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KCPS NEWS

Policies and Procedures

To view all KCPS Board of Education policies, please visit this page.

Bullying & Cyberbullying

In order to promote a safe learning environment for all students, Kansas City Public Schools prohibits all forms of hazing, bullying and student intimidation. Hazing is defined as any activity, on or off school grounds, that a reasonable person believes would negatively impact the mental or physical health or safety of a student or put the student in a ridiculous, humiliating, stressful, or disconcerting position for purposes of initiation, affiliation, admission, membership or maintenance of membership in any group, class organization, club or athletic team including, but not limited to, a grade level, student organization, or school-sponsored activity.

Bullying is defined as intimidation or harassment of a student or multiple students perpetrated by individuals or groups. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, physical actions, including violence, gestures, theft, or damaging property; oral or written taunts, including name-calling, put-downs, extortion, or threats of retaliation for reporting such acts. Bullying may also include cyberbullying or cyber threats. Cyberbullying is sending or posting harmful or cruel texts or images using the Internet or other digital communication devices. Cyber threats are online materials that threaten to raise concerns about violence against others, suicide or self-harm.

Students participating in or encouraging inappropriate conduct will be disciplined in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct. Such discipline may include, but is not limited to, suspension or expulsion from school and/or removal from participation in activities.

Disciplinary consequences will be issued to anyone or any team found guilty of hazing. According to Missouri State statues, “consent” to hazing is not a defense.

See Administrative Policy JFCF

General Medical Conditions and Possible Exclusions for Students

Fever

Any student with a temperature elevated above 100.1°F should be excluded from school until symptoms have ceased for 24 hours without the aid of fever reducers. All elevated temperatures over 100.1°F must be picked up from school.

Vomiting

Any student vomiting 2 or more times within 2 hours shall be excluded from school for 24 hours unless proper written notice is received from a physician. Students should be picked up and kept at home for 24 hours.

Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)/Eye Drainage

Conjunctivitis is redness and inflammation of the membrane that covers the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelids. Any student with oozing eye drainage which may accompany fever, pain or redness of the eyes shall be excluded until proper treatment has begun. The student may return once symptoms have cleared.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the body, scalp or feet. If a student is diagnosed with ringworm, the student must be excluded from school until treatment has begun. However, the student may remain in school if the lesion can be covered. In order to prevent spreading, treatment must be started as soon as detected. Any child with ringworm should not participate in gym, swimming, and other close contact activities that are likely to expose others until treatment has begun or the lesions can be completely covered. If the lesion is on the scalp, the student should see a medical provider for proper treatment.

Diarrhea (Infectious)

Any student having an increased number of bowel movements (uncommon with the students’ normal bowel pattern) along with watery, bloody and/or mucus containing feces, shall be excluded until diarrhea free for 24 hours.

Asthma/Difficulty Breathing

Any student having an unusual breathing pattern with complaints of wheezing, chest tightness, consistent coughing or any other signs of discomfort for students are asked to visit their health provider to exclude any possible serious illnesses.

***The above criteria are common but not limited to all exclusionary rules from school***

Health & Medications Policy

If a student becomes ill in school, he/she should report to the nurse with a pass. Students must not leave the building because of illness without prior authorization by the school nurse (or designee). If the nurse is unavailable, students are to report to the main office. First aid care will be administered to sick and injured students. In cases of serious illness or accidents, parents will be notified immediately.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to submit any relevant information regarding the medications their student needs, including a diabetes medical management plan or other information the district may use to develop an IEP, Section 504 Accommodation Plan or Individualized Health Plan (IHP). The district prohibits students from possessing or self-administering medications while on district grounds, on district transportation or during district activities unless explicitly authorized in accordance with administrative policy JHCF.

The administration of medications is a nursing activity that must be performed by or under the supervision of a registered professional nurse or a licensed practical nurse. A school nurse may delegate the administration of medication to unlicensed personnel who are trained by the nurse to administer medications.

The parent/guardian must provide the district with written permission to administer over-the-counter and/or prescription medication before the district will administer such medication. All students must have a current health history on file in order to receive any medications from the health office. Any medication not picked up by an authorized adult shall be discarded at the end of the school year.

Missouri School Immunization Requirements

  • All students must present documentation of up-to-date immunization status, including month, day, and year of each immunization before attending school.
  • The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) allows a 4-day grace period. Students in all grade levels may receive immunizations up to four days before the due date.
  • For children beginning kindergarten during or after the 2003-04 school year, required immunizations should be administered according to the current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Schedule, including all spacing. (CDC Website)
  • To remain in school, students "in progress" must have an Immunization In Progress form (Imm.P.14), which includes the appointment date for needed immunizations, on file and must receive immunizations as soon as they become due. The student is in compliance as long as he/she continues to receive the appropriate immunization(s) at the correct intervals according to the ACIP recommendations.
    In progress means that a child has begun the vaccine series and has an appointment for the next dose. This appointment must be kept and an updated record provided to the school. If the appointment is not kept, the child is no longer in progress and is noncompliant (i.e., Hep B vaccine series was started but the child is not yet eligible to receive the next dose in the series).
  • Religious (Imm.P. 11A) and Medical (Imm.P.12) exceptions are allowed. The appropriate exemption card must be on file. Unimmunized children are subject to exclusion from school when outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases occur.

Winter Weather - School Cancellation

The decision to cancel classes due to extreme cold, snow or ice is made by the Superintendent of Schools based on the recommendation of his or her administrative team, including Facilities, Transportation, Safety and Security, and the Executive Cabinet.

KCPS strives to notify the public of the cancellation of classes as soon as the decision is made. In many cases, this notification should occur by 5:30 a.m. the day of the cancellation. Every effort will be made to notify the public the day before the cancellation.

We have two options for inclement weather:

  1. AMI: Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) snow day is when we teach and work from home, with students participating in Synchoronous (live, with the teacher via video conferencing) learning.
    Schedule will be as follows:
    • 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Teacher Planning
    • 9:00 – 12:00 p.m.
      a) Greeting – Review and summary of the day’s assignments. This will be Synchronous (Live, with the teacher via video conferencing).
      b) Provide students review assignments in each content area.
  2. Snow Day: A traditional snow day is when we call off school due to inclement weather. This will be a no school day for students.
Notification will be made using the following outlets and resources; please check more than one to ensure you are receiving accurate information:
  • Major radio and television news stations
  • The homepage of the KCPS website
  • KCPS Facebook and Twitter pages
  • Subscribers to our SchoolMessenger system and families with accurate contact information in the student information system will receive an automated phone call informing them of the cancellation

Unless covered by a special announcement, a general school closing also includes all special education classes, extracurricular activities, athletic events and other school-related events.

If the decision to cancel classes is made during the weekend or 12 hours or less before classes are to occur, an automated phone message will be sent to employees and staff.

If classes are canceled, the following personnel will be on duty unless otherwise stated: all administrators and supervisors, all 12-month employees, all campus officers, all custodial and maintenance staff.

Should early dismissal be necessary during the school day, radio and TV announcements will be made and each school will be notified.

Title IX Training

At Kansas City Public Schools, it is very important to us that every child, staff member and community member feel welcome, safe and valued as an individual. In order to ensure a safe environment for all students and to comply with the law and our own policies, we have developed training both for staff and students around Title IX, the federal statute that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. 

Relevant staff attending Title IX trainings for Title IX Coordinator, Title IX Investigator, Title IX Decision Maker, and Title IX Appeals.  Training materials may be reviewed at https://tuethkeeney.com/tueth-keeney-title-ix-webinars/.

 

Title IX Coordinator

Shana Long
(816) 418-7699
Email

Grades K-3

Grades 4-6

Grades 7-12

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