This handbook provides information about practices, policies and procedures that are important for parents and students to know. There are numerous policies beyond those referenced here that can be accessed in the Bainbridge Island School District Policy/Procedure Manual.

Where applicable, specific policies and procedures are referenced.

If you have questions about this information or would like copies of a particular policy, please call the school district Community Relations Office, 780-1398.

It is a parent’s right and responsibility to advocate for the best interests of his or her child. The input from parents about a child’s needs is invaluable. We encourage parents to address their concerns in a polite and forthright manner.

We believe that the best approach is for parents and school staff to work together to identify problems and seek productive solutions as a team. A parent should expect teachers, counselors, and the principal to be open to concerns and to new ideas about how to best meet the needs of the student.

Similarly, we hope that parents will be willing to work cooperatively with staff to create greater success for their child.

As a rule, parents should speak directly to the teacher or principal with concerns about a teacher, the instructional program, or other matters related to their child or the school. Most problems are successfully resolved on the classroom or school level.

If a problem cannot be resolved, a formal written complaint can be given to the principal or superintendent. The school board may be petitioned in writing if all other attempts to resolve the complaint have failed. The superintendent and board president will determine if further review by the entire board is warranted. A parent can expect a written response from the superintendent and/or board president as a final resolution to a complaint that has reached this final stage.

[Policy 4220: Complaints Concerning School Personnel/Program]

The district will not tolerate, and policies prohibit any harassment against any employee, student, volunteer, parent, or guardian on the basis of such person’s race, color, sex, creed, religion, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, physical, sensory or mental disabilities, or for any other reason prohibited by law.

Harassment is defined as intentional acts, statements, or conduct which has the purpose or effect of materially or substantially interfering with an individual’s educational or work performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or work environment.

The district also will not tolerate and prohibits any form of sexual harassment by employees, students, volunteers, parents, or guardians. Sexual harassment does not refer to casual conversations or compliments of a socially acceptable nature. It refers to behavior which is unwelcome, has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s educational or work performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or work environment.

[Policies 3700: Prohibition Against Sexual Harassment and 3705: Prohibition Against Harassment]

Students are subject to rules of conduct established to provide a safe educational environment and one that is conducive to effective student learning. Therefore, a student who willfully performs any act that interferes with or is detrimental to the orderly operation of school, a school-sponsored activity (on or off campus), or any other aspect of the education process within the school district, will be subject to discipline, including suspension or expulsion. Such acts shall include, but not be limited to, those explained in Policy 3300.

Disciplinary sanctions imposed on a student for violation of rules may range from an informal warning to expulsion.

• Expulsion is the exclusion from school, or individual classes, for an indefinite period.
• Suspension is the exclusion from school, or individual classes, for a specific period of time, after which the student has a right to return.
• Discipline is all other forms of corrective action or sanction, such as exclusion from a class for not more than the remainder of the class period, or exclusion from extracurricular or other types of activities conducted by the district.

[Policy/Procedures 3300 – Rules, Corrective Actions and Sanctions]

The possession, use, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, or alcohol are strictly prohibited and are subject to disciplinary sanctions ranging from suspension to expulsion.

[Policy 3314: Student Alcohol/Drug Use]

Any act of violence including assault, battery, fighting, harassment, intimidation, threats and extortion is subject to disciplinary sanctions ranging from suspension to expulsion. Any criminal act, as defined by the Criminal Code, will be reported to police authorities and also will be subject to disciplinary sanctions ranging from suspension to expulsion.

[Policy/Procedure 3300: Rules, Corrective Actions and Sanctions]

By Washington State law (RCW 9.41.280), it is unlawful for any person to possess on, or to carry onto, any public or private school premises, including school district buildings, grounds, or vehicles, any firearm or dangerous weapon as defined in RCW 9.41.250 (i.e., slung shot, sand club, metal knuckles, dagger, dirk, any knife, or other dangerous weapon), or any of the following devices, "nun-chu-ka sticks", "throwing stars", or air gun, including any air pistol or air rifle.

According to school district policy and procedure, students (knowingly or unknowingly) involved in such a gross misdemeanor shall be expelled. Possession of look-alike weapons or other dangerous instruments will be subject to disciplinary actions ranging from school discipline to suspension or expulsion.

[Policy/Procedure 3300: Rules, Corrective Actions and Sanctions]

With this educational opportunity also comes responsibility. When a student is given an account and password to use on the computer, it is extremely important that the rules, as outlined in district policy and procedures, are followed. Inappropriate use will result in the loss of the privilege to use this educational tool and other disciplinary action if appropriate.

Although we have established rules regulating the material students may search for, please be aware that there is unacceptable and controversial material on the Internet that students could access. It is not possible for us to always provide direct supervision of all students during use of the district network system, and we do not filter material posted on systems connected all over the world.

If you would like a copy of the district’s Electronic Information System (Network) Policy/Procedures and/or have any questions, please contact the school principal.

[Policy/Procedure 2315: Electronic Information System (Networks)]

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) permits a school district to identify certain information as "directory information", which may be released publicly without permission of the parent/legal guardian or the student. Bainbridge Island School District identifies directory information about the student as the following: name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, diplomas and awards received, schools attended, and other similar information.

Directory information may be used for purposes such as publication of a student directory, parent organization mailing lists, school yearbooks and newspapers, commencement programs and publication of honor rolls, and other school information about students in the public media. It is a routine practice to publish student directories at our schools. It is also becoming increasingly common to publish photos of students involved in school activities and student projects on the school and district website, as well as in other publications produced by the district.

Such information will not be released for commercial purposes. The school principal is responsible for taking precautions against unauthorized or inappropriate use of student directory information.

[Policy/Procedure 3600: Student Records]

[Policy/Procedure 6505: Plants and Animals at School]

To provide a safe and healthy environment for students, staff and users of school properties, the school district maintains a program for managing undesired vegetation and pests. The IPM program is an ecological approach to suppressing pest populations (i.e. weeds, insects and diseases, etc.) in which alternative pest controls are considered, and where practical, implemented, before chemical controls are used, so that pests are kept at acceptable levels in effective, economical and environmentally safe ways.

When the use of chemicals is planned, policy provides for appropriate notice at the school site and via a Hotline (206) 780-1885. This program is administered by our Facilities Office (206) 780-1590.

[Policy/Procedure 6522: Integrated Vegetation and Pest Management]

9330 NE High School Road

Phone: 842-2634 FAX: 780-1260

9125 Sportsman Club Road

Phone: 842-4787 FAX: 780-1460

9343 Sportsman Club Road

Phone: 780-6500 FAX: 780-6565

9350 NE High School Road

Phone: 780-1646 FAX: 855-0511

4704 Blakely Avenue NE

Phone: 842-4752 FAX: 780-2040

8555 Madison Avenue NE

Phone: 842-7637 FAX: 780-1560

12781 Madison Avenue NE

Phone: 842-4411 FAX: 780-3000

8489 Madison Avenue NE

Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Phone: (206) 842-4714

FAX: (206) 842-2928

Ken Breiland

Cheryl Dale

Doug Picha

Susan Sivitz

Bruce Weiland

For all other jobs, please call our Job Line 24 hours/day, 842-2920

Emergency Hotline: 780-1556

Pest Management Hotline: 780-1885

The Bainbridge Island School District #303 complies with all federal rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of national origin, creed, color, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, or physical, mental or sensory disability. This holds true for all students who are participating in educational programs and/or extracurricular activities. Inquiries regarding compliance or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district’s Title IX/RCW28A.85 Officer and Section 504 coordinator, Dr. Kenneth E. Crawford (780-1072); 8489 Madison Avenue N.E., Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110-2999.