School Administrative Unit #37
286 Commercial Street, Manchester, NH 03101 * Tel: 603-624-6300 * Fax: 603-624-6337

 


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APPENDICES: ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

Code
Title
Instruction 117
Instruction 118
Instruction 118
Instruction 142
Instruction 142

 

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL RETENTION PROCEDURE

  1. As grades are determined for each marking period, middle schools shall maintain a printout of all course failures. Students who have earned a grade of "F" in core subjects shall be seen by their school counselor after the first quarter. Parents shall be notified of the counselor meeting. (IMPORTANT NOTE: A grade of "F" is set to a minimum numerical score of 5O for all calculated averages.)
  2. Students and parents shall be notified if the student is in jeopardy of being retained after the second quarter report cards are issued.
  3. In February, academic teams shall be given instructions by the guidance office to determine those students who are in jeopardy of failing at least two (2) academic subjects for the school year. The academic team shall complete a file review of the student who is at-risk.
  4. Meetings shall be established which shall include team teachers; school counselors, the principal and any other building level personnel who come into contact with the student.
  5. A full team of teachers/staff (team academic teachers, guidance counselor, SPED case manager, ESL teacher, etc.) shall review each student's academic profile.

    Students with Individual Educational Plans and 5O4 Plans shall be considered for retention if their academic failure is determined to be the result of lack of interest rather than lack of assistance or academic accommodations.

    Areas for discussion and consideration shall include but will not be limited to:

    • Academic Grades
    • School Attendance
    • Chronologic Age
    • Social Development
    • Evaluative & Clinical Information

    A student's discipline record may not be considered for determining retention.

  6. If a student is not eligible for retention, he/she shall be assigned to the next grade, if he/she fails two (2) or more academic core courses for the entire school year.
  7. During the determination process, referrals may be made to alternative programs. Depending on the circumstances, summer school may be required as an option to avoid retention. Students may be considered for outside counseling. Students suspected of having an educational disability and requiring special education services must be immediately referred to the building principal. A disposition meeting must be scheduled with the parents and appropriate staff within 15 days of principal notification.
  8. A recommendation regarding retention shall be made by the entire academic team. The building principal shall make the final determination. The school counselor shall be responsible for parental notification.

First Reading Coordination: 01/16/02
Second Reading and Approval BOSC: 02/11/02

 

GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

I. Definition of instructional materials.

A. Classroom instructional materials include print and non-print materials obtained primarily for use with classes, courses, grades, and particular student groups.

B. Library media center materials include print and non-print materials for general use by students and school personnel.

C. Technological instructional materials include, but are not limited to, computer software, related peripheral devices, CD-ROM, DVD, video-disc, television, data bases and on-line resources for general use by students and school personnel.

II. Objectives of selection.

A. To provide materials and information that will implement, enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration individual needs, varied interests, abilities and maturity levels of the pupils served.
B. To provide materials and information that will stimulate growth in factual knowledge, literary appreciation, aesthetic values and ethical standards,
C. To provide materials which will stimulate reading and the desire to learn.
D. To provide a background of information which will help pupils to make intelligent judgments in their daily lives,
E. To provide a background of information on many sides of controversial issues so that young citizens may develop, under guidance, the practice of critical analysis.
F. To provide materials which will help students gain an awareness and understanding of the contributions to our heritage made by both sexes and by the various religions and cultures of the world.
G. To provide materials that will meet the needs of the professional staffs in fulfilling the schools' educational objectives.
H. To place principle above Personal opinion and reason above prejudice in the selection of materials to assure a comprehensive collection.
I. To provide technological instructional materials which meet the NETS (National Educational Technology Standards).

III. Responsibility for Selection

The Manchester Board of School Committee is legally responsible for all matters relating to the operation of the Manchester Public Schools.

A. The responsibility for the selection of instructional materials is delegated to the professionally-trained personnel employed by the school system. Selection of materials may involve the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, principals, supervisors, directors, building level instructional coordinators, guidance personnel, teachers, library media professionals, and other support specialists.
B. The responsibility for coordinating the selection of instructional materials for the library media center and resource centers and making the recommendation for purchase rests with the professionally- trained media personnel. The responsibility for coordinating the selection for textbooks rests with the instructional unit, which is defined as teachers, building level instructional coordinators, and principal at the senior high school level; teachers in departments and principal at the junior high school level; teachers and principals at the elementary school level. System-wide selections would abide by the Agreement between the Board of School Committee and the Manchester Education Association.

IV. Criteria for selection.

The needs of the individual school, based on knowledge of the curriculum, is given first consideration. These are determined by reviewing teacher and student requirements and by evaluating the existing collection.

The following criteria, in general, are the bases for the selection of materials:

  • general suitability to educational objectives
  • timeliness and/or permanence
  • importance of the subject matter
  • quality of the writing or production
  • appropriateness to the needs of the student
  • authoritativeness and authenticity
  • reputation of the publisher or producer
  • reputation and significance of the author, artist, or composer
  • format and price
  • contribution to the development of a comprehensive collection

 

V. Procedures for selection.

In selecting materials for purchase, the staff members evaluate the existing classroom and library media center collections, consider requests from faculty and students, and consult each other along with reputable, unbiased, professionally-prepared selection aids.

A. In specific circumstances

1. Worn or missing standard items are replaced periodically and out-of-date or no longer useful materials are withdrawn from the collection.
2. Materials acquired by subscription are purchased to fill a diversity of needs.
3. Multiple items of outstanding and much-in-demand media are purchased as needed.
4. Gift materials are judged by the above selection criteria.
5. All materials are obtained in compliance with existing copyright laws.

Classroom materials will be selected as follows:

Textbooks will be selected by system wide textbook selection and piloting committees following the development of revision of the respective curriculum area.

NHSBA Code IJ
First Reading Coordination Committee: 11/21/00
Second Reading and Approval BOSC: 12/10/00

GUIDELINES FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

I. Rationale.

A. The principles of intellectual freedom are inherent in the First Amendment of the Constitution. The freedom to read, the professional responsibility of the staff and the student's right of access to materials must be affirmed, except as pertains to the Manchester School District's Acceptable Internet Use Policy

The Freedom to Read propositions used in the selection process are:

  1. It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox or unpopular with the majority.
  2. Publishers, librarians and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation contained in the books they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what books should be published or circulated.
  3. It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to bar access to writings on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author.
  4. There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression.
  5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept with any expression the prejudgment of a label characterizing the book or author as subversive or dangerous.
  6. It is the responsibility of publishers and library media directors as guardians of the people's freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large.
  7. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility they can demonstrate that the answer to a bad book is a good one, the answer to a bad idea is a good one.* However, occasional objections to a selection will be made by the public despite the care taken to select valuable materials for student and teacher use and the qualifications of persons who select the materials.

 

In accordance with the American Library Association (ALA) "Resolution on Challenged Materials," the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) "Right to Read" and the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) "Academic Freedom" statements, challenged materials will remain available during the following process.

II. Procedure.

A. Complainant must request a conference with the staff member, teacher or library media professional concerned who will:

  1. Listen to and discuss the complaint.
  2. Provide the complainant with the opportunity to read, view, or listen to the complete work in question.
  3. Provide the complainant with the "Guidelines for Selection of Instructional Materials".
  4. Provide, if necessary, a further opportunity to discuss and resolve the complaint at this level.

B. If the issue is unresolved, the staff member:

  1. Gives the '"Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials" form to the complainant to be completed and returned to the principal.
  2. Immediately notifies the building level instructional coordinator/principal in writing of the complaint including a report of the conference.

 

B. Upon receipt of the completed Reconsideration Form the principal notifies the Superintendent and appoints a local review committee comprised of:

  1. Principal and/or representative.
  2. Library media professional assigned to the school.
  3. Person(s) involved in the original selection.
  4. Staff member(s) using the materials.

This committee reports to the principal in writing within ten (10) school days. The principal informs the complainant of the committee's decision in writing within three (3) school days after receipt of the committee report.

D. If the issue is still unresolved, the principal notifies the Superintendent by submitting a complete report within three (3) school days.

E. The Superintendent convenes a System-wide Instructional Materials Reconsideration Committee (SIMRC) within five (5) school days. SIMRC is comprised of:

  1. Superintendent and/or representative.
  2. Principal and/or representative.
  3. Library media professional assigned to the school.
  4. Person(s) involved in the original selection.
  5. Staff member(s) using the materials.
  6. Student representative on the secondary level.
  7. Two (2) appropriate representatives from other schools.

SIMRC must submit a written report to the complainant and the Curriculum and Instruction (C&I) Committee of the Manchester Board of School Committee within a period of five (5) school days.

F. If the issue remains unresolved, the complainant appeals to the C&I Committee. At the ensuing meeting of the C&I Committee, the complainant and representatives of SIMRC will be present. 

*Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the American Library Association 1/28/72, Revised 1/16/91, Revised 7/12/00,see Appendix.

See Policy Instruction 118

First Reading Coordination Committee: 11/21/00
Second Reading and Approval BOSC: 12/10/00

INTRANET/INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY AUTHORIZATION FORM

 

Student Authorization:

I certify that I have read and that I understand the Manchester School District Intranet/Internet Acceptable Use Policy and agree to abide by all the terms and conditions stated in this policy.

Student Name (please print): ________________________________________

Student Signature:_________________________________________________

 

 

Parent/Guardian Authorization:

As parent/guardian of the above-named student, I have read and discussed the Manchester School District Intranet/Internet Acceptable Use Policy with my son/daughter. With this understanding, I give permission to the Manchester School District to allow my son/daughter access to the Manchester School District's Intranet/Internet Computer Network.

Parent/Guardian Name (please print): _________________________________

Signature: _________________________________ Date: _______________

  

Revised 05/01
First Reading Coordination: 06/13/01
Second Reading and Approval BOSC: 07/09/01

INTRANET/INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

SCHOOL PERSONNEL AUTHORIZATION FORM

 

I certify that I have read the Manchester School District Intranet/Internet Acceptable Use Policy and agree to abide by all the terms and conditions stated in this policy. I understand that if I violate any terms or conditions set in this policy, my Intranet/Internet access will be revoked and that I may be subject to disciplinary action according to Manchester School District Policy.

I agree to promote this policy regarding the acceptable use and proper network etiquette of the Manchester School District Intranet/Internet computer network with students. I agree to provide supervision for students with the goal of promoting educational excellence through communication, resource sharing, innovation, and research.

I agree to report any misuses of the District's computer network or Intranet/Internet services to the District's network administrator. I will use the District's computer network and Intranet/Internet services entirely at my own risk and I hereby release the District, and agree to indemnify the District and hold the District, and its agents, officers, and employees harmless, from any claims arising from my use of the District's computer network and Intranet/Internet services.

 

Name (please print): __________________________________

Signature: __________________________________________

Date: ____________

 

Revised 05/01
First Reading Coordination: 06/13/01
Second Reading and Approval BOSC: 07/09/01

 


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