Northview Public Schools and its community develop literate, creative problem solvers who are respectful, productive members of society ready for continued learning.

Our Vision

Inspire every student to achieve their individual best.

Our Beliefs

Every student can learn – just in different ways and at different rates.
Every person is a valued member of the Northview school community.
We are all responsible for student success and learning.
Integrity, honesty and ethical behavior guide the treatment of students and adults in Northview.
People working together toward common goals can accomplish anything.
Embrace change and continuous improvement.
Focus on performance and results.
Our words and behaviors accelerate student academic performance and nurture their social development.

Administration Building

Dr. Christina Hinds, Superintendent

chinds@nvps.net

John Kraus, Interim Deputy Superintendent

jkraus@nvps.net

Northview Public Schools

Elementary Student/Parent Handbook Introduction

Welcome to Northview Elementary Schools. We hope that this Student/Parent Handbook will help answer any questions you may have about our routines and expectations in our learning community.

The staff is proud to offer a positive educational experience that is based on high academic standards for all students. We ask you to join us in the responsibility we all have to ensure that this environment continues to offer the best opportunities for all to learn.

We believe we have a responsibility to help our students:

Be Ready
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe

Please keep this handbook as your reference for this school year. If you need further assistance, or have any questions, please call your elementary building.

East Oakview – (616) 361-3460

Danielle Stanley, Principal

Laura Havey, School Social Worker

Sue Kestler, Administrative Assistant

Sheryl Purwin, Office Paraprofessional

North Oakview – (616) 361-3450

Angela Balczak, Principal

Meghan Brickey, School Social Worker

Casey Hunt, Administrative Assistant

TBD, Office Paraprofessional

West Oakview – (616) 361-3470

An Kurosu, Principal

Courtney Couturier, School Social Worker

Laura Niedzielski, Administrative Assistant

TBD, Office Paraprofessional

Foreword

This student handbook was developed to answer many of the commonly asked questions that Northview families may have during the school year and to provide specific information about certain Board policies and procedures. Become familiar with the following information and keep the handbook available for frequent reference. If you have any questions that are not addressed in this handbook, you are encouraged to talk to the teacher or the building principal.

This handbook summarizes many of the official policies and administrative guidelines of the Board of Education and the Northview district. To the extent that the handbook is ambiguous or conflicts with these policies and guidelines, the policies and guidelines shall control. This handbook is effective immediately and supersedes any prior handbook and other written material.

This handbook does not equate to an irrevocable contractual commitment to the student, but only reflects the current status of the Board’s policies and the school’s rules as of Fall 2023. If any of the policies or administrative guidelines referenced herein are revised after Fall 2023, the language in the most current policy or administrative guideline prevails.

Equal Education Opportunity

It is the policy of this District to provide an equal education opportunity for all students. Any person who believes that s/he has been discriminated against on the basis of his/her race, color, disability, religion, gender, or national origin, while at school or a school activity should immediately contact the School District’s Compliance Officer listed below:

Deputy Superintendent

(616) 363-6861

Complaints will be investigated in accordance with the procedures as described in Board Policies po5517 Anti-Harassment and po5517.01 Bullying and other Aggressive Behavior Toward Students. Any student making a complaint or participating in a school investigation will be protected from any threat or retaliation. The Compliance Officer can provide additional information concerning equal access to educational opportunity.

Parent Involvement

The Board of Education believes that durable and significant learning by a student is more likely to occur when there is an effective partnership between the school and the student’s parents/guardians (“parents”). Such a partnership means a mutual belief in and commitment to significant educational goals for a student, a plan for the means to accomplish those goals, cooperation on developing and implementing solutions to problems that may be encountered and continuing communication regarding the progress in accomplishing the goals(s). To this end, parents should be meaningfully involved in:

A. developing and implementing appropriate strategies for helping their child achieve the learning objectives that lead to accomplishing the learning outcomes;

B. providing a school and home environment which encourages learning and augments, at home, the learning experiences provided by the school;

C. establishing the learning outcomes for their child with the goal of developing a responsible, adult member of society;

D. establishing and supporting a consistent and shared approach to child guidance and discipline;

E. providing for the proper health, safety, and well-being for their child;

F. developing English language proficiency.

The Board is committed to communicating to parents at a level and in a language they can understand, where practicable.

The Board through this policy directs the establishment of a parent involvement plan by which a school-parent partnership can be established and provided to the parent of each child in the District. The plan must encompass parent participation, through meetings and other forms of communication. The Parental Involvement Plan shall be distributed to all parents and students through publication in the Student Handbook posted on the district website.

The Elementary buildings of this District encourage parent involvement in our schools. The following are a list of activities involving parents:

Through the enrollment process with Central Office, Open House, and school/district communication, Northview Public Schools is committed to the parent’s right to be involved in the educational process of their child.
Provide child’s individual assessment results, reading results, progress reports, report cards, and parent conference information.
Post and invite parents to PTC meetings at the individual buildings.
Schedule parent/teacher conferences and parent requested conferences.
Publish District and School Newsletter(s) informing parents about activities and events.
Distribute periodic newsletters from teachers informing parents of upcoming events and curriculum being taught.
Confirmation of home language annually to identify students for whom English is a second language to provide a means for developing individualized instruction when needed.
Encourage continued positive partnership involvement throughout the community by staff and administrators.
Encourage parents to serve as chaperones for class field trips and other school activities.
Utilize the website to communicate information to parents.

Relations with Parents

The Board needs parents to assume and exercise responsibility for their children’s behavior, including the behavior of students who have reached the legal age of majority, but are still supported by the parents. During the school hours, the Board, through its designated administrators, recognizes the responsibility to monitor students’ behavior and, as with academic matters, the importance of cooperation between the school and the parents in matters relating to conduct.

For the benefit of the child, the Board encourages parents to support their child’s career in school by:

participating in school functions, organizations and committees;
supporting the teachers and the schools in maintaining discipline and a safe and orderly learning environment;
requiring their child to observe all school rules and regulations;
supporting or enforcing consequences for their child’s willful misbehavior in school;
sending their children to school with proper attention to his/her health, personal cleanliness, and dress;
maintaining an active interest in their child’s daily work, monitoring and making it possible for him/her to complete assigned homework by providing a quiet place and suitable conditions for study;
reading all communications from the school, signing, and returning them promptly when required, or seeking assistance if needed, due to a limitation in reading/and or understanding of communications shared.
cooperating with the school in attending conferences set up for the exchange of information of their child’s progress in school.

Northview PTC Groups

The Northview Parent-Teacher Committee is a volunteer parent group that works to support the school in our efforts to educate the children we serve. The group typically meets monthly to plan and coordinate upcoming events and fundraisers, and will distribute reminders to parents through flyers and the Facebook page.

For more information, please email your building PTC at:

East Oakview eastoakviewptc@gmail.com

North Oakview northoakviewptc@gmail.com

West Oakview westoakviewpto@gmail.com

Section I: General Information

Enrolling in the School

State law requires students to enroll in the school district in which their parent or legal guardian resides, unless enrolling under the District’s open enrollment policy. All Northview Public Schools enrollments are centralized at the Administration Building.

New students under the age of eighteen (18) must be enrolled by their parent(s) or legal guardian(s). When enrolling, parents must provide copies of the following:

A birth certificate,
Court papers allocating parental rights and responsibilities, or custody (if appropriate),
Proof of residency (gas, water, or electric bill, or a lease agreement),
Proof of immunizations,
Completed school forms (registration cards, tech use agreement, concussion form, etc.)

Under certain circumstances, temporary enrollment may be permitted. In such cases, parents will be notified about documentation required to establish permanent enrollment.

Homeless students who meet the Federal definition of homeless may enroll and will be under the direction of the McKinney-Vento (Homeless) District Liaison with regard to enrollment procedures.

A student who has been suspended or expelled by another public school in Michigan may be temporarily denied admission to the District’s schools during the period of suspension or expulsion even if that student would otherwise be entitled to attend school in the District. Likewise, a student who has been expelled or otherwise removed for disciplinary purposes from a public school in another state and the period of expulsion or removal has not expired may be temporarily denied admission to the District’s schools during the period of expulsion or removal or until the expiration of the period of expulsion or removal which the student would have received in the District had the student committed the offense while enrolled in the District. Prior to denying admission, however, the Superintendent shall offer the student an opportunity for a hearing to review the circumstances of the suspension or expulsion and any other factors the Superintendent determines to be relevant.

Drop Off and Pick Up

To ensure student safety, there are designated times and locations for student drop-off and pick-up. Please refer to your school building communications for specific instructions regarding drop off/pick up times and locations.

Visitors

Visitors, particularly parents, are welcome at the school. In order to properly monitor the safety of students and staff, each visitor must report to the office upon entering the school to obtain a visitor’s badge and sign in. Any visitor found in the building without a badge shall be reported to the principal. If a person wishes to confer with a member of the staff, s/he should call for an appointment prior to coming to the School, in order to schedule a mutually convenient time.

Each year we have a Volunteer Consent Form that must be completed before volunteers are allowed to work with students. Volunteer forms are available online under “Get Involved” or by clicking HERE. Volunteer hours are coordinated directly with your student’s teacher(s) and may require permission from the building principal. Students may not bring visitors to school without prior written permission from the Principal. The Volunteer Consent Form must be submitted at least seven (7) school days prior to the scheduled event to the Central Office/Administration Building for processing. Volunteers must be cleared prior to volunteering.

Changes in Daily Routine

Send a note or call the office when:

You are leaving your children in someone else’s care.
You are picking your child up after school (and they normally walk or ride the bus.) When picking your child up after school, please assist our teachers and office staff by notifying the office at least 45 minutes prior to the end of the school day.
Your child has a dental and/or doctor appointment and will be arriving late or leaving for part of the day.
You are giving permission to stay for an activity.
When any situation exists that might cause anxiety for your child or a change in his/her normal routine as it relates to school.

Emergency Information

All emergency information is stored in Synergy. Please keep the school informed through the Synergy ParentVue as to your current:

Address
Telephone number
Place of employment and telephone number
Emergency Contact - Friends, neighbors, or relatives who can be reached when you are away.

If you need assistance or are unable to access Synergy ParentVue, please contact the building office to update your information.

Releasing a Student from School

Parents/Guardians are requested to stop in the office when they pick up a student prior to regular dismissal time. The date, time and adult with whom the student leaves are recorded in the office. We will not release a student to someone not listed on his/her Synergy account. We also need notification (preferably written) if your child is not to ride the bus home and/or you are going to pick him/her up. If we are not notified, the student will ride the regular bus home.

Scheduling and Assignment

The principal will assign each student to the appropriate classroom and program. Any questions or concerns about the assignment should be discussed with the principal. Requests of a specific teacher are not permitted. We do accept Environment Requests in April.

Transfer Out of the District

If a student plans to transfer from Northview, the parent must notify the school office. Transfers will be authorized only after the student’s parents have completed the arrangements, returned all school materials, and paid any fees or fines that are due. School records may not be released if the transfer is not properly completed. Parents are encouraged to contact the school office for specific details.

School officials, when transferring student records, are required to transmit disciplinary records including suspension and expulsion actions against the student.

Withdrawal from School

No student under the age of eighteen (18) will be allowed to withdraw from school without the written consent of his/her parent(s)/guardian(s).

NVPS Immunization Guidelines

In compliance with NVPS Board Policy 5320, all students must meet the immunization requirements set by the State for attendance at school in order to enroll or attend. Students who do not meet the immunization requirements on the opening day of school, and who have not properly waived or delayed the required immunization obligations, will not be admitted.

Use of Medications

Northview Public Schools is a drug-free school district. As such, students requiring medication at school, either over-the-counter or prescriptions, are required to have a Permission for Medication at School form on file in the school office. Elementary buildings will also follow Board Policy 5330 Use of Medications.

Students must have all medication dispensed through the school office, unless otherwise indicated by their physician. If your son/daughter will be using any medications during the school year, please complete the “Permission for Medication at School” form and return it to the school office at the beginning of the school year. The form is also available to print off our website from home or your doctor’s office. Examples of over-the-counter medications include: Tylenol, Motrin or ibuprofen, Benadryl, Midol, cold remedies, etc. It is important that your child is compliant with the district policies. School staff WILL NOT dispense routine or prescribed medication to a student WITHOUT a signed medication administration form. If medication is to be kept with the student, a medication administration form must be completed and signed by the physician stating that your son/daughter may self-carry medication at school.

All over-the-counter and prescription medication must be supplied by the student’s parents/guardian in accordance to our school policy:

Original container
Student’s name
Doctor’s name for prescription medication
Medication in bottle is accurate (dose, student’s name, date, name of medication)
Dosage to be given to student matches the signed medication consent form

A new authorization is needed at the beginning of each school year. According to school policy, medications administered at school will be limited to ingested medications, unless specific care plans are on file and approved by an administrator or school nurse.

All medications must be brought to school by parent or guardian. IMPORTANT NOTE: whenever prescription medication pills are brought to school, the parent or their adult designee and a designated school employee will count out the pills/tablets together and record this on the student’s medication log and sign. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SCHOOL’S OFFICE BEFORE BRINGING IN YOUR MEDICATION in order to avoid unnecessary wait times.

The parent/guardian must pick up unused medications by the last day of school. No medications will be stored over the summer. Remaining medications or contaminated medication will be disposed of properly at the conclusion of the school year.

Asthma Inhalers and Epi-pens

Students, with appropriate written permission from the physician and parent, may possess and use a metered dose inhaler or dry powder inhaler to alleviate asthmatic symptoms. Epinephrine (Epi-pen) is administered only in accordance with a written medication administration plan developed by the school nurse and updated annually. For more information, please see Board Policy 5330.01.

Head Lice

School officials will immediately inform the parent/guardian if any student is found to have live lice or nits after confirmation from the school-designated personnel.

Immediate treatment at home will be advised. Parents will be given education on appropriate treatment.
The student will be readmitted to school after treatment and a clear examination.
If, upon examination, the school-designated personnel find no live lice on the child and/or nits farther than one quarter inch from the scalp, the child may re-enter the school.
If, upon examination, the school-designated personnel find live lice or nits closer than one quarter inch from the scalp on the student, the school nurse should be notified immediately. In this circumstance, the student may be sent home based on the school’s discretion and more education and guidance will be given to the parents by the school nurse.
Operations should be notified by the school-designated personnel if live lice are found, and a thorough classroom cleaning will be requested.

Control of Non-Casual Contact Communicable Diseases

In the case of non-casual contact, communicable diseases, the school still has the obligation to protect the safety of the staff and students. In these cases, the person in question will have his/her status reviewed by a panel of resource people, including the County Health Department, to ensure that the rights of the person affected and those in contact with that person are respected. The school will seek to keep students and staff persons in school unless there is definitive evidence to warrant exclusion.

Non-casual contact communicable diseases include sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), ARC-AIDS Related Complex (condition), HIV (Human-immunodeficiency), HAV, HBV, HCV (Hepatitis A, B, C); and other diseases that may be specified by the State Board of Health.

As required by Federal law, parents will be requested to have their child’s blood checked for HIV, HBV, and other blood-borne pathogens when the child has bled at school and students or staff members have been exposed to the blood. Any testing is subject to laws protecting confidentiality.

Individuals with Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provide that no individual will be discriminated against on the basis of a disability. This protection applies not just to the student, but to all individuals who have access to the District’s programs and facilities.

A student can access special education services through the proper evaluation procedures. Parent involvement in this procedure is important and required by Federal (IDEA) and State law. Contact the Director of Special Services at (616) 361-3446 to inquire about evaluation procedures and programs.

Limited English Proficiency

Limited proficiency in the English language should not be a barrier to equal participation in the instructional or extra-curricular programs of the District. It is, therefore, the policy of this District that those students identified as having limited English proficiency will be provided additional support and instruction to assist them in gaining English proficiency and in accessing the educational and extra-curricular program offered by the District. Parents should contact the Special Services Department at 616-361-3446 to inquire about evaluation procedures and programs offered by the District.

Student Records

The School District maintains many student records including both directory information and confidential information.

Neither the Board nor its employees shall permit the release of the social security number of a student, or other individual except as authorized by law (see AG 8350). Documents containing social security numbers shall be restricted to those employees who have a need to know that information or a need to access those documents. When documents containing social security numbers are no longer needed, they shall be shredded by an employee who has authorized access to such records.

Board Policy 8330 states that in order to provide appropriate educational services and programming, the Board of Education must collect, retain, and use information about individual students. Simultaneously, the Board recognizes the need to safeguard student’s privacy and restrict access to student’s personally identifiable information.

The Board of Education is responsible for maintaining records of all students attending schools in this District. Only records mandated by the State or Federal government and/or necessary and relevant to the function of the School District or specifically permitted by this Board will be compiled by Board employees. The Board hereby authorizes collection of the following student records, in addition to the membership record required by law:

observations and ratings of individual students by professional staff members acting within their sphere of competency
samples of student work
information obtained from professionally acceptable standard instruments of measurement such as:

interest inventories and aptitude tests;
vocational preference inventories;
achievement tests;
standardized intelligence tests.

authenticated information provided by a parent or eligible student concerning achievements and other school activities which the parent or student wants to make a part of the record
verified reports of serious or recurrent behavior patterns
rank in class and academic honors earned
psychological tests
attendance records
health records
custodial arrangements

In all cases, permitted, narrative information in student records shall be objectively-based on the personal observation or knowledge of the originator.

Student records shall be available only to students and their parents, eligible students, and designated school officials and designated school personnel, who have a legitimate educational interest in the information, or to other individuals or organizations as permitted by law. The term “parents” includes legal guardians or other persons standing in loco parentis (such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child lives, or a person who is legally responsible for the welfare of the child). The term “eligible student” refers to a student who is eighteen (18) years of age or older or a student of any age who is enrolled in a postsecondary institution.

In situations in which a student has both a custodial and a non-custodial parent, both shall have access to the student’s educational records unless stipulated otherwise by court order. In the case of eligible students, parents will be allowed access to the records without the student’s consent, provided the student is considered a dependent under section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code.

“Legitimate educational interest” shall be defined as a “direct or delegated responsibility for helping the student achieve one (1) or more of the educational goals of the District” or if the record is necessary in order for the school official to perform an administrative, supervisory or instructional task or to perform a service or benefit for the student or the student’s family.

The Board authorizes the administration to:

A. forward student records, including any suspension and expulsion action against the student, on request to a school or school district in which a student of this District seeks or intends to enroll upon condition that the student’s parents be notified or the transfer, receive a copy of the record if desired, and have an opportunity for a hearing to challenge the content of the record;

B. provide “personally-identifiable” information to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency if such knowledge is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals;

C. report a crime committed by a child with or without a disability to appropriate authorities and to transmit copies of the student’s special education records and disciplinary records including any suspension and expulsion action against the student to the authorities and school officials for their consideration;

D. request each person or party requesting access to a student’s record to abide by the Federal regulations concerning the disclosure of information.

The Board will comply with a legitimate request for access to a student’s records within a reasonable period of time but not more than forty-five (45) days after receiving the request. Upon the request of the viewer, a record shall be reproduced, unless said record is copyrighted, and the viewer may be charged a fee equivalent to the cost of handling and reproduction. Based upon reasonable requests, viewers of educational records will receive explanation and interpretation of the records.

The Board shall maintain a record of those persons to whom information about a student has been disclosed. Such disclosure records will indicate the student, person viewing the record, information disclosed, date of disclosure, and date parental/eligible student consent was obtained.

Only “directory information” regarding a student shall be released to any person or party, other than the student or his/her parent, without the written consent of the parent; or, if the student is an eligible student, the written consent of the student, except those persons or parties stipulated by the Board policy and administrative guidelines and/or those specified in the law.

The Board shall exempt from disclosure directory information, as requested for the purpose of surveys, marketing, or solicitation, unless the Board determines that the use is consistent with the educational mission of the Board and beneficial to the affected students. The Board may take steps to ensure that directory information disclosed shall not be used, rented, or sold for the purpose of surveys, marketing, or solicitations. Before disclosing the directory information, the Board may require the requester to execute an affidavit stating that directory information provided shall not be used, rented, or sold for the purpose of surveys, marketing, or solicitation.

Directory Information

Directory information can be provided upon request to any individual, other than a for profit organization, even without the written consent of a parent. Parents may refuse to allow the board to disclose any or all of such “directory information” upon written notification to the Board. For further information about the items included within the category of directory information and instructions on how to prohibit its release you may wish to consult the Board’s annual Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) notice which can be found in the Board Policy 8330 (pp. 4-7).

FERPA

Other than directory information, access to all other student records is protected by (FERPA) and Michigan law. Except in limited circumstances as specifically defined in State and Federal law, the School District is prohibited from releasing confidential education records to any outside individual or organization without the prior written consent of the parents, or the adult student, as well as those individuals who have matriculated and entered a postsecondary educational institution at any age.

Confidential records include test scores, psychological reports, behavioral data, disciplinary records, and communications with family and outside service providers.

Students and parents have the right to review and receive copies of all educational records. Costs for copies of records may be charged to the parent. To review student records please provide a written notice identifying requested student records to the office of the superintendent. You will be given an appointment with the appropriate person to answer any questions and to review the requested student records.

Parents and adult students have the right to amend a student record when they believe that any of the information contained in the record is inaccurate, misleading or violates the student’s privacy. A parent or adult student must request the amendment of a student record in writing and if the request is denied, the parent or adult student will be informed of their right to a hearing on the matter.

Individuals have a right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education if they believe that the District has violated FERPA.

Consistent with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), no student shall be required, as a part of the school program or the District’s curriculum, without prior written consent of the student (if an adult, or an emancipated minor) or, if an unemancipated minor, his/her parents, to submit to or participate in any survey, analysis, or evaluation concerning:

political affiliations or beliefs of the student or his/her parents;
mental or psychological problems of the student or his/her family;
sex behavior or attitudes;
illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
legally recognized privileged and analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;
religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or his/her parents; or
income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such a program).

Consistent with the PPRA and Board policy, the Superintendent shall ensure that procedures are established whereby parents may inspect any materials used in conjunction with any such survey, analysis, or evaluation.

Further, parents have the right to inspect, upon request, a survey or evaluation created by a third party before the survey/evaluation is administered or distributed by the school to the student. The parent will have access to the survey/evaluation within a reasonable period of time after the request is received by the building principal.

The Superintendent will provide notice directly to parents of students enrolled in the District of the substantive content of this policy at least annually at the beginning of the school year, and within a reasonable period of time after any substantive change in this policy. In addition, the Superintendent is directed to notify parents of students in the District, at least annually at the beginning of the school year, of the specific or approximate dates during the school year when the following activities are scheduled or expected to be scheduled:

activities involving the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the purpose of marketing or for selling that information for otherwise providing that information to others for that purpose; and
the administration of any survey by a third party that contains one or more of the items described in A through H above.

The Family Policy Compliance Office in the U.S. Department of Education administers both FERPA and PPRA. Parents and/or eligible students 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 20202-4605

Washington, D.C.

Informal inquiries may be sent to the Family Policy Compliance Office via the following email addresses:

FERPA@ED.Gov; and

PPRA@ED.Gov.

Review of Instructional Materials and Activities

Parents have the right to review any instructional materials being used in the school. They also may observe instruction in any class, particularly those dealing with instruction in health and sex education. Any parent who wishes to review materials or observe instruction must contact the principal prior to coming to the school. Parents’ rights to review teaching materials and instructional activities are subject to reasonable restrictions and limits.

Food Service

The Board believes the development of healthy behaviors and habits with regard to eating cannot be accomplished by the District alone. It will be necessary for the school staff, in addition to parents and the public at large, to be involved in a community-wide effort to promote, support, and model such healthy behaviors and habits. Parents interested in being involved should contact the Food Service Director at 616-363-4857.

The school participates in the National School Lunch Program and makes lunches available for a fee, however, State or Federal policies supersede this. Students may also bring their own lunch to school to be eaten in the school’s cafeteria.

Applications for the school’s Free and Reduced-Priced Meal program are available online at https://northview.familyportal.cloud/, or a paper version is available in the school office. If you believe you will qualify and do not have access to a computer, you can contact the food service staff at your building or the Food Service Director at 616-363-4857.

Access to Meal Account

All students are assigned a meal account when they enroll in the school district. This account stays the same for the duration of their school years. Students may access their account by using their Student ID card.

All students are given a Student ID card, which contains the information necessary to access their account. If students use their card to access their account, and the card is lost or stolen, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of their accounts. Please report lost cards to the building front office staff.

Parties and Treats

Each building will have celebrations throughout the year. Parents may assist teachers with these parties, when requested. Class parties typically consist of:

the Fall Party in October;
the Holiday party in December and
the Valentine’s Party in February.

Please avoid snacks with peanuts, due to student and staff allergic reactions.

Birthday Celebrations –

Buildings and teachers will have different guidelines for how classes will celebrate birthdays. Please contact your child’s teacher for the building and/or classroom specific details for birthday celebrations.

Invitations to personal Birthday parties may not be handed out at school unless you are inviting the entire class or all the girls/boys. Invitations that are brought to school and do not follow this rule will be sent back home for your personal attention.

Evacuation Drills

Fire, Lock Down and Tornado Drills

The school complies with all fire safety laws and will conduct fire drills in accordance with State law. Specific instructions on how to proceed will be provided to students by their teachers who will be responsible for safe, prompt, and orderly evacuation of the building. The alarm signal for fire drills consists of a verbal prompt with lights flashing.

Severe Weather drills will be conducted throughout the year using the procedures provided by the state. The signal for students to take cover in severe weather will be given over the PA system. There is no alarm signaled for severe weather.

Safety drills in which the students are restricted to the interior of the school building and the building secured will occur each school year. The alarm system for a Safety drill will consist of an announcement over the PA System.

Emergency Closings and Delays

If the school must be closed or the opening delayed because of inclement weather or other conditions, the School will notify radio and television stations: In addition to the various news media, special announcements like school closing may be given over the Instant Alert system and/or school websites.

Preparedness for Toxic and Asbestos Hazards

The Board of Education, Northview Administrators, and Staff Northview Public Schools is concerned for the safety of students and attempts to comply with all Federal and State Laws and Regulations to protect students from hazards that may result from industrial accidents beyond the control of school officials or from the presence of asbestos materials used in previous construction. A copy of the School District’s Preparedness for Toxic Hazard and Asbestos Hazard Policy and asbestos management plan will be made available for inspection at the Administration Building, upon request, or by visiting this link: Board Policy 8431.

Lost and Found

Each Building has a lost and found. Students who have lost items should check there and may retrieve their items if they give a proper description. Unclaimed items will be given to charity halfway through the year and at the end of the school year. We urge parents to mark all personal belongings with the child’s name in ink or with a nametag.

Injury or Illness

All injuries must be reported to a teacher or the office. If minor, the student will be treated and may return to class. If medical attention is required, the office will follow the School’s emergency procedures.

A student who becomes ill during the school day should request permission to go to the office. An appropriate adult in the office will determine whether or not the student should remain in school or go home. No student will be released from school without proper parental permission.

Illness at School

If your child becomes ill at school, we will contact you to pick him/her up. We have no accommodations for sick children at school. Please help us by keeping your child at home in the morning if they are ill or have a contagious condition. Students should remain home until they have been fever free without medication for 24 hours.

Homebound Instruction

The District shall arrange for individual instruction to students of legal school age who are not able to attend classes because of a physical or emotional disability.

Parents should contact the school administration regarding procedures for such instruction. Applications must be approved by the Special Education Department. The District will provide homebound instruction only for those confinements expected to last at least five (5) days.

Applications for individual instruction shall be made by a physician licensed to practice in this State, parent, student, or other caregiver. A physician must: certify the nature and existence of a medical condition; state the probable duration of the confinement; request such instruction; present evidence of the student’s ability to participate in an educational program.

Staying in for Recess

We believe that physical activity and fresh air have a positive effect on student learning. Children are expected to go outside for recess. Please be sure they wear appropriate outerwear (boots, snow pants, hat, mittens, etc.) during the winter months. During inclement weather (such as rain or wind-chill below zero), students will have indoor recess. Special medical reasons will be honored when the request is put in writing and a recommendation is provided by the child’s physician. If a child needs to stay in for more than a day, a written doctor’s excuse will need to be on file.

Early Dismissal

No student will be allowed to leave school prior to dismissal time without a written request signed by a person whose signature is on file in the School office or the parent coming to the school office to request the release. No student will be released to a person other than a custodial parent(s) without written permission signed by the custodial parent(s) or guardian.

Section II: Academics

Academic Performance Standards

This section provides resources that connect our classroom performance standards to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Understanding these links will help you see how your child's learning aligns with national expectations and how we are preparing them for future academic success. If you have any questions about your child's academic performance, please reach out to their teacher(s).

The CCSS are designed to ensure all students graduate high school with the skills and knowledge necessary for college, career, and life. By exploring these connections, you'll gain insight into the specific skills your child is developing and how they relate to broader educational goals. We hope this empowers you to support your child's learning journey effectively.

Common Core Standards - ELA, Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and Technical Subjects

Common Core Standards - Mathematics

Field Trips

Field trips are academic activities that are held off school grounds. There are also other trips that are part of the school’s co-curricular program. Permission for student participation in any school sponsored trip can be found within ParentVue. Parents will be notified in advance of any field trip opportunities and requirements.

Please note that our district transportation policy does not allow for younger siblings to be transported on the school bus or attend field trips with a chaperone.

Grades

The school has a standard grading procedure, as well as additional notations that may indicate work in progress or incomplete work. The purpose of a grade is to indicate the extent to which the student has acquired the necessary learning. In general, students are assigned grades based upon test results, homework, projects, and classroom participation. Each teacher may place a different emphasis on these areas in determining a grade and will inform the students at the beginning of the course work. If a student is not sure how his/her grade will be determined, s/he should ask the teacher.

The school uses the following grading system…
DK-4 Level Set	Learner Behaviors
3 - Meeting Standards	M - Most of the time
2 - Approaching Standards	S - Some of the time
1 - Below Standards	R - Rarely displays the skill
X - Instructed in grade level concepts
CA - Curriculum Adjustment

Student Assessment

The Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) is given in third and fourth grade. Parents are sent the results of these tests when they are received by the school.

Additional tests are given to students to monitor progress and determine educational mastery levels. These tests are used to help the staff determine instructional needs.

Classroom daily work, observation and assessments, are used to determine student progress and assign grades. These are selected or prepared by teachers to assess how well the students have achieved specific objectives. Parents/Guardians will be updated regarding progress.

October – Parent/Teacher Conferences

January – Report Card sent home with students

February – Parent/Teacher Conferences

June – Report Cards sent home with students

Communication Folders

Each student is provided a folder for communications from the office and the classroom. These will be sent home each week throughout the year. PLEASE make a habit of reading through your child’s folder each week and return any requested information. The Communication folders are an important communication link between school and home.

Section III: Student Activities

School Sponsored Clubs and Activities

Extra-curricular activities do not reflect the School curriculum, but are made available to students to allow them to pursue additional worthwhile activities such as recreational sports, drama, and the like.

All students are permitted to participate in the activities of their choosing, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements.

Non-School Sponsored Clubs and Activities

Non-school sponsored student groups organized for religious, political, or philosophical reasons may meet during non-instructional hours. The application for permission can be obtained from the district website under Community / Facility Rental or by visiting: https://nvps.net/community/facility-rental/. The applicant must verify that the activity is being initiated by students, that attendance is voluntary, that no school staff person is actively involved in the event, that the event will not interfere with school activities and that the non-school persons do not play a regular role in the event. All school rules will still apply regarding behavior and equal opportunity to participate.

Membership in any fraternity, sorority, or any other secret society as prescribed by law is not permitted. All groups must comply with the School rules and must provide equal opportunity to participate.

No non-district sponsored organization may use the name of the school or the school mascot.

Student Fees, Fines, and Supplies

Northview may charge specific fees for non-curricular activities and programs. Such fees or charges are determined by the cost of materials, freight/handling fees, and add-on fees for loss of damage to school property. The school and staff do not make a profit.

The District will provide all basic supplies needed to complete the required course curriculum. The student and/or his/her family may choose to purchase their own supplies if they desire to have a greater quantity or quality of supplies, or desire to help conserve the limited resources for use by others. The teacher or appropriate administrator may recommend useful supplies for these purposes.

Fees may be waived in situations where there is financial hardship.

Students using school property and equipment can be fined for excessive wear and abuse of the property and equipment. The fine will be used to pay for the damage, not to make a profit.

Section IV: Student Conduct

Absenteeism

Absenteeism- Northview Public Schools follows the Kent Intermediate School District’s definition of Chronic absenteeism; attendance is less than 90% of scheduled days to date. NVPS will send two (2) family communications when the threshold is exceeded or a pattern of absenteeism is identified. The third communication for chronic absenteeism will be sent by the Kent ISD and the established truancy process will be followed.

School Attendance Policy

It is imperative that students be in attendance each school day in order not to miss a significant portion of their education. Important learning achievement results from active participation in the classroom and other school activities which cannot be replaced by individual study.

Attendance is important in the development of a high quality work ethic which will be a significant factor in a student’s success with future employers. One of the most important work habits that employers look for in hiring and promoting a worker is his/her dependability in coming to work every day and on time. This is a habit the School wants to help students develop as early as possible in their school careers.
The school chooses, however, not to provide perfect attendance awards, because there are students with health conditions that will not allow them to be in attendance every school day, although they are present every day they are capable of attending.

Reporting Missed Days of Instruction

Parents or the guardian(s) must contact the attendance office of the school your child attends when a student misses a day of instruction. Parents/Guardians may call or email to communicate information regarding the student's absence. The attendance phone operates twenty-four (24) hours a day with an option to leave a message outside of the school hours.

School Responsibilities to Notify Parents

NVPS notifies parents of a student’s absence that has not been communicated by the parent.

Uncounted and Counted Missed Days of Instruction

Missed days of instruction due to a student being admitted to a hospital, doctor-excused illness with start and end dates, attending funerals, subpoenaed into court, or on suspension will not count toward the >90% attendance requirement. All other missed days of instruction for things such as typical illness, vacations, dental and doctor appointments, etc. will be counted toward the expectation of being in attendance >90% of our days of school.

Tardiness

A student, who is not in his/her assigned location by the start of the instructional day shall be considered tardy. Any student arriving late to school is to report to the school office before proceeding to class. In addition, students who leave school early will also be considered tardy. Five tardies constitute one day's absence.

Vacation During the School Year

Parents are encouraged not to take their child out of school for vacations. When a family vacation must be scheduled during the school year, the parents should discuss the matter with the principal and the student’s teacher(s) to make necessary arrangements. It may be possible for the student to receive certain assignments that are to be completed during the trip.

Make-up of Tests and Other School Work

Students who are excusably absent from school or who have been suspended shall be given the opportunity to make-up work that has been missed. The guardians/student should contact their classroom teacher as soon as possible to obtain the assignments.

Student Attendance at School Events

The school encourages students to attend as many school events held after school as possible, without interfering with their school work and home activities. In order to ensure that students attending evening events as non-participants are properly safe-guarded, all elementary students must be accompanied by a parent or adult chaperone when they attend the event. The school will not be able to supervise unaccompanied students nor will it be responsible for students who arrive without a chaperone.

The school will continue to provide adequate supervision for all students who are participants in a school activity. Students must comply with the Code of Conduct at school events, regardless of the location.

Code of Conduct

Respect for law and for those persons in authority shall be expected of all students. This includes conformity to school rules as well as general provisions of law regarding minors. Respect for the rights of others, consideration of their privileges, and cooperative citizenship shall also be expected of all members of the school community.

Respect for real and personal property; pride in one's work; achievement within the range of one's ability; and exemplary personal standards of courtesy, decency, and honesty should be maintained in the schools of this District.

Board Policy 5500 (Updated January 2025)

Expected Behaviors

Each student shall be expected to:

abide by national, State, and local laws as well as the rules of the school;
respect the civil rights of others;
act courteously to adults and fellow students;
be prompt to school and attentive in class;
work cooperatively with others when involved in accomplishing a common goal, regardless of the other’s ability, gender, race, religion, height, weight, disability, or ethnic background;
complete assigned tasks on time and as directed;
help maintain a school environment that is safe, friendly, and productive;
act at all times in a manner that reflects pride in self, family, and in the school.

Academic Honesty

The Board values honesty and expects integrity in the District’s students. Violating academic honesty expectations erodes the trust between teachers and students as well as compromises the academic standing of other students. So that each student learns the skills being taught and is judged solely on their own merits, the Board prohibits any student from presenting someone else’s work as their own, using artificial intelligence platforms in place of one’s own work, providing unauthorized assistance to another student, and cheating in any manner.

All school work submitted for the purpose of meeting course requirements must be the individual student’s original work or the original work of a group of students for group projects. It is prohibited for any student to unfairly advance their own academic performance or that of any other student. Likewise, no student may intentionally limit or impede the academic performance or intellectual pursuits of other students.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:

plagiarism (of ideas, work, research, speech, art, music, etc.);
forgery of another’s work;
presenting the results that are the product of an artificial intelligence (AI) platform as one’s own;
downloading or copying information from other sources and presenting it as one’s own;
using language translation work of someone else or using technology when the expectation is doing one’s own translation;
copying another person’s work;
allowing another person to copy one’s own work;
stealing another person’s work;
doing another person’s work for them;
distributing copies of one’s work for use by others;
distributing copies of someone else’s work for use by others for academic gain or advantage;
intentionally accessing another’s work for the purpose of presenting it as one’s own for academic gain or advantage;
distributing or receiving answers to assignments, quizzes, tests, assessments, etc.; and/or
distributing or receiving questions from quizzes, tests, assessments, etc.

Use of Artificial Intelligence/Natural Language Processing Tools For School Work

In order to ensure the integrity of the educational process and to promote fair and equal opportunities for all students, except as outlined below, the use of Artificial Intelligence ("AI") and Natural Language Processing ("NLP") tools (collectively, “AI/NLP tools”) may be prohibited by teachers for the completion assignments. The use of AI/NLP tools may undermine the learning and problem-solving skills that are essential to academic success and that the staff is tasked to develop in each student. Students are encouraged to develop their own knowledge, skills, and understanding of course material rather than relying solely on AI/NLP tools and they should ask their teachers when they have questions and/or need assistance. Unauthorized use of AI/NLP tools may be considered a form of plagiarism and any student found using these tools without permission or in a prohibited manner may be disciplined in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and/or building-specific student handbook.

Notwithstanding the preceding, students can use AI/NLP tools in the school setting with permission/consent from their teacher, so long as they use the AI/NLP tools in an ethical and responsible manner. Teachers have the discretion to authorize students to use AI/NLP tools for the following uses:

Research assistance: AI/NLP tools can be used to help students quickly and efficiently search for and find relevant information for their school projects and assignments.
Data Analysis: AI/NLP tools can be used to help students to analyze, understand, and interpret large amounts of data, such as text documents or social media posts. This can be particularly useful for research projects or data analysis assignments – e.g., scientific experiments and marketing research.
Language translation: AI/NLP tools can be used to translate texts or documents into different languages, which can be helpful for students who are learning a new language or for students who are studying texts written in a different language.
Writing assistance: AI/NLP tools can provide grammar and spelling corrections, as well as suggest alternative word choices and sentence structure, to help students improve their writing skills.
Accessibility: AI/NLP tools can be used to help students with disabilities access and understand written materials. For example, text-to-speech software can help students with specific learning disabilities or visual impairments to read texts and AI-powered translation tools can help students with hearing impairments understand spoken language.
Any other use as deemed necessary and/or appropriate by the teacher.

To contrast, Teachers have the discretion to prohibit students from using AI/NLP tools as they deem appropriate, yet based on the nature of the assignment such as:

Demonstrating Original Thought: Assignments designed to assess a student’s ability to think critically, solve problems independently, or develop unique arguments, such as essays, creative writing, or open-ended problem-solving tasks.
Practicing Core Skills: Activities focused on building fundamental skills through direct practice, such as math calculations, language vocabulary exercises, or handwriting tasks, where reliance on AI would undermine the learning process.
Ensuring Academic Integrity: Situations where AI/NLP tools could facilitate plagiarism, intellectual dishonesty, or unfair advantages, such as take-home exams or tasks requiring independent effort.
Other Situational Needs: Any assignment or activity where the teacher determines that the use of AI/NLP tools would detract from the educational objectives, as outlined in the assignment guidelines.

Staff and Administration have the responsibility for monitoring students’ work for compliance with this policy.

All teachers, beginning in the elementary grades, will educate students as to what constitutes academic dishonesty and what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior in District schools regarding academic integrity.

Students who violate this policy are subject to disciplinary consequences according to the building-specific student handbook.

Parents shall be contacted as soon as practicable to report any alleged acts of academic dishonesty by their child.

Student Dress

While fashion changes, the reason for being in school does not. Students are in school to learn. Any fashion (dress, accessory, or hairstyle) that disrupts the educational process or presents a safety risk will not be permitted. Personal expression is permitted with these general guidelines.

Students and parents should consider the following questions when dressing for school:

Am I dressed appropriately for the weather?
Does my clothing expose too much?
Does my clothing advertise something that is prohibited to minors?
Are there obscene, profane, drug-related, gang-related, or inflammatory messages on my clothing?
Do I feel comfortable with my appearance?

If a student has selected a manner of appearance that is beyond mere freedom of expression and disrupts the educational process or presents risk to themselves or others, they may be asked to call home for other clothing.

Student Discipline Code

The Board of Education acknowledges that conduct is closely related to learning and that an effective instructional program requires an orderly school environment, which is, in part, reflected in the behavior of students.

The Board believes that the best discipline is self-imposed and that students should learn to assume responsibility for their own behavior and the consequences of their actions.

The Board shall require each student of this District to adhere to the Code of Conduct promulgated by the administration and to submit to such disciplinary measures as are appropriately assigned for infraction of those rules. Such rules shall require that students:

conform to reasonable standards of socially-acceptable behavior;
respect the person and property of others;
preserve the degree of order necessary to the educational program in which they are engaged;
respect the rights of others;
obey constituted authority and respond to those who hold that authority.

The Superintendent shall promulgate administrative guidelines for student conduct which carry out the purposes of this policy and:

are not arbitrary but bear a reasonable relationship to the need to maintain a school environment conducive to learning;
do not discriminate among students;
do not violate any individual rights constitutionally guaranteed to students.

Discipline

It is important to remember that the school’s rules apply going to and from school, at school, on school property, at school-sponsored events, and on school transportation. In some cases, a student can be suspended from school transportation for infractions of school bus rules.

Ultimately, it is the principal’s responsibility to keep things orderly. In all cases, the School shall attempt to make discipline prompt and equitable and to have the punishment match the severity of the incident.

Two types of discipline are possible, informal and formal.

Informal Discipline

Informal discipline takes place within the school. It includes, but not limited to:

writing reflection;
change of seating or location; and/or
in-school restriction

In-School Discipline

There are times students serve in-school discipline. Students that have had a referral to the office often have a consequence and miss recesses or classroom breaks or other special privileges.

Formal Discipline

Formal discipline removes the student from school. It includes emergency removal for up to seventy-two (72) hours, suspension for up to ten (10) school days, and expulsion from school. Suspensions and expulsions may carry over into the next school year. Removal for less than one (1) school day without the possibility of suspension or expulsion may not be appealed.

Students being considered for suspension or expulsion are entitled to an informal hearing with the building administrator, prior to removal, at which time the student will be notified of the charges against him/her and given an opportunity to make a defense.

If a student is suspended, the parents may appeal the suspension, in writing, to the Superintendent and a formal appeal hearing will be held.

When a student is being considered for expulsion, a formal hearing is scheduled with the Board of Education and the parents will be given written notice of the hearing and will be expected to attend. The Superintendent then takes testimony and determines if a recommendation to expel is to be made to the Board of Education. This decision may also be appealed. In the case of expulsion, the student remains out of school during the appeal period. Work missed during an expulsion cannot be made up and usually results in a loss of credit.

If a student commits a crime while at school or a school-related event, s/he may be subject to school disciplinary action as well as to action by the community’s legal system. These are separate jurisdictions and do not constitute double jeopardy (being tried twice for the same crime).

Discipline of Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities are entitled to the rights and procedures afforded by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (I.D.E.A.) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.), or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

EMERGENCY REMOVAL, SUSPENSION, AND EXPULSION OF STUDENTS

Board Policy 5610

The Board of Education is continually concerned about the safety and welfare of District students and staff and, therefore, will not tolerate behavior that creates an unsafe environment, a threat to safety or undue disruption of the educational environment.

Factors to be Considered Before Suspending or Expelling a Student

The Board of Education also recognizes that exclusion from the educational program of the schools is a severe sanction that should only be imposed after careful and appropriate consideration.

Except as otherwise noted below with respect to possession of a firearm in a weapon free school zone, if suspension or expulsion of a student is considered, the Board (Superintendent) shall consider the following factors prior to making a determination of whether to suspend or expel:

the student's age
the student's disciplinary history
whether the student has a disability
the seriousness of the violation or behavior
whether the violation or behavior committed by the student threatened the safety of any student or staff member
whether restorative practices will be used to address the violation or behavior
whether a lesser intervention would properly address the violation or behavior

The Superintendent will exercise discretion over whether or not to suspend or expel a student. In exercising that discretion for a suspension of more than ten (10) days or expulsion, there is a rebuttable presumption that a suspension or expulsion is not justified unless the Superintendent can demonstrate that it considered each of the factors listed above. For a suspension of ten (10) days or fewer, there is no rebuttable presumption, but the Superintendent will still consider these factors in making the determination.

Restorative Practices

The Superintendent shall consider using restorative practices as an alternative to or in addition to suspension or expulsion. If the District determines that it will utilize restorative practices in addition to or as an alternative to suspension or expulsion of a student, it will engage in restorative practices which emphasize repairing the harm to the victim and school community caused by the student's misconduct.

Restorative practices should be the first consideration to remediate offenses such as interpersonal conflicts, bullying, verbal and physical conflicts, theft, damage to property, class disruption and harassment and cyberbullying.

If the Superintendent decides to utilize restorative practices as an alternative to or in addition to suspension or expulsion, the restorative practices may include victim-offender conferences that:

are initiated by the victim;
are approved by the victim's parent or legal guardian or, if the victim is at least fifteen (15), by the victim;
are attended voluntarily by the victim, a victim advocate, the offender, members of the school community, and supporters of the victim and the offender (the "restorative practices team");
would provide an opportunity for the offender to accept responsibility for the harm caused to those affected, and to participate in setting consequences to repair the harm, such as requiring the student to apologize; participate in community service, restoration of emotional or material losses, or counseling; pay restitution; or any combination of these.

The selected consequences and time limits for their completion will be incorporated into an agreement to be signed by all participants.

Due Process

The Board recognizes exclusion from the educational programs of the District, whether by suspension or expulsion, is the most severe sanction that can be imposed on a student and is one (1) that cannot be imposed without appropriate due process, since exclusion deprives a child of the right to an education. The Board also recognizes that it may be necessary for a teacher to remove a student from class for conduct disruptive to the learning environment, and that such removals are not subject to a prior hearing, provided the removal is for a period of less than twenty-four (24) hours. However, if an emergency removal may result in a suspension, then due process must be ensured.

In all cases resulting in short-term suspension, long-term suspension or expulsion, appropriate due process rights described in Policy 5611 and AG 5610 must be observed. The principal shall check to make sure the student is not classified as disabled under Section 504. Students with disabilities under IDEA or Section 504 shall be expelled only in accordance with their rights under Federal law.

For purposes of this policy, suspension shall be either short-term (not more than ten (10) days) or long-term (for more than ten (10) days but less than permanent expulsion) removal of a student from a regular District program. The Superintendent may suspend a student for a period not to exceed 10 school days.

For purposes of this policy, unless otherwise defined in Federal and/or State law, expulsion is defined as the permanent exclusion of a student from the District. Students who are expelled may petition for reinstatement as provided below.

Emergency Removal or Short-Term Suspension

A student may be removed from a class, subject, or activity for one (1) day by his/her teacher for certain conduct as specified in the Code of Conduct, or he/she may be given a short-term suspension by the Superintendent or designee. A student so removed may be allowed to attend other classes taught by other teachers during the term of the one (1) day removal. A student removed from the same class for ten (10) days will be entitled to the process for short-term suspensions outlined in AG 5610. A student removed from the same class for more than ten (10) days will be entitled to the process for long-term suspensions outlined in AG 5610. The Board designates the Superintendent as its representative at any hearings regarding the appeal of a suspension.

Long-Term Suspension or Expulsion

Due process set out in Policy 5611 and AG 5610 shall be followed in all circumstances in which a student may be expelled or suspended for a period of more than ten (10) days.

The Superintendent may suspend a student for a period longer than ten (10) days or expel a student. The Board shall act on any appeal to the decision.

In all cases resulting in short-term suspension, long-term suspension, or expulsion, appropriate due process rights must be observed. In determining whether a student is to be suspended or expelled, District Administrators shall use a preponderance of evidence standard.

The Superintendent shall develop procedures to implement this policy that shall include the following:

strategies for providing special assistance to students in danger of being expelled and not achieving the academic outcomes of the District's core curriculum;
standards of behavior for all students in accordance with District Board policy on student discipline;
procedures that ensure due process; and
provision for make-up work at home, when appropriate.

When making a determination whether or not a student will be expelled or permanently excluded under this policy, the Superintendent shall retain all documents, electronically stored information ("ESI"), and electronic media (as defined in Policy 8315 - Information Management (i.e. "Litigation Hold")) created and/or received as part of an investigation.

The documents, ESI, and electronic media (as defined in Policy 8315) retained may include public records and records exempt from disclosure under Federal (e.g., FERPA, ADA) and/or State law – e.g., student records and confidential medical records.

The documents, ESI, and electronic media (as defined in Policy 8315) shall be retained in accordance with Policy 8310, Policy 8315, Policy 8320, and Policy 8330 for not less than three (3) years, but longer if required by the District's records retention schedule.

Persistent Disobedience or Gross Misconduct/CSC Against Another District Student

Any student may be removed from the classroom, and/or, after consideration of the factors identified above, suspended or expelled for persistent disobedience or gross misconduct or if the student commits criminal sexual conduct against another student enrolled in the District regardless of the location of the conduct. A student may not be expelled or excluded from the regular school program based on pregnancy status.

Physical and Verbal Assault

Physical assault is defined as "intentionally causing or attempting to cause physical harm to another through force or violence." Verbal assault is a “communicated intent to inflict physical or other harm on another person, with a present intent and ability to act on the threat.”

Unless a different determination is made after consideration of the factors identified above, the District may discipline, suspend or expel a student in grade 5 and below for a period of time as determined at the Board's discretion if the student commits physical and/or verbal assault at school against a District employee, volunteer, or contractor or makes a bomb threat or similar threat directed at school building, property, or at a school-related activity.

"At school" means in a classroom, elsewhere on school premises, on a school bus or other school-related vehicle, or at a school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on school premises.

Weapons, Arson, Criminal Sexual Conduct

In compliance with State and Federal law, and unless a different determination is made after consideration of the factors identified above, the District shall expel any student who possesses a dangerous weapon, other than a firearm, in the District’s weapon-free school zone (except as noted below), commits either arson or criminal sexual conduct in a school building or on school property, including school buses and other District transportation, or pleads to, is convicted of or is adjudicated of criminal sexual conduct against another student enrolled in the District.

In compliance with State and Federal law, the District shall expel any student who possesses a firearm in the District’s weapon-free school zone in violation of State law, unless the student can establish the mitigating factors relating to possession of a dangerous weapon set out below, by clear and convincing evidence.

For purposes of this policy, a “dangerous weapon” is defined by law as a firearm, dagger, dirk, stiletto, knife with a blade over three (3) inches in length, pocket knife opened by a mechanical device, iron bar, or brass knuckles. This definition also includes other devices designed to (or likely to) inflict bodily harm, including, but not limited to, air guns and explosive devices. The term “firearm” is defined as any weapon (including a starter gun) that will, is designed to, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of the explosive, the frame, or the bearer of any such weapon, as well as a firearm muffler, firearm silencer, or any such destructive device.

The District need not expel a student for possession of a dangerous weapon, including a firearm, if the student can establish in a clear and convincing manner the following mitigating factor(s) to the satisfaction of the Board the:

object or instrument was not possessed for use as a weapon, or for direct (or indirect) delivery to another person for use as a weapon; or
weapon was not knowingly possessed; or
student did not know (or have reason to know) that the object or instrument in his/her possession constituted a dangerous weapon; or
weapon was possessed at the suggestion, request, direction of, or with the express permission of the Superintendent or the police.

There is a rebuttable presumption that expulsion for possessing the weapon is not justified if the Superintendent determines in writing that the student has established that he or she fits under one of the exceptions above by clear and convincing evidence, and that the student has no previous history of suspension or expulsion.

For expulsions for dangerous weapons, arson, criminal sexual conduct or assault upon an employee, volunteer or contractor, the Superintendent shall provide that the expulsion is duly noted in the student's record, the student is referred to the Department of Human Services or Department of Community Health within three (3) school days after the expulsion, and the parents are informed of the referral. Furthermore, if a student who is expelled is below the age of sixteen (16), the Superintendent shall ensure notification of the expulsion is given to the Juvenile Division of the Probate Court. In compliance with Federal law, the Superintendent shall also refer any student (regardless of age) expelled for possession of a dangerous weapon to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system serving the District. In addition, the Superintendent shall send a copy of this policy to the State Department of Education and shall include a description of the circumstances surrounding the expulsion of the student for possessing a firearm or weapon in the District’s weapon-free school zone, together with the name of the District, the number of students so expelled, and the types of firearms or weapons brought into the weapon-free school zone.

A student expelled under this policy for dangerous weapons, arson, criminal sexual conduct or assault upon an employee, volunteer or contractor may apply for reinstatement in accordance with the following guidelines:

If the student is in grade five (5) or below at the time of the expulsion and was expelled for possessing a firearm or threatening another person with a dangerous weapon, the parents, legal guardian, adult student, or emancipated minor may submit a request for reinstatement after sixty (60) school days from the date of expulsion, but the student may not be reinstated before ninety (90) school days from the expulsion date.
If the student is in grade five (5) or below at the time of the expulsion and was expelled for a reason other than possessing a firearm or threatening another person with a dangerous weapon, the parents, legal guardian, or emancipated minor may submit a request for reinstatement at any time, but the student may not be reinstated before ten (10) school days from the expulsion date.
If the student is in grade six (6) or above at the time of the expulsion, the parents, legal guardian, adult student, or emancipated minor may submit a request for reinstatement after 150 school days from the date of the expulsion, but the student may not be reinstated before 180 school days from the expulsion date.
The parent, adult student, or emancipated minor shall submit the request for reinstatement to the Superintendent.
Within ten (10) school days after receiving the petition, the Board shall appoint a committee consisting of two (2) Board members, a school administrator, a teacher, and a school-parent representative. During this time period, the Superintendent shall prepare and submit for consideration by the committee information concerning the circumstances of the expulsion and any factors mitigating for or against reinstatement.
Within ten (10) school days after being appointed, the committee shall review all pertinent information and submit its recommendation to the Board. The recommendation may be for unconditional reinstatement, conditional reinstatement, or non-reinstatement, based on the committee's consideration of the following the:

extent to which reinstatement would create a risk of harm to students or school staff;
extent to which reinstatement would create a risk of school or individual liability for the Board or school staff;
age and maturity of the student;
student's school record before the expulsion incident;
student's attitude concerning the expulsion incident;
student's behavior since the expulsion and the prospects for remediation;

The degree of cooperation and support the parent has provided and will provide if the student is reinstated (if the request was filed by a parent), including, but not limited to the parent's receptiveness toward any conditions placed on the reinstatement. Such conditions, for example, might include a written agreement by the student and/or a parent who filed the reinstatement request to accomplish the following:

abide by a behavior contract involving the student, his/her parents, and an outside agency;
participate in an anger management program or other counseling activities;
cooperate in processing and discussing periodic progress reviews;
meet other conditions deemed appropriate by the committee;
accept the consequences for not fulfilling the agreed upon conditions

The Board shall make its decision no later than the next regular Board meeting following the committee's submission of its recommendations. The Board's decision shall be final and is not subject to appeal.

In the event a student who has been permanently expelled from another school requests admission to this District, in making its decision, the Board shall follow the same procedure it has established in paragraphs A-F, above, for the reinstatement of a student.

Students expelled for reasons other than dangerous weapons, arson, criminal sexual conduct or assault upon an employee, volunteer or contractor may also petition the Board for reinstatement. The Board may, at its discretion, consider the petition or upon any standards and with any procedures it determines appropriate under the circumstances.

The Superintendent shall ensure Board policies and procedures regarding a student's rights to due process are followed when dealing with a possible suspension or expulsion under this policy.

In-School Discipline

The purpose of this policy is to provide an alternative to out of school suspension. The availability of in-school discipline options is dependent upon the financial ability of the Board to support such a program.

In-school discipline will only be offered at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee for offenses found in the Student Code of Conduct.

The Superintendent is to establish procedures for the proper operation of such a program and to ensure appropriate due-process procedures are followed as applicable. (See Policy 5630.01)

Due Process Rights

The Board recognizes the importance of safeguarding a student's constitutional rights, particularly when subject to the District's disciplinary procedures.

To better ensure appropriate due-process is provided a student, the Board establishes the following:

Students Subject to Short-Term Suspension

Except when emergency removal is warranted, a student must be given at least oral notice of the charges against him/her and the opportunity to respond prior to the implementation of a suspension. When emergency removal has been implemented, notice and opportunity to respond shall occur as soon as reasonably possible. The Superintendent or other designated administrator shall provide the opportunity to be heard and shall be responsible for making the suspension decision. An appeal may be addressed to the Superintendent whose decision will be final.
Students Subject to Long-Term Suspension and Expulsion

A student and his/her parent or guardian must be given written notice of the intention to suspend or expel and the reasons therefore, and must also be given an opportunity to appear before the Board with a representative to answer the charges. The student and/or his/her guardian must also be provided a brief description of the student's rights and the hearing procedure, a list of the witnesses who will provide testimony to the Board, and a summary of the facts to which the witnesses will testify. At the student/parent's request, the hearing shall be held in closed session, but the Board must act publicly. The Board shall act by providing a written decision on any appeal of an expulsion, a request for reinstatement, or a request for admission after permanent expulsion from another school.

The Superintendent shall develop procedures to ensure all members of the staff use the above guidelines when dealing with students. In addition, this statement of due process rights shall be placed in all student handbooks, in a manner that facilitates understanding by students and their parents.

Corporal Punishment

While recognizing that students may require disciplinary action in various forms, the Board does not condone the use of unreasonable force and fear as an appropriate procedure in student discipline.

Staff shall not use physical force or violence to compel obedience. If all other means fail, staff members may always resort to the removal of the student from the classroom or District through suspension or expulsion procedures.

Within the scope of their employment, all staff may use reasonable force and apply restraint to accomplish the following:

restrain or remove a student who refuses to comply with a request to behave or report to the office;
quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to self or others;
obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects within the control of the student, for either self-defense; or
the protection of persons or property.

In accordance with State law, corporal punishment shall not be permitted. If any staff member (full-time, part-time, or substitute) deliberately inflicts, or causes to be inflicted, physical pain upon the student (by hitting, paddling, spanking, slapping or any other kind of physical force) as a means of discipline, the staff member may be subject to discipline and possibly criminal assault charges. This prohibition also applies to volunteers and those with whom the District contracts for services.

The Superintendent shall provide guidelines, including a list of alternatives to corporal punishment.

Removal, Suspension, and Expulsion of Students with Disabilities

The District shall abide by Federal and State laws in matters relating to discipline, suspension, and expulsion of disabled students.

Search and Seizure

Search of a student and his/her possessions may be conducted at any time the student is under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education, if there is a reasonable suspicion that the student is in violation of law or school rules. A search may also be conducted to protect the health and safety of others. All searches may be conducted with or without a student’s consent.

Students are provided desks and other equipment in which to store materials. It should be clearly understood that this equipment is the property of the school and may be searched at any time if there is reasonable suspicion that a student has violated the law or school rules.

Anything that is found in the course of a search that may be evidence of a violation of school rules or the law may be taken and held or turned over to the police. The school reserves the right not to return items which have been confiscated. In the course of any search, students’ privacy rights will be respected regarding any items that are not illegal or against school policy.

All computers located in classrooms, labs and offices of the District are the District’s property and are to be used by students, where appropriate, solely for educational purposes. The District retains the right to access and review all electronic, computer files, databases, and any other electronic transmissions contained in or used in conjunction with the District’s computer system, and electronic mail. Students should have no expectation that any information contained on such systems is confidential or private. Review of such information may be done by the District with or without the student’s knowledge or permission. The use of passwords does not guarantee confidentiality, and the District retains the right to access information in spite of a password. All passwords or security codes must be registered with the instructor. A student’s refusal to permit such access may be grounds for disciplinary action.

Student Rights of Expression

The School recognizes the right of students to express themselves. With the right of expression comes the responsibility to do it appropriately. Students may distribute or display, at appropriate times, non-sponsored, non-commercial written material and petitions; buttons, badges, or other insignia; clothing, insignia, and banners; and audio and video materials. All items must meet the following school guidelines:

A material cannot be displayed if it:

is obscene to minors, libelous, indecent and pervasive or vulgar,
advertises any product or service not permitted to minors by law,
intends to be insulting or harassing,

intends to incite fighting or presents a likelihood of disrupting school or a school event.
Presents a clear and present likelihood that, either because of its content or manner of distribution or display, it causes or is likely to cause a material and substantial disruption of school or school activities, a violation of school regulations, or the commission of an unlawful act.
Materials may not be displayed or distributed during class. Permission may be granted for display or distribution during lunch and after school in designated locations, as long as exits are not blocked and there is proper access and egress to the building.

Students who are unsure whether or not materials they wish to display meet school guidelines may present them to the building principal twenty-four (24) hours prior to display.

Electronic Devices

Our goal is to create a safe and distraction-free environment for all students. Personal electronic devices, including cell phones, handheld games, and smartwatches, should be kept in a student's backpack and powered off for the duration of the school day. We understand that some students may have a reasonable need to use their device for communication or other purposes before or after school. However, we cannot actively monitor the content on these devices for inappropriate language, references, or graphic material during class time. If a device disrupts the educational environment, it will be confiscated by a teacher and given to the principal. Parents will then be required to pick up the device from the school office.

Student Vandalism

Damage to facilities and equipment caused by willful action of a student will be considered the responsibility of the parents and the student. Parents shall be contacted in writing for payment of damages. Uncollected payment will be turned over to the Central Office and the school attorney.

Sexual Harassment of Students

The Northview Public Schools prohibits sexual harassment of students. Sexual harassment of students is not only illegal; it is disruptive to the educational process and interferes with this district’s commitment to provide a stable learning environment of its students. All students, district staff, and volunteers are expected to conduct themselves with respect for the dignity of others. The Northview Public Schools, because of its desire to prevent and prohibit sexual harassment of students, adopts this policy to give notice that sexual harassment of students is wrong and will not be tolerated by this district. This policy prohibits sexual harassment of students by district staff, board members, district volunteers, students, or other members of the public at school or school activities.

Sexual harassment includes but is not limited to, any unwelcome or unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal, written or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is unwanted by or unwelcome to the student and/or has the purpose of effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational environment.

Board Policy 5517.01

BULLYING AND OTHER AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD STUDENTS

It is the policy of the District to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment for all of its students.

This policy protects all students from bullying/aggressive behavior regardless of the subject matter or motivation for such impermissible behavior.

Bullying or other aggressive behavior toward a student, whether by other students, staff, or third parties, including Board members, parents, guests, contractors, vendors, and volunteers, is strictly prohibited. This prohibition includes written, physical, verbal, and psychological abuse, including hazing, gestures, comments, threats, or actions to a student, which cause or threaten to cause bodily harm, reasonable fear for personal safety or personal degradation.

Demonstration of appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate harassment or bullying is expected of administrators, faculty, staff and volunteers to provide positive examples for student behavior.

This policy applies to all "at school" activities in the District, including activities on school property, in a school vehicle, and those occurring off school property if the student or employee is at any school-sponsored, school-approved or school-related activity or function, such as field trips or athletic events where students are under the school’s control, or where an employee is engaged in school business. Misconduct occurring outside of school may also be disciplined if it interferes with the school environment.

Definitions

The following definitions are provided for guidance only. If a student or other individual believes there has been bullying, hazing, harassment or other aggressive behavior, regardless of whether it fits a particular definition, s/he should report it immediately and allow the administration to determine the appropriate course of action.

"Aggressive behavior" is defined as inappropriate conduct that is repeated enough, or serious enough, to negatively impact a student’s educational, physical, or emotional well-being. Such behavior includes, for example, bullying, hazing, stalking, intimidation, menacing, coercion, name-calling, taunting, making threats, and hitting/pushing/shoving.

"At School" is defined as in a classroom, elsewhere on school premises, on a school bus or other school related vehicle, or at a school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on school premises. It also includes conduct using a telecommunications access device or telecommunications service provider that occurs off school premises if either owned by or under the control of the District.

"Bullying" is defined as any written, verbal, or physical acts, including cyber bullying (i.e. any electronic communication, including, but not limited to electronically transmitted acts, such as internet, telephone or cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or wireless handheld device) that, without regard to its subject matter or motivating animus, is intended or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm one (1) or more students either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:

substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of one (1) or more students;
adversely affecting the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the school district's educational programs or activities by placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress;
having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a student's physical or mental health; and/or
causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

Bullying can be physical, verbal, psychological, or a combination of all three. Some examples of bullying are:

Physical – hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, pulling; taking and/or damaging personal belongings or extorting money, blocking or impeding student movement, unwelcome physical contact.
Verbal – taunting, malicious teasing, insulting, name calling, making threats.
Psychological – spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, coercion, or engaging in social exclusion/shunning, extortion, or intimidation. This may occur in a number of different ways, including but not limited to notes, emails, social media postings, and graffiti.

"Harassment" includes, but is not limited to, any act which subjects an individual or group to unwanted, abusive behavior of a nonverbal, verbal, written or physical nature, often on the basis of age, race, religion, color, national origin, marital status or disability, but may also include sexual orientation, physical characteristics (e.g., height, weight, complexion), cultural background, socioeconomic status, or geographic location (e.g., from rival school, different state, rural area, city, etc.).

"Intimidation/Menacing" includes, but is not limited to, any threat or act intended to: place a person in fear of physical injury or offensive physical contact; to substantially damage or interfere with person's property; or to intentionally interfere with or block a person's movement without good reason.

"Staff" includes all school employees and Board members.

"Third parties" include, but are not limited to, coaches, school volunteers, parents, school visitors, service contractors, vendors, or others engaged in District business, and others not directly subject to school control at inter-district or intra-district athletic competitions or other school events.

Procedure

Any student who believes s/he has been or is the victim of bullying, hazing, or other aggressive behavior should immediately report the situation to the Principal or assistant principal. The student may also report concerns to a teacher or counselor who will be responsible for notifying the appropriate administrator or Board official. Complaints against the building principal should be filed with the Superintendent. Complaints against the Superintendent should be filed with the Board President.

A student may also submit a report or complaint to any of the above designated individuals through email, voicemail, regular mail or by leaving a sealed note addressed to the individual at that person's office or desk. The student may submit a report or complaint anonymously, but this may affect the ability to fully investigate the matter, when the complaining student is not available to provide additional information during the course of the investigation.

The identity of a student who reports bullying, hazing or aggressive behavior, as well as those students who provide information during an investigation will remain confidential to the extent possible and to the extent allowable by law. Only school personnel directly involved in the investigation of the complaint or responsible for remedying any violations will be provided access to the identity of the complaining student(s) and student witnesses, and then only to the extent necessary to effectively deal with the situation.

The identity of the student who files the report or complaint will not be voluntarily shared with the alleged perpetrator(s) or the witnesses unless the student (and his/her parent/guardian) give written permission to do so. Any investigation report will likewise not be voluntarily produced with the names of the reporting student(s) or witnesses. However, under certain circumstances, the District may be required by law to disclose the report and/or the student(s) names. Also, under certain circumstances, the identity of the reporting student may become obvious even without disclosure by school personnel.

Every student is encouraged, and every staff member is required, to report any situation that they believe to be aggressive behavior directed toward a student. Reports shall be made to those identified above. While reports may be made anonymously, formal disciplinary action may not be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report without other corroborating evidence.

The Principal (or other designated administrator) shall promptly investigate and document all complaints about bullying, aggressive or other behavior that may violate this policy. The investigation must be completed as promptly as the circumstances permit after a report or complaint is made.

If the investigation finds an instance of bullying or aggressive behavior has occurred, it will result in prompt and appropriate remedial action. This may include up to expulsion for students, up to discharge for employees, exclusion for parents, guests, volunteers and contractors, and removal from any official position and/or a request to resign for Board members. Individuals may also be referred to law enforcement or other appropriate officials.

If, during an investigation of a reported act of harassment, intimidation and/or bullying/cyberbullying, the Principal or appropriate administrator believes that the reported misconduct may have created a hostile learning environment and may have constituted unlawful discriminatory harassment based on a Protected Class, the Principal will report the act of bullying and/or harassment to one of the Anti-Harassment Compliance Officers so that it may be investigated in accordance with the procedures set forth in Policy 5517 - Anti-Harassment.

The individual responsible for conducting the investigation shall document all reported incidents and report all verified incidents of bullying, aggressive or other prohibited behavior, as well as any remedial action taken, including disciplinary actions and referrals, to the Superintendent. The Superintendent shall submit a compiled report to the Board on an annual basis.

Non-Retaliation/False Reports

Retaliation or false allegations against any person who reports, is thought to have reported, files a complaint, participates in an investigation or inquiry concerning allegations of bullying or aggressive behavior (as a witness or otherwise), or is the target of the bullying or aggressive behavior being investigated, is prohibited and will not be tolerated. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board policy, independent of whether a complaint of bullying is substantiated. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as bullying/aggressive behavior.

Making intentionally false reports about bullying/aggressive behavior for the purpose of getting someone in trouble is similarly prohibited and will not be tolerated. Retaliation and intentionally false reports may result in disciplinary action as indicated above.

For further definition and instances that could possibly be construed as:

Harassment, see Policy 5517; Hazing, see Policy 5516.

Section IV: Transportation

Bus Transportation to School

Bus transportation is an in-district service provided by Northview Public Schools to students who abide by the rules set forth below. Families are requested to discuss these rules and regulations with their children since stressing their importance will assure safer transportation for all. For more detailed information about transportation guidelines, please visit our website at: https://www.nvps.net/departments/transportation.

Self-Transportation to School

Walkers are to walk on sidewalks where provided, or safely off the roadway facing traffic. Students are expected to cross intersections where crossings are marked or where there is a crossing guard. Walkers should go directly home and not stop along the way.

Bicycles may be ridden to school, but we do not encourage it for safety reasons. Children need parent’s permission to ride bikes to school. Bicycles must be locked in the bike rack and may not be ridden at recess. The school will not be responsible for damaged or lost bikes. The riders of the bicycle, like the driver of a car, must obey traffic rules. Bikes should be walked through the pedestrian areas. Please do not allow your child to wear roller blades, wheeled shoes or ride skateboards to school.

Section V: Building Specific Information

This handbook is a reference for students and parents in the three Northview Elementary buildings, however there is some building specific information you can find below.

East Oakview Elementary

East Oakview Elementary (Building website)

East Oakview Staff Directory

North Oakview Elementary

North Oakview Elementary (Building website)

North Oakview Staff Directory

West Oakview Elementary

West Oakview Elementary (Building website)

West Oakview Staff Directory

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