Summary / Description*	*Page/(s)*
Information to Note	Phone Numbers, Meeting Dates, Sign In Policy, Community Lunch	4
Handbook Policy	Who Gets A Handbook And How Often	4
Title IX/Chapter 622	Policy Against Discrimination	4
Section 504	Parent Rights And Student Rights	5
Exclusion of Special Needs Students	All Students Must Meet Requirements Of Handbook, Special Needs Students Have Additional Provisions/Rights	6
Busing	School Busing Policy And Busing Discipline Measures	6
Student Records & Student Records Policy	Required Information For Student Records And How They Are Handled	7
School Attendance	Rules Surrounding Recess, Days Required, Partial Days, Times To Open And Close, Late Times, And Tardy Times	7
School Cancellation Information	Where To Go To Find Out If School Is Cancelled Due To Weather, Etc.	8
Dance Policy and Request Form	Rules Students Are Expected To Abide By If They Attend Dances, Dress Policy, And Form To Take A Quest From Another School	8
Dress Code Policy	Information About Acceptable Clothing The Students May Wear	10
Discipline Policy	The Rights And Responsibilities Of Students, Teachers, And Parents Are Discussed. Also Positive Atmosphere, Report Cards, Detention, Discipline Process, Ranking Of Infractions, And Consequences.	10
Parent Guidelines for Communicating with School	A Step-By-Step Guide On How To Communicate With The School Regarding Questions And Complaints	14
Detention Policy	A Description Of The Detention Process And School Expectations	15
Suspension Policy	Due Process To Be Followed Regarding Suspensions	15
Drug Policy	Rules And Regulations Surrounding Students And Drugs	16
Dangerous Weapons and Controlled Substance Policy	Dangerous Weapons And Controlled Substances Are Prohibited. These Are Rules And Consequences, Including Expulsion.	16
Search and Seizure	Rules And Regulations Regarding Search And Seizure Of Student’s Property	17
School Wide Tobacco Free Policy	Rules And Regulations Surrounding The Use Of Tobacco On School Grounds	17
Harassment Policy	What The School Will Do When Faced With Harassment Problems	18
Child Abuse	Who Is A Mandated Reporter And What Are Reportable Conditions? Forms Or Information Required Are Also Listed.	18
Health Program	Immunizations Requirements And Medical Administration Protocol	19
Integrated Pest Management Plan	How The School Deals With The Use Of Pesticides And Their Application	20
Network Acceptable Use Policy	The Rules And Requirements Students Need To Observe When Using Electronic Devices Such As Computers. Specific Uses Are Outlined And Also Consequences For Abuse Are Also Listed.	20
Physical Education	Description Of Physical Education Program And Policies With The Approval Form	22
Policy on Pregnant Students	Procedures For Providing Education To Pregnant Students	24
Parental Notification of Human Sexual Education Policy	The Law And School Policy Surrounding The Need To Inform Parents In Advance Of Curriculum Involving Sexual Education And The Ability Of A Parent To Have Their Child Take Alternative Assignments	24
Graduation Awards	A Listing Of Award And Their Criteria Presented At 8^th Grade Graduation	25
High School Preparations	Students Will Be Helped To Make The Choice Of Drury or McCann By Providing Parents And Students With Information Through An Advisor.	26
Scholarships	A Listing Of Scholarships, Their Criteria, And Application Form	27
Overnight Travel Policy	School overnight travel policy	29

INFORMATION TO NOTE

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Main Office-664-6023 or 664-2078	Superintendent’s Office-664-9292
Library-664-0153	JT Bus Lines-663-7021 or 663-9985
Principal’s Office-664-6023	Fax Line Only 663-3593

Community Lunch-Community lunch is served on the first & third Thursday of the month at 11:30 am. The price is $2.50. Please call ahead to notify the kitchen staff.

Field Trips-A permission slip must be signed by the parent and received by the teacher before a student will be allowed to participate. Telephone permission will not be accepted.

Florida Parent-Teacher Group meets on the second Thursday of the month at 6:45 p.m. at the school.

Florida School Committee meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. at the school as posted.

Monroe School Committee meetings are held as deemed necessary at the Monroe Town Hall.

School Governance Council meets at 4:15 p.m. preceding the School Committee at various dates during the year. Please call the school for the next meeting date.

Note: Meeting Dates Are Always Subject To Change. It Is Recommended That You Call In Advance To Confirm The Time And Dates.

Sign In-All visitors must enter through the front entrance and sign in at the front desk. Each visitor will be given a visitor’s pass. Students who enter late should sign in at the front desk also.

Sign Out-All students must be signed out by the parent/guardian at the front desk when leaving the premises. A dated note to the teacher prior to early dismissal is appreciated.

HANDBOOK POLICY (Return to Top of Page)

A handbook will be given to each new student entering school. A form will be given with each handbook, requiring a signature from both parent and student. If this form is not received by the due date, it will be assumed that the handbook has been received and read.

TITLE IX/CHAPTER 622 (Return to Top of Page)

Chapter 622 of the Acts of 11071 states: "No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin." Any person who believes that this law has been violated may request a written explanation from the Florida School Committee through the superintendent and may submit a copy of such request to the Bureau of Education Opportunity of the Department of Education.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 11072 states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." Any person who believes that this regulation has been violated may submit a grievance to the superintendent.

If you have questions or concerns regarding Chapter 622 or Title IX, please contact:

Superintendent of Schools, 98 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247 (413) 664-9292

SECTION 504 (Return to Top of Page)

(Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973)

PARENT’S/STUDENT’S RIGHTS

The following is a description of the rights granted by federal law to students with disabilities. The intent of the law is to keep you fully informed concerning decisions about your child and to inform you of your rights if you disagree with any of these decisions.

You have the right to:


1.	Have your child take part in and receive benefits from public education programs without discrimination because of his/her disabilities;
2..	Have the school district advise you of your rights under federal law;
3.	Receive notice with respect to identification, evaluation, or placement of your child;
4.	Have your child receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This includes the right to be educated with students without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate. It also includes the right to have the school district make reasonable accommodations to allow your child an equal opportunity to participate in school and school-related activities;
5.	Have your child educated in facilities and receive services comparable to those provided student without disabilities;
6.	Have your child receive special education and related services if s/he is found to be eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. Chapter 33, P.L. 101-476);
7.	Have evaluation, educational, and placement decisions made based upon a variety of information sources, and by persons who know the student, the evaluation data, and placement options;
8	Have transportation provided to and from an alternative placement setting at no greater cost to you than would be incurred if the student were placed in a program operated by the district;
9.	Have your child be given an equal opportunity to participate in nonacademic and extracurricular activities offered by the district;
10.	Examine all relevant records relating to decisions regarding your child’s identification, evaluation, educational program, and placement;
11.	Obtain copies of relevant records at a reasonable cost unless the fee would effectively deny you access to the records;
12.	A response from the school district to reasonable requests for explanations and interpretations of your child’s records;
13.	Request amendment of your child’s educational records if there is reasonable cause to believe that they are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise are in violation of the privacy rights of your child. If the school district refuses this request for amendment, it shall notify you within a reasonable time, advise you of the right to a hearing;
14.	File a local grievance, in accordance with the school district’s Nondiscrimination grievance procedure;
15.	Request an impartial hearing related to decisions or actions regarding your child’s identification, evaluation, or placement. You and the student make take part in the hearing and have an attorney represent you. Hearing requests may be made to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Education: Bureau of Special Education Appeals, 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5023 (Phone#: 1-781-388-3300);
16.	Appeal to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), Region I, U.S. Department of Education, John W. McCormack, Post Office and Court House Square, Room 222, Boston, MA 02700;
17.	Ask for payment of reasonable attorney fees, if you are successful on your claim.

	The person in this district who is responsible for assuring that the district complies with Section 504 is Gregory Betti, Principal, Gabriel Abbott Memorial, Florida School District, 56 North County Rd., Florida, MA 01247-9614. Phone# (413) 664-6023.

EXCLUSION OF SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS (Return to Top of Page)

All students are expected to meet the requirements for behavior set forth in this handbook. Chapter 71B of the Massachusetts General Laws, known as Chapter 766 requires that additional provisions be made for students who have been found by an evaluation team to have special needs and whose program is described in an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). The following additional requirements apply to the discipline of special needs students.

The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for every special needs student will indicate whether the student can be expected to meet the regular discipline code or if the student's handicapping condition requires a modification. Any modification will be described in the IEP.

The principal (or designee) will notify the Special Education Office of the suspendable offense of a special needs student and a record will be kept of such notices.