In the past, asbestos was used extensively in building materials because of its insulating, sound absorbing, and fire retarding capabilities. Virtually any building constructed before the late 1970's contained some asbestos. Intact and undisturbed asbestos materials generally do not pose a health risk. Asbestos materials, however, can become hazardous when, due to damage or deterioration over time, they can release fibers. If the fibers are inhaled, they can lead to health problems, such as cancer and asbestosis.

It is the intention of Hinton Community School to comply with all federal and state regulations controlling asbestos and to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure students and employees a healthy and safe environment in which to learn and work. You are welcome to review a copy of the asbestos management plan in our district administrative office of the school during regular business hours. Dave Tomlinson is our designated asbestos program coordinator, all inquiries regarding the asbestos plan and asbestos-related issues should be directed to him at 712-947-4329.

Student records containing personally identifiable information, except for directory information, are confidential. Only persons, including employees, who have a legitimate educational interest, are allowed to access a student’s records without the parent’s permission. Parents may access, request amendments to, and copy their child’s records during regular office hours. Parents may also file a complaint with the United States Department of Education if they feel their rights regarding their child’s records have been violated. For a complete copy of the school district’s policy on student records or the procedure for filing a complaint, contact the board secretary in the central administration office.

Student directory information is released without parental permission, unless the parent asks the school district not to release it. Parents must notify the school district at the beginning of the school year if they do not want the school district to release directory information. Directory information includes name, address, telephone number, parent’s names, and heights and weights of athletes.

It is the policy of the Hinton Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact Phil Goetstouwers, Equity Coordinator at 315 West Grand, Hinton, IA, 51108, and phil.goetstouwers@hintonschool.com

Lunch Balance Notification
The Hinton Community School District uses the notification system through PowerSchool to send negative balance notifications to parents. If you’re not getting notifications, you’ll need to access your PowerSchool account and go under “Email Notification” and select the “Balance Alert” option. Below is the schools negative lunch balance policy. Feel free to contact the Superintendent’s office if you have any questions.

Negative Account Balances
The school district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low. Additionally, the school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. The school district will coordinate communications with families to resolve the matter of unpaid charges. Families will be notified of an outstanding negative balance once the negative balance reaches $10. Families will be notified by email and or letters sent home of Negative balances of more than $50 not paid prior to end of the school year will be turned over to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee for collection. Options may include: collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.

Free or Reduced Price Meals
Free and reduced priced meals are available to families who believe they may qualify. If your family chooses to apply please pick up an application from the Superintendent’s office in the 4-12 Building. Contact Val Kovarna at 712-947-4329 for questions you may have regarding your status or the application process.

Do you know a homeless child or youth? Please read the definition provided below and contact the Homeless Liaison, Ms. Danica Held, at 947-4428, if you believe you know of a homeless student living in the district. We want these students to be in school, and will provide support for their enrollment upon identification. Homeless Definition: Homeless means individuals who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence and includes:

• Sheltered/transitionally housed: Children who are placed by the state or have individually or with a family accessed and are living in a public or private shelter or transitional housing project on a temporary basis

• Doubled-up: A child who lives with relatives or friends due to a loss of housing due to disasters, lack of employment, parents will not allow child to live at home, abandoned children, or other similar situations.

• Unsheltered: Children living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, sub-standard housing, bus or train stations, or similar situations of public and 36 private places not ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

• Other: Abandoned children temporarily housed by hospitals, YWCA or YMCA organizations, etc.

• Note: Migrant children who meet the definition of homeless and children awaiting foster care who are housed in transitional or emergency shelters should be included in the categories of homeless identified above.

Parents and other members of the school district community may view the instructional materials used by students in the office. Copies may be obtained according to board policy. Tests and assessment materials are only available for inspection with the consent of the superintendent. Persons wishing to view instructional materials or to express concerns about instructional materials should contact the principal in the school office. Information on human growth and development may be included in the grade appropriate curriculum on occasion. Parents may request to view the instructional materials prior to their use class by requesting access through the guidance counselor or building principal. If a parent wishes to excuse their student from that class, they must provide a written request to their child’s guidance counselor or building principal.

It is the policy of the Hinton Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact Phil Goetstouwers, Equity Coordinator at 315 West Grand, Hinton, IA, 51108, and phil.goetstouwers@hintonschool.com

The Hinton School District offers career and technical programs in the following service areas:

Agriculture, Business, Industrial Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences

It is the policy of the Hinton Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator, Phil Goetstouwers, Principal, 315 West Grand, Hinton, IA, 712-947-4329, phil.goetstouwers@hintonschool.com, or Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Chicago Office, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor, Chicago, IL 60604, Telephone: (312) 730-1560, Facsimile: (312) 730-1576, Email:OCR.Chicago@ed.gov

Iowa Code Section 285.1 requires public school districts to provide transportation services to resident nonpublic students that are entitled as per that section. How the transportation service will be provided is to be determined by the public school district. When funds are appropriated by the Iowa General Assembly and if your public school district has selected “Parent Reimbursement” as their transportation service type of choice and you meet the transportation entitlement policy provisions of the public school district in which you live and the nonpublic school being attended has been accredited by the Iowa Department of Education, you are entitled to parent reimbursement as per Iowa Code Sections 285.1, subparagraph 3 and 285.3.

(Iowa Code, Section 285.3) If your public school district selects the “Parent Reimbursement” option, it is your responsibility as the nonpublic parent or guardian to notify your resident public school district that you have children attending an accredited nonpublic school and its location. In addition, specific information, as requested on the reimbursement form, must be submitted by the nonpublic parent or guardian not later than December 1st (for first semester reimbursement) and May 1st (for second semester reimbursement), each year. Failure to submit this request by the above deadline each semester will result in the denial of the reimbursement request for the claim period.

Iowa’s open enrollment law allows students residing in one school district to request a transfer to another school district upon the parents’ request. Students interested in open enrolling out of the school district must contact the business manager for information and forms. The school district recognizes alternative enrollment options such as magnet schools, alternative schools, homebound instruction or other possible enrollment options. Parents considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their children in another public school district in the State of Iowa should be aware of the following dates: March 1, 2018 - Last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2018- 2019 school year. September 1, 2017 – Last date for regular open enrollment request for the 2017-2018 school year for TK or Kindergarten students ONLY. Parents of open enrolled students whose income falls below 160% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for transportation assistance. This may be in the form of actual transportation or in the form of a cash stipend. Parents need to be aware that open enrollment may result in the loss of athletic eligibility. For further information, contact the school office.

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232h, requires the Hinton School District to notify you and obtain consent or allow you to opt your child out of participating in certain school activities. These activities include a student survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight areas (“protected information surveys”):

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;

2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;

3. Sex behavior or attitudes;

4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;

6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;

7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or

8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

This requirement also applies to the collection, disclosure or use of student information for marketing purposes (“marketing surveys”), and certain physical exams and screenings. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, the Hinton School will provide parents, within a reasonable period of time prior to the administration of the surveys and activities, notification of the surveys and activities and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out, as well as an opportunity to review the surveys. (Please note that this notice and consent/opt-out transfers from parents to any student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.)

Section 298.6, Code of Iowa requires school districts to provide public access to a list of all outstanding levies by rate, amount, duration, and the applicable maximum levy limitations. The information is to be provided at the beginning of the school year, and updated prior to certifying any levy by board approval or submitting a levy for voter approval. The information is to be posted on the district's internet website or, if the district does not maintain a website, distributed or posted throughout the district.

The Department of Management's website includes an Excel spreadsheet with the required information for all districts at this location: http://www.dom.state.ia.us/local/schools/index.htm
The spreadsheet, Outstanding Property Tax Levies and Maximum Levy Limits, is updated annually.

The Department of Education's website - http://reports.educateiowa.gov - includes additional information required for the annual school district financial report card specified in section 279.63, Code of Iowa.

The Level One Investigator for investigation of abuse of students at the Hinton School is Sue Popken. She may be contacted at Hinton School by phone 947-4428 or sue.popken@hintonschool.com

The Hinton Board of Education is committed to the optimal development of every student. The board believes for students to have the opportunity to achieve personal, academic, developmental, and social success, there needs to be a positive, safe, and health-promoting learning environment at every level, in every setting.

The school district provides a comprehensive learning environment for developing and practicing lifelong wellness behaviors. The entire school environment, not just the classroom, shall be aligned with healthy school district goals to positively influence a student's understanding, beliefs and habits as they relate to good nutrition and regular physical activity. In accordance with law and this belief, the board commits to the following:

The school district will identify at least one goal in each of the following areas:

• Nutrition Education and Promotion: Schools will provide nutrition education and engage in nutrition promotion that helps students develop lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

• Physical Activity: Schools will provide students with age and grade appropriate opportunities to engage in physical activity that meet the Iowa Healthy Kids Act.

• Other School Based Activities that Promote Wellness: As appropriate, schools will support students, staff, and parents’ efforts to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The following nutritional guidelines for food available on school campuses will be adhered to:

• Meals served through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program will be appealing and meet, at a minimum, nutrition requirements established by state and federal law;

• Schools providing access to healthy foods outside the reimbursable meal programs before school, during school and thirty minutes after school shall meet the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition standards, at a minimum. This includes such items as those sold through a la carte lines, vending machines, student run stores, and fundraising activities;

The superintendent or superintendent’s designee shall implement and ensure compliance with the policy by:

• Reviewing the policy at least every three years and recommending updates as appropriate for board approval;

• Implementing a process for permitting parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, teachers of physical education, school health professionals, the school board, administrators and the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the policy;

• Making the policy and updated assessment of the implementation available to the public (e.g., posting on the website, newsletters, etc). This information shall include the extent to which the schools are in compliance with policy and a description of the progress being made in attaining the goals of the policy; and 

• Developing administrative regulations, which shall include specific wellness goals and indicators for measurement of progress consistent with law and district policy.