Policies, Procedures & Required Notifications

Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR)

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.

View our approved APPR Plan on the NY State Education Department website.

View the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Teacher Practice Rubric on the NYSUT website.

View the Multidimensional Principal Performance Rubric on the NY State Education Department website.

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Obtaining Scores

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 your child’s principal in their corresponding school.

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Asbestos Management Plan

As required by the EPA, the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District has kept Asbestos Management Plans for the district. All district-owned facilities were inspected for asbestos and management plans were developed for each building according to requirements. Triennial re-inspections are conducted every three years.

All asbestos-containing materials in the school buildings are in good condition and the district will continue to manage them in place, as recommended by the accredited asbestos management planner in the district’s Inspection and Management Plan.

All custodial and maintenance staff have undergone two-hour Asbestos Awareness Training.

The summary report and management plan on the visual inspection are on file and available for public review from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the ICC Building on Pride Lane behind F-M High School.

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Attendance

School attendance is both a right and a responsibility. The school district is an active partner with students and parents in the task of ensuring that all students meet or exceed the New York State Learning Standards.

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Report an absence

Contact your child’s school to report an absence.

View our Comprehensive Student Attendance Policy, including overall objectives, procedures and what is considered Excused and Unexcused Absences.

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Cell Phone Policy & Procedures (Students and Personal Electronic Devices)

As required by New York State law, district policy prohibits student use of internet-enabled devices during the school day (including all classes, homeroom periods, lunch, recess, study halls, and passing time) on school grounds (any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground, or land contained within the boundary of a school or district or BOCES facility), unless under an exception (e.g., IEP/Section 504 or as permitted below).

View our Students and Personal Electronic Devices Policy and procedures.

Child Abuse Hotline

If you suspect a child is being abused or maltreated (neglected), report it by calling 1(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 on the NYS Office of Children and Family Services’ Child Protective Services website.

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Code of Conduct

The Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment where all members feel included, respected, valued and connected by affirming individual identities, fostering relationships and recognizing diversity as an asset for teaching and learning.

Schools are often referred to as microcosms of society. It seems fitting then  that behavioral expectations within a school community should be governed by an overarching set of tenets applicable equally and consistently to society as a whole.

The school community has the responsibility to preserve societal values related to freedom and democracy. Given this, we all must recognize the necessity of the democratic process of law making and demonstrate its importance through respect for laws, rules, and authority.

View the Code of Conduct.

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Continuation of Operations

See: School District Safety Plan: Appendix U Communicable Disease Plan

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Data Security and Privacy

New York State Education Law gives you the right to information about how the Fayetteville-Manlius School District is safeguarding student and staff data.

Review Board policy #7251 DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY on BoardDocs.

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Data Breach and Who to Contact for Data Security and Privacy Questions

If at any time the district learns that student and/or teacher/principal data has been compromised, parents and guardians will be notified, and the data breach will be reported to the State Education Department.

View Board Policy #5672 INFORMATION SECURITY BREACH AND NOTIFICATION on BoardDocs.

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Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

Fayetteville-Manlius 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 have the right to inspect and review the complete contents of their child’s education record, including any student data maintained by the Fayetteville-Manlius School District. This right of inspection of records is consistent with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Under the more recently adopted regulations (Education Law §2-d), the rights of inspection are extended to include data, meaning parents have the right to inspect or receive copies of any data in their child’s educational record. The New York State Education Department (SED) will develop further policies and procedures related to these rights in the future.
• 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 on the NY State Education Department website.

• Parents have the right to have complaints about possible breaches of student data addressed.

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Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment

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 their child who is at least 18 years old or an emancipated minor.

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Release of Student Directory Information

Student directory information (defined as name, grade, school, town of residence, photograph, participation in activities and/or sports, and any honors or awards received) may be released for publicity purposes to the media or other organizations and/or used in school district publications or on the official district website. Parents/guardians who object to the release of their child’s directory information should notify in writing both the superintendent of schools and their child’s building principal within 14 days of the start of each school year.

See also: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

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Third-Party Vendors: Contracts and Supplemental Information

Learn more about the vendors the district works with:

• F-M Approved Software and Subscriptions
• Additional Approved Software and Subscriptions

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Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) & Report a Bully

The goal of the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) is to provide students with a safe and supportive learning environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying. Some of the law requirements include: establishing anti-harassment and discrimination policies, creating school training programs, and including a course in civility, citizenship and character education in the curriculum for every grade level.

Learn more about DASA and how to report a bully.

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ESSA-Funded Complaint Procedure

New York State Education Department has created a process for resolving complaints alleging that a local educational agency (LEA), grantee or NYSED has violated a law, rule, or regulation in the administration of any “covered Federal program” under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

These procedures offer parents and other stakeholders a process to file complaints and allow for the timely resolution of such complaints. A complainant may include any of the following: parents, public agencies, and other individuals or organizations.

Learn more about ESSA complaint procedures and how to file a complaint on the NY State Education Department website.

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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

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.

Read more about FERPA.

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Fire Inspection Notification

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

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Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)

For access to Fayetteville-Manlius School districts records under New York state’s Freedom of Information Law, please contact the district office.

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Hand Sanitizer Use

The Fayetteville-Manlius School district will be making alcohol-based hand sanitizers available in its school buildings. If parents/guardians wish to opt their child out of using it, they should send a written notice to the school.

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Height and Weight Reporting (Body Mass Index)

As part of a required school health examination, a student is weighed and his/her height is measured. These numbers are used to figure out the student’s body mass index or ‘BMI’. The BMI helps the doctor or nurse know if the student’s weight is in a healthy range or is too high or too low. Recent changes to the New York State Education Law require that BMI and weight status group be included as part of the student’s school health examination. A sample of school districts will be selected to take part in a survey by the New York State Department of Health. If Fayetteville-Manlius is selected to be part of the survey, we will be reporting to New York State Department of Health information about our students’ weight status groups. Only summary information is sent. No names and no information about individual students are sent. However, you may choose to have your child’s information excluded from this survey report.

The information sent to the New York State Department of Health will help health officials develop programs that make it easier for children to be healthier.

If you do not wish to have your child’s weight status group information included as part of the Health Department’s survey this year, please contact your child’s school nurse.

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Information Security Breach and Notification

View the Board policy #5672 INFORMATION SECURITY BREACH AND NOTIFICATION in BoardDocs.

See: Data Security and Privacy.

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Instructional Technology Plan

As required by Commissioner’s Regulation 100.12, the Fayetteville-Manlius maintains an Instructional Technology Plan to help support achievement and engagement through the seamless integration of technology into teaching and learning, improve learning experiences for students and increase equitable access to technology-rich learning experiences for students and staff.

View the Instructional Technology Plan.

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Lead (Water) Testing

According to New York state law, school districts are required every five years to complete a round of lead testing of water outlets used for drinking and cooking, unless the state Commissioner of Health requires testing sooner.

The law requires school districts to sample all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes in buildings that may be occupied by students and to submit those samples to a state approved lab for analysis. The state established an action level of 5 micrograms of lead per liter, typically referred to as “parts per billion (ppb).”

If a sample from a water outlet exceeds this level, schools must take steps to prevent the use of the outlet for drinking or cooking purposes until it is remediated and follow-up testing confirms it is no longer above the action level.

View information summarizing the results of F-M’s water testing and its remediation plans.

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Pesticide Neighbor Notification Law

The F-M School District utilizes an Integrated Pest Management Program in an attempt to eliminate pest hazards. Pesticides will only be used as a last resort. The district maintains a list of persons in parental relation, faculty and staff who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications.

Learn more about Pesticide Neighbor Notification Law.

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Right to Know Notification

As a parent of a student in the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teacher(s) who instruct your child. Federal law allows you to ask certain information about your child’s classroom teacher(s) and requires us to give you this information in a timely manner if you ask for it.

Specifically, you have the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teacher(s):

• Whether any paraprofessionals provide service to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.
• Whether the NYS Education Department has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
• The teacher’s college major and whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of the degree.
• Whether the NYS Education Department has decided that the teacher can teach in the classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulation because of special circumstances.

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School District Safety Plan

Fayetteville-Manlius School District maintains a public School District Safety Plan and confidential building-level School Safety Plans, in accordance with New York state’s Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (S.A.V.E.) Law. A district safety team annually reviews the district-level safety plan, and school safety teams annually review the confidential school-level safety plans.

View the Fayetteville-Manlius School District Safety Plan.

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Teacher Evaluations and Qualifications

The state’s teacher and principal evaluation law requires each classroom teacher and building principal to receive an annual professional performance review (APPR).

See: Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR).

See also: ESSA-Funded Complaint Procedure

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Title I

Some schools in the Fayetteville-Manlius SD are Title I schools. Being a Title I school means receiving federal funding to supplement the school’s existing programs. The funds are used to:

• recruit/hire/retain highly qualified teachers
• identify students experiencing academic difficulties and providing timely assistance to help students’ meet NYS standards
• purchase supplementary materials and supplies
• conduct parent involvement and engagement meetings

Parent’s Right to Know

Being a Title I school also means encouraging parental involvement and advocating for parents’ rights.

As per the Title I legislation, ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) previously titled NCLB (No Child Left Behind), you may request information regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher(s) and paraprofessionals staff.

See Right to Know Notification.

Parent and Engagement Policy

The Parent and Engagement Policy addresses how the school will implement the parental involvement requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It includes…

• The school’s expectations for parents
• How the school will involve parents in decision making
• How the school will work to build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement to improve student academic achievement

Title I parents have the right to be involved in the development of the school’s Parent and Family Engagement Policy.

View our Board Policy #1900 Parent and Family Engagement on BoardDocs.

Complaint Procedures

Parents are also able to place a complaint about their child’s school violating Title I services. 

Learn more about the complaint procedures at the NY State Education Office of ESSA-Funded Programs website.

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Title IX

It is the policy of the Fayetteville-Manlius School District to provide a learning and working environment that is safe, welcoming, and free from discrimination on the basis of sex. Title IX requires the school district not to discriminate.

View the district’s Title IX policies on BoardDocs:

• #0110.1 Sexual Harassment of Students
• #0110.1-R Sexual Harassment of Students (Admin. Reg.)

Reporting Sexual Harassment

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