| Asbestos | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has guidelines for schools to use in identifying asbestos within buildings. The EPA has designed a system for determining relative risks and suggesting appropriate safety responses. Friable and non-friable asbestos containing materials will be maintained in good condition and appropriate precautions will be followed when the material is disturbed. If there is a need to replace asbestos, it will be replaced with non-asbestos containing containing materials.
Osage school facilities are inspected twice each year. All inspections are done by a certified asbestos inspector, as required. A copy of the district’s asbestos management plan is available for your inspection in our administrative offices. Please direct any questions to Asbestos Program Manager, John Cramer, at 732-5381. |
| At-Risk | The Osage Community School District has established the following definition of “At-Risk”: To the Osage Community School District, an “At-risk student” is any student who needs additional support and who is not meeting the established goals of our educational system (academic, personal/social, career/vocational). At-risk students include, but are not limited to, students in the following groups: homeless, lack of effort/low commitment, poor attendance, low achievement, low socioeconomic status, potential dropout/dropout, misbehavior, parenthood, and/or has a learning disability or emotional disturbance. |
| Bullying and Harassment |
Harassment, bullying and abuse are violations of school district policies, rules and regulations and, in some cases, may also be a violation of criminal or other laws. The school district has the authority to report students violating this rule to law enforcement officials. |
| Cell Phones | Cell phones are not permitted in the classrooms of study halls. The may be used during student’s lunch shift in the cafeteria and before 8:10 am and after 3:10 pm. They should not create any disruption of school operations. The strict code will be followed as written. |
| Child Abuse | All certified school personnel are Mandatory Child Abuse Reporters according to state law. Suspected child abuse must always be reported to the appropriate authorities. |
| Dental Screening | Beginning in 2008, Iowa law requires that children entering kindergarten, ninth grade and out-of-state transfer students receive a screening for dental disease. Proof of the dental screening must be documented on specific forms available from your school nurse.
No child will be prevented from attending school without proof of dental screening. If families have difficulty meeting the requirements, IDPH and local public health will provide assistance to children and schools to ensure that the necessary dental screenings are obtained. IDPH encourages parents of children entering kindergarten or ninth grade to contact their health provider to check their child’s records and make appointments for check-ups if necessary. For more information on dental screenings, contact your school nurse. |
| FERPA Notice | The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) specifies rights related to educational records. This Act gives the parent or guardian the right to:
Contact superintendent Barb Schwamman for more information, or the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Dept. of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-4605. |
| General Education Intervention | The General Education Intervention (GEI) process is available to all students. This process is interactive and ongoing. It involves teams of individuals collaborating with one another to create academic/behavioral intervention designed to meet the diverse needs of individual students. Members of GEI teams include parents, educators, caregivers, administrators, AEA 267 support staff, and others who are knowledgeable about the educational needs of a student.
The purpose of our GEI process is to identify and implement academic/behavioral intervention strategies that address individual student needs in general education classroom settings. The GEI process involves direct and frequent monitoring of student progress in the area of concern. It is also part of the assessment process that is used to determine whether or not a student needs to be considered for special education services. |
| Homeless Education Rights | Each State educational agency shall ensure that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths.
The definition of homelessness as covered by the McKinney-Vento Act is any child or youth without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence is considered “homeless” under the law. This includes students who are:
School districts must make sure students who are homeless can enroll and succeed in school. School districts must make sure these young people receive appropriate services, including transportation, preschool, special education, English language learner services, and vocational education. The school must also make referrals to health care services, dental services, mental health services, or other care providers. Resources can be accessed through the homeless liaison. Please contact Erin Wilson with questions or concerns at ewilson@osage.k12.ia.us or call 732-3102. |
| Human Growth and Development Instruction | In 1988, as a response to national concern about serious health issues in our society and their impact on school children, the Iowa State Legislature passed the Human Growth and Development Act which mandated school districts to develop K-12 Human Growth and Development curriculum. Iowa Code 279.5 requires all Iowa school districts to provide instruction in human growth and development. The law requires the following topics be addressed in some appropriate manner and that a representative committee in each district be responsible for recommending the extent and depth of each topic.
If you have questions or would like to preview materials, contact the building principal. After review, if you decide you do not want your child to participate in the Human Growth and Development instruction, you may inform the principal in writing. |
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Lead Screening |
In 2008, a new law requires documentation that children entering kindergarten have had a blood test to determine lead levels. Please ask your doctor if your child has been tested for lead poisoning in the past, and if they have not, please have the test done. The test should be covered by most insurance companies. Contact your school nurse with questions.
Because lead in the water can cause health problems, the Osage Community Schools have tested all water coolers and found that we have extremely low levels of lead in our water. Sample results are on file in the Superintendent’s office. |
| Level One Investigator - Abuse of Students by School Employees | Recent legislation has specific guidelines pertaining to what will be considered acts of physical or sexual abuse by school employees, including inappropriate as well as intentional sexual behavior towards students. All such activities are clearly in violation of the policies of the Osage Community School District.
To ensure compliance, Superintendent Barb Schwamman (732-5381 or bschwamman@osage.k12.ia.us) has been appointed as the district's Level I investigator, with a designated Level II as his alternate. If the complaint is found to be without grounds, the Level I investigator can cause the complaint to be dropped. If legal action is required, or the incident comes under the auspices of the Department of Human Services, then the appropriate agency is notified. The investigator may also refer the case to the Level II investigator, as can another person if they disagree with the Level I findings. |
| Non-discrimination Statement | Students, parents, employees and others doing business with or performing services for the Osage Community School District are hereby notified that this school district does not discriminate on the basis of age (except students), race, religion, creed, sex, marital status, socio-economic status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability in admission or access to, or treated in, its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the school district’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), 504 or Iowa Code 280.3 is directed to contact the High School Counselor, Osage Community Schools, at 641-732-3102. |
| Open Enrollment Information | Open enrollment is the cost free option by which parents/guardians residing in an Iowa district may enroll their children into another Iowa school district under the terms and conditions of Iowa Code section 282.18 and the administrative rules of the Iowa Department of Education, 281 Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 17.
Contact Renae Trettin at 641-732-5381 or Renae.trettin@osage.k12.ia.us with any questions. |
| Physicals & Immunizations | All students entering preschool and kindergarten must have a current physical along with the state required immunizations. All students entering 9th grade are required to have a physical. Additionally, students in grades 7-12 are required to have an athletic physical prior to participating in extra-curricular sports. Junior high age students often require immunization boosters, so please check with your doctor.
All kindergartners entering school must have the Varicella (chickenpox) immunization or documented history of having the disease. If your child has had the chickenpox, then the vaccine is not needed. However, the year they had the disease will need to be placed in the space for the Varicella on the immunization form. Additionally: The 1977 session of the Iowa Legislature passed a law requiring all children enrolled in school to have begun or completed immunization for the following: Diptheria, pertussis (whooping cough) tetanus, poliomyelitis, rubeola, and rubella. Only those children who have a written medical statement that for health reasons cannot have immunizations, or those who asked for exception to this requirement due to religious reasons, are exempt. The immunization law is strictly enforced. An amendment was adopted by the Iowa Board of Health on November 4, 1998, which requires “at least three doses of hepatitis B vaccine if born on or after July 1, 1994, prior to enrollment in school.” |
| Student Discipline Policies | Breach of discipline is any conduct of students which interferes with the maintenance of school decorum. Acts of behavior which conflict with or disrupt the educational program or which are antagonistic to the welfare of other students and school personnel cannot be tolerated. Insubordination and other misbehavior are incompatible with good citizenship and educational programs. |
| Teacher Qualifications | Parents and guardians of students in the Osage Community School District have the right to learn about the following qualifications of their child’s teachers:
The information is available online at www.state.ia.us/boee, or by contacting your building principal. |
| Tobacco Free Policy | In an effort to provide a healthy, safe and productive environment in which to work and learn, the following board policies have been adopted:
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