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Freeport School District 145 Student/Parent Handbook 2020-2021 SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Anna Alvarado BOARD OF EDUCATION Mr. Jack Sosnowski, President Ms. Martha Furst, Vice President Members Mr. Pete Norman Pastor. Adron Simmons Mr. Ryan Shirley Mr. Alan Greene Mrs. Charlene Williams Our Mission: In partnership with families, students, and the community, we commit to creating an innovative, inclusive, and student-centered learning environment so that all students are equipped and empowered to choose their college, career path, while becoming productive members of their community. Core Values and Beliefs: We commit to making sure that our planning, practices, and the way we evaluate our work will reflect our core values and beliefs: Academic Achievement Continuous Learning & Improvement Parent and Community Partnership Student Focused Equity for all Cultural Awareness and Tolerance 1 Dear Freeport School District Students and Parents, Welcome to School Year 2020-2021. Each new school year brings us a new beginning for ways that we can better serve our students and families. While we remain hopeful that we will have less interruptions this year, we can assure you that our teachers and staff will remain prepared to meet the educational needs of our students during school emergency closures. Our new mission calls us to commit to creating an innovative, inclusive and student-centered learning environment for our students. This handbook has been created to provide our parents and students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with our District policies and regulations that will help ensure a safe learning environment where all students can thrive. We will continue to strive to provide our students the opportunity to build their agency and identity through fair and equitable policies. Our Student Code of Conduct had gone through some revisions with input from our various stakeholder groups. It is important that our Student Code of Conduct demonstrates our commitment to a healthy and safe environment for all students. We understand that we as a District have work to do on addressing the disproportionality of our disciplinary practices towards some of our students. We will focus on progressive disciplinary practices that help our students reflect upon their behaviours and restore their dignity as individuals. We also understand that as adults, we will model professional behaviours that we can be proud of. A strong partnership between home and school is a critical aspect of educating our students. We are grateful to the community for its steadfast support of FSD. Like student success, this support can be measured through quantitative indicators. But, more importantly, we will foster a shared belief and commitment to providing diverse opportunities for our students to feel empowered and engaged so they can achieve and serve. After reviewing the handbook with your child, please feel free to contact our district office if you have any questions. Sincerely, Dr. Anna Alvarado Superintendent of Schools 2 All In for All Kids: Reopening Schools - Fall 2020 Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the impact it is having on all of us, the school district will be easing some policies and procedures until students are able to return to school full time without, or with very limited, restrictions. Please consider the following through this lens: ● I acknowledge what’s working today may not work tomorrow. ● I shall exercise high levels of flexibility and adaptability to ensure all students, staff and parents are supported to achieve effective remote learning and learning in person. ● I understand sometimes I must ignite innovation to solve problems and address challenges. ● I promise to take personal accountability for myself and others in order to maintain all safety protocols. ● I know we are navigating new opportunities and struggles daily, so I will share kindness, empathy and gratitude hoping to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Health & Safety is a priority for the district ensuring students and staff are staying healthy and safe throughout the school day. We encourage all parents to take a temperature reading and check for COVID-19 symptoms each morning your child will be present in our buildings. Students with a fever or any of the symptoms below should stay home and seek medical advice. By sending your child to school, you are certifying the following: ● That your child does not have a fever over 100.4 degrees. ● That your child does not have any of the following symptoms related to COVID-19: ○ Cough ○ Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing ○ Fatigue ○ Muscle or body aches ○ Headache ○ New loss of taste or smell ○ Sore throat ○ Congestion or runny nose ○ Nausea or vomiting ○ Diarrhea There are several other measures in place, some mentioned below, but all are included in the document From Surviving to Thriving: A guidebook for the safe reopening of the Freeport School District 145. The following are a sampling of the measures: ● Monitor and screen students entering schools and/or riding school buses ○ Screenings will take place each day. ○ Students will be temperature checked by staff at the schools as they enter the building or by bus drivers/monitors as they board a school bus. ○ When the temperature is above 100.4, the student will not be able to enter the school to their classroom or board the bus. In each case the student will either return home or be sent to an isolation room in the building to be assessed further by the building nurse. ○ If the student is presenting with symptoms, the student’s parent(s) will be contacted to take the student home. ○ The student cannot return to school until they are fever free without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours and 10 calendar days from when symptoms first appeared, unless otherwise directed by a medical provider. 3 ● Protocols for cleaning and disinfecting the buildings. These procedures will include extra sanitation efforts using certified EPA products in both low/high contact areas including: ○ Countertops ○ Desktops ○ Door handles ○ Water fountains ○ Handrails ○ Light switches ○ Restroom fixtures ● Social distancing will be an expectation. Each staff member and student will maintain a six foot distance from others whenever possible. ● Masks will be required for all students and staff, if students are not able to wear a mask due to extenuating circumstances, please email Jack Code at [email protected] ● Hand washing, or hand sanitizing, will be encouraged throughout the day ○ Before or after meals ○ After washroom breaks ○ After sneezing and coughing, or blowing your nose ○ After touching frequently touched surfaces (door knobs, handrails, etc.) Student Attendance will be altered at the beginning of the school year until further notice. The following plans are in place for students in grades PK-12: ● PK-6: Attendance in person every day; ● 7-12: Attendance has three levels o Students will attend two days per week in person and three days per week remotely, o Students who meet certain criteria will attend four days per week in person and one day remotely, and o Students who meet further criteria will attend five days per week. ● All students are expected to comply with the Freeport School District reopening guidelines in regards to safety protocols related to COVID-19. o The Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health require face masks/coverings to be worn in school by all students, staff and visitors at all times. Masks/Coverings must cover the nose, mouth, and chin. Masks/Coverings assist in protection from the possible spread of COVID-19. o You will wear your mask during the school day. Remain at least 6 ft apart when possible when waiting in line and stay with your group while in the building. Bring a spare mask to school in a sealed bag. Staff will let you know when you may safely remove the mask. ● Students are expected to be in attendance daily. This expectation applies to both in person and remote instruction. o Attendance may be taken by teachers through not only physical presence, but also by completion of assigned work for a specific class during remote learning. o If an absence is necessary, the parent/guardian of a student who is enrolled must authorize all absences from school and notify the school in advance or at the time of the student’s absence. Freeport School District may request written verification from a parent or legal guardian of a student’s absence due to illness. When such absences are frequent and/or prolonged, or in other extenuating circumstances, the parent or legal guardian may be required to obtain such verification from the student’s physician. 4 ● Please refer to Chapter 2, Attendance, Promotion & Graduation, p.19 for a description of an excused absence, an unexcused absence, and an exempt absence. Bell Schedules will change at the beginning of the school year but will return to the bell schedule listed on page 8 once schools are able to open without restrictions. The following changes will take place until further notice: Blackhawk & Lincoln Douglas Center & Empire Jones Farrar 10:10-4:10 9:55-3:55 9:10-3:10 PK AM 9:45-12:05 PK AM 9:45-12:05 PK all day 9:10-3:10 PK PM 1:00-3:10 PK PM 1:00-3:10 PK all day 9:55-3:30 Carl Sandburg Freeport Middle & High Banks/SITE 8:15-2:15 7:25-1:25 8:00-1:00 The Uniformity of Dress policy will be in place but eased until further notice to allow families flexibility in providing clothing for their children. There also will be no Uniform Bank as in the past until further notice. Detailed information on the Uniform Policy and guidelines are specified on pp.

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