Sample Teacher Handbook

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Category: Connections

Published: Monday, 13 July 2015 20:07

Written by Brian Jaeger

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Here's an example of a teacher handbook. It's the standard, non-union-negotiated teacher contract in Wisconsin post Act 10.

Menomonee Falls High School

2013-2014 Staff Handbook

The staff handbook represents the current practices and procedures for Menomonee Falls staff members. Full district policies referred to throughout the handbook are available from the District Office on the district website. Student policies and guidelines for the High School students are available on-line and in the Student Handbook and will not be duplicated in this handbook.

All staff members are responsible for reading and understanding the contents of the staff handbook. Additional information may be added throughout the school year. Staff members will be advised of all changes.

It is understood that the rules contained in this handbook are not all inclusive. The administration may take such action as is necessary and not forbidden by law to insure the discipline and operation of the school. Action may be taken with respect to any offense which interferes with the orderly conduct of the school or which affects the safety and welfare of students either individually or collectively regardless of the existence or non-existence of a rule covering the offense.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

                                                                                                       Page

High School Vision, Mission, Goals, and Action Plan                                                         3-4

Administration & Administrative Responsibilities                                                              4-6

Administrative Assistant Responsibilities                                                                            6

Guidance Counselors                                                                                                             6

Department Manager & Curriculum Chairperson                                                                 7

Parent Newsletter Dates for Publications                                                                              8

Testing & Grade Reporting Dates                                                                                        9

Exam Schedules                                                                                                                     10

POLICIES & GUIDELINES                                                                                                   11

Absence Reporting                                                                                                                 11

Accident/Illness Procedures – Student                                                                                  12

Accident/Illness Procedures-Staff                                                                                         12

Activity Supervision                                                                                                              12-13

Assemblies                                                                                                                             13

Attendance Procedures                                                                                                           13-14

Calendar and Facility Use                                                                                                      14

Care of Building/Classroom                                                                                                  14-15

Cell Phones – Staff                                                                                                                 15

Class/Group Supervision                                                                                                       15

Classroom Responsibilities                                                                                                   15

Closing School – Phone Tree                                                                                                 15

Communication                                                                                                                      16

Complaint Procedure                                                                                                             16

Computer Lab Use                                                                                                                 17

Computer and Technology Use                                                                                              17

Copy Center                                                                                                                            17

Copy Machine – Faculty Use                                                                                                 17

Curriculum Change Request                                                                                                  17

Custodial/Maintenance Requests                                                                                           18

Discipline and Control of Students                                                                                        18-20

Dress Code and Personal Appearance – Staff                                                                                   20-21

Emergency - Ambulance Assistance                                                                                     21

Emergency – Building Evacuation                                                                                        21

Emergency – Fire                                                                                                                   21-22

Emergency – Lockdown                                                                                                         22

Emergency – Tornado                                                                                                                        22-23

Equal Opportunities and Nondiscrimination Policy/Grievance Procedures – Staff             23

Equal Opportunities and Nondiscrimination Policy/Grievance Procedures – Students       23-24

Evaluations                                                                                                                             24-26

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)                                                            27

Field Trips                                                                                                                              27

Guest Speakers                                                                                                                       27

Gymnasium and Pool Use                                                                                                      27

Hall Passes                                                                                                                             27

Hours of Operation                                                                                                                 27

Identification                                                                                                                          28

Keys                                                                                                                                        28

Liability – Teachers                                                                                                               28-29

Make-up Homework Policy for Student Absences                                                               29

Medical Excuses from Physical Education                                                                           29

Parent-Teacher Conferences                                                                                                  30

Parking Regulations for Staff                                                                                                            30

Personnel Policies                                                                                                                  30

Record Keeping                                                                                                                      30-32

School Fusion                                                                                                                         32

Searches of Students                                                                                                              32

Showing Movies/Videos in the Classroom                                                                           32

Social Functions                                                                                                                     32-33

Student Conduct                                                                                                                     33

Student Records                                                                                                                     33

Substitute Teacher Expectations                                                                                            33-34

Supply Requisitions                                                                                                               34

Tobacco Use on School District Premises                                                                             35

Valuables                                                                                                                                35

Visitors                                                                                                                                   35

Withdrawal Procedures                                                                                                          35

Worker’s Compensation                                                                                                        36

Vision and Mission of MFHS

Vision: Menomonee Falls High School pursues excellence ONE student at a time.

Mission: Recognizing challenges of the future, Menomonee Falls High School is the bridge that will lead our youth in pursuit of a productive role in society.

High School Goal, Action Plan, and Major Initiatives

High School Goal (2011-2014): In order to prepare students for post-high school success, students will build critical skills and knowledge in all subject areas aligned with College & Career Readiness standards so that students increase Explore/PLAN/ACT scores with an average composite score of 24 on the ACT by 2014.

Major Initiatives that Align with Goal:

• Alignment of universal interventions/strategies targeting reading, writing, and critical thinking across subjects
• 6 Traits writing
• Cornell Note-Taking
• Reading and critical thinking skills bands associated with Explore-PLAN-ACT
• Vertical alignment of curriculum through Eclipse
• Implementation of technology tools that promote learning and development of skills.
• Celebration of learning around the theme, “School is our Place of Work!”

Action Steps for 2013-2014

• Department Alignment of Goals with HS Goal-focus on strategies associated with writing and critical thinking that align with CCR Standards
• Vertical Alignment of Curriculum 9-12 with development of common assessments around agreed upon learning outcomes.
• Pupil Services-support and assist the co-teaching teams. Provide strategies that can be implemented by teams to maximize this model.
• Assess students using Explore, PLAN, ACT and conduct analysis of students around skills bands.
• Development and Support of Career-based Academies to Integrate Courses around Viable Career Opportunities for Students. Build Healthcare Academy and add Design Academy and Business Academy for 2012-13.
• Literacy Team-focus on 6 traits writing process to build consistent writing expectations across subjects and formats that build critical thinking.
• Resource and Support Team-focus on developing resource guide that assists process of identifying appropriate interventions and providing PD on PBIS (School as Our Place of Work) and progress monitoring (use of data walls).
• Technology Team-focus on modeling/co teaching use of technology tools that support writing/critical thinking strategies.
• Student Services-successful launch of Naviance and E-transcripts. Follow timeline for implementation developed in Spring, 2011.
• Communication-7 Newsletters, website, more effective use of School Fusion pages.

ADMINISTRATION                                 

Corey Golla                High School Principal

Casey Blochowiak      Associate Principal (A-L)

Robert Vitale              Associate Principal (M-Z)

Ryan Anderson           Activities and Athletics Director

Administrative Responsibilities

Administrative Assistant Responsibilities

Responsibilities listed below are only a very basic outline of their main function. Detailed job descriptions will be provided upon request.

Guidance Counselors

Meg Hanley                A-F

Suzanne Zidek                        G-LO

Stacy Schuster                        LU-SA

Jennifer Thom                        SC-Z

Department Manager & Curriculum Chairperson Assignments

Parent Newsletter Publication Schedule

2013-2014

*Submit articles to Eileen Proffitt by the article deadline dates for publication

TESTING DATES 2013-14

2013-2014 Grade Reporting Dates

Exam Schedules

Semester 1 Exam Schedule

Semester 2 Exam Schedule

POLICIES & GUIDELINES                               

All forms that are referenced throughout this document are available in the high school main office unless otherwise specified. Ask a secretary if you need assistance choosing the appropriate form.

Absence Reporting

In compliance with the School District Absence Management Program, all staff members must report all absences, gaining approval from their administrator for absences known in advance, or calling in overnight for an emergency absence. All absences must be reported regardless of whether a substitute is needed or not.

NOTE: Substitute teachers are required by the school district to be in attendance beginning 20 minutes prior to the first bell through the end of the final class period for the class they are covering. They are required to cover supervision assignments during school hours only, not including before or after school supervisions. If covering a supervision assignment does not allow a substitute a 30-minute duty free period, then they may decline to cover that supervision.

CONTACT NUMBER

262-255-8444 (ext 6303)               Absence Management Program Coordinator (Eileen Proffitt)

Advance Notice

Complete the “Request for Pre-arranged Leave” form as far in advance as possible. A confirmation copy of the request will be returned within a few days of your request. This form is available in hard copy. Then use AESOP to enter the absence so that a substitute will be arranged.

Emergency Notice

Staff members who must leave during the school day must advise their supervising administrator that they are leaving and work out substitute needs with the Registrar/Logistics Administrative Assistant who coordinates substitutes before leaving the building.

Leaving the Building for Part of a School Day

All staff members are expected to be in the building throughout the regular school day. For safety and security reasons, if you must leave the building at any time during the school day, you must sign out in the main office

(Kathy Sanders desk –red binder). This includes leaving the building for a lunch period.

Overnight Notice

Log into AESOP and enter your notice of absence through this system up until 7:00 AM the morning of your absence even for non-student contact days. After 7:00AM, please contact the Absence Management Program Coordinator (Eileen 262-255-8444 ext. 6303) to report the absence so that a substitute can be arranged immediately. You may request a specific substitute, but it is not guaranteed that they will be available.

• DO NOT give lesson plans to the Substitute Coordinator.

When logging an absence in AESOP, please note the following information:

• Whether a substitute is needed or not
• Duration of absence (if less than a full day – leave the hours)

Compensated Leave

Per the MFEA agreement, an employee may request up to two (2) days of compensated leave for business, which cannot be reasonably conducted outside of the school day. To apply, an employee shall:

1. Complete the Compensated Leave form to request the absence
2. Give at least 3 school days notice for approval
3. Provide the necessary criteria from Appendix D in the request.

The principal shall respond in a timely manner. Leave denied by the principal may be appealed by the superintendent. The appeal must be made in writing to the superintendent no more than three days after the principal’s denial.

Professional Leave Request

Procedures to be followed for conferences, visitations, workshops, and other professional opportunities involving school time or expenses are as follows:

• Obtain the following forms from the Principal's secretary: Conference Request Form.
• Complete the form and return to the Principal's secretary no later than 14 days prior to the event for approval and processing through the District Office.
• Once the Principal has approved your request, the form will be forwarded to district office for approval.
• Place a notice of absence in the AESOP system as soon as possible to report your absence after the leave request has been approved.
• Keep accurate detailed records of expenditures. You must keep receipts for all expenditures that will require reimbursement.
• After your return, complete the District Expense Form. Return the completed form, along with all receipts, and a copy of the Conference Request form.

Accident / Illness Procedure and Report-Student

Any time a student is injured while on school grounds, an Incident Report must be completed by the staff member most directly involved in the occurrence, and should be submitted to the Principal’s secretary immediately following the occurrence. The staff member must also notify a parent/guardian regarding all injuries. An insurance company may deny a claim if the incident/accident report is not filed promptly.

Accident / Illness Procedure and Report-Staff

Any time a staff member is injured while on school grounds, an Incident Report must be completed by the staff member most directly involved in the occurrence, and should be submitted to the Principal’s Secretary immediately following the occurrence. An insurance company may deny a claim if the accident report is not filed promptly.

Make sure to report all injuries, whether or not you seem hurt at the time and whether or not you plan to go to the doctor. This is extremely important in keeping the District worker's compensation insurance costs down.

Activity Supervision

Supervision of activities throughout the school year is available for all staff members. Sign-up is usually at the end of the school year for the following school year. It is strictly by choice and is paid. Assignment of these supervisory duties is handled through the Activity/Athletic Office. See the Activities/Athletics Coordinator for more information about available assignments and pay scale. Supervisory assignments include, but are not limited to, the events listed below.

Assemblies

Assemblies are considered a regular part of the curriculum, and are designed to be educational or entertaining. The purpose of assemblies is to provide opportunities for students to practice normal audience behavior in a large group setting during the school day. Regardless of the type of program, courtesy demands that the student-body be respectful and appreciative.

Education of proper audience behavior will be conducted by all faculty members for students throughout the school year. Guidelines and procedures will be given to teachers prior to the each assembly.

Faculty Assembly Procedures

1. All faculty members are expected to learn the proper assembly procedures and etiquette for students and to remind students of these procedures before each assembly.
2. All faculty members are responsible for supervising students from their classroom/homeroom and responding to inappropriate behavior.
3. If necessary, student behavioral incidents should be entered in Powerschool through “Log Entry” for administrative follow-up.

Attendance Procedures

Attendance is done on-line via PowerSchool. Attendance should be entered at the beginning of each class period within the first 10 minutes. Students who arrive late to class should be allowed into class and engaged in the classroom activities. Students who are late unexcused should be marked as unexcused tardy. Students are to be given a detention or other natural consequence for the unexcused tardy. If a student comes late to class with a legitimate pass and arrives within a reasonable amount of time, the student should be marked as EXCUSED TARDY (ET). If you mark a student Absent at the beginning of the period, and they arrive to class, please remember to go back in and change the attendance record to reflect that they were Tardy.

Because the computer system is designed to download into a phone machine, which calls home for every unexcused absence, please log any corrections by 2:45pm.

FIELD TRIPS: Attendance rosters must be provided in advance when completing the Field Trip Authorization form (see information on Field Trips later in this handbook).

Important! Take attendance for your group and send it to the Attendance Office before leaving on the field trip. In case of an emergency, we need to know if a student is in class or out of the building.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: Students have 48 hours to clear an unexcused absence. After 48 hours, absences will remain unexcused. Do not send students to the Associate Principal if they have an unexcused absence. Consider the absence unexcused (truant).

Excessive Excused Absences

When a student has excessive excused absences in a nine-week period, an attendance notification letter may be sent to the parent/guardian. After ten (10) excused absences in a semester, the procedures for truancy may be used including a conference scheduled with the parent/guardian. Truancy procedures will not be used related to absences for contagious diseases, surgery, hospitalization, etc.

Planned Absences Deemed To Have Educational Benefit

Whenever an absence is anticipated (i.e. vacations, college visitations, medical appointments, etc.), parents must excuse the absence as far in advance as possible. Parents may call, send a written note, or email the attendance office to excuse an absence. When students make this absence known to the teacher, every effort should be made to complete assigned work in advance of the absence.

Calendar

The Menomonee Falls High School master school calendar located on the school website is organized by administration and includes all facility requests. All school events must be recorded on this calendar to avoid event and facility conflicts. You are responsible for entering every event that uses ANY of the high school rooms or areas in the high school. This includes each and every room such as the auditorium, gym, library, cafeteria, pool, etc. Requests should be entered at least 14 days prior to the event date. Once the request is approved, confirmation will be emailed to the originator of the request.

Events/meetings that are planned for individual teacher’s classrooms must also be reported when scheduled after regular school hours. Without this information the office staff cannot distribute adequate information, and proper custodial coverage cannot be scheduled. For more information, contact Shirley Smith in the Athletic Office.

Care of Building/Classroom

Each teacher is responsible for the condition of his/her classroom and the furniture in the room assigned. A Work Order must be completed for all needed repairs and cleaning needs. Fill out a separate request for each job needed and turn it in to the Head Custodian of your building. Teachers should keep their room in good order to exemplify the value of neatness and systematic efficiency to those they teach.

Cleaning Personal Space

Staff members, who are cleaning personal space in their offices or classrooms, must use school sanctioned cleaning supplies. Contact the head custodian for supplies.

Painting Projects by Students and Teachers

Any painting project proposed for completion by students and/or teachers must be submitted to the Principal to make a determination of the suitability of the project. If approved by the Principal, it will then be forwarded for final approval to the School District Operations Manager. The Manager will determine if the proposed project should be completed by the custodial staff or by the student/teacher.

Placing Posters on Walls

Posters or flyers should only be placed in designated areas in the hallways. Non-school related events are not to be advertised on school walls or bulletin boards without permission from a school administrator. An administrator, or designee, must also approve all posters for school events. All approved posters must have the stamp of approval from the main office. If posters do not have this, they will be removed.

Reporting Spills

It is extremely important that all spills be reported to the head custodian in your building immediately. Failure to clean up spills as quickly as possible can result in stains or mold build-up.

Vandalism or Theft of School Property

In cases where vandalism or theft of school property is discovered, an Incident Report should be completed and turned in at the main high school office immediately.

Cell Phones (staff)

To enhance and maintain a productive atmosphere for education, instructors should silence all electronic devices before beginning class. Staff should model appropriate use of electronic devices so that students learn through example how to effectively use the devices in professional settings.

Class/Group Supervision

On the Premises

If a group is under your supervision, you must be with them at all times. This holds true for all activities either athletic or non-athletic. Teachers are not to start the group and then leave them.

1. DO NOT send students on errands.
2. DO NOT have classroom students do certain tasks or jobs that are not connected to their academic class work.
3. Be present at all times. Be in a position to supervise students. This is especially true within the class or room. If an accident occurs when a teacher/coach/advisor is absent, they have complete personal responsibility. Any faculty member who needs to be out of their room at times should talk to an administrator about ways to handle those situations.

Off the Premises

Whenever students are taken on a trip, the teacher in charge should take certain precautions. All drivers are to be responsible adults. Failure to observe this will place full responsibility upon the teacher. On field trips, etc., be sure to have your trip planned and supervised so that no member of the group will be unattended at any time. For more detailed instructions about Field Trips, read through the section on Field Trips later in this chapter.

Classroom Responsibilities

Arriving in Class and Leaving Class

Teachers are contracted to work daily from 7:30 to 3:30. Teachers should arrange to be outside of their classroom door each class period during passing time. Teachers should not leave a class during the period unless there is a strong reason for doing so. Teachers, who take classes out of the classroom during the school day for a field trip, going to the school library, or for any other reason, must post a note on the door designating where they are in case of an emergency, and call the Attendance Clerk to advise.

Starting and Ending Class

Start your class the first day with the idea of promptness. All students should be in their respective seats and reasonably quiet at the time the bell rings. This will enable you to start class without delay. To be fair to students, you must end just as promptly, so students are not late to their next class. Students should remain seated and not be allowed to gather at the door until the dismissal bell rings.

Closing School – Telephone Chain

There may be times throughout the school year when it is necessary, due to weather or other emergencies, to close the school. When this happens it is necessary to have a plan in place for contacting all staff members. School Messenger will be used to communicate these closings. In addition to the School Messenger, there will be an emergency phone tree created (in case School Messenger is dysfunctional) and announcements made on local TV and radio stations.

Communication

Updating PowerSchool Grades

Teachers should enter grades into Powerschool within 48 hours of students handing it in for assessments, quizzes. For longer papers or projects, teacher should post the grades within 5 days of the student due date. A major function of grading is to communicate a student’s progress to parents and students.

Daily Announcements

Announcements are read daily at the end of third period. There will be a bell to end the third period. Students should remain in class to listen to announcements. A second bell will release students after announcements. Announcements are also posted on the school website and on the bulletin board outside the Athletic Office daily. Announcements are due in email form by 8:30AM to the activities/athletics secretary the day the announcement is to be made. The Friday announcements are taped on Thursday as early as 1^st Hour. Therefore any announcement you want on GMF should be submitted by the end of the day on Wednesday. Because there is a limited time allotted for announcements to be read, it is important that written announcements are kept as short as possible. Long listings of names for sporting or other events may be edited or omitted for the sake of time. Last minute announcements received in the office may be omitted if there is not enough time. All announcements must be school related.

Teachers in class during announcements are responsible for keeping their classrooms quiet enough for all students to hear.

E-Mail

The majority of staff members are set up with campus E-mail. It is important that all staff members learn how to use this communication effectively as it is used extensively to communicate important information on a daily basis. Administration will use this communication channel to distribute important publications and announcements. Therefore, it is extremely important that staff members check their E-mail, at the very minimum three times each day: once in the morning upon arrival; once during a lunch period; and again before leaving the building for the day. When receiving emails from parents, students, or administration, please respond within 24 hours. See the Computer and Technology Use section for details.

Substitute teachers should not access email or turn on a teacher’s computer at any time, unless otherwise instructed.

Mailboxes

Each staff member is assigned a mailbox, which is located in the main office. All staff members are asked to retrieve their mail prior to the beginning of each school day, after lunch, and again at the end of the day to make sure important messages are received in a timely fashion. For confidentiality reasons, teachers may not send students to pick up their mail.

Staff Bulletin Boards

Staff bulletin boards are posted in each building for official notices only, and are maintained by the school administration. Teachers should take time to check the bulletin board daily for important information.

Complaint Procedures

Legitimate complaints on the part of a student, teacher, parent or community member relative to the school or its operations should be made to the Principal. Complaints must be in writing to be recognized and resolved appropriately. Complaints received will be forwarded to the person(s) in charge, and the complainant will be contacted for further information, discussion, and resolution of the situation.

Computer Lab Use

Menomonee Falls High School has computer labs available to reserve for classroom use.

To reserve a computer lab or mobile lab, teachers may sign up on the clipboards outside of each of the labs or contact the library/media center for assistance.

Computer & Technology Use

The School District of Menomonee Falls has an acceptable use policy for all staff (Policy 522.7). Staff members are expected to comply with this policy. All staff will be required to sign a user agreement indicating that they understand and will abide by the policy.

Copy Center

TRAC SOLUTION is ready for use at the

We are happy to introduce the TRAC Solution online tool here at SDMF. This is a user-friendly, web-based tool, which will allow you to send and track copy jobs. ATTACHED is a basic GUIDE for the TRAC COPY MODULE.

What does this mean to you?

All Copy requests can be made on line with electronic files attached to the ticket. It also means you will be able to track the progress of your copy job from the time you submit it until it is completed.

How do you access TRAC?

Go to the web site created specifically for SDMF Staff at:. https://menomoneefalls.ricohtrac.com/ Save this as a favorite in your Internet browser.

What is my user name and password?

Your user name will be the first letter of your first name and your full last name. (Example: Jane Doe = jdoe). If there are two people in the company with the same username, you will be contacted with your special user name.

Your password is password. Once you login, please go to the Tools tab – click on Profile and change your password.

If you are unable to log in please contact Buffy Blodgett in the Copy Center at 262-250-6481 or internally at Ext. 5306 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

COPY CENTER

All copy jobs (electronic and hard copy) will be submitted through the online TRAC copy job ticket. Electronic files can be attached to the job ticket. Jobs with paper originals are entered online and then the hard copy originals can be delivered to the copy center via interoffice mail.  

Copy Machine - Faculty Use

All faculty members will receive a department code that needs to be entered in order to use any of the Ricoh copiers. Please see your department manager for your printing code or the main office. In a time of limited resources, this will help track paper usage and insure appropriate use of machines and materials. Faculty members should be conscious of proper use of the machines so they remain in good working order. If you are not sure how to use the machine, please ask for assistance. Repairs are very costly.

Curriculum Change Request

Curriculum changes must be proposed to the Director of Instruction. Detailed procedures on how to make these requests should be received from that office.

When setting up a proposal for a curriculum change, please consider the following questions and include supporting data:

1. Why have the course? What is the purpose? Does it fulfill a need that is not currently being met in the existing curriculum? What is the anticipated impact on student achievement resulting from this course?
2. How will this course be defined in terms of standards? Have the benchmarks, assessments, instructional methods, and materials been identified? What are the underlying student learning expectations?
3. What will the course be called?
4. Is the course in any way controversial? Is it community ready?
5. Is the course tailor-made to fit the needs of this particular school and community?
6. Is this course the best alternative to meeting this particular need?
7. If this course is implemented, what changes will follow? What must be deleted? What adjustments will have to be made in staffing, scheduling, and materials?

• Do we have a teacher qualified to teach or coordinate the course? Does the teacher have appropriate certification?
• Are instructional materials readily available? Who will develop a guide and/or resource materials? Will students really enroll in this course? What student clientele will be attracted to the course?

Custodial/Maintenance Requests

Staff members who need repair, maintenance, cleaning or moving of furniture or other items in their office or classroom should e-mail their request to the head custodian of the school. The request will be implemented on a priority basis.

Discipline and Control of Students

Discipline

This is best handled at the instant a problem arises. Before a student is referred to the office, the teacher should have exhausted all other reasonable methods to resolve.

Exemplary methods used in a progressive disciplinary model include:

1. Conference with student
2. Detention with the teacher
3. Conference with counselor
4. Conference with parent by phone
5. Progress report/behavior always reported

Teachers should provide a log entry in Powerschool to document behavioral interventions that they provide. Please consult an administrator before discipline gets to be too great of a problem.

Detentions

Detentions are assigned either before school or after school. The administration supports all detentions assigned by the teacher. Such detentions, however, are to be served with the teacher. To insure that a detention will be meaningful, students should be informed, in advance, of your classroom rules and regulations. Take time during the assigned detention to discuss the student’s behavior and possible plans for improvement. Additional considerations:

1. It is good psychology to have students serve their detentions the day the violation occurs, and students should not be allowed to put off their detention without a valid excuse.
2. Assigned detentions take precedence over any outside co-curricular activities.
3. Students serving detentions are expected to be on time and should have work to do.
4. Student misbehavior in the hallways or other common areas is to be referred to an Associate Principal.
5. If a student fails to serve an assigned detention, teachers should first attempt to resolve the situation by a conference with the student or by contacting Student Services and/or parents.
6. Failure of students to serve teacher detentions after the efforts mentioned above should result in an Office Referral. This referral will be for insubordination, which an Associate Principal will deal with directly.

Office Referral-Log Entries

When a student must be sent out of class for behavior reasons, or is seen misbehaving in general areas of the school (i.e. lunchroom, halls, outside), please follow these guidelines when sending or escorting a student to the Associate Principal’s office:

1. Complete a Log Entry in PowerSchool (see instructions below).       This serves as the referral.       A copy of the referral is mailed home to parents, so it is important that only one referral is written for each student (do not write any other names on the referral for privacy reasons ), and that the narrative is appropriate information for the parent to receive.
2. Once completed, email or call the appropriate administrator to notify them of the Log Entry. If you do not call an administrator, they will not know that the log entry is on file.
3. Write out a pass in INK – not pencil (use the Student Agenda) and send them to the Associate Principal’s office.
4. In extreme cases, it is advised that teachers contact security or escort the student to the office to make sure they meet with the administrator.
5. Administrator edits the log entry and emails the teacher with the consequence.

PowerSchool Log Entry Instructions

1. On the start page, search for and select the student (not in PowerGrade).
2. Choose Log Entries from the student pages menu. The Log Entries page appears. If nothing appears, no previous log entries have been entered for the selected student.
3. Click New. The New Log Entry page appears.
4. The Date, Time and Author fields are automatically entered when the page appears. There is no need to change or add anything to these fields unless they are incorrect.
5. Use the following table to enter information in the fields. Because Log Entries student page is customizable, the fields that appear after Log Entry Text may differ from what you see on your page.
6. Complete the following fields:

• Student
• Date and Time
• Author
• Log Type
• Subtype
• Consequences (if given by you)
• Title
• Log Entry Text
• Incident Type
• Incident Date
• Incident Context
• Incident Location

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment is not allowed. “Corporal Punishment” means the intentional infliction of physical pain that is used as a means of discipline. Corporal punishment includes, but is not limited to: paddling, slapping, or prolonged maintenance of physically painful positions, when used as a means of discipline. Corporal punishment does not include actions consistent with an individual educational program developed under s.115.80 (3) (e) or reasonable physical activities associated with athletic training.

It is not corporal punishment to:

1. Use reasonable and necessary force to quell a disturbance or prevent an act that threatens physical injury to any person.
2. Use reasonable and necessary force to obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous object within a pupil’s control.
3. Use reasonable and necessary force for the purpose of self-defense or the defense of others under s.939.48.
4. Use reasonable and necessary force for the protection of property under s.939.49.
5. Use reasonable and necessary force to remove a disruptive pupil from school premises or a motor vehicle, as defined in s.125.09(2)(a) 1 and 4, or from school-sponsored activities.
6. Use reasonable and necessary force to protect students from inflicting harm upon themselves.
7. Use reasonable and necessary force to protect the safety of others.
8. Use incidental, minor, or reasonable physical contact designed to maintain order and control.

In determining whether or not a person was acting within the exceptions listed in a. – h. above, deference shall be given to reasonable, good faith judgments made by an official, employee, or agent of the school board.

Except as provided in s.939.61(1), this section does not create a separate basis for civil liability of a school board or their officials, employees, or agents for damages arising out of claims involving allegations of improper or unnecessary use of force by school employees against students.

Nothing in this section shall prohibit, permit, or otherwise affect any action taken by an official, employee, or agent of the school board with regard to a person who is not a pupil enrolled in the school district.

Cheating

When a student is guilty of cheating, the teacher is expected to contact the parents and make a referral to the Guidance Counselor and/or Associate Principal. Depending on the circumstances, a student may lose all or partial credit. A conference may be held to determine what further disciplinary action will be taken.

Dress Code Policies (student)

These guidelines are detailed in the Student Agenda policies. All teachers are expected to enforce the clothing policies. Questions about appropriateness of a student’s personal appearance should be directed to an Associate Principal.

Proximity Control

Each faculty member is required to assume responsibility for proximity control for the hallways and rest rooms near their classrooms. It is hoped that staff will be able to get to as many rest rooms during the passing time of students and thus prevent smoking or other misbehavior from occurring.

Dress Code and Personal Appearance (staff)

Staff members and substitute teachers are expected to dress in professional attire each day. Jeans are not allowed, except on Fridays during spirit days if a teacher provides a charitable contribution of $5.00 for the day to the Menomonee Falls Food Pantry or $50.00 for the year payable through the Principal’s Secretary.

District Dress Code Policy

In order to promote an atmosphere of respect and professionalism, all School District of Menomonee Falls employees will dress in a manner that reflects their position as role models and representatives of the school district and the community. The following is a guide to school staff in their decision-making process:

During student/parent contact days, the following dress is acceptable:

• Dress slacks, khaki slacks, non-riveted denim slacks, “walking”- length shorts in hot weather (men)
• Shirts with collars, turtleneck, or Henley-style dress shirts; solid color shirt without collar, when worn under sport coat (men)
• Dress slacks, skirts, dresses, khaki slacks, non-riveted denim, “walking-length”-shorts in hot weather (women)
• Dress shirt, blouse appropriate for professional wear (women)
• Dress shoes; dress sandals (women and men)
• Menomonee Falls or school logo wear

Prohibited dress includes:

• “Workout” clothing of any kind, including sweatshirts or pants, tank tops, “crop” tops, workout suits or shorts, and similar attire (Note: Physical Education teachers are permitted to wear appropriate clothing as role models for a healthy lifestyle as part of their professional assignment.)
• Casual jeans or denims, including bib overalls and “shortalls”
• Clothing that is revealing, including low or ”scooped” shirts/blouses or pants, spaghetti straps, tube tops, inappropriately tight or loose-fitting, or similar attire. Skirts and dresses should be of appropriate business length.

Additional Guides:

• On days where there is no scheduled student/parent contact, staff will be permitted to dress in a more casual manner.
• On Spirit Days, dress is guided by the theme.
• Good professional judgment is expected at all times.

Emergency – Ambulance Assistance

Contact an administrator and the main office any time there is injury requiring ambulance assistance. They will initiate a call to the emergency contact for the injured person. The following steps should be taken in the event of an injury/accident necessitating transportation by an ambulance.

• When calling an ambulance, dial 9-911 for the Fire Department Emergency Squad.
  1. Give the operator your name, location, and inform them of the nature of the injury and where the injured person is located.
  2. Make sure you explain which building entrance they should use.
  3. Make note of the person you spoke to and the time of your call.

• While waiting for the ambulance to arrive:
  1. Have someone stay with the injured person.
  2. Have someone designated at the entrance and direct the ambulance upon arrival. Have them make sure the path to the injured person is clear.
  3. Keep all uninvolved people away from the injured person.

Follow-Up

Complete an Accident Report form as soon as possible and turn it in to the Principal. See the Principal’s secretary fill out this form.

Emergency – Building Evacuation

When the school administration deems it necessary to evacuate a building, an announcement will be made over the Public Address system. The following procedures must be following during a building evacuation.

1. When evacuating the building, teachers should have a list of those students assigned to them at the time of the evacuation.
2. Evacuation does not automatically mean that school is being dismissed for the day.
3. All school rules are still in effect, including the use of cell phones.
4. The evacuation site for the high school is….
5. Once students arrive at their site, no student under the age of 18 will be released from the site without permission from a parent/guardian. An administrator or their designee must speak to the parent/guardian directly before approval for release will be given.

Emergency – Fire

Evacuation is required any time the building fire alarm sounds. Teachers are responsible for acquainting each of their classes with the detailed directions for their room as posted. This should be done within the first week of school. Exit doors are listed on the sign in each room.

1. Walk briskly; never run.
2. Stop all talking.
3. Leave books and other materials in the classroom.
4. Exit according to the directions posted in each classroom.
5. The first students out should hold open all doors at the exit.
6. The last one to leave the room must shut all windows, turn off the lights, and close the door.
7. Everyone must leave the building.
8. Walk away from the building until you reach the designated outside area.
9. Do not return to the building until you hear the “All Clear” from an administrator.
10. When evacuating the building, teachers should have a list of those students assigned to them at the time of the evacuation.
11. Evacuation of disabled students must be provided by the staff member supervising that student at the time of the evacuation.

Emergency – Lockdown

Lock-In: students and staff remain in their assigned rooms with all doors closed and locked. Instruction continues as usual.

Lock-Down: students and staff remain in their assigned rooms with all doors closed and locked. Instruction ceases. Students and staff locate down and away from view of doors and windows.

Lock-Out: students and staff evacuate from assigned rooms and buildings.

Lockdown Procedures – Classroom Teacher Responsibilities

1. A P.A. announcement will be made to initiate a building lockdown as notification that a lockdown has begun.
2. Each classroom teacher must, within 30 seconds, complete the following actions:

1. All classroom doors must be closed (they should already be locked – but be certain that they are locked).
2. All lights must be turned off, with the exception of rooms without windows – some lights may remain on.
3. Students are to be moved away from the classroom door.
4. Classrooms that have windows: if there are shades or curtains available, they must be closed as quickly as possible.
5. Students and staff must not be visible from any outside windows or door windows.
6. Students must remain quiet and sit on the floor at all times. NO EXCEPTIONS!

3. If a student is in the hallway or in a restroom when the announcement is made and they are unable to return to their respective classrooms, they must be directed or placed into the nearest classroom where they will remain until the completion of the lockdown (drill or real).
4. Teachers/office staff must get the names of every person in the occupied room, including the students who are directed into rooms in order to get them out of the halls/bathrooms.
5. During the search for suspects/clearing of the building, police will announce “MFPD Security Check” at each room. If the room is safe, the staff member in charge of that room should reply, “Clear” in a voice as loud as possible. Under no circumstances should staff members answer a knock at the door. If the police or other staff members need to enter your room, they will do so with a master key.
6. When a lockdown drill is completed: an “All Clear” will be announced over the P.A. system. Students will then be sent to their next hour class, if necessary.
7. Visitors or students coming into the building from outside will not be allowed into the building at any time during a lockdown.
8. If a fire alarm should sound during a lockdown, teachers will be instructed on what actions to take. DO NOT leave the room unless instructed.
9. If a decision is made to evacuate the building, follow the procedure outlined under EMERGENCY-BUILDING EVACUATION.
10. In the case of a real event; students may be systematically evacuated from the building by the Menomonee Falls Police Department to a designated evacuation site.

Emergency – Tornado

A Tornado Drill is usually performed once each school year. In the event a tornado warning is issued, administrators will take responsibility for initiating the emergency plan of action via the Public Address system. Once the announcement is made, the following procedures should be followed.

1. All students are to stay indoors, or move indoors if outdoors. Wind-driven objects are a great danger to anyone outside.
2. The safest places in our school are those rooms away from outside windows. Students will move directly to the designated areas, which are posted in each room.
3. Students are to sit or kneel on the floor, with heads held down, close together, faced away from any glass, outside wall, or door.
4. Students should remain calm and quiet.
5. The plan of action will remain in effect until an administrator announces the “All Clear” over the P.A. system.
6. Evacuation of disabled students must be provided by the staff member supervising that student at the time of the evacuation. Assist the student to the designated area for that classroom.

Tornado Watch: means conditions are such that a tornado might develop.

Tornado Warning: means that a tornado has been sighted.

Equal Opportunities and Nondiscrimination

Policy and Grievance Procedure (Staff)

If any person believes that the School District of Menomonee Falls or any part of the school organization has inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of Title VI, Title IX Section 504, or applicable state statutes and regulations or in some way discriminates on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, parental or marital status, sexual orientation, or physical learning, mental or emotional disability, he/she may bring forward a complaint to the Title VI, Title IX and Section 504 coordinator at his/her office in the School District of Menomonee Falls, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, or contact him/her by phone at 255-8440. For further information on the grievance process, see Board Procedure 112.

Equal Opportunities and Nondiscrimination

Policy and Grievance Procedure (Student)

The right of a student to be admitted to school and to participate fully in curricular, extra-curricular, student services, recreational or other programs or activities shall not be abridged or impaired because of sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability of the student.

In keeping with the requirement of state law, the District shall not have any vestige of discrimination in admission to any school, class, program or activity standards and rules of behavior, including student harassment; disciplinary actions, including suspension and expulsion; acceptance and administration of gifts, bequests, scholarships and other aids, benefits or services to student from private agencies, organization or person; instructional and library materials used in the District; methods, practices and materials used for testing, evaluating and counseling students; location and use of facilities; opportunity for participation in athletic programs or other extra-curricular activities; and in school sponsored food service programs.

Complaints regarding the interpretation or application of this policy shall be referred to the Superintendent or his/her designee, and process in accordance with established procedures.   Notice of this policy and the accompanying complaint procedure shall be published at the beginning of each school year in the official District newspaper and posted in each school building in the District. In addition, a student nondiscrimination statement shall be included in student and staff handbooks, course selection handbooks and other published materials distributed to the public describing school activities and opportunities.

Evaluations

TEACHER EVALUATIONS

The overall goal of supervision, evaluation and professional development is improved student learning. Improved student learning can occur in many different ways. Through the process of supervision and evaluation, teachers analyze areas in which they need to grow in order to improve student learning. The district will continue to use the Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching by Charlotte Danielson as an evaluation tool. Evaluations will continue to be based on data collected through the formative PDP process, the summative observation process (longer observations of at least 30 minutes), and regular walkthroughs of classrooms (brief observations of 5-10 minutes).

At the high school, administrators will focus and provide feedback specifically on effective lesson planning, level of student engagement in the process of learning, and implementation of literacy strategies and formative assessment processes. Committing to student learning means making conscious decisions regarding our instructional approaches. Effective instruction meets the following criteria:

1. It has a clear purpose.
2. It is important to know.
3. It challenges students to think.
4. It is deliberately designed by the teachers to achieve a specific result.
5. It includes a plan for the teacher to ascertain what the student has learned.
6. It includes a plan for the students to evaluate their own work and how to improve that work.

1. It has a clear purpose.

Rigorous instruction centers on lessons that align to the adopted curriculum and are placed with careful attention to the scope and sequence of the content to maximize student learning. These lessons are strategically planned to provide students with the opportunity to learn and/or enrich their knowledge and skills, focusing on depth rather than the breadth of understanding. Lessons emphasize learning objectives that not only ask students to assimilate knowledge but to put that knowledge to use through application to real world situations. Learning objectives for each lesson are clear to students and explained in "kid-friendly" terms so they will know where they're headed as well as what is expected of them.

Expectation: As a learning community, we believe the Learning Objective is an essential component for both teaching and assessment in that it establishes a clear purpose. Therefore, it is our expectation that all teachers will have the Learning Objectives posted in a visible location for each course at all times.

The Learning Objective is the “mile marker” along the way to assess if the students are on the right track. A Learning Objective can be outlined on a daily basis so that the students and teachers are better able to measure their own learning and instruction. While the Learning Objective may remain the same over the course of several days, it is important to remember that the Learning Objective provides the focus.

Another advantage to establishing a Learning Objective is so that students are better able to prioritize important ideas. When students do not have clear performance targets, they often struggle to identify pertinent data impeding their true learning. Having instituted a focus, students are better suited to explore ideas and essential questions to personalize their learning experience.

Writing a clear Learning Objective is essential to measuring student learning. Below are examples of poorly written objective and their improved form:

2. It is important to know.

Not all information is considered equal. An instructor who is committed to providing rigorous and relevant instruction understands the difference between the different types of information. Rigorous and relevant instruction minimizes the trivial information and focuses on information that requires higher-order thinking and leverages current as well as future learning in multiple disciplines while promoting characteristics needed for success in life.

1. It challenges students to think.

Rigorous instruction prepares students to think critically so they can solve problems in predictable or unpredictable real world situations. Being committed to rigorous instruction means truly harboring high expectations for all students. Teachers can fuel those expectations with challenges in the learning environment that promote the use of higher-order thinking. Rigorous instruction builds a student’s skills in critical thinking whereby the student calls upon knowledge not only from the discipline at hand, but also from a variety of disciplines to solve problems.

4. It is deliberately designed by the teachers to achieve a specific result.

Rigorous and relevant instruction includes carefully planned lessons designed to actively engage students in the learning process by assimilating this new learning to the student’s current knowledge base and requiring students to apply their new understandings to solve problems that frequently are multidisciplinary. While there are many models that discuss instructional design, no single design will suffice for all situations. In the book The Art and Science of Teaching, Robert Marzano identifies nine critical questions for effective instructional design. Of these nine questions, Menomonee Falls High School prioritizes three of these questions that should frame all lessons:

• What will I do to establish and communicate learning goals, track student progress, and celebrate success?

• What will I do to help students practice and deepen their understanding of new knowledge?

• What will I do to engage students?

1. It includes a plan for the teacher to ascertain what the student has learned.

It can be said that teaching and learning go hand in hand. Lessons can be meticulously planned and delivered, but what matters in the end is what the students have learned. With the shift in instructional effectiveness moving from teaching to what students learn, it is essential that teachers not only have a plan that includes a summative assessment which provides evidence of what students have learned when instruction is complete, but more importantly, a plan that contains processes for formative assessments that provide on-going feedback for adjusting instruction and learning along the way.  

The major purpose of a grade is to communicate the academic achievement of students who are in your class (Guskey, 1994; O’Connor, 2002)[1]. There is a strong connection between curriculum, assessment, instruction, and grading. O’Connor suggests the following guidelines on how to grade for learning:

1. Relate grading procedures to learning goals.
2. Use criterion-referenced performance standards
3. Limit the valued attributes included in grades to individual achievement.
4. Sample student performance – do not include all scores in grades.
5. Grade in pencil – keep records so they can be updated easily.
6. Crunch numbers carefully – if at all.
7. Use quality assessments and properly recorded evidence of achievement.
8. Discuss and involve students in assessment including grading throughout the teaching/learning process.

According to Guskey (2004)[2], grades have some value as rewards but no value as punishments. More effective than grades are accurate and understandable descriptions of what students have learned. Grades become one way to reflect academic achievement. As you work with students and parents, providing descriptive feedback through assessments can play an important role in improved student learning.

6. It includes a plan for the students to evaluate their own work and how to improve that work.

In a traditional sense, when one hears assessment – whether formative or summative, one thinks about the teacher, using evidence to adjust their instruction or for making grading decisions. As important as it is for the teacher to gather evidence for decision-making, it is equally important for the student to become an active partner in the learning process through learning how to self-evaluate their work. Rigorous instruction includes a plan for training students to evaluate their own work for the purpose of improving it. To become capable evaluators of their work, students must have a clear understanding of the learning goals and ideally help create a definition of quality work that demonstrates mastery of those learning goals. With this understanding, the criteria serves as the framework in which students learn to review their work to consider the strengths and weaknesses and are provided feedback with the opportunity to correct or make plans for improvement.

FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT EVALUATION

The ultimate goal is increased student learning as demonstrated on classroom, district, and state assessments. Student learning does not come without a collective effort to improve instruction, curricula, and assessments and to meet our goals by holding ourselves collectively accountable. By creating learning environments where students are engaging in activities with high levels of rigor, relevance, and relationships, we know student achievement will increase.

Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, as amended, requires that students be advised of their rights concerning education records and certain categories of public information which the school has designated “directory information”. Students/parents have a right to inspect and review all student records that are defined as “Education Records” through their guidance counselor.

Field Trips

Field trips are expected to be a valid learning experience and have a direct relationship to the content area curriculum. Administration will not authorize more than one field trip per student per week. Field trips cannot be scheduled the five (5) days prior to the end of a term/quarter. The administrative team requests teachers to minimize trips during the last month of school and to only schedule trips that have an educational purpose related to the course.

Teachers are required to fill out the field trip approval form prior to announcing any field trip to students. The form is available in the main office. Approval must occur at least two weeks before the scheduled trip. The supervising administrator must approve the field trip requests. Parents must then be notified in writing as to the nature of the trip, dress, lunch, departure and arrival times, transportation arrangements, and cost. Parents must sign and return a permission slip. Be sure to have your field trip scheduled on the master calendar kept by the activities/athletics administrative assistant.

Accurate student rosters must be emailed and given to the attendance office, health room office, and all staff members whose classes will be affected at least three days before the trip.

Guest Speakers

Teachers must register all guest speakers through their supervising administrator at least 3 days prior to the date of their presentation.

Gymnasium & Pool Use

Hall Passes

Hall passes should only be used when it is absolutely necessary. Do not send more than one student on a pass at one time and follow these guidelines when issuing any pass.

1. Do not allow students to leave your class during the first or last ten minutes of each class period.
2. If detaining a student after class to discuss a concern, etc., the student must be given a pass to his/her next class.

High School Passes

• When giving a student permission to leave the class, the Student Agenda Hall passes should be used. Fill them out completely, including his/her next destination (i.e. locker, bathroom, office, other classroom). Use INK, not pencil when writing out a hall pass.

Hours of Operation

High School:       Main Office Hours 7:00am-3:45pm

                              Attendance Office 7:30am-3:30pm

                              Student Services/AP Office 7:30am-3:30pm

Teacher Hours 7:30am-3:30pm

                              Student Hours 8:00am-3:10pm

Teachers who need a modified work day schedule need to put the request in writing to their supervising administrator. The administrator will make a decision that will be best for the students and school.   If the request is granted, the teacher will be set up on a flex schedule and time will be made up on the other end of the day.

Identification

All staff members are required to visibly wear appropriate picture identification during school hours (7:30-3:30). School safety and security are important to the students’ wellbeing. Visitors and students need to be able to readily identify staff. Lanyards will be provided to staff as a way to wear the identification so that it remains visible.

Keys

The building keys and access card issued to you are for your use only. Do not give your keys or access card to any other person at any time for any reason. You are responsible for everything that happens because of someone else using your keys or access card. Keys are not to be duplicated nor should any teacher be in possession of keys admitting them access to areas that are not included in their job responsibilities. Teachers in violation will be subject to discipline. See the Principal’s Secretary for issues concerning keys.

Charge for replacing a key or access card: $25.00 each

(The cost will increase $10.00 each time additional replacements are necessary after the replacement.)

Liability (Teacher)

Secondary school teachers are expected to act as reasonable and prudent persons just like all other citizens. If they do not, they may be subject to civil or criminal action.

Failure to Instruct or Warn

Teachers have the duty to instruct and to warn pupils in their custody of any dangers in the classroom that they are aware of, or in the exercise of ordinary care, ought to have known. Teachers must instruct students in methods which will protect them from those dangers, whether the danger arises from equipment, devices, machines or chemicals.

Lack of Supervision

Teachers occupy a position comparable to that of a parent in regard to protecting children from harm or injury. This relationship requires a teacher to maintain a degree of supervision that an ordinarily prudent teacher would maintain under same or similar circumstances.

Determination as to whether or not teachers have exercised ordinary care, the following considerations may be made: age, intelligence, and experience of student’s the teacher knew in the classroom. Further considerations regarding the teacher’s circumstances may be: curriculum they are required to teach, the daily schedule imposed, the number of pupils assigned to the classroom, the equipment, and devices and objects in the room. If the teacher was absent from the classroom, considerations will include: the activity the students were engaged in, the instruments they are working with, the age and composition of the class, the teacher’s past experience with the class, and the duration and reason for the absence.

Mandatory Reporting

Wisconsin State Statute 48.981(2) governs the reporting of suspected cases of child abuse (including sexual abuse) and neglect. Areas of the law which are particularly relevant to schools are as follows.

(2) Persons required to report. A public assistance worker, school teacher, administrator or counselor, child care worker in a day care center or child caring institution, day care provider having reasonable cause to suspect that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been abused or neglected or having reason to believe that a child seen in the course of professional duties has been threatened with abuse or neglect and that abuse or neglect of the child will occur shall make such a report. No person making a report under this subsection may be discharged from employment for so doing.

Teachers should report to an administrator, school social worker or school psychologist if they suspect child abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse.

Negligence

Negligence is defined as failure to exercise ordinary care. Ordinary care is the degree of care that the majority of people ordinarily use under the same or similar circumstances. You fail to exercise ordinary care when, without intending to do any wrong, you do not act as a reasonable person would given the circumstances.

Make-up Homework Policy for Student Absences

When students have been absent from class, they should discuss and agree with the teacher on a reasonable make-up date. Length of absence, reason for absence, and course load should all be considered when setting the date. The teacher has a responsibility to see that all work is completed and turned in on time.

Homework requests for absent students must be made by 9:00am with the Main Office Receptionist in order to receive the same day. Teachers are notified of homework requests through the office and are expected to have work in the main office of their school before the end of the school day for pick-up. Contact a guidance counselor when special circumstances are involved.

Pre-Arranged Absences

When a student is excused for a pre-arranged absence, work that will be missed is requested prior to absence. A form for the absence is completed to excuse the absence and to request work in advance from all teachers.

Make-up Policy for Suspended Students

By state law (120.13b), students suspended shall not be denied the opportunity to take any quarterly, semester, or grading period examination missed during the suspension period.

Make-up Policy for Unexcused Absences

A truant student will receive a zero for all routine class work missed. The opportunity to make up major exams or projects will depend on the record of the student and the nature and frequency of the offense. No public school may deny a pupil credit in a course solely because of the pupil’s unexcused absence from school 118.16(4)(b).

Medical Excuses from Physical Education

The request for a physician’s medical excuse must be initialed with the Physical Education teacher or the School Nurse. Copies of the excuse will be filed with the School Nurse, the Physical Education Department Chairperson, and in the student’s file.

If the medical excuse is for less than one month, the Physical Education teachers will keep the student in class in a non-participatory capacity. Since fitness and knowledge of fitness is the privilege of everyone, students with an excuse for more than one month should be programmed for a course in Adaptive Physical Education where the student will have a personal program outlined by their doctor and the Adaptive Physical Education teacher.

Students may not participate in intramural and interscholastic athletic events if medically excused from Physical Education.

Students should be aware of the graduation requirements in Physical Education. In the case of a permanent medical excuse, Physical Education credits must be earned in an academic course before the date of graduation.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences are listed on the master school calendar. Teachers are required to attend and be at their assigned tables in advance of the starting time and must remain until the scheduled ending time. Teachers should keep individual conferences to the allotted time slots when other parents are waiting.

Part-time teachers may attend part of each conference day only if parents are notified at least two weeks in advance and other arrangements are made for parents that are not available during the shortened time frame. Part-time teachers may not miss an entire conference time (i.e. teachers may not come on a Wednesday evening conference time and then skip the Thursday evening conference time). You must come for at least part of both conference sessions.

Parking Regulations for Staff

The parking lot located on the western edge by the main entrance to the high school is reserved for all school staff. Parking is on a first-come-first-serve basis; however, all staff members parking in the lot must have a Parking Permit displayed on the front windshield of their car. Parking permits are available from the Principal’s Secretary at no charge. Staff members who have more than one car must register each car. Make sure to advise security if your cars change once they are registered.

Do not park in spaces designated for handicapped, visitors, volunteers. Staff members who need handicapped parking must provide documentation to the Principal’s secretary for approval of a handicapped parking space.

Personnel Policies

All staff members should be aware of the Board Personnel Policies, Series 500.   The policies include staff conduct, employment, health & safety, staff development and technology. All staff members are responsible for reading and adhering to the policies. Board policies may be found in the Board policy book in each school office, in the District office, and on the district website.

Record Keeping

There are a number of reports or other kinds of documentation that are required during the school year, including: activity reports, anecdotal records, failure comments for each failure for each grading period, weekly lesson plans, final exam copies, requisitions, and textbook inventories. Explanations of reports/documentation necessary are detailed in this section of the handbook.

Alternative Semester Exams

Criteria for alternative semester exams should include: non-use of class time, equal to or greater time requirement than regular exams, meet objectives of class, and method of determining grade or completion of alternative exams.

• Outlines for alternative semester exams are to be submitted to the Principal approximately six (3) weeks prior to the week of exams.
• The expectation is that alternative exams will be given during regularly scheduled exam times.

Classroom Inventory

Each teacher is responsible for an inventory of their room and equipment left in their care. The inventory of the preceding year may be obtained in the Principal’s office or from a Department Chairperson. The inventory will include instructions for keeping it up-to-date. The inventory is to be returned to the Principal’s office at the end of the school year.

Electronic Record Keeping

Each teacher will have access to PowerGrade and Powerschool in order to maintain an electronic record book. Use of PowerGrade and Powerschool will be a requirement in order to maintain the following records:

Progress Report Grades

Quarter Grades

Daily Attendance

Semester grades

Final exam grades

Student discipline

All information will be accessed through PowerSchool including information for required school and district reports.

Teachers are expected to have traditional assignments and assessments in the gradebook within 48 hours of the material being collected and within 5 days for larger project-based, research, and written assignments.  

Incompletes

Incompletes are to be made up within two (2) weeks after the end of any grade-reporting period. Exceptions are granted if there are unusual circumstances. Problems should be discussed with the student and their Guidance Counselor. The administration will assist when and where necessary. An incomplete grade not made up will result in a failing grade. Staff is reminded to turn in a grade to the Guidance Counselor immediately after the student has concluded their make-up work. Questions about individual cases should be discussed with a Guidance Counselor and/or administration.

Lesson Plans

All teachers are expected to prepare lesson plans and have them available for review. It is the responsibility of the teacher to make sure the lesson plans are kept up-to-date.

Lesson plans serve several purposes. Primarily, they should be written to prepare for student learning and achievement. They provide the means to develop an overall picture of the content, the methods of instruction, and the assessments for and of student learning.

Lesson plans also assist substitutes as they plan and prepare for your students. Make sure your plans are easily readable and up-to-date at all times in case someone has to step in at the last minute. This will ensure continuity of learning.

One major responsibility of teaching is to promote and encourage lifelong learning. Lesson plans provide a medium for teachers to model lifelong learning for students. Another purpose of the lesson plan is to have a process of planning and modifying instruction based upon anecdotal data that is collected through reflections. The lesson plan can be used as a source to drive instruction and student learning.

Finally, the lesson plans will be used to provide assistance and support as part of the supervision/evaluation process. The evaluation cycle is a process of learning and improvement. The lesson plans serve as an artifact of the learning and improvement that teachers experience over the course of a school year.

Progress Reports

The importance of communicating with parents/guardians cannot be stressed enough. Always remember that teachers of students doing failing or near failing work in any subject must alert the student and send a progress report home to the parents/guardians. Reports may be sent home at any time during the school year, not just on scheduled dates. This is especially necessary for any student who did not receive a progress report and now is doing failing or near failing work.

If you recommended a conference be held and you received no contact from the parents/guardians, it is the teacher’s responsibility to follow-up with a phone call to the parents after a week has passed.

If you give a failing grade, you must turn in a progress report for that child, and comments must be made to help explain the reason for failure. If you do not turn in a progress report you may not fail the student.

Teachers are to have a grading period procedure that takes into consideration several factors of evaluation – unit and chapter tests, quizzes, homework, projects, reports, other forms of evaluation unique to a particular curriculum, semester exams. Students are to be aware of the grading procedure at the beginning of the course, including the weighting of the grades. The semester exam grade should not be weighted more than 20% of the final grade.

Students approved for exemptions should not report to school during the period of the exempted exam. Teachers should not mark exempted students absent from their class during the exam period.

School Fusion

Teachers are expected to use School Fusion as a tool to enhance the educational experiences of the students. At the minimum, teachers need to have the following information/material available through School Fusion:

• Contact Information
• Syllabus/Course Expectations
• Assignments with due dates
• Assessment and Grading Information

Teachers may include further information like lecture notes, study guides, reading material, and links to other valuable resources as they see necessary.

Searches of Students

A student and his/her personal possessions may be searched by the building principal or his/her designee if there is reasonable suspicion that the search will turn up evidence that a particular law, school policy or school rule has been or is being violated. The extent of the search will be governed by the seriousness of the alleged infraction, the student’s age and gender, the student’s disciplinary history and any other relevant circumstances or information (Policy 446; Wisconsin Statutes Section 118.32). Staff members should call an administrator if they feel a search is warranted.

Showing Movies/Videos in the Classroom

At no point should a full length feature film be shown in its entirety. Movie clips can be used to enhance learning of key concepts. The movie clips should be no more than 15-20 minutes and be followed up with discussion/conversation about the concept highlighted in the clip.

The High School follows the guidelines used in movie theatres in regards to allowing children under the age of 17 into an “R” rated movie without parental permission. The expectation is that teachers and advisors will treat the showing of an “R” rated movie or video as they would any field trip.

The following guidelines should be used when showing an “R” rated movie or video in the classroom.

• All teachers and advisors must first receive permission from the Principal.
• Permission slips must then be sent home for parents to sign.
• Students, whose parents will not allow them to see the film, must be given an alternate place to be during the showing of the film.

Social Functions

Groups wishing to sponsor a student social function must first get approval through the Activities/Athletics Coordinator and school administrators. The following rules apply to all social functions:

• The school will not sanction any event off the school premises unless the group has the approval or authorization from the Principal. This will be granted only in emergency situations.
• Any group finding it necessary to assess a financial amount to the members of its organization for any purpose shall limit its assessment to a reasonable amount.
• No group may require formal dress. Events must be accessible to all students.

Student Conduct

This year, we are asking students to maintain expectations that align with the workplace. In particular, we are asking students to commit to…

• Being on time.
• Using professional language.
• Acting responsibly and respectfully.
• Caring about what they do.

By aligning our behavioral expectations with those of employers, we are promoting habits of mind that allow students to be that much more competitive in getting quality jobs and that much more successful in maintaining the jobs long-term. Throughout the school year, we will celebrate students’ successes in maintaining these expectations.

Students are expected to behave in a way that reflects favorably on the individual student and on the school, show consideration for fellow students, and create a harmonious school atmosphere. To accomplish this, each student must recognize individual responsibilities and obligations and discharge them in accordance with school regulations.

Students are expected to abide by the rules of conduct outlined in the Student Handbook, in the rules and regulations established by the building principal, and by the Classroom Code of Conduct approved by the School Board of Education.

Student Records

A permanent record is maintained for each student. This is a cumulative file that continues with the student for their entire tenure in the School District of Menomonee Falls and is housed in the school they are currently attending.

A transcript is used for post-secondary education applications, job applications, scholarship applications, military enlistment, and legal clearance. An official transcript is one that is signed and sealed by the high school and mailed directly to the college, employer, etc. An unofficial transcript is one that is signed by the high school and hand delivered to the student directly. Unofficial transcripts are stamped “Issued to Student.”

Transcripts must not be released without written authorization signed by the student (if 18 years or older) or a parent/guardian of a minor child.

Substitute Teacher Expectations

District Expectations

A substitute teacher should be able to assume all of the duties and responsibilities of the regular teacher in a given day. Substitutes are expected to serve the normal teacher time schedule on any day on which they are assigned, including a 30-minute duty free lunch. If a teacher has a supervision assignment, the substitute will cover that assignment unless it does not give them the opportunity to have a duty-free 30-minute lunch. Long-term substitutes may also be required to participate in staff meetings, teacher committees, parent conferences, etc.

School Expectations

The school can reasonably expect that the substitute will do the following:

• Be on time.
• Report to the assigned school office no less than 20 minutes prior to the start of classes to check-in to pick up assignment materials for the day.
• All substitutes must wear a visible substitute I.D. while in the building at all times.
• Follow all school policies as they are communicated at each school.
• Introduce themselves to teachers in nearby classrooms.
• Locate the folder prepared for the use of the substitute teacher. It should include the daily program, seating charts, emergency instructions and special duties for specific days.
• Carry out lesson plans, classroom routines and directions left by the classroom teacher.
• Assume the regular teacher’s routine responsibilities for activities such as collecting fees, distributing supplies, recording pupil absences, etc.
• Assume the regular teacher’s responsibility for supervision of pupils in the building and on the grounds. If the regular teacher is assigned a supervision assignment for the day, the substitute is required to fulfill this duty.
• Account for student attendance and report it in a timely manner according to each school's instructions.
• Keep students in the classroom at all times. Do not issue hall passes for any reason, including the use of the bathroom, unless it for an emergency or urgent situation.
• Contact an administrator immediately if discipline problems arise which are unmanageable.
• Refer all accidents, illnesses, the administering medications, or other emergencies to the school office.
• Report any injury received while on assignment in the building immediately to the school office.
• Become completely familiar with all the school routines, particularly emergency, safety and fire procedures.
• Leave a clear, written summary for the regular teacher of the work completed and other relevant comments when the substitute assignment is completed. If appropriate, student assignments should be corrected.
• Leave the classroom neat and orderly.

Substitute Expectations

A substitute teacher may reasonably expect that the classroom teacher will:

• leave clear and specific instructions of the learning program and of classroom management routines for each class or subject; inform the principal if inadequate instructions are left;
• leave an accurate list of pupils for attendance and for pupil identification;
• leave any information pertinent to students in their classes with medical or other special needs.

Substitute teachers are there to TEACH not baby sit. Please leave lesson plans for teaching, not just a video to plug in to the computer/DVD. A day with a substitute is not a day off for students.

A substitute teacher may reasonably expect that the school administrator will:

• monitor the classroom to ensure that positive and orderly learning is taking place;
• ensure that the substitute is made welcome to the school, knows where the teacher services are located, and is aware of the basic rules and organization of the school;
• inform the substitute directly if that person is not fulfilling the role of substitute teacher appropriately.

A substitute teacher may reasonably expect that the school support staff will:

• make them feel welcome;
• make sure they receive keys, directions, and all necessary materials to perform their job;
• assist with deciphering lesson plans or with other needs.

Supply Requisitions

Classroom supply requisitions are to be made with the Associate Principals’ Secretary (Kathy Sanders). New teachers are provided with detailed instructions. Other teachers may request a new copy if needed.

Tobacco Use on School District Premises

The use of tobacco products on School District premises is contrary to the educational goals, policies, image, and interests that the District is trying to maintain regarding the health, safety, and quality of life of all persons who enter onto the premises or use the facilities. It has been well documented over the years, through substantial medical research, that the use of tobacco is a hazard to the health and welfare of the user and those exposed to smoke. The District is concerned about the effect that tobacco products may have on persons using District facilities.

The School District of Menomonee Falls prohibits the use of all tobacco products on all school premises. This policy applies to all individuals who enter onto the premises or use the facilities either owned or leased by the School District of Menomonee Falls. There will be no exceptions to this policy. Violators will be subject to the disciplinary proceedings of the school district.

Discipline for students

These proceedings are covered in the District handbooks, to include: parental contact, civil citation, and suspension from school and/or activities.

Discipline for employees

These proceedings include verbal warnings, warnings with documentation, and/or other progressive discipline dependent on the frequency of documented warnings.

Discipline for the public

Procedure includes verbal warnings and/or removal from premises.

Valuables

Staff members should not leave purses, pens, cell phones, laptops, etc., lying on the desk when they leave the room and the door isn’t locked. Money or other valuables should not be left in your desk at any time unless it is locked. It is also recommended that you do not leave valuables in your car when parked on school grounds, and always leave your car locked. Special care should be taken during the summer school session.

The School District is not responsible for personal items that are damaged, lost, or stolen.

Visitors

Agents and solicitors

Agents and solicitors are not permitted to approach teachers while in the building without permission from an administrator. Please check verbally with any visitor you may encounter in the building without a Visitor Pass. If they do not have a pass, they should be directed to the main office of your building to sign in and obtain a pass.

Administrators will determine the validity of any visitor’s request to be in the building before authorizing entry. Any person in violation of this policy is subject to possible prosecution.

Other Visitors

Friends, family members, former students, or other visitors may not visit during regular class periods. Exceptions should be communicated to the main office staff prior to a guest’s arrival.

Withdrawal Procedures

Guidance Counselors will initiate a Withdrawal form for all students who withdraw from school. Complete all portions of the form indicated for teachers and forward in a timely manner. Withdrawal information may also be requested via E-mail. Teachers are expected to respond to either the paper or E-mail request in a timely manner.

Re-admission during a semester will be based on whether or not there is reasonable chance that the student can succeed and insures that there is a minimal amount of disruption to the school program.

Worker’s Compensation

The law covers both mental and physical harm from either an accident or an occupational disease. It will cover those injuries on the job that happen because of some requirement of the job. A person whose work requires travel should be at work at all times including while eating and sleeping.

In order to be eligible for worker’s compensation benefits, an injury must be reported immediately to the District Office. Staff members must complete the State of Wisconsin Employer’s First Report of Injury or Disease form if you are injured during a workday. Forms are available from the Principal’s Secretary.

[1] Guskey, T. (1994). Making the grade: What benefits students? Educational Leadership, October, 14-20.

O’Connor, K. (2002). How to grade for learning: Linking grades to standards. Thousand Oaks,CA:     Corwin Press.

[2] Guskey, T. (2004). The communication challenge of standards-based reporting. Phi Delta Kappan, December, 326-329.

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