Public Notices

Clintondale Community School District Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act Notification

Each school building within the district has been inspected for the presense of asbestos-containing materials as required by the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). A copy of the Building Inspection and Management Plan for each building is available in the buidings' main office.  The plans may be inspected by the members of the public and by district employees during normal business hours. A copy of the plan will be made available upon request for a nominal fee.

Re-Inspection: The AHERA regulation requires a three-year re-inspection of the condition of asbestos containing materials in all school buildings. This monitoring is being conducted by Nova Environmental, Inc.  Any questions can be sent to Laura Lawniczak, director of buildings and operations. 

Harassment is prohibited between members of the school community, including communication of any form between students, parents, faculty and/or staff, and any third parties directly or indirectly. We are committed to maintaining a working and learning environment in which students, faculty, and staff can develop intellectually, professionally, personally, and socially. Such an atmosphere must be free of intimidation, fear, coercion, and reprisal. It is an expectation that all students and employees shall use all equipment and programs for the intended educational purpose. We are committed to protecting students and employees from bullying, harassment, or inappropriate uses of computers or programs to participate in bullying behavior. Bullying and Harassment will not be tolerated and shall show just cause for disciplinary action. Conduct that constitutes bullying or harassment, as defined herein, is prohibited. Bullying, harassment, and cyberstalking are defined as inflicting physical or psychological distress, and/or communicating words, images or language using electronic mail that causes emotional distress and for which there is no legitimate purpose. Any action by a student or parent deemed inappropriate will be fully investigated by the appropriate school administrator.

Child Find is part of the federal special education law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), that requires schools identify, locate, and evaluate all children, aged birth through 21 years, who have disabilities and may be entitled to special education and related services.

Services for children ages 0 to 3 years of age are provided in collaboration with the Macomb Intermediate School District (MISD) through the Child Find process. Please call the MISD Infant Preschool Program at 586-228-2417 for information on these early services.

Any parent, physician, agency, or individual may refer a child to Child Find by written request or by contacting the Director of Special Education at  586-790-7638.

The Board of Education recognizes that the misuse of drugs is a serious problem with legal, physical, and social implications for the entire school community. In accordance with the federal and state law, the Board establishes a "Drug-Free School Zone" that extends 1,000 feet from the boundary of any school property. The Board prohibits the use, possession, concealment, delivery, or distribution of any drug or any drug-related paraphernalia, including alcohol and marijuana, at any time on school district property, within the Drug-Free Zone or at any school district-related event. Further, the Superintendent, or his/her designee, will take the necessary steps to ensure that an individual 18 years of age or older who knowingly delivers or distributes controlled substances so designated and prohibited by Michigan statue within the Drug-Free School Zone to another person is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

The federal law known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age and older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records.  These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 30 days of the day the school district receives a request for access.
   
   Parents or eligible students who wish to inspect their education records should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
    
2. The right to request an amendment of the student's education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights under FERPA.
   
   Parents, guardians, or eligible students who wish to ask the Clintondale Community School District to amend a record should submit a written request to the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it should be changed. If the district decides not to amend the record as requested, the district will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student at the time they are notified of the right to a hearing.
    
3. The right to provide written consent before the district discloses personally identifiable information from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
   
   One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with a legitimate educational interests. A designated school official with a legitimate educational interest includes a person employed by the district as an administrator, teacher, or other person designate by the Board of Education. A school official also includes a liaison officer who, while not employed by the district, may be granted access to student educational records (including video footage) at the direction and supervision of a school administrator.  A school official also may include a contractor or consultant who, while no employed by the district, performs an institutional service of function (such as design and maintenance of the district's security camera system) for which the district would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the district with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information from student education records.
    
4. The right to refuse to allow the disclosure of "directory information". 
   
   "Directory information" regarding a student may be released to any requesting person or party, in addition to the eligible student or his/her parent, without written consent. The Board of Education has defined "directory information" to include a student's :
    
   1. Name,
   2. Address and telephone number,
   3. Photograph,
   4. Birth date and place of birth,
   5. Participation in District related programs and extracurricular activities,
   6. Academic awards and honors,
   7. Height and weight, if a member of an athletic team,
   8. Honors and awards, and

   9. Dates of attendance and date of graduation.
      
      In the event inconsistency exists between the Board of Education policy defining "directory information" and this annual notification, the policy prevails.
      
      Each year, the Superintendent, or his/her designee, will provide public notice to students and parents of the district's intent to make directory information available to students and parents. Common uses for students' directory information, which include, but are not limited to PTO and Athletic Booster directories.
      
      Eligible students and parents may refuse to allow the district to disclose any or all of such directory information upon written notification to the district within 30 days after receipt of the school district's public notice. Parents may submit written notification to the building principal of their child's school and/or fill out the district opt-out form.
       

5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:
   
   Family Policy and Compliance Office
   U.S. Department of Education
   400 Maryland Avenue, SW
   Washington, DC 20202-4605
    
6. United States Armed Forces - The district is required to provide United States Armed Forces recruiters with at least the same access to student directory information as is provided to other entities offering educational or employment opportunities to those students as is permitted and/or required by law.  "Armed forces of the United State" means the armed forces of the United States and their reserve components and the United States Coast Guard.  An eligible student or the parent may submit a signed, written direction to the district that the student's directory information not be accessible to United States Armed Forces recruiters.  In such case, the information will not be disclosed.
    
7. Other Agencies or Institutions - As permitted by FERPA, the district may forward education records, including disciplinary records, without student or parental consent, to other agencies or institution in which the student seeks or intends to enroll or is already enrolled so long as the disclosure is for purposes related to the student's enrollment to transfer and upon receipt of a request for a student's school or education records.
    
8. Compliance - The district will comply with a legitimate request for access to education records within a reasonable period of time, but not more than 30 days after receiving the request or within a shorter period as may be applicable by law to students with disabilities. The requesting party may be charged a processing fee for the information.

WHAT IS A PUBLIC RECORD?

The FOIA defines a public record as a “writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by a public body in the performance of an official function, from the time it is created.”

The law defines a “writing” as “handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostatting, photographing, photocopying, and every other means of recording, and includes letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combinations there of, and papers, maps, magnetic or paper tapes, photographic films or prints, microfilm, microfiche, magnetic or punched cards, discs, drums, or other means of recording or retaining meaningful content.” E-mail messages are considered public records under the FOIA if they deal with official district business. A person’s correspondence requesting information under the FOIA is also considered a public record. However, the law specifically excludes computer software from the definition of public record.

Please note that the district is not required to make a compilation, summary or report of information, or to create a new public record.

HOW TO FILE A FOIA WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Director of Human Resources or designee is the Freedom of Information Coordinator at Clintondale Community School District, and is responsible for handling FOIA requests. Written FOIA requests should be sent to the attention of Lee Walmsley at Clintondale Community School District, 35100 Little Mack Avenue, Clinton Township, MI 48035. Requests can also be faxed to the office at 586-791-6786.

• Please specify with as much detail as possible the records you wish to inspect and/or receive copies of. For example, if applicable, please include the time period involved and the department where the documents may be located, if you know it.
• Please include your mailing address and daytime phone number, as well as an e-mail address and fax number, if applicable.

CAN SOME RECORDS BE WITHHELD?

The law recognizes that, in some instances, the public interest may be better served by not disclosing information. FOIA, therefore, makes certain public records exempt from disclosure, for reasons ranging from matters of privacy to confidential research-related information. One exemption that applies uniquely to schools prohibits Clintondale Community Schools from disclosing student records protected under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

At Clintondale Community Schools, the decision whether material should be withheld is made by the Superintendent or designee, if necessary after consultation with other appropriate offices. The Superintendent or designee has the authority to deny a FOIA request.

HOW MUCH TIME DOES THE DISTRICT HAVE TO RESPOND? 

The District has five business days after receiving a written request to respond, although the response period can be extended by the FOIA Coordinator for up to an additional 10 business days. Day 1 of the response period is considered to be the next business day following receipt of the written request. Email is considered “received” one business day after it was sent. If, however, the request is electronically transmitted and delivered to a spam or junk mail folder, the request will be deemed received one day after the school district becomes aware of it. Sometimes requests involve voluminous documents spread over several departments. In those cases, full compliance with the request may take longer than fifteen (15) business days.

The FOIA Coordinator can either grant a request; deny it in full or in part, citing one or more exemptions; or certify that the requested document(s) doesn’t exist.

FEES FOR PROVIDING DOCUMENTS

The Clintondale Community School District may charge a fee for the search, review, separation of exempt from non-exempt information, copying and mailing of documents. Upon receipt of the request, if a fee is to be assessed, the requester will be provided a detailed itemization of fees that will list and explain the allowable charges that compose the total fee and the district will ask whether he/she wants to proceed. In calculating the cost of labor incurred, the district can charge the hourly wage plus up to 50 percent to the applicable labor charge to cover the cost of fringe benefits associated with that labor, of the lowest paid employee capable of performing the task. The labor costs are estimated and charged in increments of 15 minutes, with all partial increments rounded down. If the district does not employ someone capable of determining what information should be released, the district may contract the work to an outside person or organization. In such instances, the requester will be notified of the name of the contracted person/firm on the detailed itemization of fees. The cost of contracted services cannot exceed six times the minimum wage.

In addition, the requester may be charged the actual cost of any non-paper physical media (e.g., computer disks, tapes, etc.) or paper requests. The maximum charge per piece of letter/legal sized paper is 10 cents, as well as the actual cost of mailing the request.

If the information that is requested is available online, the District will notify the requester of such, including the specific webpage location where the information can be found. Online availability will be noted separately on the fee summary. If the requester still requests paper copies, he/she may be charged an additional fee and will be notified of the amount in the itemized fee summary.

Upon determination and disclosure of the fee, if the estimate exceeds $50, the FOIA enables the school district to require a good faith deposit of up to half of the estimate before beginning the search for documents.

The first $20 of the fee must be waived for a person who is on welfare or presents facts showing inability to pay because of indigency. Even in such cases, however, the district may still charge a fee if the person has already received discounted copies from the district twice during the calendar year or if the request is made on behalf of an outside party who is offering payment. The first $20 of the fee will also be waived for a non-profit organization designated by the State to carry out certain activities related to persons with disabilities.

CAN I INSPECT A PUBLIC RECORD IN PERSON?

Yes, the school district will provide “a reasonable opportunity for inspection and examination of its public records, and shall furnish reasonable facilities for making memoranda or abstracts from its public records during the usual business hours” (8am-3pm on business days). However, the district may make reasonable rules to protect its records and to prevent excessive and unreasonable interference with the discharge of its functions. Please note that in some instances where original documents contain exempt information, the exempt material may be removed and copies made for inspection.

Also, please note that there still may be a fee charged for the cost of searching for and reviewing the original records before the requester can examine them.

What recourse do I have if the response is untimely, the fee is excessive or I am denied information?

If the school district fails to respond to an appropriately submitted and recognizable FOIA request within the timelines explained above, the labor costs to produce the documents must be reduced by 5 percent for each day the response is delayed, up to 50 percent of the total fee.

If the requester believes that the estimated fee for producing public records exceeds the amount permitted, the requester may appeal to the Board of Education. If the Board fails to timely respond or denies that appeal, the requester may file a lawsuit in state court for reduction of the fee within 45 days.

If the request is denied, in whole or in part, then within 180 days of the school district’s denial, the requester can either submit a written appeal to the Board or file a lawsuit in state court. The Board typically has 10 business days after receipt of an appeal to respond, but in unusual circumstances, the Board may take an additional 10 business days. Failure to respond is considered a final determination to deny a request. If the requester chooses to appeal to the Board, and the Board either denies or fails to timely respond to the appeal, the requester still can file a lawsuit in state court. The school district cannot destroy a document once it has been requested. If the FOIA Officer denies the request, the document must be retained for at least 180 days from the date of the denial letter.

Our students engage in many learning activities and opportunities throughout the school year.  We capture this excitement and enthusiasm for learning through photos and videos that are shared on social media, the district website, and occasionally through press releases.  

If, however, you would prefer not to have your child featured, please contact your child's school and they will be happy to give you an Opt-Out form.  Please be aware that in filling out this form, your child will not be included in any photos, videos, articles, or student directories.

The Clintondale Community School District, In accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, will ensure that homeless children and youth in transition have access to a free and appropriate public education, including preschool, and given a full opportunity to participate in state and district-wide assessments and accountability systems.  A student may be considered eligible for services if he/she is presently living:

• In temporary shared housing, a shelter, or transitional living program;
• In a hotel/motel, campground, or similar situation due to lack of alternative;
• At a bus station, park, car, or abandoned buildings; or
• In a temporary or transitional foster care placement.

The Board of Education has designate social worker Linda Brook as the school district's coordinator under the Homeless Assistance Act.  For questions or assistance, please contact:

Social Worker Linda Brook
35300 Little Mack Avenue
Clinton Township, MI 48035
586-791-6302

No person may be denied admission to any school in the Clintondale Community School District, be denied the benefits of or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, or other District program or activity based on the person's gender, religion, race, color, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic. The Board of Education has adopted a Discrimination and Harassment Policy which prohibits all forms of illegal harassment and discrimination within the district. Any person who believes that he/she has been the victim of discrimination may see resolution of his/her complaint through the procedures that have been established by the district. A person wishing to pursue a complaint may contact the district's Civil Rights Compliance Officer. 

The district appoints the Secretary in the Superintendent's Office as the district's compliance officer whose responsibility it will be to ensure that Federal and State regulations are complied with and that any inquiries and complaints are dealt with promptly in accordance with law. She/He shall also ensure that proper notice of nondiscrimination for Title II, Title VI, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is provided to students, their parents, staff members and the general public.

Contact information for the Compliance Officer is as follows:

Clintondale Community Schools Compliance Officers:

Secretary, Superintendent's Office
35100 Little Mack Avenue
Clinton Township, MI 48035
586-791-6300

Pesticides are periodically applied to Clintondale Community School District property as part of the district’s pest management program, in compliance with Regulation 637, Rule 14 of the Michigan Pesticide Act, PA 171. Parents and legal guardians of children enrolled in the district have the right to request prior notification of pesticide applications to the buildings or grounds.

In order to be notified prior to the application of pesticides, the parent or legal guardian must make this request in writing to:
Laura Lawniczak, operations director
35100 Little Mack Avenue
Clinton Township, MI 48035
586-791-6300

Please understand that emergencies do arise and that pesticides may be applied without prior notice to parents or legal guardians. Parents or guardians that have requested prior notification, however, will be notified after pesticide application.

Application of pesticides will be performed only by certified or registered applicators where and when required. Notification will be posted 48 hours ahead of application and will remain posted for 48 hours after application (near the main front doors of the school building affected). If a pesticide is applied in a building, students will not occupy the room for a minimum of four hours. When a pesticide is applied to school district grounds, the application will not be made within 100 feet of occupied classrooms, and flags will be inserted in the ground to mark the application area. Upon request, parents and legal guardians have the right to be notified three days in advance, by mail.

All children who enter schools in Michigan are required by state law to be fully vaccinated in accordance with Part 92, Act 368 of the Public Acts of 1978. New enrollees must provide proof of immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, measles, pertussis, poliomyelitis, rubella, varicella, mumps and Hepatitis B or present a statement signed by the parent/guardian that there are religious or other objections to the immunization. New enrollees, including kindergartners, cannot attend without the required immunizations or waiver. The Macomb County Health Department advises that all children obtain these immunization boosters. For more information contact the office of the building in which your child is to be enrolled.

The Board of Education acknowledges the need for a reasonable degree of in-school storage of student possessions and will provide storage places, including desks and lockers, for that purpose. Where lockers are provided, students may lock them against incursion by other students, but lockers remain Clintondale Community School District property. Students do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy with respect to school district personnel or their designees in lockers or other in-school storage places provided by the school district.

The Board also authorizes the use of canines, trained in detecting the presence of drugs or devices. Canines are used to determine the presences of drugs in locker areas and other places where such substances may be concealed. Canine detection is usually conducted in collaboration with law enforcement authorities or other certified organizations and is not used to search individual students without legally sufficient suspicion, a warrant or parental permission has been obtained.

School authorities are authorized to take reasonable steps to safeguard the safety and well-being of the students by, among other things, implementing the school district's Student Code of Conduct.  Within the discharge of their responsibilities, school district personnel may search students, student property, and school property in the manner permitted by law.

Public Act 12 of 2014 that went into effect on July 1, 2014 revises the number and scheduling of required school safety drills. Ten drills will be required each year:

• Five fire drills per school year. Three of which must take place by December 1. There must be a reasonable interval between each drill. The other two during the remainder of the school year.
• Two tornado safety drills per school year. One of which must take place in March.
• Three lockdown drills per school year, including security measures appropriate to an emergency "such as the release of hazardous material or the presence of a potentially dangerous individual on or near the premises." At least one of the drills must take place by December 1 and at least one after January 1. (There must be a reasonable interval between each drill.)
• At least one of the above-listed drills must be scheduled during lunch, recess, or at another time when a significant number of students are present, but not in classrooms.

For a list of scheduled and completed drills, visit the desired school's school safety drills web page. 

The Clintondale Community School District offers evaluations, programs, and services to individuals who are identified as having, or who are suspected of having, a disability as defined in either the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These services are available to eligible persons ages 0-26 who reside within, or attend a K-12 school program within, the Clintondale Community School District attendance boundaries. Referrals are accepted from parents, staff members, community agencies, and other interested parties. For more information about available services, parent rights, guardians rights, student rights or referral procedures, contact the Clintondale Community School District Office of Student Services at 35200 Little Mack Avenue, Clinton Township, MI, 48035, or call 586-790-6301.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requires the school district to submit an annual storm water management plan update to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The required annual report was submitted and reviewed and found to be in compliance with the COC No. MIS040076 of the MS4 Jurisdictional General Permit No. MIS040000. Copies of the Clintondale Community School District Storm Water Management Program Plan may be obtained by sending a written request to the Director of Business and Operations, 35100 Little Mack Avenue, Clinton Township, MI 48035.

• Stormwater Public Education and Links
• MC Public Notice of SWMP
• MISD MC Stormwater Management Plan

The Clintondale Community Schools district Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation or gender identity, in its education programs or activities, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and its implementing regulations, not to discriminate in such a manner. The requirement not to discriminate in its education program or activity extends to admission and employment. The Board is committed to maintaining an education and work environment that is free from discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment.

The Clintondale Board prohibits sexual harassment that occurs within its education programs and activities. When the district has actual knowledge of sexual harassment in its education program or activity against a person in the United States, it shall promptly respond in a manner that is not deliberately indifferent.

Pursuant to its Title IX obligations, the Clintondale Board is committed to eliminating sexual harassment and will take appropriate action when an individual is determined responsible for violating this policy. Board employees, students, third-party vendors and contractors, guests, and other members of the Clintondale community who commit sexual harassment are subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions. The Clintondale Board will provide persons who have experienced sexual harassment ongoing remedies as reasonably necessary to restore or preserve access to the district’s education programs and activities.

Please refer to Board of Education policy 5050 for additional details at the following link: Title IX Sexual Harassment.

Please refer to the employee training materials at the following link: Title IX Sexual Harassment Comprehensive Training.

REPORTING PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR

Members of the school district community who believe that a Title IX violation may have occurred, should discuss their concerns and/or file a complaint with the District’s Title IX coordinator. If you would like to report a Title IX concern, please contact:

Heather Halpin
Chief Academic Officer
Title IX Coordinator
Email: halpinh@clintondaleschools.net
Clintondale Community Schools
35100 Little Mack Avenue
Clinton Township, MI 48035
586-791-6300, ext. 3023

Questions regarding the grievance process should be directed to Heather Halpin.

The Board of Education authorizes the staff members and students to create web content, services, and apps that will be hosted by the Board on its servers or district-affiliated servers and published on the Internet. For purposes of this policy, an app is defined as a self-contained program or piece of software that enables the user to perform a specific task.

The web content, services and apps must comply with State and Federal law (e.g., copyright laws, Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)), and reflect the professional image/brand of the District, its employees, and students. Web content, series and apps must be consistent with the Board’s mission statement and staff-created web content, services, and apps are subject to prior review and approval of the Superintendent before being published on the Internet and/or utilized with students.

Student-created web content, services, and apps are subject to Board policy.

The creation of web content, services, and apps by students must be done under the supervision of a professional staff member.

The purpose of web content, services, and apps hosted by the Board on its servers or district-affiliated servers is to educate, inform, and communicate. 

The information contained on the Board's website should reflect and support the Board's mission statement, educational philosophy, and the school improvement process.