Required Yearly Family Notifications

The Saranac Lake Central School District (SLCSD) is required to provide the following notifications to parents on an annual basis. They have been posted here for your convenience. We have referenced the Board of Education Policy number and included appropriate contact information should you have additional questions.

Code of Conduct

Is available from our Board of Education page in the Policy Manual section. A plain language version is available at any school office.

Dispensing Medication in School

State Regulation prohibits the administration of any medication without a physician's order and parent's written permission. ALL medications must be in the original container

Body Mass Index: Schools required to keep student height, weight data

Because New York State is interested in data about children’s health, schools are required to keep height and weight data and to calculate students’ Body Mass Index (BMI). BMI is a way of checking for underweight or overweight youngsters based on their height and weight. Some schools will be surveyed by the state Department of Health each year and asked to share the number of pupils they have in each of six possible BMI categories based on students’ age and sex.

If our district is surveyed by the state, we will only share group data (for instance, the number of second grade boys whose BMI is below the fifth percentile), not individual data. However, if parents wish their child’s data to be excluded from such group calculations, they may do so by contacting their school nurse.

Building Use Requests

School facilities may be used by district residents with approval. Fees are charged for certain kinds of activities and/or for extra services which the district has to provide. If you wish to use school facilities, please complete the Facilities Use Form found under “School Forms and Documents” on the homepage.  Insurance coverage is required.

Response to Intervention (RtI)

The Saranac Lake Central School District Board of Education adopted the Response to Intervention Plan.  This plan is available at any school office.

AIS Determination for fourth through eighth-grade students

performing below the median scale score between

a level 2/partially proficient and a level 3/proficient

on the NYS grades 3-8 ELA or mathematics Assessment

In the Saranac Lake Central School District,  Fourth through eighth-grade students who score below the median scale score between levels 2 and 3 on their NYS Assessments will be followed by the RtI building teams to determine their needs for instruction in the classroom and/or RtI teams.  

The building RtI team will include the RtI chairperson,  Building Principal, RtI providers, and classroom teacher(s).  The team will analyze the student’s achievement levels on assessments that may include the following: NYS assessment scores, Fastbridge scores, various RtI assessments, and classroom performance.  After a review of this data, the RtI team will determine the need and level of RtI instruction depending on the appropriate tier: Tier 1, 2, or 3.  The committee, with the staff member providing instruction, will determine weak areas and discuss best practices for the student’s instruction.

These multiple measures may include, but are not limited to the following:

 The student’s data and rate of progress will be reviewed during the monthly RtI data meetings /MS Team Meetings to adjust the level of instruction and the instructional strategies when needed.

Parental Notification Under the No Child Left Behind Act

According to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001, parents may request specific information as to the qualifications of their children’s classroom teacher(s) and teaching assistants. The following may be requested:

• Whether the teacher has met State qualifications and licensing criteria for the grade level and subject area in which the teacher provides the instruction.
• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.
• The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree.
• Whether a child is provided services by teaching assistants, and, if so, their qualifications.

Requests for this information may be directed to the Superintendent’s Office, Saranac Lake Central School, 79 Canaras Avenue, Saranac Lake NY 12983

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

1. You may inspect and review your child’s education records, by contacting the school principal, who will arrange for you to inspect them within 45 days. You may obtain a copy of any record by giving the principal a request that specifically identifies the record you want copied. The copies will be made within a reasonable time after your request is received; you may be charged .25 cents per page for the copies.

2. You may seek amendment of your child’s records if you believe they are inaccurate or in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights, by contacting the district records access officer. You should tell the officer what specific portions of your child’s records you believe are inaccurate, misleading or a violation of privacy rights, and how you want them amended. If the officer determines that the record should not be amended, you have the right to a hearing to review that determination; the process for requesting a hearing will be explained to you at the time of the officer’s determination.

3. The district cannot generally disclose personally identifiable information contained in your child’s records to anyone outside the district without your consent. The district will disclose your child’s records to school officials only if they are providing educational services to your child, or otherwise need access to the information in those records in order to perform the work of the district. School officials include: administrators, teachers, and support staff employed by the district; Board of Education members; a parent or student serving on a district body such as the Committee on Special Education or the Student Senate; or any individual or company such as a law firm, medical consultant or specialist which contracts to provide services to the district or its students. The district will forward your child’s records to other educational agencies or institutions, including other school districts, in which your child seeks or intends to enroll, or from which your child is receiving services, upon the request of the agency or institution. You may request a copy of any record which has been sent to such an agency or institution, and you may seek amendment of any such record as described in Section 2 of this Notice.

4. If you believe the school district has not complied fully with FERPA or its regulations, you may file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, Washington D.C., 20202-4605. Procedures for filing this complaint can be obtained from the Records Access Officer.

5. You have the right to object to release of information concerning your child to military recruiters or institutions of higher education. Federal Law requires the district to give the name, address and telephone number of each high school student to these organizations on request. If you object to this, you should inform the Records Access Officer, in writing, on or before September 1 in any school year. If your objection is received after Sept. 1, it will become effective the next time, thereafter, the district compiles the information for that purpose.

The district’s Records Access Officer can be reached at 79 Canaras Avenue, Saranac Lake NY  12983, phone number 891-5460.

Fire Inspection Report

Notice is hereby given that the annual inspection for the 2024-25 school year of the Saranac Lake Central School District buildings for fire hazards which might endanger the lives of students, teachers, employees therein; has been completed and the report thereof is available at the office of the School Health and Safety Officer, reachable at 891-4221, for inspection by all interested persons.

Annual Go Home Early Drill

Each Year, SLCSD sends its students home 15 minutes early to test its Emergency Management Plan. The “Go Home Early Drill” is required once a year by the New York State Education Department. Families are notified in advance of the drill date. The purpose of the early dismissal drill is to test the effectiveness of the transportation and communications systems in the event of an emergency. Copies of the Emergency Management Plan are located in the Principal’s Office of each school, and at the District Office, 79 Canaras Avenue, Saranac Lake.

Asbestos Management Plan and Annual Notification

In accordance with the EPA Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1987 (40 CFR Part 763), the SLCSD put in place a management plan to identify and manage asbestos building materials. Periodic surveillance are done every six months. In addition, abatement projects have been conducted in conjunction with the building construction. Specific notifications are posted in the buildings where projects are done prior to the start of the abatement work.

The Asbestos Management Plan for the district is kept on file at the Buildings & Grounds Office. These records are available for review during regular business hours or by making a special appointment. For more information, contact the Office of Buildings and Grounds at 891-4221.

Pesticide Notification

New York State Education Law Section 409-H and State Education Department Commissioner’s Regulation 155.24, effective July 1, 2001, requires all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools to provide written notification to all persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff regarding the potential use of pesticides periodically throughout the school year.

The Saranac Lake Central Schools is required to maintain a list of persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications.

Disclosure of Information to Military Recruiters

Pursuant to the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the school district must disclose to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon request, the names, addresses and telephone numbers of our high school students. However, parents or students may request, in writing, that the district NOT release such information. Parents, or students who are at least 18 years old, may exercise the option to withhold their consent to release this information by contacting the high school principal’s office (891-4450).

Student Directory Information and Public Relations Use of Student Data/Photos

The federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows schools to disclose, without parental consent, certain “directory information” such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, participation in athletics, honors and awards, photograph and dates of attendance, unless parents have advised the district to the contrary.

The primary purpose of the directory information is to allow SLCSD to include this type of information in school publications (district and school newsletters, calendar and other publications, the district website and social media outlets) and for publicity of student accomplishments or specific educational programs to the electronic (television), print (newspaper) and social (website, Twitter) media.

Parents not wishing information about their child to be used in district publications, released to the media or posted on the district website should write a letter to the principal of their child’s school. The signed and dated letter should state that directory information about (name of student) should not be released under FERPA. You do not have to give a reason.

Student Records Information

In accordance with federal and state laws and regulations regarding the maintenance of student records, the Saranac Lake School District Board of Education recognizes the legal requirement to protect the confidentiality of student records. The Superintendent of Schools shall ensure that the procedures for the confidentiality of student records shall be consistent with federal and state law pursuant to the authority of the Commissioner of Education. It is the intent of the SLCSD to limit the disclosure of information contained in a student’s education records except by prior consent of the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) or the eligible student, unless otherwise provided by law.

Student Rights

All students have the right to:

• The best education possible with the opportunity for continuous progress intellectually and emotionally.
• An educational environment that is stable, healthy and safe.
• Ask questions and express opinions at the appropriate time and place.
• Input decisions affecting the student population through elected or selected representatives.
• Counseling and confidentiality of records.
• Freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, religion or national origin.
• Equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
• Participate in extracurricular activities.
• Due process as it applies to enforcement of school rules and regulations. 

 Dignity Act Coordinators

 The following individuals have been appointed Dignity Act Coordinators, in accordance with the Dignity for All Students Act, for the 2021-22 school year:

High School:  Josh Dann (891-4450)

Middle School:  Amy Spicer (891-4221)

Petrova Elementary School:  Bryan Munn (891-4221)

Bloomingdale Elementary School:  Katie Laba (891-3198)

Title IX and Section 504 Notice

Saranac Lake Central School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, and age or handicap as defined by law, and is in compliance with Title IV of the Education Amendments of 1972 and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The compliance officer for Title IX and Section 504 can be reached through the superintendent’s office at 891-5140.

APPR Plan

The Saranac Lake Central School District Approved Annual Professional Performance Review Plan is available at http://usny.nysed.gov/rttt/teachers-leaders/plans/docs/saranac-lake-appr-plan.pdf

New York State law allows parents and legal guardians of a student to request the effectiveness scores and final ratings of teachers and principals to which the student is assigned for the current school year. Requests for this information have to be made in writing and sent to the following address:

Superintendent’s Office, Saranac Lake Central School District

79 Canaras Avenue, Saranac Lake NY  12983

This information may only be released to parents or legal guardians and the District will verify that any request received has been submitted by a parent or legal guardian.  Additionally, the information is intended only for the use of the requesting parent or legal guardian.

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3-8 New York State Testing in English Language Arts and Mathematics

The New York State Department of Education administers ELA/Literacy and Mathematics tests in grades 3-8  intended to provide students, families, educators, and the public better measures of student proficiency in the knowledge and skills students need to succeed in college and careers. The State requires that school districts give students the opportunity to take these tests.

Shared Decision Making Plan

• This document is reviewed biennially and approved by the Board of Education.

Title I Schools Information

All schools in the Saranac Lake Central School District are eligible to receive Title I federal funding for the upcoming year. A requirement for each is to publish a Parent Involvement Policy (PIP) l, in addition to a District Parent Involvement Policy. The District PIP can be accessed through the Board of Education Policy Manual.

Title I School/Parent Compact

The Saranac Lake CSD, students and parents of the Saranac Lake school family, agree that this compact outlines how the parents, the entire school staff, and the students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a partnership that will help children achieve the state’s high standards.

School Responsibilities

The Saranac Lake CSD Staff will:

1.   Provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning

      environment that supports children in meeting the State’s student academic achievement

      standards.

2.   Provide parents with frequent reports on their children’s academic and behavioral progress.

      In each classroom we will provide progress reports through Parent/Teacher conferences,

      samples of student work, updates on reading, writing and math assessments. We will

      initiate a parent contact at the first signs of a pattern of behavior that interferes with

      student learning.

3.   Set high expectations for staff, students and parents by ensuring challenging curriculum,

      implementing programs targeted at increasing student achievement and committing to

      recruit, retain, and train qualified staff. Also, highlight/prepare ways that the parent can

      advance the learning environment at home.

4.   Provide parents reasonable access to staff including two parent teacher conference periods

      per year.  Other parent teacher conferences can be arranged at any time by contacting the

      teacher.

Parent Responsibilities

We, as parents, will support our children’s learning in the following ways:

1.  Establish routines to support my child’s success in school:

• appropriate bed time
• monitor attendance
• homework & reading
• nutrition
•  grooming & hygiene

2.   Communicate the significance of success in school & its relationship with success in life.

3.   Ensure that my child attends school on a regular basis and arrives at school on time.

4.   Make sure that my child’s homework is completed and returned to school on time.

5.   Stay informed about my child’s education and communicate with the school by promptly

      reading all notices from the school or the school district either received by my child or by    

      mail and responding as appropriate.

Student Responsibilities

We, as students, will share the responsibility to improve our academic achievement and achieve the State’s high standards. Specifically we will:

1.   Attend school regularly and arrive at school on time

2.   Complete all daily homework and return it to school on time.

3.   Follow the school Code of Conduct.

4.   Be responsible for giving my family members all information sent home from school.

5.   Consistently plan a portion of every day for a period of uninterrupted reading time.

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Title I and Migrant Education Complaints

Below is the process for resolving complaints submitted to the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) Office of ESSA-Funded Programs alleging that a local educational agency (LEA), grantee or NYSED has violated a law, rule, or regulation in the administration of any “covered Federal program” under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) identified below.

These procedures offer parents and other stakeholders a process to file complaints and allow for the timely resolution of such complaints. Complaints filed against a local entity such as a school district, charter school, or grantee will be reviewed by NYSED's Office of ESSA-Funded Programs.

A complainant may include any of the following: parents, public agencies, and other individuals or organizations.  If the complainant is a minor, the complaint or appeal shall also be signed by his or her guardian, unless the statute or rule under which the complaint or appeal is filed prohibits this requirement.

Step 1: Attempt to Resolve the Complaint at the Local Level

Complaints/appeals regarding the administration and implementation of any of the programs listed above should first be addressed at the local level.

• Complaints must be sent first to the Superintendent of the LEA at 79 Canaras Avenue, Saranac Lake NY  12983. If the local LEA fails to resolve the complaint within 30 business days or fails to resolve the issue to the satisfaction of the complainant, the complaint may then be sent to NYSED.
• Complaints/appeals regarding a regional Migrant Education Tutorial and Support Services (METS) Program Center’s administration and implementation of services for migrant eligible students should be sent first to the Director of the regional METS Program Center.  Complaints/appeals regarding student eligibility for the NYS Migrant Education Program should be sent first to the Director of the Identification and Recruitment (ID&R) Statewide Program Center. METS Program Centers and ID&R contact information is available at https://www.nysmigrant.org/mets

Step 2: Submission of Complaint to NYSED

To initiate a complaint with NYSED, a complainant must submit a written, signed complaint including the following:

1. A statement that the State, LEA, or METS Program Center has violated a requirement of a federal statute or regulation that applies to any applicable program listed above.
2. The facts on which the statement is based, including sufficient information as to when, where, and the nature of the activity that is perceived to be in violation of law and/or regulation.
3. Documentation of attempts to resolve the issue with appropriate personnel at the local level where the child, subject to the complaint, attends (e.g. school building, METS Program Center, or grantee administrators). Appropriate personnel could include the child’s teacher, building principal, pupil personnel director, METS Director, the superintendent, and/or local board of education.
4. The complainant’s recommendation for resolving the complaint.

Complaints may be emailed to CONAPPTA@nysed.gov with “COMPLAINT” in the subject line of the email. Alternately, a complaint may be mailed to NYSED at the following address:

New York State Education Department

Office of ESSA Funded Programs

Attention: Complaint Coordinator

89 Washington Avenue, Room 320EB

Albany, New York 12234

Step 3: Review of Complaint

Once a complaint is received, the complaint coordinator will issue a Letter of Acknowledgement via mail or email with a confirmation, to the complainant that contains the following information:

1. The date that NYSED received the complaint;  
2. The name and contact information of the assigned complaint coordinator;  
3. How the complainant may provide additional information; and  
4. A Statement of the ways in which the complaint coordinator may investigate the complaint.

The complaint coordinator retains authority for determining the manner in which the allegations will be investigated, which may include, but are not limited to, a review of written documentation, interviews, and/or on-site investigations.

During the investigative process, the complaint coordinator may contact the entity in question (“the alleged”) to inform them of the complainant’s allegations and request documentation necessary to determine whether a law, rule or regulation related to the administration of the covered programs was violated.

The complaint coordinator may, if necessary, request additional information from either party. Unless the complaint coordinator grants an extension, based on extenuating circumstances, the documentation from the alleged must be received within the stated timelines in the Letter of Allegations.

Step 4: Resolution of Complaint

Within 60 State agency workdays of receiving the complaint, a Letter of Resolution will be sent via mail or email with confirmation to the alleged with a copy to the complainant. The letter will specify whether the allegation is sustained by the complaint coordinator and if any corrective action is required. If corrective action is required, the Letter of Resolution will specify the actions needed, a timeline for implementation, and the acceptable documentation for resolution. If the complaint coordinator finds an additional violation, which was not cited in the original Letter of Allegations, the complaint coordinator will add this violation to the Letter of Resolution.

In the case of exceptional circumstances, an extension of the 60-day complaint resolution period may be required. The State Education Department has determined that exceptional circumstances may include, but need not be limited to, such occurrences as:

• illness of involved parties;
• cancellation of scheduled on-site reviews due to unscheduled school closings;
• the need for extended review activities beyond those specified in the original written notification; and/or
• any other mutual agreement to changes in review scope or activity.

When exceptional circumstances are identified, the revised date for the completion of the complaint review will be provided in writing to all parties involved in the complaint or appeal.  All parties to the complaint have the right to initiate a request for an extension beyond the 60 business day complaint resolution period based on exceptional circumstances.  All such requests must be presented to the State Education Department.

Step 5: Appeal of Resolution to the U.S. Department of Education

Both parties have the right to appeal the complaint coordinator’s Letter of Resolution to the United States Secretary of Education within 30 days of receiving the letter.  Such appeals should be submitted to:

United States Department of Education

Compensatory Education Programs

400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.

Room 3W230, FOB #6

Washington, D.C. 20202-6132