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New Ulm Public Schools 2020-2021 2021-2022 Substitute Teacher Handbook Jeff Bertrang Superintendent of Schools 507-233-6180 [email protected] ISD #88 web page: http://www.newulm.k12.mn.us

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Page 1: 2122 Substitute Teacher Handbook...New Ulm Public Schools 2020-2021 2021-2022 Substitute Teacher Handbook Jeff Bertrang Superintendent of Schools 507-233-6180 jbertrang@newulm.k12.mn.usNew

New Ulm Public Schools

2020-2021 2021-2022

Substitute Teacher

Handbook

Jeff Bertrang Superintendent of Schools

507-233-6180 [email protected]

ISD #88 web page: http://www.newulm.k12.mn.us

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Table of Contents

WELCOME..................................................................................................................................................2DIRECTORYOFINDEPENDENTSCHOOLDISTRICT#88.............................................................2ABOUTOURSCHOOLDISTRICT.........................................................................................................3GENERALDESCRIPTION...................................................................................................................................3SCHOOLS................................................................................................................................................................3

MAPOFDISTRICT88SCHOOLBUILDINGS.....................................................................................4QUALIFICATIONSANDREQUIREMENTS..........................................................................................5PROFESSIONALETHICS.........................................................................................................................6SUBSTITUTETEACHERSYSTEM........................................................................................................6PROCEDURESFORTHEDAY................................................................................................................7INTHECLASSROOM...........................................................................................................................................7EMERGENCY/CRISISPLAN...............................................................................................................................8SCHOOLPOLICIES...............................................................................................................................................8ATTHEENDOFTHEDAY.................................................................................................................................9

GENERALEMPLOYMENTINFORMATION........................................................................................9SUBSTITUTETEACHERCOMPENSATIONPLAN..........................................................................112021-2022SCHOOLCALENDAR.......................................................................................................12SUBSTITUTETEACHER'SASSIGNMENTRECORD.......................................................................13BULLYINGPROHIBITIONPOLICY514............................................................................................14

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WELCOME This booklet is a guide for the substitute teacher program in Independent School District 88. Substitute teachers are valuable assets to our educational process. Whether the stay is short or continues over a long period of time, each time one enters a classroom to teach, the substitute teacher is responsible for the most important resource we have in this district – our children.

DIRECTORY OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #88 Name of School Address Phone District Offices 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

414 S Payne St New Ulm MN

Superintendent’s Office 507-233-6180 Facilities Office 507-233-6185

Food Services Office 507-233-6186 Business Office 507-233-6187

Learning Services Office 507-233-6193 Annex 400 S Payne St New Ulm MN

Kids Connection Office 507-233-6191 Technology Office 507-233-6195

Washington Learning Center 910 – 14th St N New Ulm MN

507-233-8300

Community Education Office 507-233-8307 Early Childhood Family Education 507-233-8308

Jefferson Elementary School 318 S Payne St New Ulm MN

507-233-3500

New Ulm Middle School 414 S Payne St New Ulm MN

507-233-6100

New Ulm High School 1600 Oak St New Ulm MN

507-233-6400

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ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT

GENERALDESCRIPTION ISD #88 is located in Brown, Nicollet and Blue Earth Counties and covers 365 square miles. The population of the school district exceeds 19,000. The communities served in ISD #88 include Cambria, Courtland, Essig, Hanska, Klossner, Lafayette, New Ulm, St. George, and Searles. ISD #88 follows the state guidelines by providing busing outside the two-mile limit and contracts with New Ulm Bus Lines for transportation services. ISD #88 contracts with Chartwells for Food Service Management.

SCHOOLS New Ulm High School is located at 1600 Oak Street. The high school was built in 2016 and encompasses over 167,000 square feet. The building has collaborative learning spaces, outdoor learning areas, a state of the art performing arts center, three gym athletic complex, outside athletic facilities for football, soccer, baseball, tennis, softball and track. The high school educates students in grades 9-12. Career Technical Education (CTE) Center is located at 208 North Valley Street. The CTE Center is a 30,000 square foot industrial building complex that provides spaces for the following programs: Automotive Repair, Auto Body Repair, Construction Trades, Cabinetry, Eagle Enterprise – Student Business, Manufacturing/Fabrication, Machining/Miller, Mechatronics/Robotics, Small Gas Engines/ATV Repair, Welding. This building was donated to New Ulm Public Schools and was renovated in the summer of 2021. New Ulm Middle School is located at 414 South Payne Street. The middle school shares the site with Jefferson Elementary School and the Annex Building. Separating the buildings is a parking lot, with land south of the middle school providing facilities for physical education and athletic practice areas, a track and tennis courts. The present middle school opened in 1966 as a high school. A major addition was added in 1997. A new secure entrance, remodeled spaces, student commons, and new office areas were completed in 2016. The middle school educates students in grades 5-8. Jefferson Elementary School is located at 318 South Payne Street. Jefferson Elementary School shares the site and parking lot with the New Ulm Middle School and the Annex

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Building. The school building was completed in September of 1962. An addition of nine classrooms was completed in 1997. Jefferson Elementary School educates students in grades 1-4. In 2016, a new secure entrance and multipurpose room were added, the office areas remodeled, a new cooler/freezer installed in the kitchen and bathroom upgrades to meet ADA requirements. Washington Learning Center is located on the north side of the city at 910 14th Street North. Washington Learning Center provides programming for Kindergarten, Early Childhood Family Education, Pre-Kindergarten, Little Kids Connection, and Head Start. The school building was completed in 1968. An addition and renovation was completed in 1997. In 2016, the building was remodeled to meet the needs of early learners and community education. Early Childhood Family Education programming and Head Start is also available at this site. The District Offices are located in the Middle School building. The following offices are located in the district offices’ area: Superintendent’s, Business Office, Facilities, Food Service. Meeting rooms include the Boardroom and two Conference Rooms. The Annex Building is located at 400 South Payne Street. Offices located in this building include the Technology Department and Kids Connection. MAP OF DISTRICT 88 SCHOOL BUILDINGS

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QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS There are three general requirements for substitute teaching in ISD 88: 1. A substitute teacher must have a valid and current Minnesota teaching license to be

eligible. To obtain licensure, contact: Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board 1021 Bandana Blvd E, Suite 222 St. Paul, MN 55108-5111 [email protected] Phone: 651-539-4200 Phone hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 2 PM It is the substitute teacher's responsibility to remain currently licensed and to file

such license with the superintendent’s office.

All recertification credits are now recorded online. There is a contact person at each New Ulm school site and credits can be turned into any committee member. Deb Irmiter, Chair Local Continuing Education Committee New Ulm Middle School 414 S Payne St New Ulm MN 56073 Email: [email protected] Please note the current requirements for renewal. These can be checked on the PELSB website or by contacting a committee member. Credits should be turned in as they are earned.

Credits need to be filed with the committee before the end of the school year. 2. An application for substitute teaching must be completed online. The district website

is www.newulm.k12.mn.us. The application process includes the applicant's social security number, which must be on file in the district offices. Please bring verification of this number. Substitute teachers should also have a TRA (Teachers' Retirement Association) number or have applied for one.

3. Other forms to be completed are: a. Request for Employee Social Security Number; b. Form W-4 Form Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate and W-4MN,

Minnesota Employee Withholding Allowance/Exemption Certificate;

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c. ISD 88 Personnel Data Form; d. Employment Eligibility Verification (must have two forms of identification);

e. Background Check Completed Online with Trusted Employees, an MRI Software Company (Fee of $25.00 payable online with a debit or credit card).

As soon as all necessary papers are on file, Absence Management System

(formerly AESOP) will be notified that the substitute teacher’s name is added to the substitute database (see page 7).

If the teaching license has expired, the substitute teacher’s name will be taken off

the list until a current license is on file. PROFESSIONAL ETHICS A substitute teacher may have access to student records and reports. These should be handled with extreme care. Many records are of a confidential nature and are maintained in order to provide information for the professional staff on child development. All such materials should be handled in a confidential manner. Substitute teachers are responsible for knowing the principles of child development, accepted teaching techniques, educational programs, and the rules and regulations of Independent School District 88. These two latter areas can be fulfilled by knowing the information contained in this handbook and by learning about the individual schools in which one teaches. Substitute teachers may encounter many styles of teaching. Substitutes should understand that not all teachers teach in the same manner. Make every effort to carry on the program of the regular teacher and to fit in with the schedule. Maintain professional standards in each teaching situation. The substitute shall not criticize a school, teacher, or student outside of the school or in another school. The principal is the person to hear any concerns substitutes may have. The district reserves the right to terminate the employment of a substitute teacher. Reasons for such action could include lack of initiative, unsatisfactory teaching, inability to arrive at work on time, or undue difficulty with discipline. SUBSTITUTE TEACHER SYSTEM

New Ulm Public Schools has implemented an automated service that has simplified and streamlined the process of obtaining a substitute when services are needed.

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This service is called Absence Management. Absence Management will automatically call the substitute via telephone when a school has an absence that needs to be filled, and then notify the school when the substitute has accepted an assignment. Substitute teachers may also accept days by accessing Absence Management on the Internet. Substitute teachers may access Absence Management via telephone (800) 942-3767 or via Internet at http://www.AesopOnline.com. An informational letter will be sent to the substitute teacher upon being entered into the system. If questions arise regarding Absence Management, please contact Michelle Johnson at (507) 233-6183. Please notify the office of any change of address, phone number, or email address. If substitutes are temporarily unavailable or wish to be removed from the substitute teacher list, please notify the superintendent’s office. The start and end time for substitute teachers is 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for Washington Learning Center, Jefferson Elementary School, New Ulm Middle School, and New Ulm High School.

PROCEDURES FOR THE DAY Substitute teachers should report directly to the principal's office and sign in with the principal's secretary. This is necessary for payroll purposes. Also, this is where substitutes will receive a packet of materials, which will help with the assignment for that day. School procedures, rules, regulations and the specific assignment will be included. Obtain the key (if necessary) to the teacher's room and check the teacher's mailbox. Take from it anything pertinent to the teaching day, but leave any personal or United States mail. Ask about any early morning duties and find out where the first teaching station is located. Begin immediately to become familiar with the teaching day. If the teacher’s lesson plans are not available at the principal’s office or in the room, notify the principal immediately. Knowing that this occasionally happens, the district encourages substitutes to carry a good package of teaching information so that a rewarding and productive day will occur. Other than the 30 minute duty-free lunch period, unscheduled time should be used for grading papers, preparing materials, or doing other needed tasks. Unless directed to do otherwise, save the graded papers for the teacher to see upon his/her return to school. If there are any questions/problems, ask a neighboring teacher or the principal for help.

INTHECLASSROOM The information needed to carry on the regular classroom program should be available at the teaching station. We request that substitutes follow the lesson plans or specific

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teacher instructions as closely as possible. If the lesson plans were not completed, please leave a note of explanation. Become familiar with seating charts, special schedules, a list of student helpers and their assignments, lunch/recess schedule, bell schedule, bus schedule, special seating for assemblies, emergency/crisis plan, and instructions to follow in case of accident or illness of pupils. Be aware that some rules and procedures will vary from building to building such as whether or not to walk the students to/from specialist’s classrooms. A dignified, businesslike, sensitive, warm and respectful attitude toward students usually merits the respect a teacher deserves. If there are students who become major discipline problems and/or disrupt the teaching atmosphere to the extent that the substitute cannot carry on his/her duties, know the procedure to use in contacting an administrator to help resolve the problem. In all other normal teaching situations, the substitute teacher is expected to be able to handle the routine discipline problems and any other normal behavior that is exhibited by students.

EMERGENCY/CRISISPLAN Each classroom has a copy of the Emergency/Crisis Plan that should be located on the wall near the door to exit the classroom. The book is a black 3-ring binder, approximately one-inch thick, with a fire evacuation map located on the front cover. The plan contains information on procedures to follow during an emergency situation.

SCHOOLPOLICIES These policies are general, but very important. They pertain to all school buildings. Substitutes should be aware of specific and detailed policies that each school may have. Classroom materials and supplies should be used with discretion, properly cared for during the day, and left in an orderly fashion at the end of the day. All money collected in the classroom for any reason should be removed from the classroom at the end of the teaching day and turned in to the principal's office in accordance with building procedures. If a person, not connected with the school, wants information about a child or permission to take a child from the room, refer that person to the principal's office and alert the office. Under no circumstances should a child be released without permission from the principal or designee. Order and control should be maintained within classrooms, hallways, playground, or in any area of the school. Techniques other than shouting should be used and at no time

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are substitutes to administer corporal punishment. If there is a problem, notify the principal. All cases of accident or illness are to be reported immediately to the school office. No medicine is to be administered to students. Substitutes are responsible for learning about emergency procedures in each building where they teach. Information concerning students that may be confidential should be kept confidential by the substitute teacher.

ATTHEENDOFTHEDAY When leaving the classroom at the end of the day, please see that the room is orderly and that all windows and classroom doors are closed and locked. The substitute teacher should check out with the principal's secretary at 3:30 p.m. At that time, report anything that happened during the day that the principal should know. Find out at this time if a substitute will be required again for the following day. Return to the school secretary room keys and any packets or forms from the teacher or office. At the end of the assignment, be sure to leave a comprehensive report for the regular teacher. Indicate the work covered, any homework assigned, any discipline problems encountered, and notations regarding any departure from the lesson plans of the regular teacher. Positive statements concerning students or the entire class are important as well. If it is necessary to contact the teacher about any specific information, obtain the teacher's telephone number from the school secretary. GENERAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION Once an individual has applied for a substitute teacher position and has worked in the district in that capacity, they will remain on the list until they have notified the superintendent’s office that they wish to be removed or until the licensure is not current. If current licensure is not on file, the substitute will be notified. To remain on the list, a current, valid teaching license or substitute teaching license must be on file in the superintendent’s office at the beginning of each school year. Substitute pay is based on days worked and reported on an Independent School District

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No. 88 Substitute Teacher Report Form at each school. Payroll will be processed the 15th and 29th of each month. There are no fringe benefits for substitute teaching. Mileage reimbursement may be available for a substitute teacher whose regular assignment is split between two or more buildings. The building principal will have complete information. Social security (FICA), and teacher retirement (TRA) are withheld from the substitute teacher's salary as well as federal and state withholding depending on earnings and number of exemptions claimed. A substitute teacher is covered under Worker's Compensation and the district's liability insurance.

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SUBSTITUTE TEACHER COMPENSATION PLAN 1. Rate of Pay $130.00140.00 Daily Rate (7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) (Includes a 30-minute unpaid

lunch.) (Arrive at 7:30 a.m. or as arranged with the principal.) $16.2517.50 Hourly Rate of Pay 2. Long Term Substitute Situation (31 days or more in the same assignment) Lane BA, Pre-approved long-term substitute teachers will be paid off of the base

salary in the master agreement at the start of their assignment. 3. For substitute teachers in the same assignment, the 31-day eligibility

requirement will not be interrupted if the substitute is ill for two days within the 31-day period. (Sick days are without pay.)

4. Late starts and early dismissals paid in half-day increments or the hourly

rate, whichever is more. 5. If the school district gives the substitute teacher a cancellation notice less than

24 hours prior to service, the substitute will be paid for their time if they report to the school and perform other assigned duties. (Does not apply to snow days and other emergencies)

6. Substitute teachers will be invited to workshops (not paid). 7. Liability insurance is provided by the district. 8. Mileage between buildings will be paid as per district mileage policy if travel is

required for the substitute assignment.

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2021-2022 SCHOOL CALENDAR

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SUBSTITUTE TEACHER'S ASSIGNMENT RECORD NAME OF DATE SCHOOL SUBJECT ABSENT TEACHER REMARKS _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

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BULLYING PROHIBITION POLICY 514 I. PURPOSE

A safe and civil environment is needed for students to learn and attain high academic standards and to promote healthy human relationships. Bullying, like other violent or disruptive behavior, is conduct that interferes with students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to educate students in a safe environment. The school district cannot monitor the activities of students at all times and eliminate all incidents of bullying between students, particularly when students are not under the direct supervision of school personnel. However, to the extent such conduct affects the educational environment of the school district and the rights and welfare of its students and is within the control of the school district in its normal operations, it is the school district’s intent to prevent bullying and to take action to investigate, respond, remediate, and discipline those acts of bullying which have not been successfully prevented. The purpose of this policy is to assist the school district in its goal of preventing and responding to acts of bullying, intimidation, violence, and other similar disruptive behavior.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY A. An act of bullying, by either an individual person or a group of persons, is

expressly prohibited on school district property, at school functions or activities, or on school transportation. This policy also applies to any student whose conduct at any time or in any place constitutes bullying or other prohibited conduct that interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations of the school district or the safety or welfare of the student or other students, or materially and substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or performance or ability to participate in school functions or activities or receive school benefits, services, or privileges. This policy also applies to an act of cyberbullying regardless of whether such act is committed on or off school district property and/or with or without the use of school district resources.

B. No teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school

district shall permit, condone, tolerate or engage in bullying. C. Apparent permission or consent by a person being bullied does not lessen the

prohibitions contained in this policy. D. Retaliation against a victim, good faith reporter, or a witness of bullying is

prohibited. E. False accusations or reports of bullying against another person are prohibited.

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F. A person who engages in an act of bullying, reprisal, or false reporting of bullying or permits, condones, or tolerates bullying, reprisal or false reporting shall be subject to discipline for that act in accordance with school district’s policies and procedures. The school district may take into account the following factors:

1. The developmental and maturity levels of the parties involved; 2. The levels of harm, surrounding circumstances, and nature of the behavior; 3. Past incidences or past or continuing patterns of behavior; 4. The relationship between the parties involved; and 5. The context in which the alleged incidents occurred.

Consequences for persons who commit acts of bullying may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension and/or expulsion. The school district shall employ research-based developmentally appropriate best practices that include preventative and remedial measures and effective discipline for deterring violations of this policy, apply throughout the school district, and foster student, parent, and community participation. Consequences for employees who permit, condone, engage in or tolerate bullying or engage in an act of reprisal or intentional false reporting of bullying may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination or discharge. Consequences for other individuals engaging in acts of bullying may include, but not be limited to, exclusion from school district property and events and/or termination of services and/or contracts.

G. The school district will act to investigate all complaints of bullying and will

discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school district who is found to have violated this policy.

III. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this policy, the definitions included in this section apply. A. “Bullying” means intimidating, threatening, abusive, or harming conduct that is

objectively offensive and:

1. An actual or perceived imbalance of power exists between the student engaging in the prohibited conduct and the target of the prohibited conduct, and the conduct is repeated or forms a pattern; or

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2. Materially and substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or performance or ability to participate in school functions or activities or receive school benefits, services, or privileges.

The term, “bullying, ” specifically includes cyberbullying as defined in this policy. B. “Cyberbullying” means bullying using technology or other electronic

communication, including, but not limited to, a transfer of a sign, signal, writing, image, sound, or data, including a post on a social network Internet website or forum, transmitted through a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device. The term applies to prohibited conduct which occurs on school premises, on school district property, at school functions or activities, on school transportation, or on school computers, networks, forums, and mailing lists, or off school premises to the extent that it substantially and materially disrupts student learning or the school environment.

C. “Immediately” means as soon as possible but in no event longer than 24 hours.

D. “Intimidating, threatening, abusive, or harming conduct” means, but is not limited

to, conduct that does the following:

1. Causes physical harm to a student or a student’s property or causes a student to be in reasonable fear of harm to person or property;

2. Under Minnesota common law, violates a student’s reasonable expectation of

privacy, defames a student, or constitutes intentional infliction of emotional distress against a student; or

3. Is directed at any student or students, including those based on a person’s

actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, sex, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status, physical appearance, sexual orientation including gender identity and expression, academic status related to student performance, disability, or status with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic defined in the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). However, prohibited conduct need not be based on any particular characteristic defined in this paragraph or the MHRA.

E. “On school premises, on school district property, at school functions or activities,

or on school transportation” means all school district buildings, school grounds, and school property or property immediately adjacent to school grounds, school bus stops, school buses, school vehicles, school contracted vehicles, or any other vehicles approved for school district purposes, the area of entrance or departure from school grounds, premises, or events, and all school-related functions, school-sponsored activities, events, or trips. School district property

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also may mean a student’s walking route to or from school for purposes of attending school or school-related functions, activities, or events. While prohibiting bullying at these locations and events, the school district does not represent that it will provide supervision or assume liability at these locations and events.

F. “Prohibited conduct” means bullying or cyberbullying as defined in this policy or

retaliation or reprisal for asserting, alleging, reporting, or providing information about such conduct or knowingly making a false report about bullying.

G. “Remedial response” means a measure to stop and correct prohibited conduct,

prevent prohibited conduct from recurring, and protect, support, and intervene on behalf of a student who is the target or victim of prohibited conduct.

H. “Student” means a student enrolled in a public school or a charter school.

IV. REPORTING PROCEDURE

A. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of bullying or any person

with knowledge or belief of conduct that may constitute bullying shall report the alleged acts immediately to a building principal or designee. A person may report bullying anonymously. However, the school district’s ability to take action against an alleged perpetrator based solely on an anonymous report may be limited.

B. The school district encourages the reporting party or complainant to use the

report form available from the principal of each building or available from the school district office, but oral reports shall be considered complaints as well.

C. The building principal, the principal’s designee, or the building supervisor

(hereinafter “building report taker”) is the person responsible for receiving reports of bullying at the building level. Any person may report bullying directly to the school district’s human rights officer or the superintendent. If the complaint involves the building report taker, the complaint shall be made or filed directly with the human rights officer or the superintendent.

The building report taker shall ensure that this policy and its procedures,

practices, consequences, and sanctions are fairly and fully implemented and shall serve as the primary contact on policy and procedural matters. The building report taker or a third party designated by the school district shall be responsible for the investigation. The building report taker shall provide information about available community resources to the target or victim of the bullying or other prohibited conduct, the perpetrator, and other affected individuals as appropriate.

D. A teacher, school administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other school employee

shall be particularly alert to possible situations, circumstances, or events that

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might include bullying. Any such person who witnesses, observes, receives a report of, or has other knowledge or belief of conduct that may constitute bullying or other prohibited conduct shall make reasonable efforts to address and resolve the bullying or prohibited conduct and shall inform the building report taker immediately. School district personnel who fail to inform the building report taker of conduct that may constitute bullying or other prohibited conduct or who fail to make reasonable efforts to address and resolve the bullying or prohibited conduct in a timely manner may be subject to disciplinary action.

E. Reports of bullying are classified as private educational and/or personnel data

and/or confidential investigative data and will not be disclosed except as permitted by law.

F. Submission of a good faith complaint or report of bullying will not affect the

complainant’s or reporter’s future employment, grades, or work assignments, or educational or work environment.

G. The school district will respect the privacy of the complainant(s), the individual(s)

against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible, consistent with the school district’s obligation to investigate, take appropriate action, and comply with any legal disclosure obligations.

V. SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION

A. Within three days of the receipt of a complaint or report of bullying or other

prohibited conduct, the school district shall undertake or authorize an investigation by school district officials or a third party designated by the school district.

B. The school district may take immediate steps, at its discretion, to protect the

target or victim of the bullying or other prohibited conduct, the complainant, the reporter, and students, or others pending completion of an investigation of bullying, consistent with applicable law.

C. Upon completion of the investigation, the school district will take appropriate

action. Such action may include, but is not limited to, warning, suspension, exclusion, expulsion, transfer, remediation, termination or discharge. Disciplinary consequences will be sufficiently severe to try to deter violations and to appropriately discipline prohibited behavior. School district action taken for violation of this policy will be consistent with the requirements of applicable collective bargaining agreements; applicable statutory authority, including the Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act; school district policies; and regulations.

D. The school district is not authorized to disclose to a victim private educational or

personnel data regarding an alleged perpetrator who is a student or employee of

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the school district. School officials will notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of students who are targets of bullying or other prohibited conduct and the parent(s) or guardian(s) of alleged perpetrators of bullying or other prohibited conduct who have been involved in a reported and confirmed bullying incident of the remedial or disciplinary action taken, to the extent permitted by law.

VI. REPRISAL

The school district will discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school district who retaliates against any person who makes a good faith report of alleged bullying or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation, or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in a proceeding or hearing relating to such bullying. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal, harassment, or intentional disparate treatment.

VII. TRAINING AND EDUCATION A. The school district shall discuss this policy with school personnel and volunteers

and provide appropriate training to school district personnel regarding this policy. The school district shall establish a training cycle for school personnel to occur during a period not to exceed every three school years. Newly employed school personnel must receive the training within the first year of their employment with the school district. The school district or a school administrator may accelerate the training cycle or provide additional training based on a particular need or circumstance. This policy shall be included in employee handbooks, training materials, and publications on school rules, procedures, and standards of conduct, which materials shall also be used to publicize this policy.

B. The school district shall require ongoing professional development, consistent

with Minn. Stat. § 122A.60, to build the skills of all school personnel who regularly interact with students to identify, prevent, and appropriately address bullying and other prohibited conduct. Such professional development includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Developmentally appropriate strategies both to prevent and to immediately

and effectively intervene to stop prohibited conduct;

2. The complex dynamics affecting a perpetrator, target, and witnesses to prohibited conduct;

3. Research on prohibited conduct, including specific categories of students at

risk for perpetrating or being the target or victim of bullying or other prohibited conduct in school;

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4. The incidence and nature of cyberbullying; and 5. Internet safety and cyberbullying.

C. The school district annually will provide education and information to students regarding bullying, including information regarding this school district policy prohibiting bullying, the harmful effects of bullying, and other applicable initiatives to prevent bullying and other prohibited conduct.

D. The administration of the school district is directed to implement programs and

other initiatives to prevent bullying, to respond to bullying in a manner that does not stigmatize the target or victim, and to make resources or referrals to resources available to targets or victims of bullying.

E. The administration is encouraged to provide developmentally appropriate

instruction and is directed to review programmatic instruction to determine if adjustments are necessary to help students identify and prevent or reduce bullying and other prohibited conduct, to value diversity in school and society, to develop and improve students’ knowledge and skills for solving problems, managing conflict, engaging in civil discourse, and recognizing, responding to, and reporting bullying or other prohibited conduct, and to make effective prevention and intervention programs available to students.

The administration must establish strategies for creating a positive school

climate and use evidence-based social-emotional learning to prevent and reduce discrimination and other improper conduct.

The administration is encouraged, to the extent practicable, to take such actions

as it may deem appropriate to accomplish the following:

1. Engage all students in creating a safe and supportive school environment; 2. Partner with parents and other community members to develop and

implement prevention and intervention programs; 3. Engage all students and adults in integrating education, intervention, and

other remedial responses into the school environment; 4. Train student bystanders to intervene in and report incidents of bullying and

other prohibited conduct to the schools’ primary contact person; 5. Teach students to advocate for themselves and others; 6. Prevent inappropriate referrals to special education of students who may

engage in bullying or other prohibited conduct; and

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7. Foster student collaborations that, in turn, foster a safe and supportive school climate.

F. The school district may implement violence prevention and character

development education programs to prevent or reduce policy violations. Such programs may offer instruction on character education including, but not limited to, character qualities such as attentiveness, truthfulness, respect for authority, diligence, gratefulness, self-discipline, patience, forgiveness, respect for others, peacemaking, and resourcefulness.

G. The school district shall inform affected students and their parents of rights they

may have under state and federal data practices laws to obtain access to data related to an incident and their right to contest the accuracy or completeness of the data. The school district may accomplish this requirement by inclusion of all or applicable parts of its protection and privacy of pupil records policy (See MSBA/MASA Model Policy 515) in the student handbook.

VIII. NOTICE

A. The school district will give annual notice of this policy to students, parents or

guardians, and staff, and this policy shall appear in the student handbook.

B. This policy or a summary thereof must be conspicuously posted in the administrative offices of the school district and the office of each school.

C. This policy must be given to each school employee and independent contractor

who regularly interacts with students at the time of initial employment with the school district.

D. Notice of the rights and responsibilities of students and their parents under this

policy must be included in the student discipline policy (See MSBA/MASA Model Policy 506) distributed to parents at the beginning of each school year.

E. This policy shall be available to all parents and other school community

members in an electronic format in the language appearing on the school district’s or a school’s website.

F. The school district shall provide an electronic copy of its most recently amended

policy to the Commissioner of Education.

IX. LEGAL REFERENCES Minn. Stat. Ch. 13 (Minnesota Government Data Practices Act) Minn. Stat. § 120A.05, Subds. 9, 11, 13, and 17 (Definition of Public School) Minn. Stat. § 120B.232 (Character Development Education) Minn. Stat. § 121A.03 (Sexual, Religious and Racial Harassment and Violence)

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Minn. Stat. § 121A.031 (School Student Bullying Policy) Minn. Stat. § 121A.0311 (Notice of Rights and Responsibilities of Students and Parents under the Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act) Minn. Stat. §§ 121A.40-121A.56 (Pupil Fair Dismissal Act) Minn. Stat. § 121A.69 (Hazing Policy) Minn. Stat. § 124D.10 (Charter School) Minn. Stat. Ch. 363A (Minnesota Human Rights Act) 20 U.S.C. § 1232g et seq. (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) 34 C.F.R. §§ 99.1 - 99.67 (Family Educational Rights and Privacy) X. CROSS REFERENCES MSBA/MASA Model Policy 403 (Discipline, Suspension, and Dismissal of School District

Employees) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 413 (Harassment and Violence) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 414 (Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 415 (Mandated Reporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 423 (Employee-Student Relationships) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 501 (School Weapons Policy) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 506 (Student Discipline) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 507 (Corporal Punishment) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 515 (Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 521 (Student Disability Nondiscrimination) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 522 (Student Sex Nondiscrimination) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 524 (Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 525 (Violence Prevention) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 526 (Hazing Prohibition) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 529 (Staff Notification of Violent Behavior by Students) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 709 (Student Transportation Safety Policy) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 711 (Video Recording on School Buses) MSBA/MASA Model Policy 712 (Video Surveillance Other Than on Buses) XI. DATE(S) ADOPTED / REVISED

March 25, 2004 September 23, 2004 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 1/10/05 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 10/12/05 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 4/2/07 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 3/3/10 August 19, 2010 (renumbered - was previously 534) February 10, 2011

Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 2/19/14 June 26, 2014 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 05/28/15 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: March 29, 2016 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 11/16/17

Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: November 29, 2018 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 11/21/19 Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 12/17/2020