Meridian High School Student Handbook 2020-21 WE ARE MERIDIAN On behalf of the faculty and staff, I want to welcome you to Meridian High School. Our school is committed to providing you with the best possible high school experience through a diverse and challenging curriculum, a wide variety of student activities and a dedicated and caring staff. Achieving this, however, requires all of us to work together, in unison, and share a level of mutual respect and responsibility. The purpose of this handbook is to familiarize you with our school policies and guidelines. As a student, it is your responsibility to be familiar with the information contained within this handbook. The policies and guidelines, herein, are set so students will know of, and understand, the expectations placed upon them as they relate to our effort in creating positive and active members of the Meridian High School student body. Having a clear understanding of the information contained within this handbook will help to provide you, the student, with the means through which you can create the most productive, positive, and beneficial high school experience. Please note, this handbook is not intended to be all inclusive as it relates to guidelines and policies of the school. Policies, guidelines and particular situations not expressly noted in this handbook are left to the sole discretion of the administration of Meridian High School. I want to wish you all the best as you go through the 2019-20 school year and, remember, We Are Meridian!!. Eric M. Hurelbrink, Principal Meridian High School Meridian High School Office-- 217-764-5233 Meridian High School Fax-- 217-764-5282 Meridian High School Guidance Office-- 217-764-5421 Meridian Community Unit School District # 15 Mission Statement Engaging every student while inspiring success and building dreams. Meridian Community Unit School District #15 Vision Statement Through a unified effort between our staff, Board, administrators, parents and community, we will strive to positively impact the life of each student by instilling pride, the love of learning and academic excellence while meeting their social and emotional needs. We will us an innovative 21st Century learning curriculum and diverse planning to help mold each student’s sense of character and workmanship, providing every student with skills to be successful in life. The administration and staff of Meridian High School believe a sound educational program: 1. Provides students with engaged, hands on, problem solving activities to promote learning 2. Sets high and appropriate standards, with instructional supports, to promote student success 3. Incorporates values, morals, and respect for oneself, and others, through appropriate modeling 4. Provides a high school curriculum and experience that positively responds to the academic, social and emotional needs of all students. This handbook is only a summary of the policies adopted by the Meridian CUSD #15 Board of Education. Complete board adopted policies are available through the Unit Office. Board policies, and the policies of this handbook, are pursuant to the current school year, unless otherwise specifically noted, and are subject to change without prior notice. District Notices Dear Parents: Please read the following statements carefully to better understand the policies and procedures of the school district, as well as your and your child’s rights and responsibilities. The following notices are provided, as required, by state and/or federal statute. Student Handbooks. ​Student Handbooks are approved annually by the Board and will be made available, electronically, or distributed within the first few days of school or at registration. You and your child should become familiar with the content of the handbook. Please contact the principal’s office if you or your child did not receive a handbook or you need a replacement. A Student Handbook Receipt Verification Form is required to be returned asking for both student and parent signature. The handbook is only a summary of board policies that govern the district. These policies are available in paper form in the district office or the building principal’s office. If you have questions or problems locating a policy please contact either the building principal or the district superintendent. We have made several attempts at referencing policy numbers throughout this handbook. As laws change and needs arise, this handbook may be amended without notice. (Policy 7:190) Access to Electronic Networks Electronic networks, including the Internet, are a part of the District's instructional program in order to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. The Superintendent or designee shall develop an implementation plan for this policy. The School District is not responsible for any information that may be lost, damaged, or unavailable when using the network, or for any information that is retrieved or transmitted via the Internet. Furthermore, the District will not be responsible for any unauthorized charges or fees resulting from access to the Internet. Curriculum The use of the District’s electronic networks shall (1) be consistent with the curriculum adopted by the District as well as the varied instructional needs, learning styles, abilities, and developmental levels of the students, and (2) comply with the selection criteria for instructional materials and library-media center materials. Staff members may, consistent with the Superintendent's implementation plan, use the Internet throughout the curriculum. The District’s electronic network is part of the curriculum and is not a public forum for general use. Acceptable Use All use of the District's electronic network must be (1) in support of education and/or research, and be in furtherance of the Board of Education's stated goal, or (2) for a legitimate school business purpose. Use is a privilege, not a right. Students and staff members have no expectation of privacy in any material that is stored, transmitted, or received via the District's electronic network or District computers. General rules for behavior and communications apply when using electronic networks. The District's Authorization for Electronic Network Access contains the appropriate uses, ethics, and protocol. Electronic communications and downloaded material, including files deleted from a user's account but not erased, may be monitored or read by school officials. Internet Safety Each District computer with Internet access shall have a filtering device that blocks entry to visual depictions that are (1) obscene, (2) pornographic, or (3) harmful or inappropriate for students, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act and as determined by the Superintendent or designee. The Superintendent or designee shall enforce the use of such filtering devices. An administrator, supervisor, or other authorized person may disable the filtering device for bona fide research or other lawful purpose, provided the person receives prior permission from the Building Principal. The Superintendent or designee shall include measures in this policy’s implementation plan to address the following: 1. Ensure staff supervision of student access to online electronic networks, 2. Restrict student access to inappropriate matter as well as restricting access to harmful materials, 3. Ensure student and staff privacy, safety, and security when using electronic communications, 4. Restrict unauthorized access, including “hacking” and other unlawful activities, and 5. Restrict unauthorized disclosure, use, and dissemination of personal identification information, such as, names and addresses. Authorization for Electronic Network Access Each staff member must sign the District's ​Authorization for Electronic Network Access as a condition for using the District's electronic network. Each student and his or her parent(s)/guardian(s) must sign the ​Authorization before being granted unsupervised use. All users of the District’s computers to access the Internet shall maintain the confidentiality of student records. Reasonable measures to protect against unreasonable access shall be taken before confidential student information is loaded onto the network. The failure of any student or staff member to follow the terms of the ​Authorization for Electronic Network Access​, or this policy, will result in the loss of privileges, disciplinary action, and/or appropriate legal action. Access to Student Records.​ The Illinois Schools Records Act and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act both address the accesses granted to parents and students. It is suggested parents and students familiarize themselves with these as well as Board Policy 7:340. Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities.​ The district will make reasonable attempts to accommodate those with disabilities the ability to participate in all school activities. Please notify the superintendent what special services or assistance will be required as far in advance as possible. (Policy 8:70) Asbestos Management Plan. ​The asbestos management plans of the Federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act are available in the district administration offices for public review. The district employs an outside asbestos management firm to monitor any areas in the building that may contain asbestos and also participates in a systematic removal process. Bus conduct and electronic recordings on school buses.​ The district has set policies on behavior on school buses that center