Pesticide Notification
The District complies with all legal requirements for record keeping regarding the application of pesticides to school grounds or school facilities and such records are available on request. At least 48 hours before the application of a pesticide to school facilities or school grounds, the District shall notify parents and staff of the planned application by posting a notice in a prominent place in the building and grounds. Following the application of a pesticide to school facilities or grounds, a sign shall be posted at the location of the application. The notice shall state the product name; date, time and specific location of the application; the pest for which the application was made; and a contact name and telephone number. The notice shall remain posted for 24 hours, or longer if required by the label of the pesticide.
If students are not scheduled to be on campus, 48- hour notification is not required.
Your Child’s Picture
Throughout the school year, we like to take pictures of our students participating in various school activities. Often, we publish these pictures as a means of sharing what goes on in our schools with the community. Such publications include, but are not limited to, the Darrington School District newsletter, our website, local newspapers. If you wish that your student not be photographed and include in these publications, please call your child’s school office and complete the necessary paperwork for our file.
Regulation of Dangerous Weapons On School Premises Policy
It is a violation of district policy and state law for any student to carry firearms or dangerous weapons (including but not limited to guns, knives, air guns, numchukkas, throwing stars, sling shots, sand clubs, or metal knuckles) on school premises, school-provided transportation, or areas of other facilities being used exclusively for school activities (RCW 9.41.250).
A violation will result in:
1. Notification of the student’s parents or guardians.
2. Notification of the appropriate law enforcement agency.
3. Disciplinary action including a one (1) year expulsion* for a violation involving a firearm.
*The superintendent may modify the one-year expulsion on a case-by-case basis.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
As a requirement of FERPA, educational agencies must, at a minimum, inform parents/eligible students of the following rights:
1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student (age 18 years) believes are inaccurate or misleading.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
4. The right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
5. The right to a description of who is considered to be a school official and what is considered to be a legitimate educational interest so that information may be shared with that person.
Directory Information
Directory information is defined as information not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. This information may include, but is not limited to:
Name, address, published (not unlisted) telephone number, and electronic mail address
Date and place of birth
Photographs—in classrooms and at school functions
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Field of study
Weight and height of athletes
Enrollment status (full-, part-time, undergraduate, graduate)
Degrees and awards received
Dates of attendance
Most recent previous school attended
Grade level
Directory information cannot include student identification numbers or Social Security numbers. Parents or eligible students (age 18 years) have the right to refuse the disclosure of any or all information on the students that is included in the directory. The schools use discretion in releasing any directory information. However, parents or eligible students (age 18 years) have the right to refuse the disclosure of any or all directory information. If you wish to make this request, please call your child’s school for more information. Your request to “opt out” must be in writing and on file at your child’s school.
Public Notice on Truancy
According to Washington State Code as stated in Darrington School District Policy, all “parents of any child eight years of age and under eighteen years of age shall cause such child to attend school, and such child shall have the responsibility to and therefore shall attend for the full time when such school may be in session unless the child is enrolled in an approved private school, an educational center as provided in chapter 28A.205 RCW, or is receiving home-based instruction. Parents of any child six or seven years old, who have enrolled the child in school, shall cause the child to attend school for the full time when such school may be in session, unless the child is formally withdrawn from enrollment by the parents.” The superintendent may grant exceptions under certain specified conditions. According to the statute as stated in policy, “any law enforcement officer authorized to make arrests can take a truant child into custody without a warrant and must then deliver the child to the parent or to the school.”
Nondiscrimination Policy
The Darrington School District complies with all state and federal rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including language), sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, creed, religion, age, veteran or military status, disability, or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability. This holds true for all district employment and for all students who are interested in participation in educational programs and/or extracurricular activities. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district coordinator for Title IX/Chapter RCW 28A.640, Mr. Cory Ross, and Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying Ms. Linne Haywood, 360-436-1140, or at Darrington School District, P.O. Box 27, Darrington, WA 98241.
Combat Bullying
At Darrington we believe in working together with parents to combat bullying. We know this problem isn’t confined to school grounds. Bullying at school affects and is affected by what happens at home between siblings, what happens in the neighborhood, and what happens when kids go online. We must work together to take immediate action, whether a child bullies, is a victim of bullying, or is a witness to bullying. Here are ten actions you can take to help counter bullying at school.
1. Talk with and listen to your kids - everyday. If your children feel comfortable talking to you before they’re involved in a bullying event, they’re more likely to talk to you after.
2. Spend time at school and recess. Sixty-seven percent of bullying happens when adults are not present. You can make a real difference by volunteering on campus.
3. Be a good example of kindness and leadership. Any time you speak to another person in a mean or abusive way, you’re teaching your child that bullying is ok.
4. Learn the signs. Learn to recognize possible signs of being victimized, and if you suspect that a child might be bullied, talk directly to your child about the situation.
5. Create healthy anti-bullying habits early. As early as kindergarten, it will help to role play what to do (and what not to do) in bullying situations with your child.
6. Help your child’s school address bullying effectively. Whether your children have been bullied or not, you should learn about what their school is doing to address bullying.
7. Establish household rules about bullying. Your children need to know your expectations of how they treat others and how others treat them.
8. Teach your child how to be a good witness. Although it’s never a child’s responsibility to put himself or herself in danger, kids can often effectively diffuse a bullying situation.
9. Teach your child about cyber-bullying. Cyber-bullying is as harmful as physical violence and must not be tolerated.
10. Spread the word that bullying should NOT be “a normal part of childhood.” All forms of bullying are harmful to the perpetrator, the victim, and to witnesses.
Attendance at Darrington Elementary
Mandatory Attendance:
In the State of Washington, school attendance is required by law for all children ages 8 through 17 enrolled in public school. The law can also apply to children ages 6 and 7, if the parent enrolls a child in public school. Everyone should see to it that no child falls through the cracks.
The School Process:
The Becca Bill is intended to stop truancy before it becomes a problem. The law requires schools to take the following actions:
One or Two Unexcused Absences
After each unexcused absence the school will contact the family by phone or email (if provided).
After two unexcused absences, the school must schedule a conference with the parent and student to discuss solutions to improve student’s attendance.
Five Unexcused Absences
If a student has five unexcused absences in a month, the school the parent and school must enter a contract to improve the student’s attendance.
Seven and Ten Unexcused Absences
The school is required to file a petition with juvenile court if the student has seven unexcused absences in a 30-day period or ten unexcused absences in a school year.
RCW 28A.225 – Washington State Compulsory School Attendance and Admission Law
Verification of Absences
1. 1. A students’ absence will be considered excused only when verified by a parent/guardian and the office by:
a. Parent phone call for the day of absence
b. Written excuse signed by the parent
c. Email notification from the parent.
2. Absences must be cleared through the office within 3 days
Child Find Program
Child Find is a federally mandated program whose purpose is to locate and identify children from birth through twenty-one years of age who have disabilities that require special education and/or related services.
Who May refer a child to the Child Find program?
Any person who observes a child they suspect may have a disability may refer the child to the district for screening and possible assessment to determine eligibility.
What is the Process?
The Child Find referral is given to the special programs dept.
The parent is invited to review the information.
If the team, including the parent, determines an assessment is needed, parent written permission will be required.
The assessment is conducted when parent permission is received.
Parents meet with members of the assessment team to discuss the assessment results.
If the team, including the parent, determines the child qualifies, an appropriate individualized Education Plan is developed.
Contact Christy Chittick @ 360.436.2150 for information.