Jennifer Blossey
Instructional APPR Request
Pursuant to Education Law Section 3012-d, parents and legal guardians of students may request the final quality rating and composite effectiveness score for each of the teachers and for the principal of the school building to which your child is assigned for the current school year (i.e. the 2017-18 school year). Please be advised that the law does not allow and prohibits the release of any additional information about the individual teacher or principal beyond the final rating and composite score. The purpose of this notice is to inform you of this right and the process by which you may request such information.
Only parents and legal guardians may have access to the final quality rating and composite score of the student's teacher(s) and principal. The School District is required by the law to take reasonable steps to ensure that the person requesting the information is a parent or legal guardian of the student to whom the teacher(s) or principal is assigned. Therefore, any request must be in writing on the form provided with this notice. No oral requests will be honored. The School District may request additional verification such as licenses or other photo identification to verify that the person requesting the information is the parent or legal guardian of the student. In the case of legal guardians, the School District will require proof of guardianship (e.g. court orders, etc.). The status of the requesting person will be verified against other information concerning the student in the possession of the School District (e.g. information of documents submitted at the time of registration) and the requesting person will be notified once his/her request has been verified and approved.
Once the request is approved, an appointment with the administrator, or designated individual authorized to release such information, will be arranged. At the meeting the rating and score will be verbally provided. At this same meeting, the parent or guardian will also receive the required explanation regarding the rating and score to best understand them in the context of teacher evaluation and student performance. In the event a parent or guardian is unable to meet in person, they may receive the information verbally by phone.
Since all of the information needed to establish final teacher and principal ratings and composite scores is not provided until the beginning of school (i.e., final information is often provided by the State Education Department to school districts on or around September 1st), the availability to receive the final rating and composite scores for a student's teacher(s) and principal for the school year shall not be accessible by parents/legal guardians until September 15th each school year. Requests for the information may be made anytime on or after that date.
Please be advised that a teacher or principal may appeal their final rating and composite score. This may impact the timing of when such information can be provided to a parent or guardian since, if an appeal is filed by the teacher or principal to the APPR rating, the rating and composite score will not be available until that appeal process has concluded.
If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact the Superintendent, Jeremy Belfield, at 315-677-9728.
If you would like to request composite scores on your child's teacher(s) and/or principal please complete the request form - click here
Once you complete the form please turn it in to the appropriate office for processing.
- If you are requesting a teacher's score, return the form to the principal of your child's building.
- If you are requesting the score of the building principal, please send the form to the district office.
Federal regulations require that schools be inspected for the presence of asbestos, a toxic material that has been used in the construction industry for a number of years. The District's schools have been inspected for asbestos containing materials and the results of the inspections are contained in the Asbestos Management Plan. This plan has been sent to the state authority in charge of Asbestos Abatement.
The District will take reasonable steps to see that physical risks to students participating in the interscholastic athletic program shall be kept at a minimum by:
- Requiring medical examinations of participants.
- Obtaining certified personnel to coach all varsity, junior varsity, and modified games.
- Ensuring that equipment is both safe and operative within approved guidelines.
It is the belief of the faculty and administration of LaFayette Central School that there is a direct correlation between academic success and school attendance. We feel it is the responsibility of parents/guardians and students to ensure that students attend school and classes on a regular basis. Our philosophy for attendance is that regular class attendance and participation is needed for optimal mastery of each and every course. Also, regular attendance is essential in preparation for the "real world" where promptness and responsibility are important ingredients for career success. We believe that the school and the home must work together to promote these essential values.
The attendance policy of LaFayette Central Schools is designed to not only encourage their diligence in making up work missed during an absence. This policy is one, which hopefully will cause students to prioritize and to be selective in choosing activities, which take them out of their classes. The teacher, regardless of the reason, legal or illegal, will record a class absence.
When a student is absent, the student is expected to contact the teacher(s) to determine what is required to make up the class work of time missed.
Students are expected to be in school except in cases of emergency and/or for reasons listed:
- Illness
- Sickness/Death in Family
- Court Appearance
- Road Test
- Inclement Weather
- Bus Tardy
- Religious Observation
- Medical Appointment
- Educational Field Trip
- College Visitation
When students are absent or tardy, a written excuse signed by a parent or guardian is required when they return to school. If it is necessary to be excused before the end of the school day, the parent or guardian is expected to sign the student out in the Health Office. For specifics regarding the attendance policies, please consult the Student/Parent Handbook or call the respective building principal.
Child Abuse Hotline
Regulations Requiring Posting of the Child Abuse Hotline Telephone Number and Directions to Accessing the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) Website
Working within the school environment, we are all aware of the importance of promptly reporting allegations of child abuse or neglect. As such, addition of section 100.2 (nn) to the Commissioner’s regulations to implement Chapter 105 of the Laws of 2016 now requires school districts and charter schools to post in English and Spanish the toll-free telephone number (1-800-342-3720) operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to receive reports of child abuse or neglect, and directions for accessing the OCFS website http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/.
Specifically, these amendments require this information be posted in clearly visible locations to ensure that they are accessible to students and staff by:
- posting on the district’s and schools’ website(s), where one exists;
- posting in highly visible areas of school buildings;
- making such information available at district- and school building-level administrative offices, where applicable;
- providing such information to parents and persons in parental relation at least once per school year; and
- providing each teacher and administrator in the school with such information.
Schools have the authority to develop their own informational notices to meet this regulation. However, in an effort to assist schools, the New York State Education Department and OCFS have developed sample notifications for schools to post that can be accessed on the New York State Center for School Health website at www.schoolhealthny.com/childabuse.
Additional guidance is also available http://www.p12.nysed.gov/sss/pps/childabuse-neglect/.
The full text of the amended regulation is included as Attachment A. Should you have questions or concerns, please contact Student Support Services at (518) 486-6090 or StudentSupportServices@nysed.gov.
As we know keeping children safe is all of our responsibility. Thank you for your continued dedication and passion in helping keep our children safe.
The following person has been designed to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination polices:
Jeremy Belfield
5955 US Route 20
LaFayette, New York 13084
315-677-9728
Inquiries concerning the application of the LaFayette Central School District non-discrimination policies may also be referred to the U.S. Department of Education,
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
32 Old Slip, 26th Floor
New York, NY 10005
telephone (646) 428-3800 (voice) or
(800) 877-8339 (TTY)
In order to submit a DASA complaint, click on the tip line at the top right-hand corner of the website.
Once you click on the tip line link, select the name of the school and enter the code for each school -
Grimshaw Elementary- the code is GRIMSHAW
Onondaga Nation School - the code is ONS
Jr/Sr High and Big Picture - the code is LANCER
Follow the prompts to submit a complaint. You can also submit a DASA complaint by downloading and emailing the DASA complaint form to your child's school principal.
Students should never feel that it is not safe to come to school and participate in all school activities. They should never be prevented from concentrating on school work because another student or a school staff member is teasing them, making fun of them, pushing them around, or threatening them in some way, because of race, color, weight, national origin (where family comes from), ethnic group, religious practices, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex, or for any other reason. HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION IS PROHIBITED AT SCHOOL.
A student may not act toward another student in a way that reasonable might make that other student feel threatened or unsafe, or that might reasonably make that other student unable to concentrate on their school work, because of the other student's race, color, weight, national origin (where their family comes from), ethnic group, religion, religious practices, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex, or for any other reason. It is against school rules for any student or school staff member to do this by physical actions or by verbal statements, including electronic messages. This kind of conduct is prohibited on school property, on school buses, and at all school-sponsored events.
If you know of a situation that involves harassment or discrimination, please submit a complaint using the tip line or complete the complaint form and contact the appropriate dignity act coordinator(s):
Dasa Compliant Form
The LaFayette Jr./Sr. High School
Jason Ryan, Principal
315-677-3131
C. Grant Grimshaw Elementary School
Nicole Petranchuk, Principal
315-677-3152
Onondaga Nation School
Simone Gonyea, Principal
315-469-6991
The Big Picture School
Susan Osborn, Principal
315-504-1000
The LaFayette CSD has designated certain categories of student information as "directory information." Directory information includes a student's name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major course of study, participation in school activities or sports, weight and height if a member of an athletic team, date of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent school attended, class schedule, photograph, email address, and class roster. If you object to the release of any or all of the directory information listed above, you must do so in writing to the building principal.
LaFayette Schools offers a breakfast and lunch program. The full price breakfast is $1.25 and the full price lunch is $2.65 for students in grades 7-12 and $2.55 for students in grades K-6.
If you feel that your child/children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals, you can obtain an application from the district office or the Food Service Office. You may also submit a Direct Certification Letter. A Direct Certification Letter is sent to the eligible household from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Please submit either of these documents directly to the: School Food Service Office, 5955 US Route 20, LaFayette, New York, 13084 or to your child/children's school office.
Those students eligible for free or reduced-price meals may participate in both the breakfast and lunch programs. Those students eligible for reduced-price meals can pay 25 cents for breakfast and 25 cents for lunch. The cashier at each school will accept cash or a check for the pre-paid meals or you may pre-pay online. See the school website for information about registering for MyNutrikids. It is the District's goal to provide students with access to nutritious no- or low-cost meals each school day and to ensure that a student whose parent/guardian has unpaid meal charges is not shamed or treated differently than a student whose parent/guardian has unpaid meal charges is not shamed or treated differently than a student whose parent/guardian does not have unpaid meal charges.
Our program also offers a charge policy for elementary students who forget their lunch, money, or wish to have breakfast. A reminder is sent home from the school cashier indicating the amount of the charge. We ask that the charges be paid in a timely manner with cash or check made payable to the LaFayette School Food Service Program.
Menus are available each month on the LaFayette Central School website at www.lafayetteschools.org.
If there are any questions about these policies, please call Robert Kennedy, School Lunch Manager, at 315-677-9510.
Reminder - Last year's free or reduced applications are only valid through September 30 of the new school year after which a new application must be on file. Also, please let us know if your kindergartener has a sibling who was eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the previous school year.
The health of your child is very important to us. In order to promote health and wellness and decrease the spread of infectious disease, the following guidelines have been approved by the school physician. We are asking your cooperation in following them and please, for the health of all the students, keep your child home if he/she is sick.
- Please stress the importance of a good night's sleep for maximum performance in the classroom.
- Encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. A breakfast program will be available in all 4 schools this year.
- To help decrease the spread of lice, please ask your child not to use anyone’s' comb or brush or wear anyone's hat. Rashes need to be identified by your physician.
- A student with a temperature of 100 degrees or more will be sent home. If a student has a fever, they should remain home for 24 hours after their temperature returns to normal.
- A student should be kept home for 24 hours after vomiting and will be sent home if he/she vomits in school.
- A student must be kept home a minimum of 5 days after the onset of chicken pox and until all lesions are crested. a child with an ear ache last more than 24 hours should be seen by a physician.
- A child with a sore throat lasting more than 3 days should be seen by a physician.
Within 30 days of the start of the school year, parents of limited English proficient students must be notified if their child is participating in or eligible for a language instruction program for LEP students. After the beginning of the school year, this notification must occur within two weeks. Parents must also be informed of their right to decline their child's enrollment in language instruction programs.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act is a federal law that discusses the public education of children and youth in temporary housing. Under McKinney-Vento and state law, students are considered to be in temporary housing if their nighttime residence is not fixed, regular, and adequate. Are you currently living:
- With relatives, friends, or others because you lost your housing or because of economic hardship?
- In a shelter?
- In a motel or hotel because you have nowhere else to go?
- In inadequate housing?
- Stay in same school, including pre-k, and get free transportation even if it is across district lines;
- immediately enroll in school without records (school records, medical records, vaccination records, proof of residency);
- Get special education services immediately if the student has a current Individualized Education Program (IEP);
- Participate fully in any school activities, including before-or-after school activities;
- Get support services and help with things like school supplies through Title I;
- Get free school meals without filling out an application;
- Get help enrolling in Pre-K, Head Start, other preschool programs, and Early Intervention; and
- Get help preparing and applying for college.
Laurie Holtsbery, School Business Manager (315) 677-5504
The National Junior Honor is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. It is a nationally recognized program for junior high school students. Students are chosen for membership in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) on the basis of scholarship, leadership and character. All students have a fair and equal opportunity to be considered for membership. The selection process must be fair and non-discriminatory.
The LaFayette chapter uses the following selection process:
- All students will be notified by letter of the application procedure.
- Cumulative grade point averages for all 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students are calculated. Eligible students must have an average of 88 or above.
- Notifications will be hand delivered to all eligible students and a letter will be sent home to parents. Application materials will be available in a written and electronic form.
- Each eligible and interested student must complete and return the application by the stated deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.
- Each student will deliver a recommendation form to 3 current or past teachers. The entire Junior High faculty may be asked for assessment of the applicants, using a 1-5-point scale.
- A confidential faculty council, consisting of 5 volunteers, is chosen by the school administration. The members of this council are given copies of the student's activity information, applications, and teacher recommendations in order to rate the students on the qualities of service, leadership, and character.
- All rating forms are tallied by the advisor(s) and given to the faculty council. The council meets to discuss each candidate's credentials. After due consideration, the council votes on each candidate. A simple majority qualifies the student membership.
- Candidates and parents are notified as to whether the application was accepted or rejected for the current semester. Those students not selected for admission are encouraged to apply again the following year.
The LaFayette CSD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, marital status or sexual orientation in the employment and educational opportunities it offers, including vocational educational opportunities. The District is committed to adhering to the non-discrimination provisions of Title VI and TitleVII of the Civil Rights Act and the New York Human Rights Law.
The LaFayette CSD also does not discriminate on the basis of sex with respect to employment or in the educational programs and activities it provides including vocational programs, the appointment of employees, employment pay, benefits and opportunities, counseling services for students, access by students to educational programs, course offerings, textbooks and student activities, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
The LaFayette CSD does not discriminate on the basis of disability in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the New York Human Rights Law. Furthermore, the District does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to its programs. No person shall be denied employment or employment advancement solely because any physical, mental or medical impairment, provided the individual is capable of performing, with or without reasonable accommodation, the essential functions of the job applied for or held.
Inquiries regarding the District's Non-Discrimination Policy should be directed to:
- Title IX Coordinator - Jeremy Belfield, Superintendent for Schools
- Section 504 Coordinator - Karen Ocque, Director of Special Education
- District Records Access Officer - Jeremy Belfield, Superintendent for Schools
- Records Management Officer – Laurie Holtsbery, School Business Official
New York State Education Law Section 409-H, effective July 1, 2001, requires all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools to provide written notification to all persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year.
The LaFayette Central School District is required to maintain a list of persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications
If you would to receive 48-hour prior notification of pesticide applications that are scheduled to occur in your school, please contact James Kesler at (315) 671-4141 to complete the form and return it to the school.
School Children in New York State are required to have physical examinations in grades Pre-K, or K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. All students participating in interscholastic sports must also receive an exam. These exams must be performed after June 1st for the following school year. In addition, all new students are required to have an exam on file within 30 days of entering school. An exam done within one year prior to entrance will be accepted. A physical may also be required for a student being evaluated by the Committee of Special Education.
Each Building nurse may schedule their own physicals directly with the health provider as needed. During physical exams one Registered Nurse and 1 assistant (aide or another nurse) must be present.
Required physicals will be done according to grade level even when repeating a grade. If this presents a financial problem, physicals may be done at school for free.
Any student not in compliance with a required physical by the end of the school year will be referred to the building principal and should NOT be re-admitted in September unless their physical is on file in the Health Office.
The District may disclose any and all educational records, including disciplinary records, and records that were created as a result of a student receiving special education services under Part B of IDEA, to another school or postsecondary institution at which the student seeks or intends to enroll, or after the student has enrolled or transferred, so long as the disclosure is for purposes related to the student's enrollment or transfer.
Pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act, the LaFayette CSD must disclose to military recruiters or institutions or higher learning, upon request, the names, addresses, and telephone number of high school students. The District must also notify parents of their right and the right of the child to request that the District not release such information without prior written parental consent.
Parents wishing to exercise the option to withhold their consent to the release of the above information to military recruiters or institutions of high learning must do so in writing to the building principal.
The Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (S.A.V.E.) legislation became effective July 1, 2001. S.A.V.E. is divided into 5 major sections which include:
- A Code of Conduct
- A School Safety Plan
- Violent Incident Reporting
- Character Education
- Fingerprinting of New Employees
In the classroom, respect is lost or earned by the way the student responds to the teacher as well as to classmates. The student who seldom comes to class prepared, and who is intent on class disruption, will not only risk involvement with the discipline policy but will also lose a most valuable possession...respect.
The Disciplinary Policy is a guide for disposition of standard discipline cases and indicates what can be expected when a student breaks a rule. Discipline cases with extenuating circumstances will be subject to administrative discretion.
- Use of obscene language, apparel with obscene language, possession of obscene literature (including audio recordings).
- Disrespect to a staff member or student. Harassment of a staff member or student. Theft or vandalism of school property.
- Gambling.
- Fighting.
- Cheating.
- Skipping class or leaving school without permission.
- Reckless driving on school property. Assault of a staff member or student.
- Possession of alcohol, narcotics or weapons on school property. Smoking in the building or on school grounds.
- Endangering the safety and welfare of others in the building.
- Displays of affection involving inappropriate physical conduct. Threats against students, staff or building (verbal or physical).
- Any violation of local, state and/or federal law not previously mentioned.
The District shall keep a convenient, accurate, and up--to--date health record of every student. Insofar as the health records include confidential disclosures or findings, they shall be kept confidential.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of students' "education records." For Pre-K through grade 12 students, health records maintained by the School District, including immunization records, are generally considered "educational records" subject to FERPA. In addition, records that the District or school maintains on special education students, including records on services provided to students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are considered "education records" under FERPA. Since student health and medical information in education records is protected by FERPA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) Privacy Rule excludes such information from its coverage.
Generally, these records may not be shared with third parties without written parental consent unless the disclosure meets one of the exceptions to FERPA's general consent requirement. One exception permits the disclosure of education records, without parental consent, to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency, if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals.
Parents have a right under FERPA to inspect and review those health and medical records that are considered "educational records" under FERPA. Individual records may be interpreted by the school's registered professional nurse to administrators, teachers, and other school officials, consistent with law.
Photographs/videotapes of students and/or student work may be used occasionally in district and community publications. If you object to your child(ren)'s photograph or work being used in these publications, you must do so in writing to the building principal.
Parents must be notified of the District's privacy policy. It must offer them the opportunity to excuse their child from any survey that reveals information on personal behavior or political beliefs. Parents must also be notified and offered the chance to exclude their child from actives that include the gathering of personal information about students that could be used for marketing purposes.
Pursuant to New York State Education Law Sections 903 and 904, each year a sample of public-school districts is selected to participate in Student Weight Status Category Reporting. All public-school districts outside of New York City are required to report at least once in a two-year period. This year, LaFayette has been selected. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent.School districts selected to report for the 2019-2020 school year should submit the information from the 2018-2019 health examination/appraisal forms for students who were in grades Pre-K, K, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 during the 2018-2019 school year. All Student Weight Status Category Surveys must be submitted by Tuesday, January 30, 2020. If you wish to have your student's weight status removed from the report, see the following opt out letter.
Teacher Qualifications
In accordance with the Federal No Child Left Behind Act, parents and guardians has the right to request specific information about the professional qualifications of their children's classroom teachers. As a parent/guardian of a student in the LaFayette CSD, you have the right to request the following information for whether:
- The teacher has met NYS qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas he/she teaches;
- The teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which the state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived;
- The teacher’s college major, earned advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of the degrees;
- The qualifications of any instructional aides or similar paraprofessionals who provide services to your child.
Pupil transportation is a support system for our students' education. Special emphasis must be placed on safety while meeting the District's transportation needs. Following are major objectives to serve as a guide in the management of our pupil transportation program:
- To provide safe transportation that includes maintaining appropriate school bus behavior by all students.
- To operate the transportation program efficiently and economically.
- To ensure the transportation meets the requirements of the instructional program, as well as the health and welfare of the students.
- To promote school district community awareness of the entire transportation program, including safety, adequacy, deficiency, and standards of service.
- Any questions or concerns about transportation, please call Ron Cooper at 315-677-9700 or email at RCooper@lafayetteschools.org
The school and its facilities exist primarily for our students and their pursuit of an education.
The Board of Education's policy is that all facilities be used to their fullest extent by community groups providing it does not interfere with the educational program or create additional costs to the District.
Facility use applications may be obtained from the Main Office of each school building. The principal will provide you with the information and application forms which are required to be completed and submitted with a certificate of insurance for approval.
The application forms list in detail the stipulations which must be met in order to gain approval for the use of a school building or facility by a community group.
The school district request at least one week notice prior to the scheduled event.
