Notice is hereby given that the annual inspection for 2024 of the Moravia Central School District for fire hazards that might endanger the lives of students, teachers, employees therein, has been completed and the report is available at the District Office for inspection by all interested persons.

New York State Education Law requires each classroom teacher and school principal to receive an annual professional performance review (APPR) that results in a composite effectiveness score and rating. All parents/guardians have the right to obtain the APPR quality ratings and composite effectiveness scores for their child’s current teacher(s) and principal(s) once they are available. To initiate this request, please contact Superintendent of Schools John Birmingham at (315) 497-2670.

As required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Moravia Central School District maintains asbestos management plans for district buildings. The plans are on file in each principal’s office and collectively at the district office and are available for review during normal business hours. As required, periodic surveillances are conducted every six months. The latest three-year re-inspection was performed in September, 2023. Currently, there are no projects scheduled that will disturb asbestos-containing building material. For more information, contact School Business Administrator Jeff Lawrence at (315) 497-2670.

Being present in school is essential for students to make academic progress. The objective of 
the district’s comprehensive attendance policy is to promote student attendance and identify the process used to address issues related to unexcused absences, incidents of tardiness and early departures. The district utilizes a variety 
of strategies to encourage student attendance including sharing information with students and families, celebrating exemplary attendance, family outreach and imposing sanctions when needed. Communication about attendance expectations and addressing attendance issues is an important part of the policy.  In general, the following types of absences, incidents of tardiness or early departures are considered excused: sickness of student; sickness or death in the family; impassable roads or severe weather conditions; religious observance; and required court appearance. The school will notify parents/guardians when unexcused attendance issues reach specific thresholds identified in the policy. This notification includes letters, phone calls and potentially household visits, depending upon the extent of the attendance issues. School principals work with staff members to regularly review student attendance and develop building and individual plans to address any issues in partnership with students and families.

New York state requires schools to track each student’s body mass index (BMI) and weight status category as part of school health examinations. Every year, the New York State Department of Health surveys some schools for the number of students in each of six possible weight status categories. 
If Moravia Central School District is surveyed by the state, the district will share summary group data only and will not share individual names or information. Parents/guardians who wish to exclude their child’s data from the summary group calculations must contact the middle/high school nurse at (315) 497-2670.

If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling (800) 342-3720, a toll-free, 24-hour hotline operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department. Information about reporting child abuse and maltreatment (neglect) is available online at this link here.

This is a summary of the Code of Conduct adopted by the Moravia Central School Board of Education. Copies of the unabridged code are available in each building principal’s office and on the school district’s website. In order for the Moravia Central School District to provide a safe, healthy, orderly and civil learning environment, we have developed the Code of Conduct, stating its expectations regarding behavior and appearance.  Students, parents, teachers, counselors, administrators and the Board of Education all have certain responsibilities regarding the education of the pupils in the Moravia Central School District. These responsibilities are enumerated in the unabridged Code of Conduct. Students are expected to be prepared to learn and to conduct themselves safely and respectfully. Parents are expected to communicate and cooperate with the Moravia Central School District regarding the education of their children. Teachers are expected to be prepared to teach and to maintain a climate of mutual respect. Counselors are expected to assist students in coping with the pressures of academic and social problems. Administrators are expected to promote a safe, healthy and stimulating academic environment, conducive to learning and student success. 

• Dress Code: All students are expected to dress appropriately and give proper attention to personal cleanliness for all Moravia Central School classes and programs.  All staff should exemplify and reinforce acceptable appearance in an education setting. Attire should not disrupt the educational process, nor should it promote hatred, violence, alcohol, illegal drugs or illegal activity. All clothing must be safe in consideration of the environment. School officials will monitor student dress and intervene when there is a violation of the dress code.
   
• Prohibited Student Conduct: Students are prohibited from engaging in conduct that is disorderly, insubordinate, vulgar, disruptive, violent or threatening of violence, unsafe, illegal or unethical. These rules apply whether in a school building, at a school-sponsored function or while being transported by district-provided transportation to either a school building or a school-sponsored function. In addition, students are prohibited from participating in bullying and harassing behaviors, including cyberbullying, both on and off school property. Behavior that happens off of school property that disrupts the school environment or impedes an individual’s ability to access an education is subject to disciplinary action by the school district. Students who observe violations of these rules of conduct should report the violation to a teacher or other school official.
   
• Discipline: Disciplinary procedures shall be fair, impartial and consider the student’s total school record and the wider circumstance of the event in question. Students are entitled to a measure of due process prior to the more severe penalties. Penalties may range from verbal warnings to suspension and expulsion. School officials are authorized to conduct student searches when there is reasonable suspicion that a law has been violated or that a dangerous situation may exist. 
   
• Discipline of Students with Disabilities: The Moravia Central School District will comply with all state and federal laws when disciplining students with disabilities.
   
• Referral to Law Enforcement and Judicial Authorities:  School officials will report violations of law to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
   
• Visitor and Public Conduct on School Property: Visitors and other members of the public are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with appropriate behavior in an educational setting. No smoking, possessing or drinking of alcohol, or possession, sale, use, manufacture or distribution of drugs is allowed on the property of the Moravia Central School District. Violence and threats of violence are prohibited. All visitors must register at the main office upon entering a school building. Visitors and other members of the public who violate the Code of Conduct are subject to penalty. 

Pursuant to federal law, Moravia Central School District must disclose to military recruiters, upon request, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of high school students. Parents/guardians or students age 18 or older who do not want this information released to military recruiters should contact the Counseling Office.

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides parents/guardians and students who are 18 years of age or older (known as “eligible students”) with certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. Parents/guardians and eligible students have the right to: 

• Inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day a request for access is received by the school. These requests should be submitted to Director of Special Education Christopher Fisher at (315) 497-2670.
   
• Request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights; 
   
• Provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent as outlined below; 
   
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202. 

• Flu Vaccination Reminder

Decisions about student promotion and placement are at the discretion of the appropriate building principal. These decisions are guided by recommendations of teachers and staff members, past academic performance and parent/guardian input. Past academic performance refers to a variety of indicators of student achievement and growth. Promotion and placement decisions are not based solely on student performance on grades 3-8 New York state assessments in English language arts or mathematics. The district’s promotion and placement policy was adopted by the Board of Education following a review by the district administration.

The New York State Technical and Education Assistance Center for Homeless Students (NYS-TEACHS) provides information on its website (e.g., brochures and posters in several languages) about educational services available for  homeless students:  
 

Please click link here.

State law requires school districts to take steps to minimize the idling of the engines of school buses and other school vehicles on school grounds. While students are boarding and departing school buses, the engine should be turned off. Students should be instructed about the importance of getting on and off buses in an orderly and efficient fashion to minimize loading and offloading time. Bus engines should also be off while parked at sporting events and other school activities. Exceptions to this “no idling” policy can be made in cases of emergency, mechanical issues or for necessary heating.

New York State Education Law requires schools to provide written notification to all parents/guardians and staff members regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year. The district maintains a list of all individuals who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications. If you would like to receive these 48-hour notifications of pesticide applications that are scheduled to occur, please contact the building and grounds department at (315) 497-2670, ext. 2061. In the event of an emergency application necessary to protect against an imminent threat to human health, a good faith effort will be made to supply written notification to those on the 48-hour prior notification list. Some pesticide applications are not subject to notification requirements, including anti-microbial products, EPA-designated biopesticides and exempt materials, and when a school remains unoccupied for a continuous 72 hours following an application. For further information on requirements, please contact the building and grounds department.

The Moravia Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, military status, or any other protected status in its educational programs, employment or any other activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Further, it is unlawful for an employer to retaliate against any individual because that person filed a complaint, opposed any unlawful practice or testified or assisted in an investigation or proceeding. Any inquiries and complaints regarding non-discrimination in the district may be referred to: Director of Special Education Christopher Fisher at (315) 497-2670.

The Moravia Central School District is committed to ensuring student privacy in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and district policies. To this end and pursuant to U.S. Department of Education (DOE) regulations (Education Law §2-d), the district is providing the following Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security:

• A student’s personally identifiable information cannot be sold or released for any commercial or marketing purposes. 
   
• Parents/guardians have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child’s education record, including any student data maintained by the Moravia Central School District.
   
• State and federal laws protect the confidentiality of personally identifiable information, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices, including but not limited to, encryption, firewalls and password protection, must be in place when data is stored or transferred.
   
•   A complete list of all student data elements collected by the state is available for public review in an Excel file at this link here.
  
  Parents/guardians may also obtain a copy of this list by writing to the Office of Information & Reporting Services, New York State Education Department, Room 863 EBA, 89 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12234.
• Parents/guardians have the right to have complaints about possible breaches of student data addressed. Complaints should be directed to Superintendent of Schools John Birmingham at (315) 497-2670.

New York State Education Law requires the Moravia Central school District to inform students and parents/guardians of the district’s policy that all eligible students are allowed to participate in a high school graduation ceremony and associated graduation activities with their graduating class 
(i.e., the 12th-grade class with which such student entered into ninth grade). This includes students who have been awarded a Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential or Career Development and Occupational Studies Commencement Credential.

Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school or school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer. 

Consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the district has designated certain categories of personally identifiable student information that it may release without prior written consent. This is known as “directory information.” The purpose of doing this is to enable student activities and accomplishments to be publicized and for the creation of publications such as the annual yearbook, programs for graduations, concerts and other special events, sports activity sheets and honor roll or recognition lists. Achievements are typically publicized on the school website, and through school district social media, releases to the local media and official district publications. Directory information can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.

The district has designated the following types of information as directory information: student’s name; parent’s name; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; photograph; and honors and awards received.

If you do not want any or all of these types of information released pertaining to your child without your prior written consent, please send this request in writing to Mr. Birmingham by Oct. 16, 2023.  While the district will honor the request of any parent who has submitted written notification opting their child out of the release of directory information, the district is not responsible for media that cover news happenings, sporting events or other school events that are open to the public, such as plays and musical performances.

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment provides parents/guardians with certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. In particular, if a survey is funded in whole or part by the U.S. Department of Education, parents/guardians have the right to consent before students are required to complete a survey that asks about any of the following protected areas:

• Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parents/guardians;
• Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
• Sexual behavior or attitudes;
• Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior
• Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
• Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors or ministers;  
• Religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or 
• Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
• Parents/guardians will also receive a notice and an opportunity to opt students out of the following:
  • Any other survey that asks about the above protected areas;
  • Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attending school or school functions, with the exception of physical exams or screenings required or permitted by state law (e.g. hearing, vision, or scoliosis); and
  • Activities involving collection, disclosure or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

Parents/guardians have the right to inspect any surveys that ask about the above protected areas, as well as surveys created by third parties that are used to collect personal information from students for marketing purposes, and instructional materials used as part of the curriculum.

The school district will directly notify parents/guardians of its student privacy policy at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Parents/guardians will also be provided with reasonable notification of specific activities or surveys covered by this policy and the ability to opt their child out of such activities.

These rights transfer from the parents/guardians to a child who is at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor. 

Anyone who believes their rights have been violated may file a complaint with: Family Policy Compliance Office; U.S. Department of Education; 400 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, D.C.  20202.

• Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, parents/guardians have the right to know the professional qualifications of their child’s classroom teachers, including:

  • Whether a teacher has state certification for the grade levels and subjects he or she is teaching;
  • The teacher’s baccalaureate degree major and any other certifications or degrees; and
  • Whether their child receives services from paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
  • Parents/guardians may request their child’s classroom teacher’s professional qualifications by contacting Superintendent of Schools John Birmingham at (315) 497-2670.
  • In addition, schools receiving Title I funds must give parents/guardians notice in the event that:
  • Their child has been assigned to a teacher of  a core academic subject who is not “highly qualified,” and/or
  •  Their child has been taught for four or more weeks in a row by a teacher of a core academic subject who is not “highly qualified.”