St. Louis Park Public Schools are committed to equal opportunity in education, activities and employment. We follow all Federal and state laws which forbid discrimination, including Title IX of 1972, Title VI of 1964 and the Minnesota Human Rights Act. In all education programs, activities and employment, we practice non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, disability or sexual orientation. A complete copy of the St. Louis Park School Board's Policy AC is available at the District Offices, 6426 W. 33rd Street, St. Louis Park MN.

A local grievance procedure has been established as well, to review complaints. Grievants or other interested persons may contact the St. Louis Park Public Schools Affirmative Action Officer, 6425 W. 33rd Street, St. Louis Park MN, e-mail walker.dan@slpschools.org telephone 952-928-6067, or the Director of the Office of Civil Rights, Washington D.C.

The St. Louis Park Public Schools are committed to a learning and working atmosphere that is free from racial, religious and sexual harassment and violence. Students are taught to respect others and value them as individuals. When they fail to show this respect, it is a serious matter for our schools and community. Definitions: Racial and religious harassment consists of negative or ridiculing gestures, actions or words relating to an individual's race or religion. Violent actions toward another student or staff member because of race or religion will be treated very seriously.

Sexual harassment includes verbal communication; unwelcome touching, patting or pinching; pressure for sexual activity; or demanding sexual favors using either threats or the suggestion of special treatment. Actually touching anyone else's intimate parts, or forcing someone to touch another person, is sexual violence and will be treated very seriously. Threatening to do these things is also considered sexual violence.

The fact that a child may not mean to hurt does not eliminate the harm done by these words or actions to other students' self-esteem, academic performance or attitude toward school. If your child tells you about being harassed or physically harmed by another student or a staff member, either sexually or because of her/his race or religion, please contact the principal. The principal will notify the Director of Human Resources, 952-928-6067, who investigates every complaint.

Students are also encouraged to report harassment immediately to a teacher, counselor or other staff member, who will tell the principal.

All students involved in harassment will complete an educational component designed to sensitize them to others' rights and feelings. Discipline measures for students may include suspension or expulsion from school. Staff members who violate this policy will be disciplined or terminated.

Parents, guardians and adult students are welcome to review the content of all materials used in St. Louis Park classes. If there are objections to the content for an individual student, a district representative will be happy to discuss how to provide alternative instruction.

Call the Assistant Superintendent, 952-928-6067, or e-mail walker.dan@slpschools.org for more information.

Leigh Abrahamson, SARB Coordinator, 952-928-6122, abrahamson.leigh@slpschools.org

SARB is a community/school-based program designed to provide intensive guidance and coordinated community services to meet the special needs of pupils with school attendance issues. It is specifically charged with finding solutions to unresolved student attendance issues by bringing together representatives from the community to work cooperatively with families.

SARB was established by legislation in Minnesota in 1995 for the purposes of:

• Making a better effort to meet the needs of students with attendance issues in school.
• Promoting the use of community
• Alternatives to the juvenile court system.
• Reducing duplication of services and promoting interagency and community cooperation for students with attendance problems. To achieve this purpose, the SARB legislation provides ideas for a multi-agency SARB, which may include the following:
  Children's Services
  Probation
  Law Enforcement
  Community Representatives
  Private Agencies
  Community-Based Organizations
  Child Welfare
  Attendance Personnel
  School Personnel

Who is referred to SARB?
Students with excessive absences which have not improved through school, parental and community efforts.

How do you get help from SARB?
Teachers, school administrators, parents or students may seek help from SARB when attendance has not been resolved through existing school and community resources.

Certain information about students is considered "public" under state and federal laws.Unless parents give specific instructions to the contrary, students' names and other information may be published in building newsletters, music programs and sports programs, as well as in district publications and the community newspaper. Schools must also give out this information to anyone who requests it, including Parks and Recreation, sports associations and direct-mail advertisers.

This public information includes
Name
Address
Phone number
Date and place of birth
Dates of attendance
Pictures for school-approved publications, newspapers and videotapes Most recent previous school attended.

If you do not wish this information to be given out about your child, please notify your building principal in writing.

All other student records are considered private. They are open only to parents and to school personnel with a legitimate interest. Principals will help parents any time they wish to examine their child's private record file. All material prepared or gathered by school personnel is open to parents. If you disagree with any information in the file, you may challenge the information or ask that material be added.

If your child transfers to another school district in Minnesota, records will be sent at the new district's request. Your written permission is necessary for sending records to any other individual, school district in another state, a business, college or agency. The only two exceptions to this rule are when the district is forced by a court order to release records, or when data for research purposes is released in a way that identifies no specific student.

The St. Louis Park Schools are committed to serving all handicapped students. In each building, a wide range of services is available to students who are eligible for special education. Staff resources include special education teachers, speech therapists, social workers, psychologists, the district nurse and adaptive physical education teachers. A child-study team, led by the building principal, reviews specific student needs and coordinates assessment and planning for students who may need special education. Parents are an important part of the process and are encouraged to share concerns with the classroom teacher or the building principal. For more information, contact Bette Englund, 952-928-6034, englund.bette@slpschools.org.

Weapons and "look-alikes" of any kind are absolutely forbidden in the St. Louis Park Schools, playgrounds, school buses and community centers. This prohibition includes not only the "real thing," but toy guns, rubber knives and pocket knives. Students with such objects in their possession will be suspended immediately and in almost all cases will be expelled. This "zero tolerance" of weapons has been St. Louis Park's policy for many years. However, it's important for students and parents to understand that today's realistic toys will be treated as seriously as the real thing. Neither school officials nor law enforcement officers can tell the difference, so displaying a "look -alike" could be a very dangerous thing for a student to do.