Attendance and Truancy
(Also refer to BOE policy 7:70)

ABSENCES
A "truant" is a child subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof. Valid causes for absence from school include illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, situations beyond the student's control as determined by the Board of Education, or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student.

It is expected that parents or guardians will make reasonable efforts to ensure the regular attendance of their children, consistent with Section 26-1 of the Illinois School Code, and to inform the school of any absences and their causes. It is expected Bloomingdale SD 13 will monitor each student's attendance and inform parents or guardians of any attendance problems, and that provision (Section 26-1) applying to local school districts will be observed.

CHRONIC TRUANCY
A student who is absent without valid cause for 10% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days is defined as a chronic or habitual truant, per Section 26a of the School Code of Illinois.
Referral of Chronic Truants
Bloomingdale SD 13 will refer chronic truants to the DuPage Regional Office of Education in accordance with current procedures established by the DuPage County Truant officer.

DEFINING ABSENCES
Excused absences
-- Each time a student is absent, state law requires that the school principal decide whether the absence is excused or unexcused. Absences will be considered excused for reasons of 1) personal illness; 2) quarantine; 3) bereavement; 4) family emergencies; 5) observance of religious holidays; and 6) requests in writing, approved in advance by the school principal.
-- In the case of excused absences, students are allowed at least one school day for each day absent to make up class assignments. The day the student returns should not be counted and should be considered a day of "grace." In the case of prearranged absences, parents and/or students should assume the responsibility for requesting class assignments.

Unexcused absences
-- Unexcused absences will be addressed by a series of parent contacts by teachers, counselors/social workers, and school administrators. Our aim is to firmly establish solid attendance habits for all students. Unexcused absences are the responsibility of parents, and parents may be subject to penalties under state and local truancy laws.
-- An unexcused absence is one for which there has not been prior approval or which is not considered valid. The school administration is authorized to make decisions and grant exceptions to this policy.

Vacations
The District strongly discourages family vacations during periods when school is in session. Vacations can disrupt a student's schooling and may create instructional problems. Students absent for more than 10 consecutive days will be "dropped" from the school attendance roll. Those students must then register again to return to the District. Parents planning extended absences should contact the school administration in advance of scheduling a vacation during school months.

TARDIES
Students are considered tardy if they are not in their classrooms when morning announcements are read. There are excused tardies and unexcused tardies. School principals will make these judgments in accordance with the policy on attendance/absences. Excessive tardiness will result in consequences.

Bus Regulations
Students are under the authority of the bus driver while in transit to and from school.  Because the lives of students and driver are at stake, no conduct will be tolerated that might jeopardize safe travel.  Serious infractions of rules must be reported by the driver to the principal of the school that the student attends.  On rare occasions when unsafe group behavior persists, a driver may return to school with a loaded bus for administrative intervention.

The following rules should be observed when riding a school bus:

1. Be on time both morning and evening.
2. Pupils may not leave the bus on the way to school or home without the driver's permission, which will be given only in case of a personal emergency on the part of the pupil, or upon request of the principal or pupil's parents.
3. Students who must cross the road after alighting should pass in front of the bus, not behind it. The driver should ensure that the way is clear before students cross the road.
4. Students shall not be allowed to ride on any bus other than the one to which they are assigned.
5. The driver has the right to assign seats.
6. Students must sit on the seat, facing the front of the bus. Sitting on books or other objects is not permitted.
7. As students board the bus, the driver will direct placement of play equipment.
8. Beverages and food are not permitted.
9. All litter should be taken off the bus.
10. Talking must be in conversational tones without vulgar language or gestures to the driver, passengers or passersby.  Unnecessary conversation with the driver when the bus is in motion is prohibited.
11. Do not extend hands, arms or heads through bus windows.
12. Throwing anything within the bus or out of the windows is not allowed.
13. Defacing or otherwise damaging the bus is not permitted.

Contacting School Staff Via E-mail
On an increasing basis, we have been using e-mail in Bloomingdale School District 13 as one of our two-way communication tools. District e-mail is intended to aid communications between parents/guardians and staff members regarding progress of students, current class projects/assignments, due dates, upcoming special events and other inquiries of a general nature. When contacting staff members via e-mail, please keep in mind that teacher plan time is (and always has been) very limited, and keep e-mail communications simple and to the point. We will suggest to staff that they treat lengthy or involved e-mail as if it was a phone call, and that they respond with a phone call rather than e-mail.

A few "Rules of the Road" regarding e-mail communications:

1. "Emergency", "need immediate attention" and urgent messages should be telephoned directly to the school office rather then sent by e-mail.
2. Because of other teaching responsibilities, staff members may not be able to respond to e-mail quicker than within 48 hours/2 school days.
3. Because of server delays, staff meetings and other disruptions to the normal schedule, staff may not be able to review e-mail daily.
4. Teachers and office staff are not given time (or responsibility) to pass along messages from parents to students.
5. Keep in mind that certain types of communications (e.g. regarding early dismissal, absences, vacations, health information, medical appointments) require direct contact with the school office rather than a message delivered via District e-mail.
6. Because the Internet is not 100% secure, information of a delicate or private nature should not be sent via District e-mail.

You can contact staff at:

firstinitiallastname@sd13.org
(i.e. kperkins@sd13.org)

Hopefully, we will be able to view e-mail communication as an enhancement.

Directory Information
Information that may be designated as "Directory Iinformation" is limited to:

1. Identifying information: name, address, gender, grade level, birth date and place, and parents' names and addresses;
2. Academic awards, degrees and honors;
3. Information in relation to school-sponsored activities, organizations, and athletics;
4. Major field of study; and
5. Period of attendance in the school.

"Directory Information" may be released to the general public, unless a parent requests that any of all such information not be released on his/her child. All such requests not to release Directory Information must be submitted in writing to the building principal.

Specifically, some or all of the Directory Information described above will be released at or around the start of the school year to parent/grandparent volunteers who are working with your child's class in the capacity of "room parent" or other volunteer capacity. Information described in Nos. 2 and 3 above may also periodically be released to local press serving the Bloomingdale community.

Discipline
The District 13 Board of Education believes adequate discipline is essential for the instructional procedures to be significant for all students. The school board and the Illinois School Code considers teachers and administrators direct extensions of parents and, in their absence, have the right to punish students when necessary. If a student is a frequent offender of school rules and a constant distraction to fellow students, the teacher or administrator in charge has the right to judiciously administer punishment appropriate to the offense.

Emergencies
Emergency Closings: Should it be necessary to close school without advance notice due to an emergency or storm, the following radio/TV stations are notified as early as possible.

Principals, teachers, and staff are notified by telephone tree. Parents are informed by telephone relay, and messages are placed on school answering machines. District office staff and custodians are at work if possible.

Field Trips
Field trips provide another kind of learning for students. A form requesting parental permission will be sent home well in advance of planned field trips. Please sign and return it promptly. Students are not permitted to go on field trips without this consent.

Homework
Homework Goals and Requirements: Homework consists of daily assignments not completed in class, long-range assignments, studying for tests, practicing math facts and spelling words, and doing required independent reading.

The average amount of homework time is given below. Homework may be given 3-5 nights per week. On "light" homework days, this time should be used for studying for upcoming tests, math facts, required independent reading, and long-term projects. Modifications may be made for students with special needs. Intermediate and middle school students may need to occasionally spend additional time if they have a long-term project and they have not budgeted their time.

1. Make it clear that you think homework is important.
2. Provide a quiet, well-lighted location conducive to study.
3. Provide resource materials, such as magazines, newspapers, dictionaries, reference books, and working tools (e.g. paper, pencils and, if possible, a computer).
4. Do not do your child's homework but be available to informally go over directions and check the work.
5. Look over the homework to see if the assignment is completed and done neatly.
6. Ask your child to explain the homework to you.
7. Praise your child's efforts when the homework is well done.
8. Inform the teacher if difficulties are experienced during the completion of assigned homework, as further instruction may be warranted. Also, notify the teacher if your child frequently spends more time than the average homework time for the grade level:

Grade		Time per night
K		5 minutes
1		10 minutes
2		20 minutes
3		30 minutes
4		40 minutes
5		50 minutes
6		60-120 minutes
7		60-120 minutes
8		60-120 minutes

9. Notify the teacher when family emergencies, such as serious illness or death, prevent completion of homework assignments.
10. Make arrangements to secure assignments when your child is absent for at least three consecutive days by calling the school office by 8:00 a.m. on the third day of absence. Assignments will be ready to pick up in the school office by 3:30 p.m. the day they are requested.
11. Notify the teacher and school office when a family vacation occurs during the school year. Vacations during the school year are strongly discouraged. Assignments will be given to the child upon his/her return. The student has the same number of days to complete the assignments as they were absent for the vacation.

Lunch and Recess
Students at DuJardin and Erickson may bring lunches to school or walk home with written parental permission.  Westfield students must stay at school for lunch.

Our parent organizations occasionally provide hot lunches as our schools do not have facilities to prepare them.  Milk may be purchased at school. Free lunches are available to qualifying families.

Classrooms are not supervised during lunch and recess. Therefore, requests by a parent to have a child stay inside for more than two days must be accompanied by a doctor's note.

Lunch Times
DuJardin	11:50 a.m. - 12:40 p.m.
Erickson	11:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Westfield Gr. 8	12:02 p.m. – 12:27 p.m.
Westfield Gr. 7	11:09 a.m. – 11:33 a.m.
Westfield Gr. 6	11:35 a.m. – 11:59 a.m.

Non-Discrimination Policy
Students with disabilities who are residents of the school district will be provided a free appropriate public education regardless of the nature or severity of the student's disability.

Superintendent Kim Perkins oversees District 13's compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Illinois School Code. Grievance procedures to address complaints under these statutes and regulations are available by contacting Dr. Perkins.

Parent Conferences
We place great importance on conferring with parents in person during two set conference dates per year. Appointment times are set up at DuJardin and Erickson schools. Because of the number of teachers per student at Westfield, time is set aside for parents to come in to see any or all of the child's teachers. Of course, parents may send a note or leave a message for teachers at any time. Teachers will call or set up an appointment at the earliest opportunity.

Personal Appearance
Studies have shown that children learn better when they feel comfortable about their appearance.

Students should dress appropriately for the school day and for after-school activities.  Appropriate dress is that which is not disruptive to classroom learning or the operation of the school. Students and parents are asked to use good judgment.

Students are expected to go outside during lunchtime and recess. Parents are asked to see that students have appropriate clothing for the weather.

Physical Education
State law requires each student to participate in physical education classes.; Students are required to wear gym shoes for class. A written statement from a physician is required if a student is excused from physical education class for more than one day.

Medication Policy
Medications, either nonprescriptive or prescriptive, may be administered at school, but there are limitations that we place on procedures and practices.

Students may not carry any medication, with the exception of inhalers or Epi-Pens with the proper forms on file, including cough drops or lozenges, nor keep medication in their lockers. Medications (prescriptive or nonprescriptive) must be sent to the school office for safekeeping. We require:

1. All medications given in school, including non-prescription drugs, shall be prescribed by a licensed prescriber on an individual basis as determined by the student’s health status. Such written documentation must be maintained in the student’s individual medication record.

2. A written order for prescription and non-prescription medications must be obtained from the student’s licensed prescriber. The order includes:

• Student’s Name, Date of Birth, Licensed Prescriber, Signature and Date
• Licensed Prescriber Phone and Emergency Number(s)
• Name of Medication—dosage, route of administration, frequency and time of Administration
• Diagnosis Requiring Medication, Intended Effect of the Medication/Possible Side Effects, Other Medications Student is Receiving, Time Interval for Re-Evaluation, Approval for Self-Administration, Approval for students to carry emergency medication on their person (i.e. inhaler, Epi-Pen)

3. Prescription medication must be brought to school in a container, labeled appropriately by the pharmacist or licensed prescriber.

4. Over the Counter Medication (non-prescription) medication shall be brought in with the manufacturer’s original label with the ingredients listed and the child’s name affixed to the container.

5. In addition to the licensed prescriber’s order, a written request shall be obtained from the parent(s) or guardian requesting that medication be given during school hours. The request must include the name of the student, the parent(s) or guardian’s name and phone number in case of emergency. It is the parent(s) or guardian’s responsibility to ensure that the licensed prescriber’s order, written request and medication are brought to the school.

6. Students should be evaluated on an individual basis regarding the need to carry emergency medication. A written statement signed by the student’s physician and parent or guardian verifying the necessity and student’s ability to self-administer the medication appropriately should be on file in the health office.

The school does not have a full-time nurse to either administer or remind students to come to the office to take medication. Therefore, we ask that parents:

1. Train their students on the proper procedures for taking medicine. (The office will help supervise, but not do the actual administering.)

2. Instruct their students concerning the time of the day that they should take their medicine.

It is important that parents work with their physician and the school to see that their children are properly medicated when needed. The school will not keep medications over the summer months. In June all medications that have not been picked up by parents are destroyed. Medication cannot be sent home with students. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school.

Public Notifications
Integrated Pest Management
In 1999, the Illinois General Assembly passed Public Act 91-0525 which requires school districts to implement an Integrated Pest Management program. Part of this program requires that "schools must provide written notification to parents, guardians, and school employees at least two business days prior to the application of pesticides inside school buildings."

Antimicrobial agents and baits are excluded from this requirement. At the present time, District 13 does not apply pesticides on a regular basis. It is the intent of this program to limit the amount and frequency of pesticide use in our schools. On occasion, it may become necessary to apply pesticides. On those occasions, notification will be made via newsletters, bulletins, or other correspondence published by the school district.

Nevertheless, if you wish to be notified by phone, you may be placed on a call registry. Individuals on this list will receive a phone call two business days prior to any application during the course of the regular school year. To be included on this list, please contact your respective school office. If you have any further questions, please call Greg Leyden at (630) 582-5188.

Asbestos
The Illinois Department of Public Health and the Federal Environmental Protection Agency have determined that asbestos is a potential health hazard and that precautions should be taken to avoid disturbing any asbestos-containing materials. Materials containing asbestos have been found in DuJardin Elementary School and Westfield Middle School.

Cleaning and maintenance personnel who have been trained in identification of asbestos-containing materials and who recognize the danger of asbestos are takings special precautions during their work to properly clean up asbestos debris and to guard against disturbance of the asbestos-containing materials. All asbestos-containing material is inspected and evaluated periodically and additional measures will be taken when needed to protect the health of building occupants. Any evidence of disturbance or change in condition will be documented in the Management Plan as required by law.

If you have any concerns regarding asbestos-containing materials, please contact Greg Leyden at (630) 582-5188.

Records
Pursuant to the Illinois Student Record Act, each student in District 13 has both a temporary student record and a permanent one.
Included in the permanent record are basic identifying information, including the student's and parent's names and addresses, birth date, place of birth and gender; academic transcript; attendance record; accident reports and health record; and a record of the release of permanent record information.

The temporary record may include: family background information; intelligence test scores; reports of psychological evaluations; teacher anecdotal records; and disciplinary information.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives parents certain rights, detailed below, with respect to the student's education records.

Parents may submit a written request to inspect and/or copy any or all of the contents of the permanent and temporary records at a fee of 35 cents per page.

Parents also have the right to control the access and release of information contained in their child's records. For any release of information, a specific, dated, written consent of the parent designating the person to whom such records may be released, the reason for the release, and the specific records to be released must be provided. Disclosure without consent is permitted only to school officials with legitimate educational interests.

Parents may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate, exclusive of grades. School District 13 has adopted a procedure for challenging the contents of student records, a copy of which may be obtained in the district office.

The student's temporary and permanent records are kept on file while the student attends school in our district. Upon graduation from eighth grade, the temporary record and a copy of the contents of the permanent record are transferred to the high school the student will attend. Parents have the right to copy any records before they are transferred. Any records remaining in the district other than permanent enrollment cards are destroyed after five years.

Registration
Registration, homeroom assignment, and orientation take place in August.; Kindergarten pre-registration takes place in the spring. At that time, birth certificates or other documentary proof of age are necessary to prove that the student will be five years of age on or before September 1. Proof of age is not necessary during regular registration if the child was pre-registered in the spring.

State law requires that children entering kindergarten and fifth grade present original medical certificates of examination and immunizations. In addition, all seventh and eighth grade students who report for athletics, pom pon, or cheerleading must have on file each year, before tryouts, a doctor's certificate of their physical ability to participate in the program. Athletic physicals are given at Westfield in August.

Safety
We take every precaution to keep our students safe, including asking parents to call in for each absence, teaching students safety precautions and releasing students and their records only to authorized persons. For the safety of the students, all visitors are asked to let the office know they are in the building before visiting classrooms.

Search and Seizure
To maintain order and security in the schools, school authorities are authorized to conduct reasonable searches of school property and equipment, as well as of students and their personal effects. "School authorities" includes school liaison police officers.

School Property and Equipment (Including Personal Effects Left on School Property by Students): School authorities may inspect and search school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school (such as lockers, desks, and parking lots), as well as personal effects left on school property by a student, without notice to or the consent of the student. Students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places or in their personal effects left in these places. The Superintendent may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to conduct inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials. Law enforcement officials may use specially trained dogs in conducting such searches.

Students: School authorities may search a student and/or the student's personal effects in the student's possession (such as purses, wallets, knapsacks, book bags, lunch boxes, etc.) when there is a reasonable ground for suspecting that the search will produce evidence the particular student has violated or is violating either the law or the District's student conduct rules.

Sex Education
The state of Illinois mandates that AIDS education be included in school curriculum.; Pursuant to this mandate, AIDS education is taught in conjunction with the sex education program in Grades 4-8. The district's goal for AIDS education is for the student to learn that AIDS is preventable by practicing certain behaviors that avoid, or at least minimize, the risk of exposure to the AIDS virus. In accordance with the Illinois School Code, parents have the right to request non-participation for their son or daughter in human growth and development/AIDS programs.

Sex Equity
District 13 has a sex equity policy and grievance procedure which applies to all programs and activities supported by school district funds. Examination copies of these policies are available at the district office.

Student Responsibility
Books, library materials, and other school equipment are expensive to replace. We ask that you help your child learn to take responsibility for good care of these items. Poor care or obvious neglect may cause you to be billed for damage.

You can also help us teach students to respect personal property of others on their way to and from school, as well as while at school.Students will be held responsible when property is defaced, marred, unnecessarily broken, or stolen. Parents will be contacted.

Valuable property such as money, tape recorders, radios, etc., should not be brought to school. Electronic signaling devices (pocket or similar electronic paging devices) or cellular radio telecommunication devices are not permitted on school property unless authorized by the building principal. Any such devices will be confiscated.

District 13 schools are drug-free environments. Students must not be in possession of any alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

Surveys of Private Information
Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, parents and students have a right to consent, notification and inspection of materials regarding surveys, use of information and certain physical examinations.

In accordance with federal law (Public Law 103-227), students who participate in federally-funded programs (e.g. Chapter 1 remedial reading) are not required to divulge in a survey, analysis or evaluation of any of the following without the prior written consent of their parents or guardians:

1. political affiliations;
2. mental or psychological problems;
3. sex behavior or attitudes;
4. illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
5. critical appraisals of family members;
6. legally-recognized privileged relationships such as those involving lawyers, physicians or clergy;
7. religious practices, affiliations or beliefs; or
8. income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Bloomingdale School District 13 will directly notify parents of the specific or approximate dates of the following activities and provide an opportunity to opt a student out of participating in:

• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by the United States Department of Education.
• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision or scoliosis screenings or other exams or screenings permitted or required under State law.

Additionally, parents have the right to inspect: (1) protected information surveys of students; (2) instruments used to collect personal information, and (3) instructional material used as part of the education curriculum.

Transferring
Please let us know at least a week in advance when students are transferring out of our district so that we may prepare the necessary forms to ensure a smooth transition to the new school. The new school should be asked to request, in writing, student records. Books and materials should be returned for a refund.

Visiting
Visits to your child's classroom are welcome at most times, but we ask that you schedule your visit with the building principal. For the safety of the students, all visitors are asked to let the office know they are in the building before visiting classrooms. Preschool children or high school students who live in Bloomingdale may not visit classrooms. Students may bring guests for one-day visits to school, with written permission from the principal.