Washtucna School District Annual Notifications
School districts are required by state and federal law to inform the community of the following each year:
Nondiscrimination Statement
The Washtucna School District #109 complies with all federal rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provided equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding compliance procedures may be directed to the school district’s Title IX RCW 28A.640 Officer and Section 504 Coordinator: 730 E. Booth Ave., Washtucna, WA 99371; 509-646-3237 or 509-646-3401.
Drug/Alcohol and Tobacco Free
Washtucna School District recognizes the need for a drug free, alcohol free and tobacco free environment. Our district has policies and procedures encouraging our students, staff and parents drug/alcohol and tobacco free while at school and on school grounds. These policies and procedures emphasize prevention, intervention, and necessary corrective action.
Childfind Notification
Many programs for the children in our schools are provided at no cost to you. Our schools offer special programs such as speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy, Title/LAP and special education
academic programs and preschool classes to children three years and older. Developmental screening and/or comprehensive assessments for children who are suspected of having a disability which could adversely affect their educational development are available at no cost to you. These services are available for persons between the ages of birth through 21 years age. Appointments or further information can be obtained by contacting the school office at 509-646-3401.
Home-Based Instruction
A parent who intends to cause his/her child or children to receive home-based instruction in lieu of attendance or enrollment in a public school, approved private school or an extension program of an approved
school, must file an annual declaration of intent. Forms are available in the office or call 509-646-3401.
Homeless Students
The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that assures children and youth who do not have permanent housing are provided full and equal access to school and school activities. It gives children and youth rights to enroll in school, stay in school, get transportation to school, and gives access to school lunch programs. If you become aware of students who may qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Act, or are in need of services for students in your family, please contact Washtucna School District at 509-646-3401.
Parent’s Right to Know Teacher Qualifications
Parents may request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teacher. Information regarding years taught, degrees earned, highly qualified teaching status, or extra certifications/certificates may be requested from the building principal. All instructional paraprofessionals are directly supervised by a certified teacher and meet highly qualified status in the Washtucna School District. If you are interested in this information, please contact the school for more information about the teachers who are teaching your children.
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)
In compliance with federal legislation, this school district has contracted with Environmental Protection Agency accredited personnel and has completed AHERA inspections and management plans for all school district buildings. The inspection discovered potential non-friable ASBESTOS CONTAINING BUILDING
MATERIALS in school district buildings. NON-FRIABLE ACBM is being regulated in accordance with all federal and state laws. All friable and non-friable ASBM discovered during the inspections are recorded
in the AHERA management plan along with the approved response actions for each. Copies of the AHERA inspection report and management plan for the entire school district are available for public review at the administration office during regular business hours. All questions regarding asbestos in the Washtucna School District should be directed to the AHERA designated person: Carol Blauert at 509-646-3237 or the superintendent 509-646-3237.
Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA)
Washtucna School District, in conformance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits parents/guardians or students to: 1. Inspect and review the student’s education records; 2. Request the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the privacy or other’s rights; 3. Consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records except to the extent that the act and regulations in this part authorize disclosure without consent; and 4. File with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint under Section 99.64 concerning alleged failures by the school or the district to comply with the requirements of the act and their part. To obtain copies of policy 3231 “Student Records” and/or policy 4040 “Public Access to District Records,” please refer to our district website at www.tucna.wednet.edu or call 509-646-3401.
Student records shall be released to another school district where the student has enrolled or intends to enroll, upon official request from the district. At the time of transfer of records, the parent/guardian/custodian or adult-age student may receive a copy of the records at his/her expense, if requested, and shall have an opportunity to challenge the contents of the records.
Information contained in the cumulative folders and administrative records of a student shall not be released to persons, prospective employers, and organizations other than the student, parent/guardian/custodian or adult-age student with exceptions limited to directory information, legal requirements, or in connection with an emergency to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.
Dangerous Weapons Policy
It is a violation of state law for any person to carry a firearm or dangerous weapon on school premises, school provided transportation or areas of other facilities being used for school activities. The law outlines exceptions in certain cases, i.e., security activities, firearm safety lecture/course, law enforcement officers, etc….
School officials will promptly notify the student’s parents or guardians and the appropriate law enforcement agency of known or suspected violations of this policy. Students who violate this policy will be subject to discipline, including a one-year expulsion for a violation involving a firearm. However, the superintendent may modify the one-year expulsion on a case-by-case basis.
Smoking and Tobacco Prohibited
Smoking and the use of other tobacco products is prohibited in all district buildings, facilities and vehicles.
Drug Free Schools
Drugs, alcohol and schools do not mix. Schools are required to meet certain guidelines to qualify for federal funds. In striving to meet those guidelines, patrons are hereby notified of the Washtucna School District policy. Washtucna School District supports abstinence from alcohol and other drugs for all students in order that their development can reach full intellectual, emotional, social and physical potentials.
Pesticide Notification Policy
The 2001 state legislature passed House Bill 1451 that requires school districts to notify the public of our pest control and herbicide use. An interested person can register with the school district to receive notification of pesticide application or can contact us for any information on our pesticide policy. For more information contact Washtucna School District at 509-646-3401.
Special Education
The district welcomes public participation and input regarding the planning and operating of the district’s special education program. If you have any questions regarding your special education student, you have the right to request copies of policies, procedures, evaluations, plans and reports by contacting our main office at 509-646-3401. For further information, please contact Will Christianson at 509-646-3237.
Public Meeting Notice
The public is invited to attend Washtucna School District public meetings. If you require any reasonable accommodation to enable you to attend/and or participate, please contact the superintendent, the District’s
Section 504/ADA coordinator at 509-646-3401 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
Language Accommodation
The Washtucna School District will make reasonable accommodations for language services to be provided for patrons of the District to be informed of or request information about. Patrons requesting language accommodation can do so through a third party.
Highly Capable Program (HCP)
The Washington Legislature passed a bill mandating that all schools must provide a Highly Capable Program for students who qualify. Washtucna parents, students, teachers, and community members knowledgeable of a student’s abilities may nominate individual students to be considered for our program. If you think your child would qualify for the Washtucna School District Highly Capable Program (testing in the 90th percentile or above), you may nominate him/her for the program. Nomination forms are available by request in our school office or you can go to our district website at www.tucna.wednet.edu.
Affirmative Action Plan
It has been, and continues to be, the policy of the Washtucna School District #109 to recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, gender, marital status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability or other basis prohibited by law. Our Affirmative Action Plan is available by going to our district website at www.tucna.wednet.edu.
Due Process Rights for Student Discipline
Any student, parent, or guardian who is aggrieved by the imposition of a student discipline action shall have the right to an informal conference with the building principal or his or her designee for the purpose of resolving the grievance. With any discipline, students have the right to know what they are being disciplined for, the rule(s) that were violated, the proposed discipline, and the right to provide the student side of the incident. The student should expect that the incident will be investigated to the extent commensurate with the incident and that discipline will be fair and within the boundaries of the building guidelines.
In general, students have the right to appeal a building-level discipline decision to the Superintendent's office and then to the Board of Directors. Long-term suspension and expulsion appeals can also be appealed to the court system. For specific information on due process rights for each type of discipline, please refer to School Board policies and procedures 3240 and 3241 by going to our district website at www.tucna.wednet.edu.
Immunization Requirements
To safeguard the school community from the spread of certain communicable diseases and in recognition that prevention is a means of combating the spread of disease, the School Board requires a student to present evidence of his/her having received all immunizations mandated for that student's grade level according to Washington State Department of Health requirements for school attendance standards.
Exemptions from one or more vaccines shall be granted for medical reasons upon certification by a physician that there is a medical reason for not administering the vaccine. Exemptions for personal or religious reasons shall be granted upon request of the parent.
Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying
Washtucna School District is committed to a safe and civil educational environment for all students, employees, parents/legal guardians, volunteers, and patrons that is free from harassment, intimidation, and bullying. “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any intentional written message or image—including those that are electronically transmitted—verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, mental or physical disability, or other distinguishing characteristics, when an act: physically harms a student or damages the student’s property; has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education; is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.”
Complaints regarding harassment, intimidation, or bullying are addressed through Policy and Procedure 3207. Individuals, who believe they have been the victim of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or know of such an incident, may contact the school principal. If the complaint is not resolved following an investigation, the school principal will forward the complaint to the District’s Compliance Officer, Staci Gloyn, at (509)646-3211, ext.123 for further investigation. Si necesita denunciar el acoso, comuníquese con Staci Gloyn al (509) 646-3211. Haga clic aquí para obtener un enlace al formulario de denuncia en español.
Sexual Harassment Prohibited
The Washtucna School District prohibits sexual harassment of students, employees, and others involved in school district activities, as defined by School Board Policy and Procedure 5011. Formal and informal procedures for reporting, receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints or reports of sexual harassment are described in this policy and procedure.