Annual Notifications
Asbestos Management Plan
All Hastings Area School System buildings are involved in an Asbestos Management Plan that calls for periodic surveillance of asbestos found in each building. Twice a year an inspection of each building is made to determine if any change in the condition of asbestos has taken place or if any action is needed to maintain a safe environment. Each school building has a specific plan for monitoring asbestos, and the plan is located in each school office. A complete School System plan, for the monitoring of asbestos, is on file at the Administration Office and the asbestos manager’s office, which is located at Hastings Middle School. Any operations and maintenance activity needed for asbestos situations will be performed by trained school personnel when school is not in session. When new or replacement construction is necessary, a non-asbestos material will be used. Any major asbestos removal project will be done by a professionally licensed, and Environmental Protection Agency approved contractor. Any response action to asbestos that is planned or completed in the schools, other than the routine operations and maintenance program, will be reported annually to the public.
Drug & Weapon Free Zone Notifications
Emergency Closing/Delayed Opening of Schools
There are many factors taken into consideration when the decision to close schools must be made, because of inclement weather or other emergency situations. No matter what criteria are used to reach the decision and despite how carefully advance preparations are made an emergency closing may inconvenience some people. Whatever decision is reached, it will not be satisfactory to everyone, but the safety of students always is the primary concern in any emergency closing. Occasionally situations allow the decision to be made well in advance of the next school day, but usually, the decision is made during the early morning hours. Every effort is made to determine an emergency closing no later than 6:30 am, but there may be occasions when conditions don’t permit that. When possible, a “hard-surface roads only” transportation schedule or a delayed opening of the schools will be arranged instead of an emergency closing. As soon as an emergency closing, a delayed opening, or a change in the transportation arrangements is determined, the radio and television stations listed below are notified immediately:
WBCH (1220) WBCH (100.1) WBCK (930) WOOD (Channel 8)
WCUZ (101.3) WKMI (1360) WGRD (97.9) WOTV (Channel 41)
WKZO (590) WKFR (103.3) WOOD (105.7) WXMI (Channel 17)
WOOD (1300) WQLR (106.5) WWMT (Channel 3) WZZM (Channel 13)
Ph. 269-948-4400 Website: www.hassk12.org
Facebook @HastingsAreaSchoolSystem
When a delayed opening is announced, students should not report to school until just prior to the delayed start of classes. When schools are closed because of weather or other conditions, evening classes and activities also may be canceled, and announcements about such cancellations will be made on radio station WBCH. No media announcements will be made when schools are open as usual.
Public Release for Free & Reduced Price School Meals
Immunization Requirements
State law requires that each student entering kindergarten, or a new school district in grades 1 - 12, have a certificate of immunization at the time of registration. Before a child can be permitted to enter or attend school, parents or guardians must present documentation that their child has received all required doses of vaccines or that their child has received at least one dose of each of the required vaccines and is waiting to receive the subsequent doses at the appropriate time intervals. Requirements for children four years through six years of age:
• 4 doses of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP) vaccine and, if a dose was not received on or after the fourth birthday, a booster dose at school entry is required. Most children will have 5 doses.
• 3 doses of any appropriate polio vaccine and if a dose, was not received on or after the fourth birthday, a booster dose at school entry is required. Most children will have 4 doses.
• 2 doses of any appropriate live Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine received after the first birthday, at least 28 days apart, and with one of the doses at or after 15 months of age or current laboratory evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella.
• 3 doses are required, for the Hepatitis B vaccination.
• 1 dose of Varicella (Chickenpox) is required or reliable history of the disease. Requirements for children seven through 18 years of age.
• 4 doses of any appropriate diphtheria and tetanus vaccine are required. If a dose, was not given in the last 10 years, a booster dose of Td is required.
• 3 doses of any appropriate polio vaccine are required.
• 2 doses of the MMR vaccine are required. The first dose must be given on or after the first birthday. The second dose must be given at least 28 days from the first dose.
• 3 doses of the Hepatitis B vaccination are required.
• 1 dose of Varicella (Chickenpox) is required on or after the first birthday but prior to the 13th birthday OR two doses are required, administered at least 28 days apart if the child received the first dose on or after the 13th birthday. Children who have not received the required immunizations will be excluded from school until parents provide proof that all required immunizations have been given, or have a waiver on file. Parents will receive written notification of the necessary immunizations needed for their child before the child is excluded from school.
• Meningococcal: 1 dose for children 11 years of age or older
Notification of Mandatory Special Education Act
Non-Discrimination Notifications
Title IX
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 of the United States Congress specifically states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance...” It is the policy of the Hastings Area School System to fully comply with Title IX. Therefore, the Board of Education, the administration, and the staff of the Hastings Area School System shall continue to take whatever steps may be necessary to prevent sexual discrimination in all educational programs and curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities. The School System’s policy specifies that all students have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from school activities and services. It is a violation of that policy for the administration, teachers, or other staff members to discriminate against students on the basis of sex in disciplinary actions, entitlement and provision of services, selection of courses or programs, counseling services, physical education and athletics, and on the basis of marital or parental status. Likewise, no assistance, such as administrative or staff cooperation, faculty sponsorship, or use of school facilities on school time, shall be provided to any non-school organization or individual when it has been determined that such organization or individual discriminates on the basis of sex. For further information contact either of the district's compliance officers:
Matthew Goebel or Beth Stevens
232 West Grand St., Hastings, MI 49058
Telephone: (269) 948-4400
Fax: (269) 945-6101
Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunity
Hastings Area Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, height, weight, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information or any other legally protected category, (collectively, "Protected Classes"), in its programs and activities, including employment opportunities
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Pesticide Notification
The Hastings Area Schools has a pest management program in the district. As a result, pesticides are occasionally applied in district buildings or on district grounds. Some things you should know about the Hastings Area Schools’ program are: 1) Pesticides are used only as necessary in our buildings to reduce and control the occurrence of insects in the schools and to ensure that buildings meet health code standards. 2) Only State of Michigan licensed pesticide applicators are used. 3) Pesticides are used only in those areas of the buildings in which infestations are likely to occur, such as, food service areas. Pesticides are NOT routinely used throughout the buildings. 4) The district has informed our licensed pesticide applicator that pesticides may NEVER be used in or near district facilities during normal school hours. Regular pesticide applications are normally scheduled once a month and after school has been dismissed, or during other non-school days or hours. According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture rules, rooms sprayed with pesticides must remain unoccupied for at least four hours after application. 5) If due to an emergency situation, a pesticide must be sprayed in or about your child’s school day, you may request to be notified after the spraying has occurred. Remember, such spraying will only take place after school hours or on a day when school is not in session.
If you wish to be notified of such situations, please completed the following form and mail it to:
Matt Goebel, Superintendent
Hastings Area School System
232 West Grand, Hastings, MI 49058
PESTICIDE NOTIFICATION REQUEST
Parent/Guardian/Staff Member Name:_______________________________________________________
Student’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________
Student’s/Staff Member’s School: __________________________________________________________
Street Address _________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip Code ___________________________________________ Telephone _________________
I wish to be notified of any emergency spraying of pesticide in the building of the above school. I understand that emergency spraying will only take place after school hours or on a day when school is not in session.
Parent/Staff Member signature:
_____________________________________________________ Date: _________________
Privacy & Protection Acts/Notifications
School Insurance Information
Sexual Harassment Policy
Sexual harassment of students, employees, or volunteers by other students, employees, or volunteers of the Hastings Area School System is unlawful under both Michigan and federal law and is contrary to the commitment of the School System to provide a stable learning and work environment. The Hastings Area Schools will not tolerate any sexual harassment of students, employees, or volunteers.
Sexual harassment includes making unwelcomed sexual advances, engaging in improper physical contact, making inappropriate sexual comments, or otherwise creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive learning or work environment. All students, employees, and volunteers are expected to conduct themselves with respect for the dignity of others. If a student has concerns about the nature of any conduct or physical contact by an adult or volunteer in the School System, by a fellow student, or by a member of the public, the student immediately should report this concern to the principal of his/her school.
All such reports will be investigated immediately by the School System, and all such reports will be handled discreetly to maintain confidentiality in order to avoid embarrassment and to protect the student making the report. However, it should be understood that the School System is required by law to report child abuse to the Family Independence Agency.
Copies of the School System’s policy and complaint procedure on sexual harassment are available in all school offices and at the Superintendent’s Office, 232 West Grand, Hastings, Michigan.
Annual Parent Notification of Right to Request Teacher Qualifications
Central School, Northeastern School, Southeastern School, Star School, and Middle School receive federal funds for Title I programs that are part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Throughout the school year, we will continue to provide you with important information regarding this law and your child’s education.
You have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom
teacher(s). If you request this information, the district or school will provide you with the following as soon as
possible:
A. If the teacher has met state licensing requirements for the grade level and subjects in which the teacher is providing instruction;
B. If the teacher is teaching under an emergency status for which state licensing requirements have been waived;
C. The type of college degree major of the teacher and the field of discipline for any graduate degree or certificate; and
D. If your child is receiving Title I services from paraprofessionals and, if so, his/her qualifications.
If you would like to request this information please contact Superintendent Matt Goebel, at
(269)948-4400.