Kenston Local Schools is required by state and federal laws to provide notice annually regarding the following:
Application of Pesticides
Board Policy 8431 has established that written notification shall be provided each year, prior to any pesticide application when school is in session, to those parents, adult students and employees who notify the school district in writing within ten (10) days after receipt of the District’s public notice.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Parents of a student who caused a blood exposure to school personnel will be contacted to obtain permission for the testing of the student’s blood for Hepatitis B and HIV viruses either in cooperation with their physician or by the designated District Health Professional. (Ref: AG 8453.01)
Bullying and Other Forms or Aggressive Behavior
Board Policy 5517.01 states that harassment, intimidation, degradation, or bullying toward a student, whether by other students, staff, or third parties is strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. This prohibition includes aggressive behavior, physical, verbal, and psychological abuse. The Board of Education will not tolerate any gestures, comments, threats, or actions which cause or threaten to cause bodily harm or personal degradation. This policy applies to all activities in the District, including activities on school property or while enroute to or from school, and those occurring off school property if the student or employee is at any school-sponsored, school-approved or school-related activity or function, such as field trips or athletic events where students are under the school’s control, in a school vehicle, or where an employee is engaged in school business. This policy was developed in consultation with parents, District employees, volunteers, students, community members, building administrators, and members of the Board as prescribed in R.C. 3313.666.
Dangerous Weapons
Board Policy 5722 prohibits possession of weapons or other devices (e.g., stun gun, mace) designed to inflict bodily harm by anyone while on District property, at a school related event, or while en route to or from school whether on a school bus, walking or in a private vehicle. This prohibition shall also encompass such actions as look-alike items, false fire alarms, bomb threats, or intentional calls to falsely report a dangerous condition. Board Policy 5610 directs the Superintendent to expel a student for one (1) year if he/she brings a firearm on school property, in a school vehicle, or to any school-sponsored activity. The Superintendent may expel a student for up to one (1) year if he/she brings a knife onto school property in a school vehicle, or to any school sponsored activity. Students are required to report knowledge of dangerous weapons and threats of violence by students and staff to the building principal. Failure to report such knowledge may subject the student to discipline up to and including suspension and expulsion from school.
Dispensing Medication
Kenston School District does not encourage the dispensing of medicine during school hours. However, if a situation arises where your child must receive medication, forms are available in each school office to allow an authorized person to dispense the medication. These forms must be signed by both the parent/guardian and the physician.
Drug Prevention
Board Policy 5530 prohibits the use, possession, concealment or distribution of any drug or any drug-related paraphernalia as the term is defined by law, on school grounds, or school vehicles, or at any school sponsored events. This policy further establishes a drug-free zone within 1000 feet of any facility used by the District for education purposes. Policy 5520 defines drugs as: anabolic steroids, “look-alike” substances, all alcoholic beverages, all chemicals which release toxic vapors, any prescription or patent drug, except those for which permission to use in school has been granted pursuant to Board policy, and all dangerous controlled substances as so designated and prohibited by Ohio statute.
Nondiscrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity
The Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs, activities or employment. Further, it is the policy of this District to provide an equal opportunity for all students, regardless of race, color, creed, disability, religion, gender, ancestry, age, national origin, place of residence within the boundaries of the District, or social or economic background, to learn through the curriculum offered in this District.
Nondiscrimination in Employment
The Kenston Local School District shall employ personnel without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, ancestry, sex or age, as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Public Law 90-202, and Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1977.
No Surprises Act/Transparency Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021
The No Surprises Act (NSA), signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), establishes federal standards to protect patients with health benefits coverage from “surprise” medical bills that may arise when receiving care from certain out-of-network providers and ancillary providers.
The Transparency in Coverage (TIC) rule which requires health insurers and group health plans to make health plan pricing information accessible to consumers, allowing for easy comparison shopping. The rule also requires insurers and group health plans to provide publicly available machine-readable files that include in-network negotiated payment rates and historical out-of-network charges for covered items and services, including prescriptions drugs.
Your Rights and Protections Against Suprise Medical Bills
https://www.medmutual.com/For-Employers/Employer-Resources/No-Surprises-Act-Legislation.aspx
Ohio PIRC Notice
The Ohio Parent Information and Resource Center provides information, resources, and training to support children’s learning and enhance the environments in which they grow. The Ohio PIRC goals are (1) to help parents understand the state’s “No Child Left Behind” accountability system and opportunities available for supplemental services and public school choice with an emphasis on outreach to parents (2) to help schools connect “No Child Left Behind” with Parent/Family Engagement Programs, Expanded Learning Opportunities/ Supplemental Services, Early Childhood Education Programs, and Urban League Education Programs and (3) to help link parent information and resource services state-wide. Parents can contact The Ohio Parent Information and Resource Center at 5812 Madison Road, Suite 3, Cincinnati, OH 45227.
Parent Information for Title I
Timmons Elementary School receives federal funding through Title I. All teachers under Title I funding in the Kenston Local Schools have met the criteria set forth by No Child Left Behind as described below, any request for degree major and/or field of discipline can be made at by sending a letter of request to the Board Office, 17419 Snyder Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023.
Parents may request the following information regarding teacher professional qualifications:
- 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.
- The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
- Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
Removal, Suspension, Expulsion and Permanent Exclusion of Students
H.B. 620 gives the Board of Education the authority to expel a student for up to a year for bomb threats. Policy 5610 authorizes the Superintendent to expel a student for a period of up to one (1) year is a student makes a bomb threat to a school building or to any premises at which a school activity is occurring at the time of a threat.
Restraint and Seclusion
Both certificated and non-certificated employees, including bus drivers, may, within the scope of their employment, physically restrain and/or seclude a student, but only when there is immediate risk of physical harm to the student and/or others, there is no other safe and effective intervention possible, and the physical restraint or seclusion is used in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate and protects the safety of all children and adults at school.
All restraint and seclusion shall only be done in accordance with Board Policy (5630.01), which is based on the standards adopted by the State Board of Education regarding the use of student restraint and seclusion.
Right to Inspect Instructional Materials
Parents have the right to inspect any instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum for their student. Instructional materials means instructional content, regardless of format, that is provided to the student, including printed or representational materials, audio-visual materials, and materials available in electronic or digital formats (such as materials accessible through the Internet). Instructional material does not include academic tests or academic assessments. (Policy 8330)
Sexual and Other Forms of Harassment
Sexual harassment includes all unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and verbal or physical contacts of a sexual nature whenever submission to such conduct is made a condition of employment or a basis for an employment decision. Other prohibited harassment includes conduct which has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, discriminatory or offensive educational environment on the basis of gender, religion, race, color, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status and/or any other legally protected characteristic. Sexual and other forms of harassment will not be tolerated.
The harassment of a staff member, student of this District, or third party (visiting speaker, athletic team member, volunteer, parent, etc.) is strictly forbidden. Any professional staff member or agent of this Board who is found to have harassed a professional staff member, student or third party will be subject to discipline in accordance with law and/or the terms of any applicable collective bargaining agreement. (Board Policies 1662, 3362, 4362, 5517)
Student Directory Information
Board Policy 8330 has established the following information about each student as “directory information” and will make it available upon a legitimate request, unless a parent, guardian or adult student notifies the school district in writing within ten (10) days after receipt of the District’s public notice that he/she will not permit distribution of any or all such information:
- Name, Address
- Phone Number
- Date and Place of Birth
- Height and Weight
- Major Field of Study
- Sports
- If a Member of an Athletic Team
- Dates of Attendance
- Dates of Graduation
- Awards Received
In accordance with State law, the District shall release the names and addresses of students in grades ten through twelve (10-12) to a recruiting officer for any branch of the United States Armed Forces who requests such information. Such data shall not be released if the adult student or student’s parents submit a written request not to release such information.
Student Photographs
During the course of a school year, pictures are taken of students in their classrooms, at various school events and activities, by representatives of the media or by school personnel. At times, such photographs may appear in newspapers, district releases, building or district web pages or individual building publications. The district or individual buildings shall release such photographs of students for public relations or informational purposes unless an adult student or student’s parents submit a written request to the building principal or Superintendent’s office not to release such information.
Student Privacy and Parent Access to Information
The Board of Education respects the privacy rights of parents and their children. No student shall be required, as a part of the school program or the District’s curriculum, without prior written consent of the student (if an adult, or an emancipated minor) or, if an unemancipated minor, or his/her parents, to submit to or participate in any survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning:
A. political affiliations or beliefs of the student or his/her parents;
B. mental or physical problems of the student or his/her family;
C. sex behavior or attitudes;
D. illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
E. critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close, family relationships;
F. legally-recognized privileged and analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;
G. religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or his/her parents; or
H. income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such a program).
Use of Medications
Board Policy 5330 requires that before any medication or treatment may be administered to any student during school hours, a written prescription from the child’s physician accompanied by the written authorization of the parent shall be provided to the student’s school. No student is allowed to provide or sell any type of over-the counter medication to another student. Only medication in its original container, labeled with the date, if a prescription, the student’s name and exact dosage, will be administered.
Video Surveillance and Electronic Monitoring
Board Policy 7440 directs the Superintendent to annually notify parents and students that video surveillance/electronic monitoring systems are being used in certain areas of the schools and on buses. Any information obtained from video surveillance/electronic monitoring systems may only be used to support the orderly operation of the School District’s schools and facilities, and for law enforcement purposes, and not for any other purposes.
Updated: June 28, 2022