LPS Educator (Back to School 2019-2020)

EDUCATOR

LIBERTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

READY TO GO TO WORK

FALL 2019

First Day of School is Wednesday, August 14

BLS

PAID Liberty Public Schools 8 Victory Lane Liberty, MO 64068

LPS EDUCATOR • Fall 2019 • 1

U. S. Postage

PRSRT STD

SCHOOL DIRECTORY INFORMATION Early Childhood/Elementary Schools Early Childhood Center

9600 NE 79th St. 736-5324 KCMO 64158

Sarah Birk, Principal Bart Tittle, Assistant Principal

Alexander Doniphan

1900 Clay Dr. 736-5400 Liberty, MO 64068

Beth Cunningham, Principal Chavis Clawson, Assistant Principal

EPiC Elementary

650 Conistor Liberty, MO 64068

736-5730

Michelle Schmitz, Principal

Franklin

201 W. Mill Street Liberty, MO 64068

736-5440

Andy Wright, Principal

Kellybrook

10701 N. Eastern Ave. 736-5700 KCMO 64157

Andrea Wilson, Principal Kayli Burrell, Asst. Principal

Lewis and Clark

1407 Nashua 736-5430 Liberty, MO 64068

Mitch Hiser, Principal Sheryl Ferguson, Asst. Principal

Liberty Oaks

8150 N. Farley 736-5600 KCMO 64158

Debra Slaughter, Principal Jeanne Hinnenkamp, Asst. Principal

Lillian Schumacher

425 Claywoods Pkwy. 736-5490 Liberty, MO 64068

Chris Gabriel, Principal Amy Toebben, Asst. Principal

Manor Hill

1400 Skyline Dr. 736-5460 Liberty, MO 64068

Valerie Utecht, Principal Shannon Thompkins, Asst. Principal

Ridgeview

701 Thornton 736-5450 Liberty, MO 64068

Tyler Shannon, Principal Heather Buckman, Asst. Principal

Nick Bartlow nick.bartlow@lps53.org

Shoal Creek

9000 NE Flintlock Rd. 736-7150 KCMO 64157

Christy Boman, Principal Jamie Ackart, Asst. Principal

A.J. Byrd aj.byrd@lps53.org

Warren Hills

1251 Camille St. 736-5630 Liberty, MO 64068

Michelle Swierski, Principal Matthew Krohne, Asst. Principal

Scott Connor scott.connor@lps53.org

Discovery Middle School

800 Midjay Dr. 736-7300 Liberty, MO 64068

Greg Mees, Principal Courtney Dickerson, Asst. Principal

Heritage Middle School

600 W. Kansas 736-5380 Liberty, MO 64068 ............

Scott Carr, Principal Kerry Broyles, Asst. Principal Jennifer Selock, Asst. Principal

Liberty Middle School

1500 S. Withers Rd. 736-5410 Liberty, MO 64068

Jeremy Bradham, Principal Shirley Kantola, Asst. Principal

Secondary Schools

South Valley Middle School 1000 Midjay Dr. 736-7180 Liberty, MO 64068

Jill Mullen, Principal Whitney Weakley, Asst. Principal

Liberty High School

200 Blue Jay Dr. 736-5340 Liberty, MO 64068 ............ ............ ............ ............

April Adams, Principa l Bridget Herrman, Asst. Principal David McDorman, Asst. Principal Michael Sharp, Asst. Principal Sara Wickham, Asst. Principal Jason Cahill, Activities Director

Liberty North High School

1000 NE 104th St. 736-5500 Liberty, MO 64608 ............ ............ ............ ............

Precious Kurth, Principal Lee Allen, Asst. Principal Rosemary Camp, Asst. Principal Lisa Fletcher, Asst. Principal Brandon McCoy, Asst. Principal Bob Kernell, Activities Director

Liberty Academy Alt. School 1115 Blackberry Dr.

Liberty, MO 64068 22 •• Fall Fall 2019 2019 •• LPS LPS EDUCATOR EDUCATOR

736-5470

Melissa Norris, Principal

Board of Education

Andrew Roffmann, President andrew.roffmann@lps53.org Kim-Marie Graham, Vice-President kimmarie.graham@lps53.org

David Evans david.evans@lps53.org Angie Reed angie.reed@lps53.org

Liberty Public Schools District Offices 8 Victory Lane Liberty, MO 64068 (816) 736-5300

Superintendent

Dr. M. Jeremy Tucker

Website www.lps53.org Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and download the Liberty Public Schools app for day-to-day district news.

from the

Superintendent UNDER CONSTRUCTION INDEX A Message from the Superintendent ...................... 3 Immunizations ....................... 4 School Start & End Times ...... 4 Innovation, Information, Inquiry...Maximizing Learning in Liberty’s School Libraries ... 4 School Age Care Kid’s Zone ................................ 5 Transportation ........................ 5 Nutrition Services .................. 6

In just a few days, we will welcome nearly 13,000 PreK12th grade students for the start of the 2019-2020 school year. Summer days are nearing an end, and Liberty Public Schools is making final preparations for the start of another great school year. Whether new to the district or entering your child’s senior year, we strive to provide all of our learners with the exceptional learning opportunities they are due. We want to thank you for choosing Liberty Public Schools, and we look forward to working with you throughout the year. The support of our families and community is integral to the success of our schools, as is the input we receive from our learners. While we believe our teachers, staff, and administration are among the best in the nation, we seek to continually improve to enhance the learning experiences of all of our learners.

Many of you participated in surveys, focus groups, or attended our World Café event last spring to assist in constructing our new strategic plan. We have been hard at work finalizing vision statements and action plans around five key areas: Teaching, Learning, Professional Development, Leadership, and our Wider Community.

Our strategic plan journey began nearly a year ago as we posed the question, “What does it mean to THRIVE?” Your feedback has been integral to informing the vision of Liberty Public Schools captured in our Strategic Plan.

Rooted in our priorities of Relationships, Informed

Student Safety ........................ 7 Crisis Information/Weather Guidelines ............................... 8 School Closing Information ... 8 Parents as Teachers ................ 8 Liberty Education Foundation ............................. 9 News You Can Use ................10 Compliance Information ...... 11

Jeremy Tucker Superintendent of the Year — Liberty Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeremy Tucker (center) is the reigning Missouri School Superintendent of the Year, and begins his sixth year leading LPS.

Decision Making, Learner Agency, Personalization, and a Growth Mindset, our new Strategic Plan seeks to ensure that the diverse needs of all of our learners are met, that equity is threaded through all of our decisions, and that access to exceptional learning opportunities are afforded to all of our learners. We believe this can be accomplished through an agile approach and focus on continuous improvement.

Construction continues as a result of our community’s support of our 2018 No-Tax-Increase Bond Issue. Our continued growth and input from the community shaped the priorities identified in our Facilities Master Plan.

Projects underway at several of our schools include: Early Childhood Center – Secure Entrance and Administrative Office Renovation Franklin Elementary – Classroom Additions Manor Hill Elementary – Secure Entrance and Administrative Office Renovation Lillian Schumacher Elementary – Secure Entrance and Administrative Office Renovation Liberty North High School – Addition of Academic Wing Liberty High School – New Performing Arts Center Completion dates of these projects, as well as other capital projects, will vary over the course of the coming year. Additionally, during the 2019-2020 school year, the Board of Education and Administration will be conducting a demographic study of our District to continue to monitor our growth, as well as inform the priorities of our next Facilities Master Plan.

A new school year provides us with a chance to start fresh, often with new ideas and expanded opportunities for our learners. We look forward to finalizing our Strategic Plan and Graduate Profile this fall and conveying our action plans with our community to move the work forward. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you in serving all of our learners to make the 20192020 school year a success for all!

Dr. M. Jeremy Tucker, Superintendent

On the cover

(From R-L) Makenzie McFarland, Maddox Compton, Saba Dieckhoff, Jace Compton and Cole Ouk

If you would like more information about Liberty Public School District, please contact the Communications Office at 736-5300, or visit our website at www.lps53.org.

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IMMUNIZATIONS New and Returning Students: Don’t wait until the last minute to get up-to-date on your shots! You may not start school in August without being up-to-date on your immunizations (per Missouri Law and District Policy).

For 8th and 12th grade students, pay special attention to what is required for you below.

Children entering kindergarten must have completed the following vaccines: DTaP, IPV, MMR, Hepatitis B, and Varicella (chickenpox).

Please Note: If a child has had the chickenpox disease, the parent must turn in a written statement signed by a doctor documenting the month and year of the chickenpox disease. Remember, this statement must be signed by a doctor – only an M.D. or D.O. Shots required for all 8th grade students: Tdap, Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine Shots required for all 12th grade students: Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine (1 dose required a�ter the age of 16) Recommended only, for 11 years or older: HPV Recommended only, for all students: Hepatitis A Contact your child’s physician, or the Clay County Public Health Center at 595-4355, to schedule an appointment. Clay County Public Health Center accepts most major insurance plans and Missouri Medicaid.

SCHOOL START AND END TIMES ELEMENTARY Early Childhood – AM ................... 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Early Childhood – PM .................... 1:20 p.m. – 4:20 p.m.

Alexander Doniphan .................... 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

EPiC ................................................. 8:25 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Franklin ......................................... 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Kellybrook ..................................... 9:10 a.m. – 4:10 p.m.

Lewis and Clark ............................. 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Liberty Oaks ................................... 7:50 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Lillian Schumacher ....................... 9:10 a.m. – 4:10 p.m.

Manor Hill ...................................... 7:50 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Ridgeview ...................................... 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Shoal Creek .................................... 8:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Warren Hills .................................. 9:10 a.m. – 4:10 p.m.

MIDDLE Discovery Middle School ............... 7:15 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.

Heritage Middle School ............... 7:45 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.

Liberty Middle School ................... 7:45 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.

South Valley Middle School .......... 7:15 a.m. – 2:20 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL Liberty High School ....................... 8:10 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Liberty North High School ............ 8:10 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Liberty Academy ............................ 8:10 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

INNOVATION, INFORMATION, INQUIRY… MAXIMIZING LEARNING IN LIBERTY’S SCHOOL LIBRARIES Liberty’s school libraries prepare students for the future by facilitating opportunities for identifying and solving problems and consuming, as well as creating, content. As certified teachers, the library media specialist in each school guides students to collaborate, problem-solve, evaluate, create, and reflect. The library media center provides students with access to thousands of print and digital resources, including fiction and nonfiction books and e-books, online databases, magazines, newspapers, videos, and audiobooks. To find out more about your school library, visit https://www.lps53.org/ librarymedia.

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SCHOOL AGE CARE – KID’S ZONE Liberty’s School Age Care Program, Kid’s Zone, provides before and after school care in each elementary school K-5. Kid’s Zone begins at 6:30 a.m. and operates until school begins. Kid’s Zone resumes in the afternoon when school is dismissed and is open until 6 p.m. A full-day program is also available on some days when school is closed. A site supervisor, with college hours or experience working with children, supervises the programming at each site. All Kid’s Zone support staff receive CPR-FA training each year, along with 12 hours of professional development classes in School Age Care. Kid’s Zone STEM lesson plans reflect a child’s need to learn through play and there are other choices of play for them after a full day of school. Our goal is to provide a nurturing environment where children feel comfortable sharing and exploring through educational and recreational activities. For more information, visit www. kidszone.lps53.org or contact Program Manager Nancy Hillebrand, at 736-5378.

TRANSPORTATION The primary responsibility for transportation is safe transit from home to school and back. With nearly 7,000 students riding daily, student conduct is crucial to success. Take a moment to review the safety guidelines with your students.

Opt-in. All high school students must opt in for transportation or they will not be routed to ride a bus. This form may be found on the district’s website, www.lps53.org. Click on the yellow tab at the bottom of the screen “Find it Fast.” Click on “Transportation” then “Transportation Forms.” The link to the “Student Opt-in Form” will be there.

Bus Stop Information provided on Infofinder I is school-year specific and will be available approximately two weeks before school starts. It is on the Transportation page at www.lps53.org. Click on “Quick Links”. Enter your student’s residence address, and the software will give you the corresponding bus information for that address. Keep in mind, the student must be registered at that address in order to be rostered to ride the bus.

New Enrollments need to be completed as soon as possible for a smooth start up. Refer to the district website, under Enrollment Information, for any questions. Students will need to allow at least 48 hours for their information to be entered and electronically sent to the Transportation Office before their first pick up date. Address changes for current students may be made by going to the district website. Students who move within the district will be provided transportation 24 hours after their address change is made. Most bus routing is completed early in July.

Bus Stops. Students who live more than one mile from school are eligible for bus transportation. Elementary students will walk no more than three blocks to a bus stop; 6th-12th grade students may walk up to six blocks.

For their safety, students should be waiting in an orderly manner at the bus stop five minutes before their scheduled bus stop time.

During the first few weeks of school, it is not uncommon for your student to arrive home later than their estimated time. Schools are assuring that all students are on the correct bus. This creates delays, as the buses have multiple routes at different buildings.

Each day, buses will make over 3,160 stops for students while traveling more than 1,000,000 miles a year. Buses are inspected annually by the Missouri Highway Patrol and again 60 days prior to the start of school.

Transportation letters will be emailed to parents the beginning of August. For those students who do not have a parent email, letters will be mailed. If you have questions, please call the Transportation Office at 736-5360.

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NUTRITION SERVICES

Free and reduced price breakfast and lunch meals are available for qualifying incomes. Paper and electronic Free and Reduced application forms are available online at www.lps53.org/nutrition.

Applications are also available at all school sites and at the Nutrition Services office, 801 Kent Street, Liberty. Please Note: Households with previously-approved Free and Reduced applications on file must re-apply by September 26, 2019.

Parents/guardians may request a block be placed on their student’s account, which allows for no charging and/or places a spending limit for the day. Visit www.schoolcafe.com to activate this service. The block will remain in place until the cafeteria manager is contacted and advised differently. Note: Blocks on student accounts are offered as a courtesy only, and the school district is not liable for charges that may occur.

LPS Nutrition Services now offers an app in the App Store or Google Play. Download School CAFÉ for information on school menus, transaction history, balances, to make payments, and receive allergy information. For more information, please call Nutrition Services at 736-5375.

facebook.com/lpsleadsnutrition 6 • Fall 2019 • LPS EDUCATOR

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PRICES (Please note minimal price increases from last year)

Breakfast Elementary (K-5) ..................................... $1.60 Secondary (6-12) .......................................$1.65 Reduced ................................................... $0.30 Adult ........................................................ $2.00 Lunch

Elementary (K-5) ..................................... $2.45 Secondary (6-12) ...................................... $2.75 Reduced ................................................... $0.40 Adult ........................................................ $4.00 Premium Meal (Additional) ...................... $0.85 Premium Plus Meal (Additional) .............. $1.60

Milk

Extra (One 8-oz. carton included w/meal) ...... $0.60

twitter.com/LPSNutrition

instagram.com/lpsleadsnutrition

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STUDENT SAFETY

Visitors to our district: safety and security guidelines • Due to privacy issues, videotaping or photographing in classrooms is not permitted.

Liberty Public Schools welcomes visitors to our school community.

We are proud of our facilities and learning environment. In order to safeguard our students and staff, the following procedures will be followed: • All visitors to our school facilities must ring the doorbell to gain access through the secure entrance.

• You will be asked to provide information regarding your visit to our facility.

• Once inside, check in with the receptionist or office administrative assistant.

Exceptions shall be granted only by the superintendent or designee.

Keeping schools safe is a responsibility for all staff, students, and patrons. If you learn of, or suspect, a school violence incident, please help prevent the act before it happens. You may report incidents by calling the Safety and Security Department at 816-736-7319 or 816-736-5300.

You may report incidents anonymously by accessing our anti-bully reporting system, Sprigeo, from any of our school websites or by calling the Missouri School Violence Hotline at 1-866-748-7047. You may also report it on-line at www.schoolviolencehotline. com.

In the event of an emergency, the district has a comprehensive crisis plan and has direct links to the Liberty and Kansas City Police Departments, Fire Departments, and Liberty Hospital. All students need to be aware of their surroundings and communicate with administrators, safety and security personnel, or a School Resource Officer if there is a problem. Digital camera systems and secured entry systems are installed in all buildings. If you see suspicious activity around any of our buildings, please report it immediately. If you have questions or concerns about safety, call the district safety and security number at 736-7319, or visit our website at https://www.lps53.org/safety.

• If you need to enter the school beyond the receptionist’s area, you will be required to provide a government issued I.D. • Visitors will be required to wear a visitor name badge provided by the office.

• A request to visit a classroom may only be approved by the principal, but is not encouraged due to interruption of the learning environment.

• Media representatives are permitted only when given approval by the superintendent or designee.

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CRISIS INFORMATION/WEATHER GUIDELINES During an emergency situation, your first reaction may be to call or come to the school. While we understand your need for immediate information, your presence may actually interfere with emergency respondents attending to the situation at the school. We will make every attempt to forward timely information via e-mail, text, and phone calls to ensure you are kept informed of any concerns and actions taken to maintain the safety of your child. Instead of going to the school, you are encouraged to seek other means of gathering information; these sources might include the Liberty Public Schools website, local news channels, and local radio stations. We appreciate your patience and understanding in addressing this issue.

The LPS Safety and Security Department, district administrators, and law enforcement monitor weather conditions closely. In the event of a weather emergency, safety plans are in place in each school building. We ask that you do not call or come to the school during this time, as for safety reasons, we may not be able to release students until the weather has improved or cleared.

SCHOOL CLOSING INFORMATION Decisions about school closings are made by the administration and communicated to parents via several sources, which include QuickNews, Blackboard Automated Phone Calling Service, District Facebook and Twitter pages, LPS District website, local television stations, KLPS Channel 18, and our mobile app. Parents should keep their children home if they believe weather conditions are too threatening or severe. Early dismissals due to weather conditions are rare; however, parents should instruct children as what to do, whom to contact, and where to go should school be dismissed early.

PARENTS AS TEACHERS Parents as Teachers offers parent information and support in making the most of their child’s first five years of learning and development. These services include: • In-home or private visits – Trained, certified educators meet privately with parents of children ages birth to 3 years on a regular basis in order to assist parents in supporting and encouraging their child’s development.

• Parent/Child Learning Groups – Trained, certified educators host regular Parent/Child Learning Groups for parents of children ages 3-5. These small groups will offer opportunities to assist parents in supporting the growth and development of their preschool-age child while engaging with peers.

• Information – Group Connection Events and a Resource Network help parents to be their child’s best first teachers.

• Screenings – Starting at age 4 months and ending the year before kindergarten, Parents as Teachers offers developmental screenings 8 • Fall 2019 • LPS EDUCATOR

annually. Developmental screenings assist families in gaining knowledge of current levels of functioning for their child in the areas of social, language, motor, concept, self-help, and social emotional development.

Parents as Teachers offices are located at the Early Childhood Center, 9600 NE 79 Street, Kansas City, MO. For more information, call 736-5324 or visit www.lps53.org/ecc, and click on the Parents as Teachers tab.

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LIBERTY EDUCATION FOUNDATION Since 1995, the Liberty Education Foundation has been committed to enriching educational opportunities throughout Liberty Public Schools. Thanks to strong community partnerships, the 2018-2019 school year served as the Foundation’s most impactful year to date. In addition to its existing programs, the Liberty Education Foundation proudly launched several new programs including: • Learner Led Grants: Fuels student creativity and learning through individual and collaborative grants.

• SOAR Award Program Sponsor: The Liberty Education Foundation proudly partnered with the District to sponsor the SOAR (Service Over and Above the Rest) Awards, recognizing several employees each month.

• Professional Development Awards: Promotes continued growth and training for our educators.

• Liberty Cares Fund: Provides assistance to families experiencing financial hardship.

The Liberty Education Foundation is looking forward to another exciting year. Make plans to attend the 5th Annual Education Uncorked on Saturday, October 19, 2019, and the 5th Annual Liberty Public Schools Community Breakfast on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. To register for events and to learn more about the Foundation, visit libertyeducationfoundation.org.

Nathnael Kahassi at Liberty High School was one of 14 inaugural Learner Led Grant recipients. Foundation funding allowed him to enhance his research on the Milky Way Galaxy.

• Innovator of the Year Award: Recognizes and encourages innovation in Liberty Public Schools through an annual teacher award.

A dynamic teaching team from Alexander Doniphan Elementary, Mrs. Kim Turner, Ms. Stephanie Overcast and Mrs. Jennifer Mann, were the first to be presented with the annual Innovator of the Year Award.

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NEWS YOU CAN USE eFlyer Management System - Peachjar

In the past, our schools have sent home loads of flyers in student backpacks as part of Friday Folders. As part of our efforts to be more environmentally friendly, and to embrace innovative technology, we moved away from paper to a digital flyer delivery, which will continue through the 2019-2020 school year. With our Peachjar eflyer program, the eflyers are sent directly to parent email inboxes and will be posted on school websites, for easy access. All flyers may be accessed by clicking on the Peachjar logo that appears on each of our school websites.

PTA Information

What is PTA and how do I join? PTA – Parent Teacher Association – is an association of parents, teachers, and administrators who work together to sponsor programs benefiting the children of a school.

Membership in PTA is open to anyone who believes in PTA’s mission.

When you join your school’s PTA, you have a vote in deciding what programs your school’s PTA will sponsor. You also become a member of the National and Missouri PTAs, whose collective voice of 6 million strong advocates for a quality education and nurturing environment for every child. Membership information will be available at your school’s back-to-school event, and we encourage you to join. When you get involved with PTA, the child who benefits most is your own! For more information, contact PTA Council President Jenny Alexander, at libertyptacouncil@gmail.com.

KLPS-TV 18

LPS is very fortunate to have its own cable TV channel dedicated solely for district use. KLPS-TV telecasts on Spectrum Cable Channel 18 throughout Liberty School District. Regular programming that will appear on KLPS during the school year will include: monthly school board meetings, district events, athletic contests, student produced programs, and much more! In addition, Liberty Public Schools is fortunate to have support provided by Niles Media Group, who provides students with real-life experiences both at LPS and throughout the metro and region. To learn more about KLPS, visit www.klpstv.com.

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Follow LPS on social media

If you are a social networker, you can follow Liberty Public Schools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Along with current happenings at LPS, you will also have an easy way of tracking who’s making the news by checking out both newspaper and television links from local media. LPS currently has over 20,000 followers using these social networking sites and has proven to be yet another way to communicate with you, the great supporters of LPS!

QUICKNEWS – Email newsletter

If you are interested in free, weekly email updates about Liberty Public Schools, sign up for QuickNews. Go to the district website at www.lps53.org and select Staying Connected. LPS currently provides over 9,000 QuickNews subscribers all of the latest happenings taking place in our district. Additionally, breaking news, such as school cancelations or early dismissals, are communicated via QuickNews and other communication outlets. Please note: All email addresses of parents and patrons who sign up for QuickNews may be disclosed to members of the public that make a formal, written request under the Missouri Sunshine Law.

Powerschool continues to serve as a parent resource

The parent/student access system known as PowerSchool is in its tenth year of implementation in Liberty Public Schools. Parent Access, known as the PowerSchool Parent Portal, is available to all students and parents in grades 3-12. This access provides real-time attendance and assignment data, course information, a variety of reports available via email, as well as other information. For easy access to busy families, all current PowerSchool Parent Portal options are available 24 hours a day, 7-days a week at www.lps53.org/domain/ 1095. More information and sign-up opportunities will occur at the building level during orientation and initial parent/student events in August and September 2019.

COMPLIANCE INFORMATION STANDARD COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROCEDURE

This compliant resolution procedure applies to all programs administered by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). A complaint is formal allegation that a specific federal or state law or regulation has been violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted by school district personnel or by DESE. The complaint must be written and signed; provide specific details of the situation and indicate the law or regulation allegedly being violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted. The complaint must be filed, and resolution pursued, in accordance with Liberty’s Board of Education Policy KL: Public Complaint Policy. If the issue cannot be resolved at the local level, the complainant may file a complaint with the Missouri DESE. If there is no evidence that local parties have attempted in good faith to resolve the complaint, DESE may require parties to do so and may provide technical assistance to facilitate such resolution. Any persons directly affected by the actions of DESE may file a similarly written complaint if they believe state or federal laws or regulations have been violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted by DESE. For more information, contact the Academic Services Department at 736-5320.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES: CHILD FIND PUBLIC NOTICE

Liberty Public Schools assures that it will provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 under its jurisdiction, including those attending private/parochial schools. Disabilities include autism, deaf/blindness, emotional disorders, hearing impairment, orthopedic impairment, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, other health impairment, specific learning disabilities, speech and/or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment/blindness, and young child with a developmental delay (YCDD). The building principal represents the Local Educational Agency (LEA) for each special education team when consideration for special education testing occurs.

Each school has support for any student who is experiencing special learning concerns addressed through its School Based Problem Solving Teams. When all options of general education support are exhausted, a referral for Special Education consideration follows. Specialists who will become important in the consideration for Special Education referral are the School Psychologist, Special Education Case Manager and the District Process Coordinator. For more information, contact Dr. Kris Martin, Director of Special Services, 736-5320, or write directly to the Special Services Department, Liberty Public Schools, 8 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO 64068.

Parents will have ten (10) school days after this annual public notice to view the student’s directory information and the school district’s opt-out form stating in writing that they choose not to have this information released. Unless notified to the contrary in writing within the ten (10) school-day period, the school district may disclose any of those items designated as directory information without prior written consent. For more information, contact the Office of Student Services at 736-5310. §504 Child Find Notice Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the District has a duty to identify, refer, evaluate and if eligible, provide a free, appropriate public education to disabled students. For additional information about the rights of parents of eligible children, or for answers to any questions you might have about identification, evaluation and placement into Section 504 programs, please contact the District’s Section 504 Coordinator, Dr Jessica Meisenheimer, at 736-6745, or by mail at 8 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO 64068.

Aviso Sobre La Identificación de Estudiantes Incapacitados bajo la Sección 504 Bajo la Sección 504 del Decreto de Rehabilitación de 1973, el Distrito Escolar esta obligado a identificar, referir, evaluar, y proporcionar servicios educativos apropriados y gratuitos a estudiantes incapacitados que califican para recibir servicios bajo esta ley. Si usted desea mas información sobre los derechos de padres de niños incapacitados, o si tiene preguntas sobre la identificación, evaluación, y colocación de niños en el programa de Sección 504, favor de ponerse in contacto con el Coordinador de 504 del Distrito, Dr. Kris Martin, at 736-5320, o por correo a la siguiente dirección: 8 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO 64068.

EDUCATING MISSOURI’S HOMELESS CHILDREN

The McKinney-Vento Act guarantees homeless children and youth an education equal to what they would receive if not homeless. Who is homeless? According to the McKinney-Vento Act, homeless children and youth include individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This includes the following situations: • Sharing the housing of others (known as doubling-up) due to the loss of housing and economic hardship • Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks or camping grounds • Living in emergency or transitional shelters • Abandoned in hospitals • Living in a nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for an ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation • Living in cars, parks, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings The McKinney-Vento Act also recognizes unaccompanied youth who are homeless. According to this Act, an unaccompanied youth is a youth not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian. The Liberty Public Schools Homeless Coordinator is Rebecca Bressman, Director of Student Services, 736-5310, 8 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO 64068.

PROHIBITION AGAINST ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT

The Liberty 53 School District Board of Education is committed to maintaining a workplace and educational environment that is free from illegal discrimination or harassment in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, activities, and facilities. Discrimination or harassment against employees, students, or others on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected by law is strictly prohibited in accordance with law. For more information, contact Dr. Dwayne Smith, Director of Compliance, 736-5300, 8 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO 64068.

DIRECTORY INFORMATION

School officials may release Directory Information. This includes print and electronic publications of the school district. Such information is considered a public record, which must be released upon demand to any persons who request it under the Missouri Sunshine Law. Directory information is information designated by the school district that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy.

Liberty Public Schools designates the following items as directory information: student’s name, parent’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, including audiovisual or photographic records of the openly visible activities thereof (e.g. artistic performances, sporting contests, assemblies, service projects, award ceremonies, etc.), weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, most recent and previous school attended, and photograph, including photos of regular school activities that do not disclose specific academic information about the child and/or would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy.

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