Annual Notifications
Quinter Public Schools has been complying with federal and state asbestos regulations for many years. Some of the building materials in our schools do contain asbestos. These materials are periodically inspected and maintained to ensure they do not present a health hazard to students, employees, and visitors.
The asbestos management plan for Quinter Public Schools is located at the Board of Education Office and in the office of each school. Interested persons may inspect the plan at any time. If you have specific questions, you may contact the Superintendent of Schools at 785-754-2470.
Quinter Public Schools is committed to protecting the health of all students, employees, and visitors, and we will continue to ensure that asbestos-containing materials are maintained according to federal and state requirements.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
All student records shall be treated as confidential and primarily for local school use unless otherwise stipulated. Under the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) parents of students and eligible students (those who are 18 or older) are afforded various rights with regard to educational records, which are kept and maintained by the school. In accordance with FERPA, you are required to be notified of those rights that include:
1. The right to review and inspect all of your educational records except those, which are specifically exempt.
2. The right to prevent disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in your educational records to other persons with certain limited exceptions. Disclosure of information from your educational records to others persons will occur only if:
a. we have your prior written consent disclosure;
b. the information is considered "directory information" and you have not objected to the release of such information; or
c. disclosure without prior consent is permitted by law, including:
i. The district may disclose, without your consent, personally identifiable information to school officials with a legitimate educational interest. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); the school board (in executive session); a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
ii. The district shall disclose, without your consent, education records to officials of another school district in which a student seeks to enroll or intends to enroll. The institution will forward without further notice student records to officials of other schools or school systems in which the student intends to enroll.
3. The right to request that your educational records be amended if you believe the records are misleading, inaccurate, or otherwise in violation of your rights. This right includes the right to request a hearing at which you may present evidence to show why the record should be changed if your request for an amendment to your records is denied in the first instance.
4. The right to file a complaint with the Family Policy and Regulations Office at the U.S. Department of Education if you believe that USD 293 has failed to comply with FERPA's requirements. The address of this office is 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Room 4074, Washington, DC 20202-4605.
5. The right to obtain a copy of U.S.D. #293 policies for complying with FERPA. A copy may be obtained from the Superintendent of Schools.
Directory Information Notice
For purposes of FERPA, U.S.D. #293 has designated certain information contained in educational records as directory information, which may be disclosed for any purpose without your consent.
Directory information categories may include the following: the student’s name, address, telephone number, electronic mailing address, photographs, video recordings, parent or guardian, weight, height, participation in and eligibility for officially recognized activities and sports; dates of attendance or grade placement; honors and awards received; grade point average for honor roll and awards recognition, and the most recent educational agency or school attended by the student.
You have a right to refuse to permit the designation of any or all of the above information as directory information. If you refuse, you must file written notification to this effect with U.S.D. #293 on or before September 20th of the academic year. The appropriate form for this notification can be obtained through each school office. If refusal is not filed, U.S.D. #293 assumes there is no objection to the release of the directory information designated.
Recruiting Information
Military recruiters and institutions of higher education are entitled under federal law to a list of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of high school students unless you object to the release of this information. If you notify your principal in writing at any time that you do not wish your child’s name, address, and telephone number released without your written consent, we will honor that request.
We are committed to providing a positive and productive learning and working environment, free from discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, color, national origin, or disability.
Sexual harassment is unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Sexual harassment may result from verbal or physical conduct or written or graphic material. It may include, but is not limited to: verbal harassment or abuse, pressure for sexual activity; repeated remarks to a person, with sexual or demeaning implication; unwelcome touching; or suggesting or demanding sexual involvement accompanied by implied or explicit threats concerning a student’s grades, participation in extra-curricular activities, etc.
Racial harassment is unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin under Titles VI and VII Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Kansas Acts Against Discrimination.
Disability harassment is unlawful discrimination on the basis of disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
It is a violation of board policy for any student, employee, or third party (visitor, parent, vendor, etc.) to harass a student, employee, or other individual associated with the school. All forms of harassment are prohibited at school, on school property, and at all school-sponsored activities, programs or events. Harassment against individuals associated with the school is prohibited, whether or not the harassment occurs on school grounds. It shall further be a violation of board policy for any employee to discourage a student from filing a complaint, or to fail to investigate or refer for investigation, any complaint of harassment.
For more information, our policies on Sexual Harassment (GAAC and JGEC) and Racial and Disability Harassment (GAACA and JGECA) can be viewed on the district website, www.quinterschools.org, under “Board Policies”.
We will not accept harassment in our school and we will work to see it come to an end. All victims of harassment and persons with knowledge of such harassment are encouraged to report the harassment immediately to a teacher, principal, the guidance counselor, or another certified staff member. All school employees who receive a complaint will inform the school principal or the district compliance coordinator for further investigation. Parents or guardians will be notified either by phone (documented call) or through a written communication regarding the incident.
Consequences for harassment will begin with a serious talk. The adults will help the students understand what is expected. The consequences will vary depending on the severity of the action and the number of times a student has been identified for harassment. Consequences may require in-school suspension or expulsion.
Pupil Protection Rights Amendment (PPRA)
PPRA affords parents certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:
1. Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED):
a. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;
b. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;
c. Sex behavior or attitudes;
d. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
e. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;
f. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;
g. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or
h. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.
2. Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:
a. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;
b. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and
c. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.
3. Inspect, upon request and before administration or use:
a. Protected information surveys of students;
b. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and
c. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.
These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law. Quinter Public Schools has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. Quinter Public Schools will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Quinter Public Schools will also directly notify, such as through US Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. Quinter Public Schools will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this requirement:
• Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales or other distribution.
• Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED. 39
• Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.
Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202-5901.