The Guilderland Central School District is required to provide the following notifications to parents on an annual basis. They have posted online for your convenience.
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
• Public relations use of student data/photos
• Release of student information to military recruiters
• Administrative advisory: Latex allergy alert
• Title IX: Discrimination laws
• Pesticide application notice
• Release of children from school
• Computer Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
• Notification of releases of Level 3 sex offenders
• Semi-annual Asbestos Inspection Report
Family Educational Rights
and Privacy Act (FERPA)
As required under FERPA, the district would like to inform
parents/guardians, and students 18 years of age or older currently in
attendance, to their right to:
• inspect and review the student's education records,
• request that records be amended to ensure that they are accurate and not misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or other rights, and
• control disclosures from the student's education records, with certain exceptions.
Public relations use of student data/photos
From time to time, school district officials may release student
information (name, address, grade level, photograph, artwork, academic
interest, participation in officially recognized activities and sports,
terms of school attendance and graduation, awards received, future
educational plans, etc.) for use
in school district publications and within district Web sites and district
social media sites, or to
the media for public relations purposes.
Parents who object to the release
of their child's information and/or photograph should notify both their
child's building principal and the district's communications office, attn.
Amy Zurlo, at 8 School Road, P.O. Box 18, Guilderland Center, NY 12085,
in writing on or before September 15
in any school year.
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Release of student information to military recruiters
Pursuant to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school district must
disclose to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon
request, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of our high school
juniors and seniors. However, parents or students may request, in writing,
that the district not release such information. Parents, or students who
are at least 18 years old, wishing to exercise their option to withhold
their consent to the release of this information must contact the high
school principal's office by October 15 in any school year.
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Administrative advisory
Latex allergy alert
Latex allergy is dramatically on the rise. In fact, one of our students is
severely allergic to all forms of latex products which in this case can be
life threatening. Exposure at even very low levels can trigger allergic
reactions in some sensitized individuals, leading to serious respiratory
side effects such as runny nose, itchy eyes, scratchy throat, breathing
difficulty, coughing spells and wheezing.
It is unrealistic for the Guilderland Central School District to be able
to ban latex from being brought into all of our school buildings. We
recognize that it is difficult, if not impossible, to completely avoid all
latex allergy-causing products because they can be hidden or accidentally
introduced. Instead of a ban, school employees need to cooperatively form
a safety net around those children at risk. Knowledge about latex
containing products among school personnel, students and parents is a key
factor for reducing the risk of a severe latex reaction. Staff should
become aware of products containing latex and to use alternatives whenever
possible.
• Latex-containing products (partial list): Balloons, surgical gloves, band-aids, rubber bands, pencil erasers, some shoes and articles of clothing, art supplies, and certain sporting equipment such as tennis balls.
• Possible substitutes for latex-containing products: In some cases, mylar can be used as a substitute for latex (i.e., balloons). Vinyl or non-latex disposable gloves should be used in science labs and spill kits. Also, vinyl erasers should be used as an alternative to unidentified pencil erasers. Non-latex gloves should be used throughout the school. Non-latex medical supplies should be used. Barriers need to be provided between skin and any latex product if no alternative is available (i.e., gym floors and mats).
The school nurse in each building will take a lead role so that everyone
understands what products can cause a latex allergy, what the symptoms of
an allergic reaction are, what action to take, and where medications are
stored. The school nurse will develop a system of identifying children
with life-threatening allergies and be prepared to deal with allergic
reactions despite precautions. As district employees under the direction
of the school nurse and building principal, we can reduce a child’s
exposure to latex within a school setting by taking precautions as
outlined below:
• Identify a core team. This includes the school nurse, a teacher, the principal, member of the cafeteria staff, and social worker or counselor to work with parents and latex-allergic students to develop a prevention plan, an emergency health care plan, and an individualized health care plan.
• Ensure that all staff who interact with the student on a regular basis understands latex allergy, can recognize symptoms and know what to do in an emergency.
• Be prepared to handle a reaction and designate school personnel who are properly trained to administer medications, regardless of time or location.
• Make sure medications are properly stored and easily accessible to designated school personnel and that there is an emergency kit that contains a physician’s standing order for epinephrine, the medication for an anaphylactic reaction.
• Work with the transportation supervisor to ensure that the school bus driver recognizes the latex allergy symptoms and what to do if a reaction occurs.
• Discuss appropriate management of the latex allergy and strategies for handling field trips with affected families.
• In developing guidelines for dealing with allergies, it is important for school personnel to work with students, parents, and physicians to minimize risks and provide a safe educational environment for the allergic student. Everyone has a role to play: the family, the student, and the school officials.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the school nurse or
principal in your building.
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Title IX:
Discrimination laws
Title IX of the federal government's education amendments of 1972
prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender, race, national origin,
creed, age, or handicap as defined by law in education programs benefiting
from federal assistance. The Guilderland Central School District complies
with the Title IX provisions in its educational programs and activities.
Any parent, student or district employee who believes they have been
discriminated against should contact the district's Title IX coordinator,
Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Lin A. Severance.
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Pesticide application notice
The Guilderland Central School District is required by law to maintain a
list of staff and persons in parental relation who wish to receive
forty-eight (48) hour prior written notification of pesticide applications
at relevant facilities.
To register and be on the list, please fill out a
pesticide notification form, which can be found online or in the main
office at each school building.
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Release of children from school
Board of Education policy provides for the release of children from school
to authorized persons only. Each year, parents will be asked to designate,
in writing, any persons so authorized.
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Computer Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Please click on the link below to view the full text of the document.
• Computer acceptable use policy (PDF)
"No Idling" Policy
BOE policy: 8440, adopted October 25, 2005
The Board of Education recognizes the need to promote the health and
safety of students and staff and to protect the environment from harmful
emissions found in bus exhaust, in particular diesel exhaust, by
eliminating the unnecessary idling of all school buses on school property
including all schools within the District or at any school or school
related activities to which District students are transported. For
purposes of this policy, an “idling school bus” shall mean a school bus
that is parked or stopped at a school or other location and has its engine
running. This policy applies to the operation of every District-owned
and/or contracted school bus as well as other District-owned vehicles
(i.e., maintenance trucks). The District shall strive to eliminate all
unnecessary idling of school buses and District-owned vehicles such that
idling time is minimized in all aspects of operation.
In accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), excessive idling of
certain vehicles is illegal in New York State. State regulations provide
in part that buses exceeding 8,500 pounds and designed primarily for
transporting persons or properties (i.e., “a heavy duty vehicle”) shall
not idle for more than five (5) consecutive minutes when not in motion
unless otherwise authorized by the regulations. Significantly, the state
regulations apply to a heavy duty vehicle whether or not powered by a
diesel or non-diesel fueled engine.
Further, the five (5) consecutive minute limitation on idling applies to
buses whether owned, operated or leased; or to one who owns, leases or
occupies land and has the actual or apparent dominion or control over the
operation of the bus present on such land.
Exceptions to the five (5) consecutive minute limitation on idling of
school buses will be as enumerated in state regulations and include, but
are not limited to, the following:
a) The bus is forced to remain motionless because of the traffic
conditions over which the driver has no control;
b) Idling to maintain an interior temperature of fifty (50) degrees
Fahrenheit when the outside temperature is less than fifty (50) degrees or
an interior temperature of seventy (70) degrees Fahrenheit when the
temperature outside is more than (80) degrees.
c) Auxiliary function such as wheelchair lifts if the operation requires
the engine to continue running.
d) When operation of the vehicle is required for maintenance, including
necessary pre-trip safety inspections.
This policy shall be posted at the Transportation and Maintenance
Departments; and the respective supervisors shall provide training to bus
drivers/transportation and maintenance personnel on the District’s idling
reduction program and other practices for environmentally friendly bus and
school vehicle operations to reduce emissions and minimize exposure to
exhaust. Appropriate signage shall be posted at each school to remind
drivers and school staff of the policy.
Also, as may be applicable, the District shall ensure that vendors and
contract bus companies receive a copy of the District policy regarding no
idling and shall provide any educational materials, regulations and/or
procedures developed by the District with regard to meeting training
requirements of the District’s idling reduction program. Vendors and
contract bus companies will be responsible to provide training for all
currently employed bus drivers, transportation, and delivery personnel.
The vendors and contract bus companies must also ensure that newly hired
drivers, upon employment, are informed of the District policy and provided
appropriate training regarding the expectations while on campus.
The District shall otherwise publish its No Idling Policy at its
discretion which may include publication in the local newspaper, District
calendar, the district website, and its local designated cable channel.
Information shall be included in the District’s transportation manual as
well.
The District will monitor and enforce compliance with this policy. Any
person may report incidents of noncompliance by contacting the
Transportation Supervisor or Maintenance Supervisor. Any significant
violations by vendors and contract bus companies of District policy and/or
regulations regarding excessive idling of vehicles while on a school
campus shall result in revocation of their contract and they may be
subject to sanctions provided for in law and/or regulations.
Ref.: State Regulations: 6 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR)
Subpart 217-3
• Download NYS Department of Education Law 3637: Idling school buses on school grounds (PDF)
Notification of releases of Level 3 sex offenders
BOE policy: 5450.1, adopted February 7, 2006
The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility to ensure the safety
and well-being of its students with respect to the notification of parents
and staff regarding the release from prison of sex offenders who then
choose to reside within school district boundaries. The Board of Education
acknowledges the efforts of the New York State Division of Parole, the
Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and local law enforcement
agencies to inform the district when persons with a history of sex
offenses against children are being paroled into the community. The
purpose of such notification is to enlist the assistance of district
personnel in identifying such persons so that the Division and local law
enforcement personnel may act to prevent any new criminal activity. The
district shall cooperate with the police and parole agencies in this
endeavor.
The Board directs the Superintendent of Schools to ensure the
dissemination of any identifying information provided by the Division of
Parole and local law enforcement agencies regarding level 3 sex offenders
only to parents and employees. The list of employees receiving the
information will include teachers, administrators, supervisors, bus
drivers, monitors, security personnel, teaching assistants, office staff,
coaches, etc. Staff members shall notify their supervisor or the principal
immediately if they observe any suspicious person(s) in an area where
children congregate. In turn, the supervisor or administrator shall be
directed to contact law enforcement agencies, if a paroled sex offender is
so observed.
The Superintendent of Schools shall notify parents of students about the
release of level 3 sex offender information and remind them of the
security measures and personal safety instruction provided at school.
The Superintendent shall establish any necessary regulations for
implementing this policy with the advice of the school attorney.
Cross-ref: 1120, School District Records
1240, Visitors to the Schools
5450, Student Safety
Ref: Shante D. v. City of New York, 83 NY2d 948 (1994)
Mirand v. City of New York, 84 NY2d 44 (1994)
Stoneking v. Bradford Area S.D., 882 F.2d 720 (2d Cir. 1989)
Guidelines for the Supervision of Sex Offenders (Revised), NYS Div. of
Parole, August 1994. Information relating to Notification by Parole of
Release of Sex Offenders, Memorandum to Superintendent of Schools from
Executive Director, NYS Council of School Superintendents, November 9,
1994
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Wellness Policy
(updated 09/16/08)
The Guilderland Central School District is committed to developing healthy
schools that support student learning and create an environment conducive
to the health and well-being for faculty, staff and all students, while
also supporting parents in accomplishing this goal. To that end, the Board
of Education has adopted a policy that addresses: nutritional standards of
foods and beverages sold on school grounds; physical education;
extra-curricular activities; recess; emotional wellness; staff wellness;
nutrition education and student awareness; community wellness and
knowledge; and health education.
• Download the district's Wellness Policy. (PDF)