School District Policies

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICIES

In compliance with Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Greenburgh Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of disabling condition, gender, age, race, color, national origin, creed, religion, marital status or sexual orientation in its admissions, educational programs, activities or employee practices. These policies of non-discrimination include the following areas: recruitment and employment of personnel; employment pay and benefits; access by students to educational programs; course offerings; and student activities.

Individuals who need auxiliary aids for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate and benefit equally from programs and services are invited to make their needs and preferences known to the building principal. Parents are to make such requests no later than two weeks prior to the event.

The District officials responsible for compliance issues are the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, Programs, & Personnel, who may be reached at 914-761-6000, ext. 3112, the Assistant Superintendent for Business, who may be reached at 914-761-6000, ext. 3106, and the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, who may be reached at 914-761-6000, ext. 3124.

SCHOOL VISITORS

To promote effective communication between community members and the school system, the Board of Education encourages parents and other citizens to visit the schools periodically during the course of the school year.

The Board recognizes that many visits that occur are regularly scheduled events (e.g., parent-teacher organization meetings, public gatherings, registering of students, etc.). There are also occasions when parents or guardians desire to visit their child’s classroom at other than regularly scheduled times. When such visitations occur, they shall be made on the basis of a defined need and shall be made only with the prior approval of their child’s teacher and/or principal. The Board views these visits as constructive; however, no such visit shall be permitted to interfere with the educational process.

Persons who are not students or staff shall report immediately to the school office upon entering a school building. Persons other than parents, guardians, students or staff, who desire to visit a school building, shall do so only with the permission of an appropriate administrative staff member. 

USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

Community organizations are welcome to utilize school facilities in accordance with Board of Education policy and District regulations. Additional information, including the fee schedule, is available from the Facilities Office (914-761-6000, ext. 3147). Building Use Forms must be filed, and costs, including insurance, must be covered by most organizations.

ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS

Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), parents and students over 18 years of age have a right to: inspect and review the student’s records; request that records be amended to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights; and file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education alleging failure of the District to comply with FERPA and its regulations.

Student records are private unless the parent or student older than 18 consents to disclosure of personally identifiable information. However, FERPA authorizes disclosure of personal information without consent in limited circumstances, such as criminal investigations. The Act assures the confidentiality of records with respect to “third parties” and provides for a hearing procedure through which parents may challenge the contents of their child’s records.

Requests to review records may be made in writing to the building principal.

SCHOOL DISTRICT RECORDS

Most District records are available for public inspection and copying (at a charge of 25 cents per page), in accordance with the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Interested individuals may submit a FOIL request to the District Clerk.

HOMELESS STUDENTS

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act protects the rights of children and youth to have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youths. Contact the Director of Pupil Personnel Services at 914-761-6000, ext. 3124, for further information.

LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY STUDENTS

The District will make every effort to ensure that limited English proficient (LEP) students are provided with an appropriate program. The District ensures that LEP students are:

1. Diagnostically screened for limited English proficiency in accordance with Part 117 of the Commissioner's Regulations. Those students who according to their scores are identified as LEP will be evaluated annually. Included in the evaluation shall be each student's performance in content areas to measure academic progress;
2. Assured access to appropriate instructional and support services including guidance programs; and
3. Assured of having equal opportunities to participate in all school programs and extracurricular activities as do non-LEP students.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

Greenburgh CSD believes that positive parental involvement is essential to student achievement, and thus the Board of Education encourages parental involvement at home (e.g., planned home reading time, informal learning activities, and/or homework “contracts” between parents and children) as well as involvement in school educational planning and operations. Parental involvement may take place in the classroom, during extra-curricular activities and PTA membership. Please contact the building principal for more details.
There are also many committees established by the Board of Education in which parents may become actively involved. For more information, contact the District Clerk at 914-761-6000, ext. 3114.

POTENTIAL USE OF PESTICIDES

New York State Education Law Section 409-H requires all schools to provide written notification to all faculty, staff and persons in parental relation, regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year. Greenburgh is required to maintain a list of faculty, staff and persons in parental relation who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications. 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. If you would like to receive: 48-hour prior notification of pesticide applications that are scheduled to occur in your school; notification of pesticide applications that are scheduled to occur in your school; or for more information, please contact the Director of Facilities at 914-761-6000, ext. 3147.

ASBESTOS

In accordance with the EPA’s Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 (AHERA) (40 CFR Part 763), the District is required to give annual notification stating that the Asbestos Management Plan for each building is available and kept in the main office of each building and in the District’s Central Office. These records are available for review during normal school business hours. In accordance with this Act, a six-month periodic surveillance is conducted in June and December of each year. Before the start of any project, the District will make sure all building occupants are properly notified and all signage will indicate the scope of work. For more information, please contact the Director of Facilities at 914-761-6000, ext. 3147.

TEACHER CERTIFICATION