Yearly Notifications

Albany Area Schools will have qualified consultants and licensed contractors present within the Secondary School over the summer break performing removal of asbestos containing materials. To keep construction schedules on track, set-up for the project will be occurring during the last week of May. Actual abatement activities will not take place until June 4th and will likely continue on for three weeks. If there are any questions on the abatement process, please contact John Klasen at 320-845-2171 or email at jklasen@district745.org

Albany Area Schools has an asbestos management plan in place to monitor all current asbestos containing materials. The District completes a full and complete inspection every three (3) years by a licensed inspector with the most recent inspection completed in 2020. In addition, the District also contracts with a licensed inspector to conduct a surveillance of all asbestos containing materials every six months to ensure that no changes have taken place or that any asbestos containing material has been damaged. These inspection reports are available in the District Office. In accordance with the management plan, all custodial and maintenance staff, who may come into contact with asbestos containing materials, have been shown where this material is located and trained in how to address any issues. Outside contractors are also made aware of the location of this material in the district before commencing any work. Questions or concerns should be addressed to John Klasen at 320-845-2171. A copy of the management plan is available in Mr.  Klasen's office.

Federal laws require that the school district publish its policy against discrimination on a yearly basis, along with a procedure for anyone for any of the reasons listed in the policy and grievance procedure. The compliance officer, Travis Okerlund, can be reached at 320-845-2171.

Albany Area Schools strives to provide the safest and most productive learning environment for its students and staff. Because the air we breathe is so critical, the District has contracted with IEA to develop and maintain an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan to ensure any issues related to indoor air quality are examined and addressed as quickly as possible. Any issues or concerns should be directed to John Klasen at 320-845-2171.

Minnesota Statute 121A.335 requires public school buildings serving prekindergarten through grade 12 to test for lead in water every 5 years. Albany Area Schools has historically conducted and continues to conduct Lead in Drinking Water testing per the Minnesota Department of Health guidelines.

For more information on Albany Area Schools lead reduction program and testing results, please contact John Klasen, Director of Buildings and Grounds at jklasen@district745.org.

The Albany School District has a comprehensive plan in place to manage pests in the District. It is the District's policy to utilize the services of EcoLab, a State licensed applicator, to apply restricted use pesticides if needed. The estimated schedule of applications is available for review by contacting John Klasen at 320-845-2171. The District further advises parents that long-term health effects of applying pesticides may not be fully understood, but all efforts will be made to apply necessary pesticides when students and staff are not present. Information on the types of products used is available from the District. Questions and/or concerns may be directed to the Superintendent of Schools, Travis Okerlund, at 320-845-2171.

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), requires the Albany School District to notify you and allow you to opt your child out of participating in certain school activities. These activities may include student surveys, collection, disclosure or use of student information for making surveys, and certain physical exams and screenings. At this time, the Albany School District has not scheduled any of the above activities. If any surveys or activities are scheduled after the school year starts, the Albany School District will provide parents, within a reasonable period of time prior to the administration, notification and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out, as well as an opportunity to review the surveys. 

Policies

Parents and students may access the following policies on the district website: www.district745.org

• 506 - Student Discipline
• 514 - Bullying Prohibition Policy
• 516 - Student Medication
• 522 - Student Sex Nondiscrimination
• 524 - Internet Computer/Equipment Use Policy
• 526 - Hazing Prohibition
• 529 - Staff Notification of Violent Behavior by Students

For a complete list of policies, please access the district website: www.district745.org

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in any program receiving federal financial assistance. The Act defines a person with a disability as anyone who:

1. Has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (major life activities include activities such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working):
2. Has a record of such impairment; or
3. Is regarded as having such impairment. [34 CFR 104.3(j)]

In order to fulfill obligations under Section 504, the Albany School District is reponsible for nondiscrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and learners. No discrimination against any person with a disability shall knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices of the school system.

Annual notification of rights:

• Parent has a right to inspect and review the student's educational records.
• Parent has a right to seek amendment of the student's education records to ensure that those records are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or other rights.
• Parent has a right to consent to disclosures of personally indentifiable information contained in the student's education records, except if covered by federal or state law.
• Parent has a right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education regarding an alleged failure by the School District to comply with the requirements of Federal Law.
• Parent has a right to criteria for determining a school official and what constitutes a legitimate education interest.
• The School District forwards education records on request to a school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. Records may include suspension and expulsion records and, if applicable, a student's history of violent behavior.

According to the federal legislation you may request and review information from the school district regarding the professional qualifications of your child's teachers. The information you may request includes the following:

• Has the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching?
• Has the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived?
• What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration?

You may also ask whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with information about the paraprofessional's qualifications.

Our staff is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and beyond. That commitment includes making sure that all of our teachers and paraprofessionals are highly skilled.

If you have any questions about your child's assignment to a teacher or paraprofessional, please contact the Principal of the school your child attends.

 Our school district has implemented the Title IX regulations. The following material will provide you with the purpose of Title IX and a grievance procedure. A series of Federal and State anti-discrimination laws have been enacted to define equality and to ensure its implementation. Title IX is the most recent such law.

 Title IX reads that:  "no person...shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

 This regulation established criteria for eliminating sex discrimination in education programs and activities. 

 Any student or employee of Independent School District No. 745 who feels that he/she has been discriminated against in violation of this District's policy, shall avail themselves of the following grievance procedure:

Section 1. Filing, Time Limit for Filing: 

A student or employee who believes himself or herself to be a victim of sex discrimination in violation of Title IX may file a grievance in writing with the district's Title IX compliance officer (if not grievable by means of another grievance procedure). The grievance must be filed within 7 calendar days of the alleged discriminatory act/conduct.

Section 2. Investigation; Informal Conference

Subd. A. The district compliance officer shall make a prompt investigation of each charge filed. If, after investigation, in the compliance officer's opinion, the charge lacks foundation, he shall so inform the complainant with 15 calendar days of the date of filing of the charge. 

Subd. B. However, should the compliance officer's investigation disclose the possibility that the charge is valid or has some foundation, he shall meet informally with the complainant and the District officials/employees involved and endeavor to arrive at an equitable solution to the problem. 

Section 3. Appeal and Time Limits on Appeals

If the complainant is dissatisfied with either the results of the informal conference or the compliance officer's finding that no violation of Title IX has occurred, he/she may appeal that decision to the school board. Such an appeal must be taken within five (5) days from the date the complainant was informed of the compliance officer's decision. The appeal must be in writing and state the particular reasons the complainant disagrees with the compliance officer's disposition of his/her case. 

Section 4. Optional Hearing Procedures, Decisions, Review by School Board

Subd. A.  If the grievance is not informally resolved, both the complainant and the alleged discriminator shall have the opportunity to be heard on their own behalf.

Subd. B.  The hearing will be held before any one of the following at the option of the school board:

1.  the full school board; or

2.  a committee of three school board members appointed by the board chairman; or 

3.  a district administrator recommended by the compliance officer and approved by the school board.

Subd. C.   The written decision issued as a result of a hearing held pursuant to this Section shall be final, subject to review by the full school board as provided in Subd. D.

Subd. D.  The school board may accept, reject or modify the relief recommended by its designee or the committee of three board members.

 

Adopted September 9, 1976

Revised August 8, 1980