District Policies

ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Pequea Valley School District's Asbestos Management Plan has been approved by the Board of Education and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This plan is on file in the District Office and is available for review from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There is also an abstract of the plan in each building which is available for the public to review. Questions about the Asbestos Management Plan should be referred to the Director of Facilities & Grounds at 768-5513.

CHILD ABUSE REPORTING POLICY
The Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (C.P.S.L.) requires school personnel to report situations where they have reason to suspect that a child may be a victim of child abuse. These reports will be made to the Childline Abuse Registry. The Law also directs schools to cooperate with the Children and Youth Agency, which is charged with protecting children and conducting the investigation. It is the policy of this district to comply with the C.P.S.L. to its fullest intent.

COMMUNITY USE OF FACILITIES 
Facility Policy
Rules and Fees (PDF)
Request Form (PDF)

INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURE
The decision to close school or delay for inclement weather will be reported on local radio stations by 6:30 a.m.  When weather conditions develop during the day which make an early dismissal advisable, students will be dismissed in the following order: Elementary schools, then middle school, then high school.

We will continue the use of our Rapid Communication Service to make students and staff aware of school delays and cancellations due to inclement weather.  A call will be made to your primary phone number by 6:30 a.m. in the event of a school closing or delay.

Radio and television stations will be advised of these early dismissals. Please refrain from calling the schools during these situations as telephones are needed for emergency calls. Stations carrying school closing information include: FM 90.3, FM 94.5, FM 96.9, FM 103.3, AM 1490, FM 105.1, FM 101.3, and TV channels 27 and 8, and on-line at www.thewgalchannel.com, or the PVSD website (see Delays-Cancellations on the Home Page).

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Pequea Valley School District, an equal opportunity employer, will not discriminate in employment, educational programs or activities, based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, or because a person is a disabled veteran or a veteran of the Vietnam Era. The district shall provide to all students, without discrimination, course offerings, counseling, assistance, employment, athletics and extracurricular activities. The district shall make reasonable accommodations for identified physical and mental impairments that constitute handicaps and disabilities, consistent with the requirements of federal and state laws and regulations. This policy of non-discrimination extends to all other legally protected classifications. Publication of this policy in this document is in accordance with the state and federal laws including Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Inquiries should be directed to the Superintendent, 504 and Title IX Coordinator, Pequea Valley School District, PO Box 130, Kinzers, PA 17535; 768-5530.

NOTICE OF IDENTITY OF PRIVACY OFFICER AND CONTACT PERSON
If you have a question about your rights to the privacy of your medical records maintained in this office or have a complaint about the Pequea Valley School District's maintenance of your medical privacy, please contact our Assistant Chief of Finance.  The designated Privacy Officer and Contact Person for the Pequea Valley School District is the Assistant Chief of Finance, and can be reached at 717-768-5530.  We promise to address any privacy concerns you might have promptly and with your right to medical privacy in mind. 

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED HEALTH INSURANCE
Policy

POLICE AND CHILD ABUSE CHECKS ON VOLUNTEERS
While requiring school volunteers to obtain Acts 34 and 151 checks may be seen by some volunteers as an invasion of privacy or an unnecessary expense, we also recognize our responsibility for the safety of the students in our care. Therefore, we will not require police and child abuse checks on casual volunteers who appear in the schools infrequently for meetings, fund-raising activities, and those who are working under the direct supervision of district staff.

We do, however, require the following volunteers to submit evidence of both checks before commencing these activities:

• Volunteer coaches
• Volunteers on any overnight trip
• Volunteers who counsel students or meet one-on-one with a student

Act 34 and 151 application fees are to be paid by the volunteers.
http://www.teaching.state.pa.us/teaching/cwp/view.asp?a=13&Q=32413 - Link to obtain forms.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT/HAZING POLICY
It is the policy of Pequea Valley School District that no sexual harassment or hazing be tolerated. Any employee or student who believes he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment or hazing may file a complaint by contacting the Superintendent or Director of Curriculum & Instruction.

TOBACCO USE POLICY
The Pequea Valley School District is a tobacco free district.  School Board policy prohibits tobacco in any form at all times in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, at school bus stops, or in district-owned vehicles.  This applies not only to students, but employees, parents, and visitors as well.

TRANSPORTATION
Students will be picked up and discharged at the same location every day. For any variation to occur, the change must meet all of the following criteria:

• Requests must be submitted in writing, at least 1 week in advance, to the Principal’s Office. No notes will be accepted by Bus Drivers.
• Changes for non-emergency reasons must be in effect for at least a 1-week period.
• Changes may be made only to existing bus stops.
• A different A.M. or P.M. stop can be assigned, but must be the same for each day of the week.
• Adequate seating exists.

Any changes to a student’s transportation schedule, such as change of address, custody, or baby-sitter arrangements, should be reported to the school office. The school secretary will notify the Transportation Office.

District Guidelines

STUDENT ABSENCE
When a student has been absent from school, it is required that a note of explanation be submitted within five (5) school days stating the specific reason for the absence, the date, and signed by the parent. Failure to submit a written excuse within the required time results in the absence being "unexcused." In the secondary schools an attempt is made daily to contact parents by phone to keep them informed when their students are not in school.

COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE
Any student who is entered in school by parents or guardian, who shall be older than seven (7) years, until the age of 17 years, is subject to the regular compulsory attendance laws of the state of Pennsylvania.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS
If you plan to change your address or phone number, please notify the office at the school which your student attends. Upon your notification, the proper change will be made in our records, and necessary information will be forwarded to the new school district at their request.

IMMUNIZATIONS
Pennsylvania law requires that all children attending public, private or parochial schools be fully immunized against the following diseases: Diphtheria (4 doses), Tetanus (4 doses), Polio (3 doses), Measles/Mumps/Rubella (2 doses), Hepatitis B (3 doses), and Chickenpox vaccine (written history of Chickenpox disease or immunity proven by laboratory testing and confirmed by a physician is also acceptable).

Immunizations are required by law as a condition of attendance. Exemptions for these immunizations will only be allowed because of the following reasons:

1. Medical Exemption - A physician must provide a written statement that immunizations may be detrimental to the child's health.
2. Religious Exemption - A parent or guardian must submit a written objection on religious grounds.

Since obtaining the proper immunizations is a condition of school attendance, the law stipulates that failure to get the proper immunizations shall result in the exclusion of the child from school.

MEDICATION
Administration of medication shall be in accordance with state law and Board policy.

Before any medication from home, prescribed or over-the-counter (OTC), may be administered to or by any student during school hours, the Board shall require:

1. The written request from the parent/guardian, giving permission for administration of medication during school hours.
2. A statement from the parent/guardian acknowledging that the school is not responsible for ensuring the medication is taken and relieving the district and its employees of responsibility for the benefits or consequences of the prescribed medication.
3. The written order from the prescribing physician, that states:
   • Name of student.
   • Name of medication.
   • Prescribed dose.
   • Route of administration.
   • Time medication is to be taken.
   • Length of time medication is prescribed.
   • Diagnosis or reason medication is needed, unless confidential.
   • Possible side effects of medication or special considerations.
   • Name and signature of licensed prescriber.

 Orders may be faxed or sent by electronic mail, if necessary.

**There are circumstances, such as immediate change in medication dosage, when oral orders may need to be used, until a written order can be obtained. A CSN, RN or LPN may accept a verbal order for medication or skilled nursing procedures.

**The licensed school health personnel receiving any medication should document the quantity of the medication delivered. This documentation should include the date, time, amount of medication and the signature of the parent/guardian delivering the medication and the licensed school health personnel receiving the medication.

Access to all medications will be limited to approved personnel such as the CSN, RN and LPN, except that in life-threatening emergencies, designated personnel may have access.

In accordance with the standard nursing practice, the nurse may refuse to administer or permit the administration of a medication, which based on his/her assessment and professional judgment, has the potential to be harmful, dangerous or inappropriate. In these cases, the parent/guardian and licensed prescriber will be notified.

Before any school-supplied medication may be administered to any student during school hours, the Board shall require:

1. Written permission from the parent/guardian, for the administration of medication during school hours (parent/guardian consent is not needed for administration of emergency medications during a life-threatening emergency).
2. A statement from the parent/guardian acknowledging that the school is not responsible for ensuring the medication is taken and relieving the district and its employees of responsibility for the benefits or consequences of the prescribed medication.
3. Written orders from the prescribing physician (School MD). These orders are referred to as standing orders and are medical directives written by our school MD. These orders may authorize the use of specific OTC medication and/or emergency medications such as Epi-Pen to be given according to a defined protocol. The nurse’s office in each building must have a signed copy of the standing orders on file.

STANDARDIZED TESTING PROGRAM
The results of these tests provide a continuing record of each child's academic progress in comparison with national and local norms. They are also an invaluable aid to the student's teachers and counselors in diagnosing individual strengths and weaknesses in order to provide more effective individualized instruction. During the school year, the following tests will be administered in the Pequea Valley School District as part of this program. Scores earned by students will be recorded on their permanent record. Although the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is not offered at our high school, it is offered at several area high school locations.

The student’s scores on these tests will be checked carefully and maintained in the school record as long as the student attends school in this system. Should the student transfer to another school system, parents must notify the school and request that the records be transferred. No individual or agency outside the school system will be permitted to inspect the student’s school record without the parents’ written permission. Parents are permitted to examine their student’s permanent record file. They may do so by making an appointment with the principal.