Miller Elementary School 108 S. Hwy 39

Miller, Mo 65707(417) 452-3512

Student Handbook

2019-2020

Students Name: ______________________________________________________________________

Dear Families,

Welcome to Miller Elementary School! We are pleased that you will be part of our school and look forward to an exciting school year. Your involvement at Miller Elementary is welcomed and encouraged. We strive to provide excellent educational opportunities for your children. In order for every student to learn, it is necessary to know and understand the guidelines set by our school. This handbook should serve as a guide to Miller Elementary conduct. Please sign and return the last page of the handbook.

Sincerely,

Miller Elementary Staff

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

Applicants for admission or employment, students, parents of elementary and secondary school students, employee, sources of referral and applicants for employment, and all professional organizations that have entered into agreements with the Miller R-II School District are hereby notified that the Miller R-II School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities. In addition, the Miller R-II School District provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups.

Any person having inquiries concerning the Miller R-II School District compliance with the laws and regulations implementing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Age Discrimination Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) or the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, is directed to the respective Compliance Coordinator listed below, who oversees the Miller R-II School District’s efforts to comply with the laws and regulations implementing the laws and regulations cited above.

The Miller R-II School District has established grievance procedures for persons unable to resolve problems arising under the statutes above. The Miller R-II School District’s Compliance Coordinator will provide information regarding those procedures upon request.

Any person who is unable to resolve a problem or grievance arising under any of the laws and regulations cited above may contact the Office of Civil Rights, Region VII, 8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2037, Kansas City, Missouri 64114; telephone (816) 268-0550

Compliance Coordinator

Mr. John Knight

Elementary Principal

Miller R-II School District

110 West 6th Street

Miller, MO 65707

(417) 452-3512

School Improvement Plan Miller Elementary School

Miller R-II MissionThe Miller R-II School District shall provide quality educational experiences enabling students to reach

their full potential as individuals with high standards of character becoming healthy, responsible, productive citizens, and life-long learners.

Miller Elementary VisionMiller Elementary will raise student achievement by focusing all of our efforts to ensure the academic

success of each student through emphasizing reading, writing, and mathematics; striving to ensure a safe environment for all students where the qualities of good citizenship are valued; establishing

communication that will include all members of our community.

Collective Commitments We will improve communication between parents and teachers through newsletters, grade reports,

parent teacher conferences, and use of the district website. We will provide opportunities for problem solving, decision making, and reflection. We will create a safe learning environment through Positive Behavioral Support and Active

Supervision. We will analyze assessment data for strengths and weaknesses and use this data to drive our

instruction. We will research and utilize best practices to enhance student learning. We will continue to be engaged in professional development through 100% participation in staff

in-service days. We will provide a positive work environment to promote staff retention. We expect students to do quality work and continually raise expectations by making corrections

and showing models of quality work. We will celebrate our achievements.

School Goals1. The percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced in Communication Arts, Math, and Science

will meet or exceed the standards set forth by DESE according to state assessments. 2. The attendance rate will continue to meet or exceed MSIP 5 standards. (90/90 Rule)3. The early identification of students in need of intervention, in the areas of academics and behavior, will

increase.

General Student Information Parents or guardians should look in the backpack nightly for notes from school and

homework. Students are not allowed to have soda pop during the school day. Do not send extra money or valuables to school. They may get lost or stolen. Send milk and lunch money to school in an envelope with the student’s name, teacher,

and an explanation about the money. All students should wear tennis shoes for P.E. Students are not to use the phone except for emergencies. Do not send party invitations to be handed out at school, unless they are being

handed out to the entire class. Label all items, including outdoor clothing, with your child’s name. Students should not bring toys, video games, radios, tape players, cameras, electronic

items, cards, and other personal items to school unless specific permission has been secured by the teacher and approved by the principal.

Students may not sell items to other students at school, except those sponsored by the elementary building and PTO.

Do not bring animals or creatures to school without receiving permission from the teacher and principal.

Admission and EnrollmentParents or legal guardians may enroll their school age child in the Miller R-II School District as long as they reside in the district and meet all other legal requirements. Requirements for admission (Board Policy 2230) include, but are not limited to the following:

Proof of residencyChild’s birth certificate Current and complete immunization records as required by the State of Missouri

Arrival and DismissalStudents are not to arrive at school before 7:35 am. Students will be counted tardy after 8:07am. Leaving before 3:47pm is also counted as a tardy. Students leaving early or arriving late must have their parents or guardians check in at the office. Parents are not to drop their students off or leave children at the school during unsupervised times.

Visitors Policy Visitors are welcome at the Miller Elementary School. The faculty and staff feel that positive working relationships with parents, teachers, and the community have a great impact on our schools. All visitors to our building should dress appropriately and according to the elementary dress code. Any visitor who enters the building must check in at the office, sign a form, and pick up a visitor’s tag. If you do not have this pass, the staff will direct you back to the office. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for your child. It is a common courtesy to contact the teacher before visiting the classroom. If it should be necessary to talk to a student or teacher, the office will make arrangements for you. Teachers have assigned plan times that can be used for conferences or returning phone calls to parents. Our primary focus is learning and it is extremely important that classroom activities be interrupted as seldom as possible.

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance is essential in establishing a good teaching and learning environment. The district goal for attendance is 95%. Parents are expected to call the school when a student is absent.

When students are absent from school, parents should call the school before 8:30am. Parents will be responsible for ensuring their children obtain their make-up work. It must be understood that classroom experience, once missed, most often cannot be made up. Experiments, classroom interactions and classroom presentations cannot be recreated.

Continuous AbsencesStep 1: Administrative designee contacts parents after 3 consecutive absences and/or chronic pattern of absences/tardies. Step 2: After a continued pattern of absences/tardies or student falls below 90% attendance, a letter from the principal will be sent home. Step 3: With a continued pattern of absences/tardies, Children’s Services will be notified. Step 4: If the pattern of absences continues a report to appropriate agencies (i.e. Juvenile authorities, Children’s Services, and/or referral to prosecutor) will be filed.

With this policy, retention will not be administered solely on the grounds of attendance. Anytime your child is absent, our school information system will automatically notify you via email or phone.

*To be eligible for the perfect attendance incentive students must have 100% attendance. In order to have 100% attendance a student must not have any absences, not arrive late, and not leave early for the entire semester. There are no excused absences, but if your child is sick or has a doctor’s appointment, please notify the school and will be noted as a verified absence.

Transportation Change NoticeThe parent or guardian must send a note to the child’s teacher, or make a phone call to the office before 2:30 p.m. when the child needs to go somewhere after school rather than his/her regular destination. Without proper notification, the child will be taken to his/her regular drop off point.

Student DressMessages on body, clothing, jewelry, and personal belongings that relate to gangs, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sex, vulgarity, or that reflects adversely upon a person because of their race, sex, color, creed, national origin, or ancestry are not permitted. Clothing must cover the body sufficiently to avoid attracting excessive attention or cause disruptions. Clothing that contains graphic images or images of weapons are not permitted. Very short shorts or very tight shorts are not allowed. Shorts of appropriate length may be worn during the school year. (With arms at side, hem of shorts must not be above fingertip in length to be appropriate.) Spaghetti straps are not to be worn. For health and safety reasons, appropriate footwear must be worn at all times. Bare feet are not acceptable. Sandals are acceptable if they are adequately secured to the feet. No caps, hats, or sunglasses are to be worn in the school building. Jewelry, chains, etc., that are disruptive to the educational process, or that could be considered dangerous and could injure someone if used as a weapon, or could be damaging to property, will not be permitted at school. Any decision concerning questionable dress will be made by the administration. All children will go outside for recess whenever possible. Students should be prepared with sweaters, jackets, coats, etc. for outdoor play each day. Indoor recess is reserved for rain, snow or when the temperature is below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. All clothing should be labeled with the child’s name. (Board Policy 2651)

Cell Phone UseWhile cell phones are important to many parents to communicate with students, they can also be very disruptive to the learning environment. Therefore, students are not to use cell phones during the school day without special permission from the office. Cell phones must be turned off and put away. If a student is handling the phone, it is assumed the phone is being used for calls or messages and discipline procedures will follow. If a student needs to call a parent, the student must have permission from the office or classroom teacher. Phones are available in every classroom for parents to contact teachers.

Moving or Change of InformationPlease notify the school at least two (2) days in advance if you are moving from the district. This will insure that all bills will be paid and all school property will be returned. If changes to your address, phone number, email, or emergency contacts change, immediately update your child’s information card in the office. It is essential that we have a current address and phone number so we can contact you as necessary. Updates during the year can be done over the telephone or by stopping by an elementary office.

School ClosingDuring inclement weather, there are times when school must be dismissed early. The school will send a form home at the beginning of the school year. Please fill this out and return to the school immediately. This tells us who can pick up your child in case of an emergency or natural disaster. It also informs us where your child is to go in case of an early dismissal. Please talk to your child about alternatives should he/she arrive home and you are not there. When school is canceled for inclement weather, it will be communicated through local television and radio stations as well as a SIS phone/text and will be posted on the school Facebook page and website.

Parent Teacher ConferencesParent-Teacher conferences are an annual event that is held at the end of the first quarter. Parents or guardians receive their child’s first grade card of the year at this conference. Other conferences can be scheduled as necessary during the year. Please contact the teacher to set an appointment.

Report Cards/Progress ReportsReport cards are issued four (4) times per year. Parents can access their student’s grades at any time via SIS Parent Portal.

District and State AssessmentsStudents will participate in district and state assessments outlined by the Assessment Plan that can be found in the elementary office.

PTOMiller Elementary has a Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), which is very active and has regularly scheduled meetings during the school year. We encourage you to actively participate in the many activities sponsored by the PTO.

Privacy Rights of Students and ParentsIn developing and carrying out discipline policies, Miller Elementary School will make every effort to respect the privacy rights of parents and students. Students or student property may be searched based on reasonable suspicion of a violation of district rules, policy or state law. The privacy and dignity of students shall be respected. The school will also adhere to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Model Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)PPRA affords parents of elementary and secondary students certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include, but are not limited to, the right to:

Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)–

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;3. Sex behavior or attitudes;4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others. (This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating, or providing educational products or services for, or to, students or educational institutions.)

Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –1. Protected information surveys of students and surveys created by a third party; 2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or

other distribution purposes; and3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

Emergency Drills Emergency procedures for severe weather, earthquakes, fire, and intruders will be practiced quarterly. More information on the crisis management plan can be found in the elementary office. Materials prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be used in the practice and development of procedures and can be viewed at www.fema.gov.

Release of Directory InformationThe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act allows for the release of directory information, in regards to certain student data, unless there are parental objections. The Miller R-II School District considers the following information to be directory information: Name, Address, Telephone Number, Date/Place of Birth, Grade Level, Photograph, and Dates of Attendance. If there is any objection to the release of the listed information to outside sources, you must notify the office in writing. (Board Policy 2400).

Field TripsParents and siblings are not allowed to ride the bus during school field trips. Chaperones are not to bring siblings on field trips.

School WebsiteThe Miller R-II Schools’ website is ww w . m ill er s c h oo l s .or g . The school will post information on the school’s website, may send pictures or newsworthy items to local newspapers, and may post pictures and newsworthy items to the school Facebook page. If a parent wishes for his or her child to NOT be included in this type of public forum, the school principal must be notified in writing within 10 days of enrollment. Miller Elementary also has a Facebook page. “Like” us to receive updates via Facebook.

Placement of StudentsRoom placement is made by the building principal. Many factors go into the decision to determine each child’s classroom assignment.

Positive Behavioral Support / Leader in MePositive Behavior Support along with the principles of Leader in Me are used at the elementary to promote a safe learning environment for students, teachers, and staff. The elementary has 3 expectations for all students. CARDS is the acronym that stands for Cardinals are respectful, dependable and safe students. Students are taught school-wide routines and expectations throughout the first weeks of school and teachers will continuously review behavior expectations throughout the school year. Students are shown how to behave appropriately in all school settings, such as in assemblies, the bathroom, the cafeteria, the classroom, in the hallways, at recess and on the bus. This approach to managing behavior is a positive one. Students are recognized for demonstrating respect, being dependable and being safe. When students do not demonstrate these expectations, the teacher intervenes and reteaches the expected behavior. If the incident can not be corrected through reteaching, and is considered major, the student will be referred to the office for administrative review, conference, or action according to the district’s disciplinary code. The severity of the incident will determine the penalty assigned. These can include, but are not limited to: phone call to parent, principal/student conference, in-school suspension, out of school suspension, and detention. These and other options are allowed by the Miller R-II Board of Education, the State of Missouri and the Safe Schools Act. Parents or guardians will be notified in

writing, by phone, or in a conference when disciplinary action is necessary.

School Property All students will take responsibility for school property. Any student who defaces, loses, or damages school property will be required to pay for damages or loss. (Board Policy 2654)

Weapons, Guns, Alcohol, Tobacco, and PornographyAll of the above are prohibited. Items will be confiscated and turned over to the principal. Disciplinary actions will be taken. (Board Policy 2610 & 2620)

Searches by School Personnel (Policy 2150)School lockers and desks are the property of the Board of Education and are provided for the convenience of students, and as such, are subject to periodic inspection without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant. The lockers and desks may be searched by school administrators or staff who have a reasonable suspicion that the lockers or desks contain drugs, alcohol, material of a disruptive nature, stolen properties, weapons, items posing a danger to the health or safety of students and school employees, or evidence of a violation of school policy. In addition, the Board of Education authorizes the use of trained dogs to sniff lockers or other school property to assist in the detection of the presence of drugs, explosives, and other contraband.

Students or student property may be searched based on reasonable suspicion of a violation of District rules, policy or state law. Reasonable suspicion must be based on facts known to the administration, credible information provided or reasonable inference drawn from such facts or information. The privacy and dignity of students shall be respected. Searches shall be carried out in the presence of adult witnesses, if such witnesses are available. Students may be asked to empty pockets, remove jackets, coats, shoes and other articles of exterior clothing for examination if reasonable under the circumstances.

No employee shall perform a strip search of any student. The exception to this would be if a school administrator reasonably believes that a student possesses a weapon, explosive, or substance that poses an imminent threat of physical harm to himself or herself or another person, and if a commissioned law enforcement officer is not immediately available. Strip searches may be conducted by, or under the authority of, a commissioned law enforcement officer.

Students are permitted to park on school premises as a matter of privilege, not of right. The school retains the authority to conduct routine patrols of the student parking lots. The interior of a student's automobile on school premises may be searched if a school administrator has reasonable suspicion to believe that illegal, unauthorized or contraband items, or evidence of a violation of school policy is contained inside the vehicle.

Law enforcement officials shall be contacted if the search produces a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, weapons, stolen goods or evidence of a crime, and in any case involving a violation of law when a student refuses to allow a search, or where the search cannot safely be conducted. Parents may also be contacted. A student who refuses to submit to a search may be appropriately disciplined by school officials.

Equal Opportunity Education The Miller R-II School District will provide a free and appropriate education to students with disabilities. (Board Policy 2111)

Nondiscrimination and HarassmentThe Miller R-II School District prohibits any and all forms of unlawful harassment and discrimination because of race, color, sex, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or perceived sexual orientation in its educational programs or employment policies. (Board Policy 2130) Definitions of harassment and grievance procedure can be found under Procedure 2130.

Special Education and Related Services

All responsible public agencies are required to locate, evaluate, and identify children with disabilities who are under the jurisdiction of the agency, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, children who live outside the district but are attending a private school within the district, highly mobile children, such as migrant and homeless children, children who are wards of the state, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade. The Miller R-II School District assures that it will provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 under its jurisdiction. Disabilities include autism, deaf/blindness, emotional disorders, hearing impairment and deafness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment/blindness and young child with a developmental delay.

The Miller R-II School District assures that it will provide information and referral services necessary to assist the State in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps program.

The Miller R-II School District assures that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the agency for the purposes of identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE of children with disabilities may be inspected and/or reviewed by their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians may request amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The Miller R-II School District has developed a Local Compliance Plan for the implementation of State Regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This plan contains the agency’s policies and procedures regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agency’s assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act (GEPA).

This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.

Homeless, Migrant, and English as a Second Language StudentsMissouri school districts are responsible for meeting the educational needs on an increasingly diverse student population providing a wide range of resources and support to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed and be college prepared and career ready. Our school district has programs designed to meet the unique needs of children working to learn the English language, students who are advanced learners, students with disabilities, homeless students, the children of migrant workers, and neglected or delinquent students. For more information, contact Courtney Poirot.

Free and Reduced Lunch Eligibility

Local education officials have adopted the following family-size income criteria for determining eligibility:

Household Maximum Household Income Maximum Household IncomeSize Eligible for Free Meals Eligible for Reduced Price Meals

Annually Monthly Weekly Annually MonthlyWeekly

1 $15,171 $1,265 $292 $21,590 $1,800 $4162 20,449 1,705 394 29,101 2,426 5603 25,727 2,144 495 36,612 3,051 7054 31,005 2,584 597 44,123 3,677 8495 36,283 3,024 698 51,634 4,303 9936 41,561 3,464 800 59,145 4,929 1,1387 46,839 3,904 901 66,656 5,555 1,2828 52,117 4,344 1,003 74,167 6,181 1,427

Each add’lmember + 5,278 + 440 + 102 + 7,511 + 626 + 145

Children from families whose current income is at or below those shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Applications are available at the principal's office in each school. To apply, fill out a Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application and return it to the school. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may be submitted any time during the school year. A complete application is required as a condition of eligibility. A complete application includes: (1) household income from all sources or Food Stamp/Temporary Assistance case number, (2) names of all household members, and (3) the signature and social security number of adult household member signing the application. School officials may verify current income at any time during the school year.

Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside.

If a family member becomes unemployed or if family size changes, the family should contact the school to file a new application. Such changes may make the children of the family eligible for these benefits.

Under the provisions of the policy, the Food Services Director will review the applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the official, he may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis or he may make a request either orally or in writing to the Superintendent for a hearing to appeal the decision.

Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy. A complete copy of the policy is on file in each school and in the central office where any interested party may review it. Information on MO HealthNet for Kids Program is available in the elementary office.

Elementary Lunch Prices and Meal Charges

Breakfast-$1.30 Lunch-$2.05

Policy 5550The purpose of this policy is to maintain consistent meal account procedures throughout the District. Unpaid charges place a financial strain on District finances. The Food Service Department is responsible for maintaining food charge records and for notifying the District’s accounting department of outstanding balances.

Administration

1. Student Groups: Elementary students will be allowed to charge a maximum of ten ($10.00) dollars.

a) These meals will include only the menu items of the reimbursable meal.b) After the balance exceeds ten ($10.00) dollars, the student may be given a

designated menu alternate. Middle School students will be allowed to charge a maximum of ten ($10.00) dollars. After

this maximum has been met, no additional charges will be accepted. High School students will be allowed to charge one meal.

2. No charges will be allowed for ala carte foods and beverages.

3. Parents/guardians of students with negative balances will be contacted electronically, by correspondence, by phone call by the District Accounting Office, or by the Food Service Department.

4. On May 15 annually all charging will be cut off. Parents/guardians will be sent a written request for “payment in full.” All charges not paid before the end of the school year will be carried forward into the next

school year. Graduating seniors must pay all charges in full. Failure to do so may result in the

delinquent student being denied participation in graduation ceremonies.

5. If a financial hardship is suspected, families will be encouraged to apply for free/reduced meals at any time during the school year.

6. Each building principal will send a letter to all parents on or before the first day of school notifying them of the requirements of this policy. This policy will also be published on the District’s website.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Policy 2655(Form 2655)

Bullying (Board Policy 2655)

The District is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free of any form of bullying or intimidation. Bullying is strictly prohibited on school grounds, or school time, at a school sponsored activity or in a school related context. Bullying is the intentional action by an individual or group of individuals to inflict intimidation, unwanted aggressive behavior, or harassment that is repetitive or is substantially likely to be repeated and causes a reasonable student to fear for his or her physical safety or property; substantially interferes with the educational performance, opportunities, or benefits of any student without exception; or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school. Bullying may consist of physical actions, including gestures, or oral, cyberbullying, electronic, or written communication, and any threat of retaliation for reporting acts of bullying.

Cyberbullying means bullying as defined above through the transmission of a communication including, but not limited to, a message, text, sound, or image by means of an electronic device including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone, or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager. The District may prohibit and discipline for cyberbullying that originates on any District campus or at a District activity if the electronic communication was made using the school's technological resources, if there is a sufficient nexus to the educational environment, or if the electronic communication was made on the District’s campus or at a District activity using the student's own personal technological resources. Further, students who engage in significant acts of misconduct off campus which materially and adversely impact the education of District students will be subject to discipline.

Bullying, as defined in this policy, is strictly prohibited. Students are encouraged to report any incident of bullying which they have witnessed or incurred, by contacting their building principal. District employees are required to report any instance of bullying of which the employee has witnessed within two (2) school days of the occurrence. Employees shall report the occurrence to the building principal, who is the person the District designates to receive reports of incidents of bullying. A principal who receives a report of an incident of bullying shall initiate an investigation into the allegations within two (2) school days of receipt of the report. The principal may assign other employees to assist in the investigation, or request that the superintendent assign an outside investigator. The investigation shall be completed within ten school days from the date of the written report of bullying unless good cause exists to extend the investigation. No employee or student who reports an act of bullying shall be subject to reprisal or retaliation for making such a report. Any person who engages in reprisal or retaliation against an employee or student who reports an act of bullying shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Students who are found to have violated this policy will be subject to consequences depending on factors such as: age of student(s), degree of harm, severity of behavior, number of incidences, etc. Possible consequences to a student for a violation of this policy include: loss of privileges, classroom detention, conference with teacher, parents contacted, conference with principal, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion and law enforcement contacted.

The District shall give annual notice of the policy to students, parents or guardians, and staff. This policy shall be included in all student handbooks. This policy shall also be posted on the District’s web page (as a Board policy) and a copy shall be placed in the District Administrative Office.

The District shall provide information and appropriate training to District staff who have significant contact with students regarding the policy. All staff with significant student contact shall be trained on the requirements of this policy on an annual basis.

The District shall provide education and information to students regarding bullying, including information regarding this policy prohibiting bullying, the harmful effects of bullying, and  other applicable initiatives to address bullying, including student peer-to-peer initiatives to provide accountability and policy enforcement for those found to have engaged in bullying, reprisal, or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying. The District shall instruct its school counselors, school social workers, licensed social workers, mental health professionals, and school psychologists to educate students who are victims of bullying on techniques for students to overcome bullying's negative effects. Such techniques include but are not limited to, cultivating the student's self-worth and self-esteem; teaching the student to defend himself or herself assertively and effectively; helping the student develop social skills or encouraging the student to develop an internal locus of control. District administrators will implement programs and other initiatives to address bullying, to respond to such conduct in a manner that does not stigmatize the victim, and to make resources or referrals available to victims of bullying.

**** August 2016, Copyright © 2016 Missouri Consultants for Education, Inc.

Discipline

All students attending school in district schools will be expected to accept the obligation and responsibility to attend school on a regular basis and to comply with the District's discipline code set forth in Regulation 2610. Those students who choose not to fulfill their responsibilities at school will be held accountable for their conduct. Consequences for individual acts of misconduct are calculated to discipline the student, to deter future misconduct, and to provide a safe and positive environment in which students can maximize their learning potential. Students who engage in significant acts of misconduct off campus which materially and adversely impact the education of district students will be subject to discipline up to and including expulsion.

The possession or use of a weapon by any person, except where authorized by law, shall be prohibited in all school buildings, on or about school grounds, and at all school activities. A weapon shall be defined as any instrument or device customarily used for attack or defense against an opponent, adversary, or victim; or any instrument or device used to inflict physical injury or harm to another person as defined in Section 571.010. Violators of this policy must be referred to the appropriate legal authorities. In addition, any student who violates this policy will be subject to suspension and/or expulsion from school.

In accordance with federal law, any student who brings or possesses a weapon (blackjack, concealable firearm, explosive weapon, firearm, firearm silencer, gas gun, knife, knuckles, machine gun, projectile weapon, rifle, shotgun, spring gun, and switchblade knife as defined in Section 571.010) on school property will be suspended from school for at least one (1) calendar year. The superintendent, upon recommendation to the board of education, may modify the suspension on a case-by-case basis.

No person employed by or volunteering for the School District shall administer or cause to be administered corporal punishment upon a student attending District schools. (Policy 2670)

Acts of violence, as defined by school boards, shall include but not be limited to exertion of physical force by a student with the intent to do serious bodily harm to another person while on school property, including a school bus in service on behalf of the district, or while involved in school activities.

The following list of offenses is not exhaustive and the district can discipline a student for any action that is disruptive to the school environment, whether it occurs on or off school property. The consequences listed may be increased or decreased depending on circumstances.

Discipline Code (Board Policy 2610)NATURE OF OFFENSE FIRST OFFENSE** SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE**

Arson10 -180 Days O.S.S., notification to law enforcement

Expulsion, notification to law enforcement

AssaultPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., 1-180 days O.S.S., or expulsion, possible notification to law enforcement officials

10-180 days O.S.S., notification to law enforcement officials

Biting Principal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S.

Bus Misconduct Notification to Parents3 days off bus, 5 days off bus, no bus privilege

Cell Phones Use Cell Phone returned to ParentsI.S.S; 3

rd Incident confiscation of

phone

Defiance of AuthorityPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S. or 1-10 days O.S.S. I.S.S. or 1-10 days O.S.S.

Disrespectful ConductPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion

Disruptive BehaviorPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion

Drugs/Alcohol1-180 days O.S.S., notification to law enforcement officials

Expulsion, notification to law enforcement

ExtortionPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion

False AlarmsPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion

FightingPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion

HarassmentPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion

Improper LanguagePrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion

Inappropriate SexualConduct

Principal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion

Theft I.S.S., 1-180 days O.S.S., or expulsion, possible notification to law enforcement officials

11-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion, notification to law enforcement officials

Threat of violence Principal/student conference, I.S.S., 1-180 days O.S.S., or expulsion, possible notification to law enforcement officials

11-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion, notification to law enforcement officials

TobaccoPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-10 days O.S.S.

TruancyPrincipal/student conference, I.S.S., or 1-10 days O.S.S.

I.S.S. or 1-10 days O.S.S.

VandalismPrincipal/student conference, 1-3 daysI.S.S.

1-10 days I.S.S.

Weapons (Any instrument) I.S.S., 1-180 days O.S.S., or expulsion, possible notification to law enforcement officials

11-180 days O.S.S. or expulsion, notification to law enforcement officials

Weapons(Firearm/dangerous)One calendar year suspension or expulsion, notification to law enforcement officials

One calendar year suspension or expulsion, notification to law enforcement officials

Detention (Board Policy 2660)

The provisions of a detention program for student violations of policies, rules and regulations shall provide principals with an additional alternative for dealing with disciplinary problems that occur in the schools. Detention is an assigned before-school and/or after-school period, during which student activity is closely monitored and severely restricted. Students are expected to be quiet during the entire detention period and to work exclusively on assigned tasks.

** Detention may be used as a consequence for any disruptive behavior. If a student is assigned to detention, it will be the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation to or home from school.

Transportation Riding the school bus is a privilege. Students must follow rules of proper conduct for the safety of themselves and others.Buses are allowed to stop only at regular route stops to load or unload children. Unauthorized stops are not allowed unless approved by the director of transportation. It is the parent responsibility to see that his/her children are at assigned bus stops.Students will:1. Not stand in the roadway while waiting for the bus.2. Be on time-The bus will not wait for you.3. Respect and obey the bus driver.4. Behave and follow the rules as if at school.5. Not tamper with the bus or equipment.6. Stay in seats and keep all body parts and objects in the bus.

Discipline on the Bus (Board Policy 2652) Step 1-Warning-Driver will warn misbehaving studentStep 2-Driver can assign student to a seat. Step 3-Issuance of Blue Card

Blue Card System

First Blue Card-Warning-Parents or guardians will receive letter from principal.Second Blue Card-3 day suspension from bus and letter from principal Third Blue Card-1 week suspension from bus and letter from principal Fourth Blue Card-Suspension from bus for remainder of school year

Bus Misconduct

Any offense committed by a student on a bus owned by the district shall be punished in the same manner as if the offense had been committed at the student’s school. In addition, bus riding privileges may be suspended or revoked.

Due ProcessDue Process, as required by law, will be guaranteed to all students especially in situations requiring suspensions and expulsions.

In Loco Parentis In the situations not covered by the scope of the policies, dealing with students, school officials shall act reasonably and prudently in terms of the alternatives available to them.

MILLER SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES 2018-2019

The School Health Services’ goal is to minimize both absenteeism and student discomfort while in the school setting and to maximize instructional time.

Medications at School

Medication administration to students during school hours is discouraged and restricted to medications that cannot be given on an alternative schedule.  However, it is recognized that some students may require medication for chronic or short-term illness/injury during the school day to enable them to remain in school and participate in their education.

In the administration of medication, the school’s employee shall not assume any other legal responsibility other than acting as a duly authorized employee of the school district.

An adult must bring all prescription or routine over-the-counter medication that is to be given at school. Students are not allowed to carry medication with them except in special circumstances and with permission from the school.

Except for the emergency use of a prefilled epinephrine auto syringe, the first dose of any medication will not be administered at school.

Unused medications will be returned to the parent/guardian for disposal.  In the event medication cannot be returned to a parent/guardian, it will be disposed of according to the recommendations of the US Food and Drug Administration.

Prescription Medications

Prescription Medications that are to given during school hours must be brought to school by a parent or guardian.  The medication requires a “Prescription Medication Administration Authorization Form signed by a parent/guardian and physician’s order.  The prescription label may be considered the equivalent of the authorized prescribers order.  The medication must be labeled and in the prescription’s original packaging. (Ask the pharmacist to divide the medication into two (2) bottles each with its own label so that one can be kept at home and one kept at school). Each medication or change in dosage of medication will require a new form to be completed.

Over the Counter (OTC) Medication

The school, in collaboration with a consulting physician, may administer certain OTC medication according to the physician’s standing order and permission to do so by the parent/guardian.  Dosing of medication will be according to the package labeling.

If an OTC medication listed on the “Permission for Over-The-Counter-Medication” Form is to be taken for more than five (5) consecutive days, the medication must be provided by the parent/guardian and a physician’s order is required.

OTC medications not on the “Permission for Over-The Counter-Medication” Form, but required for the student, must be provided by the parent/guardian and accompanied by a physician’s order.  Each medication or a change in dosage of medication will require a new form to be completed.

Other Administration of Medication

Emergency Treatment and medication may be given for known or suspected opioid overdose.

Self -Administration of Medications

Students with asthma, anaphylaxis, or any chronic health condition may carry with them, for self-administration, metered-dose inhalers containing “rescue” medication.  For a student to carry their inhaler, a permission form must be signed by a parent/guardian and signed Action Plan developed between the student, parent/guardian, physician and school nurse.

There are times when parents/guardians are unreachable and the school nurse may administer medications to a student as deemed necessary.  Indications may include, but are not limited to, temperature above 100 degrees, severe headache, and allergic/anaphylactic reaction.

Student Illness or Injury

Health Services will be responsible for providing only first aid or emergency treatment for students in cases of sudden illness or injury. The school is not responsible for treating home-originated injuries.

Parent/guardian should consider keeping your child home from school if they exhibit any of the following: temperature of 100 F or greater, uncontrolled cough or difficulty breathing; vomiting twice within 24 hours; persistent diarrhea; severe headache, especially with a fever; red eyes with dark or “crusty’ drainage; severe ear pain; skin rash, especially with other symptoms; sore throat more than 48 hours and accompanied with a fever. (Adapted form Waldron (2010).  Students should stay home from school until they are fever free for 24 hours.

Students who become ill at school will be sent to the nurse’s office.  If the student exhibits any of the above-mentioned symptoms and/or the nurse determines the student is too ill to remain at school, the parent/guardian will be contacted.  If unable to reach the parent/guardian, the emergency contact number will be called.

Head Lice

Students will be randomly screened for head lice as they come in the health office for other reasons to minimize the amount of time they are out of the classroom.  Students will be screened for head lice as needed throughout the school year if there are concerns from teachers, parents, or themselves.

If live bugs or nits are found, parents will be notified and students will be sent home at the end of the day with treatment instructions.  The family will be advised to treat all household members. Students are to stay at home until treated. Upon return to school, students will be re-screened to confirm no live bugs are present.

Use of Crutches

The school will not provide crutches for  student’s use. When a physician provides a student crutches, the student is to bring a note from their physician to school including:

Request that student be allowed to use crutches at school Diagnosis of reason student needs crutches at school Statement of how long the student will need to use crutches Note that training in the use of crutches completed Order to excuse student from PE, recess, sports, etc. Statement of length of time student will not be participating in PE, recess, sports, etc.

Please contact the principal’s office or school Health Director if there are questions related to the School Health Services.

Title I Information

2019-2020

Dear Parent or Guardian:

The Miller R-2 School District is required to inform you of certain information that you, according the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-110), have a right to know.

Upon your request, our district is required to provide to you in a timely manner, the following information:

Whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.

Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.

Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications. What baccalaureate degree major the teacher has and any other graduate certification or degree

held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification.

In addition to the information that parents may request, districts must provide to each individual parent: Information on the achievement level of the parent’s child in each of the state academic

assessments as required under this part: and Timely notice that the parent’s child has been assigned or has been taught for four or more

consecutive weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified.

Sincerely,

Mr. John KnightMiller R-II Elementary Principal

Miller R-II Elementary Schoolwide Title I

K-6 School-Parent-Student CompactMiller R-2 Elementary staff, parents and students agree that this compact outlines how all participants will share the responsibility to improve the academic achievement of students in our school.

Miller R-2 School Staff Responsibilities:

Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables participating children to achieve a level of proficiency in communication arts and math by:

1. Retaining highly qualified principals and teachers,2. Providing instruction, materials, and high quality professional development which

incorporates the latest research, and3. Maintaining a safe and positive school climate.

Hold annual parent-teacher conferences to:1. Discuss the child’s progress/grades during the first quarter,2. Discuss this compact as it relates to the child’s achievement, and3. Examine the child’s achievement and any pending options at the end of the third quarter.

Provide parents with frequent reports on their child’s progress as follows:1. Weekly progress from the classroom teacher,2. Monthly suggestions from the classroom teacher,3. Mid-quarter report mailed from the school, and4. Quarterly grade cards/reports sent home by the school.

Be accessible to parents through:1. Phone calls or person-to-person meetings,2. Scheduled consultation before, during, and after school, 3. Scheduled school or home visits, and4. Email and school website.

Provide parents opportunities to participate in their child’s education through:1. Home link activities2. Opportunities to read with their child3. Help with classroom celebrations and parties4. Parent participation activities coordinated with PTO5. Volunteering for help with class field trips.

Parent Responsibilities

I, as a parent of a student at Miller R-2 Elementary, will support my child’s learning in the following ways:1. Make sure they are in school every day possible.2. Check that homework is completed.3. Monitor the amount of television watched.4. Volunteer in my child’s classroom/school.5. Be aware of my child’s extracurricular time and activities.6. Stay informed about my child’s education by reading all communications from the school and

respond to them appropriately.7. Participate in parent involvement opportunities.8. Read to and with my child and listen to them read.

Student Responsibilities

I, as a student of Miller R-2 Elementary, will share the responsibility to improve my academic performance by:

1. Attending school every day possible.2. Being a respectful, dependable, and safe student.3. Doing my homework every day.4. Asking for help when I need it.5. Reading every day outside of school time.6. Giving all notes and information from school to my parent/guardian daily.

Miller R-II Schoolwide Title I Parent Involvement Policy

The Miller R-2 Schoolwide Title I Parent Involvement Policy was developed by the Miller R-2 Schoolwide Title I Leadership Team (MSTLT) comprised of parents, classroom teachers, Title I staff, administrators, and library staff. This policy will be handed out to all parents at the beginning of the school year.

The Miller R-2 Schoolwide Title I Leadership Team will address any concerns that parents have during the school year. The MSTLT will meet twice during the school year and will participate in the Local Annual Review at the end of the school year. Parents will be encouraged to be a part of the development of the Miller R-2 Schoolwide Title I Program for the new school year.

The MSTLT will identify barriers to parental participation through a parent survey, particularly for those who are economically disadvantaged, disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of a racial or ethnic minority. The survey results will determine the issues to be addressed by the MSTLT for the next school year. Increasing parent participation will be the focus of the MSTLT.

The Miller R-2 Schoolwide Title I staff and the MSTLT will work toward building a strong school and parent relationship. Parent Nights, Grandparents Night, Literacy Night, Science and Math Nights and Parent Participation Days will be provided to include parents in the activities of the school. PTO and Title I will work together to provide these activities.

The Miller R-2 Title I staff will coordinate with PTO to promote and encourage parental involvement and to assist the school in planning and implementing and effective parent involvement program. Regular parent/teacher conferences will be scheduled before, during and after school to promote parent participation. Other parent/teacher conferences will be scheduled before regular PTO meetings at parent requests.

All testing information and survey information shall be compiled and recorded on a Schoolwide Title I data analysis worksheet. This information will be reviewed and discussed at the Local Annual review at the end of the school year. The information collected by the Title I Coordinator will be shared with those attending. Strategies for improvements and revisions may be made to the Title I LEA plan and the Parent Involvement Policy will be made at this time.

Miller R-II Elementary Schoolwide Title I

Parent Involvement Plan

The Miller R-2 School District believes that parents are equal partners in their child’s education. Parent participation is one of the greatest benefits to a child’s education. If parents are included in their child’s education, students reap benefits that will increase their academic performance and will benefit them for the rest of their lives. The following plan has been created to foster and encourage the involvement of parents in our school.

Strategies for Involvement

In order to encourage parents to become involved in their child’s education and the Title I Schoolwide program, the Miller R-2 Elementary School will:

1. Promote regular, two-way, meaningful communication between home and school by, at a minimum, the following methods:

Providing and updating a school website Sending home regular grade reports Sending home weekly reports Communicating all school events

2. Provide information at Back to School night concerning Title I and its program for the district. 3. Send home information at the beginning of the school year concerning all aspects of the Miller R-2

Schoolwide Title I Program. 4. Establish a Miller R-2 Schoolwide Title I Leadership Team to include parents, teachers,

community workers, principal and school staff, including all Title I personnel.5. Give parents the opportunity to participate in a Parent Involvement Survey. The results will be

used to make decisions regarding changes to the Schoolwide Title I program.6. Promote and support responsible parenting by offering parents the opportunity to participate in

their child’s education by volunteering to serve on school committees and teams to improve the education at Miller R-2 Elementary.

7. Provide take home information to inform parents about parent participation activities throughout the school year such as Math Night, Science Night, Literacy Night, Book Fair, School Carnival and other daily activities.

8. An interpretation of the year’s annual performance report will be provided to parents.9. Parents will be informed of curriculum and assessments used to measure student performance and

will be given reports of their own student’s performance on these assessments.10. Regular parent/teacher conference will be scheduled at the end of first quarter and at any time at

the parent’s request.11. Offer a variety of opportunities, in conjunction with other school activities, for parents to become

partners in the education of their child.

Shared Responsibilities for High Student Academic Achievement

1. A home-school compact will be developed for the elementary school. The compact will be developed jointly with parents, teachers, students and staff of the school.The compact will outline how the Miller R-2 Elementary School and parents will partner together to help their students achieve advanced or proficient on the Missouri Assessment Program.

Expanding Opportunities for Parent Involvement

The Miller R-2 School District and the Miller R-2 Elementary School will:

1. Provide parents with a copy of the Miller R-2 Elementary Schoolwide Title I Parent Involvement Plan. This may be done through student handbooks, beginning of the year handouts, or through the school website.

2. Provide assistance to parents with topics such as, but not limited to: Understand the Map test and other local assessments Understanding how to monitor their child’s progress Understanding how to work with their child’s teacher to help their child to increase his

academic performance3. Provide educational resources to parents for use with their child.4. School staff will be trained to consider the value of parents as equal partners, communicating with

parents effectively, and other related measures as chosen by the parent involvement committee.5. Parent involvement activities will be coordinated with other parent involvement programs and

activities.6. Upon request, provide access to any instructional materials used in the Miller R-2 Elementary

curriculum.

Miller R-II School DistrictComputer and Internet Use Agreement

The Miller R-II School District (“District”) is pleased to offer its students Internet access through the District’s computer network. Internet access allows students to explore thousands of resources the District does not have in print, as well as up to date information and discoveries worldwide. The District’s sole intent in providing access to the Internet is to further educational goals and objectives. Students and parents are warned some material accessible via the Internet may be illegal, inaccurate, pornographic, or otherwise considered offensive and/or not school appropriate. The District takes measures to prevent students from accessing illegal and pornographic material with the use of Web filters, however due to the ever-changing nature of the Internet, it is impossible for the District to completely prevent access to such material. Attempting to access such material is prohibited and will result in loss of computer privileges.

Conditions and Rules of Use

Access to the Internet through the District’s computer network is not a right, it is a privilege. Accordingly, all users must comply with the following conditions and rules of use:

1. Users shall not access, view, transfer, or store any material in any form which is pornographic, sexually explicit, illegal, defamatory, or potentially offensive to others.2. Users who unintentionally access such material shall immediately terminate access.3. Users shall not harass, insult, or attack others.4. Users shall not damage computers, computer systems, computer networks, or information stored on District computer systems.5. Users shall not use another user’s account information.6. Users shall not trespass in the folders, work, files, or data of others.7. Users shall not intentionally waste other users’ time and resources.8. Users shall not use Internet access for any commercial activity.9. Users shall not use Internet access for political lobbying.

10. Users shall abide by all federal, state, or local laws.

11. Users shall not use Internet access for non-academic activities when other users require the system for academic purposes.12. Users shall not enter into non-educational chat rooms on the Internet.13. Users shall not use Internet access for streaming non-educational music or video.14. Users shall not user Internet access to browse social media Websites.15. Additional information regarding computer usage by students, including discipline consequences can be found in the Student Handbook.

Violation of any of the foregoing conditions and rules of use shall be grounds for immediate termination of Internet access privileges and may result in disciplinary action.

The District reserves the right to review all data stored on the District’s computer system in order to enforce the above conditions and rules of use. Users should not expect that files stored on District servers will be private or confidential.

By signing this portion of the Miller R-II School-Parent-Student Compact, I agree I have read and understand the Miller Elementary Student Handbook and the computer and internet use agreement.

____________________ _____________________ ___________Parent/Guardian Signature Student Signature Date