Introductory Information & General Notices

The School Board governs the school district and is elected by the community.

• Seven elected members serve for four-year staggered terms
• The Board elects its President and Vice-President from among its members
• The Board represents the community, serves the best interest of the children of the district, and are non-paid representatives

Current School Board Members are:

• Tom Simmons, President
• Katie Anderson, Vice President
• Maria Kuhlman
• Dr. Jaini Mody
• Rebecca Olson
• Ankit Patel
• Monica Slavin

Functions of the Board:

• Establishes the philosophy of the District and passes policies to carry out this philosophy
• Hires and releases all personnel upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools
• Conducts necessary business at open meetings (The public is welcome to attend; however, we now provide a live stream of the meeting. Public comment is allowed at the beginning of the meeting)
• Receives and reviews reports from staff
• Conducts executive or closed sessions to discuss matters such as personnel or students, negotiations, acquisition of real estate, pending litigation, etc.

The Superintendent:

• Serves as the chief executive officer of the Board
• Is responsible for the daily operation of the school system
• Carries out the policies of the Board
• Manages the school in conformance with the Illinois School Code

Diligent Community

The Board of Education utilizes a paperless agenda called Diligent Community. On this site, you may view current meetings, board briefs, and official board minutes.

All visitors, including parents and siblings, are required to enter through the front door of the building and proceed immediately to the main office. Visitors should identify themselves and inform office personnel of their reason for being at school.

Visitors must sign in, identifying their name, the date and time of arrival, and the classroom or location they are visiting. Approved visitors must take a tag identifying themselves as a guest and place the tag on their outer clothing in a clearly visible location. Visitors are required to proceed immediately to their location in a quiet manner. All visitors must return to the main office and sign out before leaving the school.

Any person wishing to confer with a staff member should contact that staff member to make an appointment. Conferences with teachers are held, to the extent possible, outside school hours or during the teacher’s conference/preparation period.

Visitors are expected to abide by all school rules during their time on school property. A visitor who fails to conduct himself or herself in a manner that is appropriate will be asked to leave and may be subject to criminal penalties for trespassing and/or disruptive behavior.

No person on school property or at a school event shall perform any of the following acts:

1. Strike, injure, threaten, harass, or intimidate a staff member, board member, sports official or coach, or any other person.
2. Behave in an unsportsmanlike manner or use vulgar or obscene language.
3. Unless specifically permitted by State law, possess a weapon, any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon or looks like a weapon, or any dangerous device.
4. Damage or threaten to damage another’s property.
5. Damage or deface school property.
6. Violate any Illinois law or municipal, local or county ordinance.
7. Smoke or otherwise use tobacco products.
8. Distribute, consume, use, possess, or be impaired by or under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, cannabis, other lawful product, or illegal drug.
9. Be present when the person’s alcoholic beverage, cannabis, other lawful product, or illegal drug consumption is detectible, regardless of when and/or where the use occurred.
10. Use or possess medical cannabis, unless he or she has complied with Illinois’ Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act and district policies.
11. Impede, delay, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with any school activity or function (including using cellular phones in a disruptive manner).
12. Enter upon any portion of school premises at any time for purposes other than those that are lawful and authorized by the board.
13. Operate a motor vehicle: (a) in a risky manner, (b) in excess of 20 miles per hour, or (c) in violation of an authorized district employee’s directive.
14. Engage in any risky behavior, including roller-blading, roller-skating, or skateboarding.
15. Violate other district policies or regulations, or a directive from an authorized security officer or district employee.
16. Engage in any conduct that interferes with, disrupts, or adversely affects the district or a school function.

Any person who engages in prohibited conduct may be ejected from or denied admission to school property in accordance with State law. The person may also be subject to being denied admission to school athletic or extracurricular events for up to one calendar year.

Visitor Aware - East Maine 63 uses the Visitor Aware Management System to screen all visitors, which is explicitly designed to help secure schools. It ensures that only safe visitors are granted access to all locations in the district. This provides an additional layer of security for your children by validating the identities of anyone entering the premises, determining if they are a potential threat, and keeping accurate records of all school visits.

Visitors are required to have a valid state-issued identification card, such as a driver’s license or state ID, to check in and ensure the accuracy of the information provided. Valid identification is also used to ensure that the person checking in is the same as the ID holder.

The following information is collected during an initial check-in or an information refresh:

• ID Number
• First Name
• Middle Name    
• Last Name
• ID Expiration Date
• Date of Birth
• Address
• Sex
• Photograph

What kind of identification is required?

• A valid, non-expired state-issued identification plastic card with a photo of you. Photos of ID and/or screenshots of state IDs will not be accepted.  

Alternative Options – Accepted, but not recommended - require staff-assisted check-in:

• Green Cards
• Passport 
• Mexican Consular ID Card
• Military Identification Card

Without acceptable identification, access to the building may be denied for the safety of our students and staff.

Visitors must present one of the above-mentioned items in exchange for a visitor’s pass, which must be worn at all times while visiting classrooms or other building areas. Upon signing out of the school, the ID will be returned to the individual in exchange for the visitor’s pass. 

School visitation days are scheduled by the District each year, and parents are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to visit their child’s classes and interact with teachers and other building staff. Classroom visits on other days will be considered on an individual basis, taking into consideration such factors as the reason for the requested visit, the number and nature of visits previously granted, the cumulative number of visits made to a particular classroom, the potential disruption to the learning environment, and the best interests of the class as a whole. Avoiding disruption to the classroom during instructional time is of paramount consideration. Only parents or legal guardians will be considered for classroom visits, no more than once per school quarter for up to one hour or one class period.

Requests for classroom visits must be presented in advance to the building principal for review and consideration using form 6:120-AP2.E3 Request to Access Classroom(s) or Personnel for General Education. For classroom observations of students receiving or being evaluated for special education services, please see Policy 6:120 Education of Children with Disabilities and 6:120-AP2.E1. Request to Access Classroom(s) or Personnel for Special Education Evaluation and/or Observation Purposes.

If a request is approved, all visitors must comply with:

• School safety, security, visitation policies, and all directives from building staff.
• Applicable privacy laws, including those laws protecting the confidentiality of education records such as the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Illinois School Student Records Act.
• Board Policy 8:30 Visitors to and Conduct on School Property. Visitors may not disrupt the educational process.

Equal educational and extracurricular opportunities are available to all students without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, status as homeless, immigration status, order of protection status, military status, unfavorable military discharge, reproductive health decisions, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy.

No student shall, based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity be denied equal access to programs, activities, services, or benefits or be limited in the exercise of any right, privilege, advantage, or denied equal access to educational and extracurricular programs and activities.

Any student or parent/guardian with a sex equity or equal opportunity concern should contact:

Nondiscrimination Coordinator: 
Dr. Shawn Schleizer, Superintendent 

Complaint Managers: 
Dr. Jake Chung, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Erin Sterling, Director of Multilingual Services 
10150 Dee Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016
847.299.1900

Any student may file a sex discrimination complaint under the District’s Title IX Grievance Procedure. Any student may file a sex equity complaint under the District’s Uniform Grievance Procedure. A student may appeal the Board’s decision to the Regional Superintendent and, thereafter, to the State Superintendent of Education.

Parents new to the community may call the Educational Service Center at 847-299-1900 for information about where their child will attend school. There is additional information on our registration page, and parents may search the School Locator map to check boundary lines.

Enrollment is held throughout the school year at the school your student will attend. Parents/guardians of students enrolling in the District for the first time must present:

1. A certified copy of the student’s birth certificate or a signed, notarized affidavit and other reliable proof of the child’s identity and age.
2. Proof of residence, as required by Board Policy 7:60 Residence.
3. Proof of disease immunization or detection and the required physical examination, as required by state law and Board Policy 7:100, Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusion of Students.

To be eligible for admission to kindergarten, a child must be 5 years old on or before September 1 of the year the child will enroll. Children who enter first grade must be 6 years of age on or before September 1 of the year the child will enroll.

Establishing Student Residency – You must provide documentation showing the student and legal guardian PHYSICALLY RESIDE at the address. All documents must be current and show the parent's or guardian's name and address. Any personal information (account numbers, etc.) that does not relate to your proof of residency can be blacked out.

Category I (One document required)

• Homeowners:
  • Mortgage papers
  • Most recent month’s mortgage statement
  • Form 1098
  • New homeowners (last 6 months) - Closing Disclosure for the purchase of the home
  • Most recent property tax bill AND *proof of payment, e.g., canceled check
• Renters
  • Lease agreement signed by both parties AND *proof of last month's rent payment.
  • In lieu of lease - Letter of Residence from Landlord in Lieu of Lease (7:60-AP2, E1) AND *proof of last month's rent payment. (Contact the school office for this form.)
• Living with a District Resident
  • I am living with someone else who is the homeowner or lease tenant - Letter of Residence to be Used When the Person Seeking to Enroll a Student is Living with a District Resident (7:60-AP2, E2). If you select this option, you will be required to complete additional residency requirements. (Contact the school office for this form.)

Category II (Two documents)

• Current Driver’s License    
• Current State of Illinois ID Card    
• Vehicle registration  
• Current bank statement or welcome letter from the bank, which must include the name and address of the parent/guardian
• Most recent month’s cable television, internet, and telephone bill
• Current credit card bill  
• Current public aid card    
• Voter registration or moving van rental
• Most recent month’s gas, electric, and/or water bill or welcome letter from the utility company, which must include the name and address of the parent/guardian
•  Current homeowners/renters insurance policy and premium payment receipt

Military Personnel enrolling a student for the first time in the district, enrollment based on the determination of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and/or students eligible for enrollment under the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please speak with the building principal.

*Proof of payment can include copy of front and back of cleared check from bank, copy of money order, copy of cashier's check, payment receipt with landlord's signature and phone number, or an electronic payment receipt with information corresponding to information in the Category I document.

Health, Eye, and Dental Examinations; Immunizations; and Exclusions of Students (Policy 7:100) A student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) shall present proof that the student received a health examination, with proof of the immunizations against, and screenings for, preventable communicable diseases, as required by the Illinois Department of Public Health, within one year before:

1. Entering kindergarten or the first grade;
2. Entering the sixth and ninth grades; and
3. Enrolling in an Illinois school, regardless of the student’s grade

More information is provided on the Health Services page of our website. 

In order to assure student health and safety, animals are not allowed on school property, except in the case of a service animal accompanying a student or other individual with a documented disability. This rule may be temporarily waived by the building principal in the case of an educational opportunity for students, provided that (a) the animal is appropriately housed, humanely cared for, and properly handled, and (b) students will not be exposed to a dangerous animal or an unhealthy environment.

All school volunteers must complete the Resource Person and Volunteer Information Form and Waiver of Liability AP6:250.E and be approved by the building principal prior to assisting at the school. Forms are available in the school office. Some teachers utilize parent volunteers in the classroom. The individual teachers make this decision. Teachers who desire parent volunteers will notify parents. For school-wide volunteer opportunities, please contact the building principal.

Volunteers are required to check in and out at the main office and receive a visitor badge before going to their destination.

Student wellness, including good nutrition and physical activity, shall be promoted in the District’s educational program, school activities, and meal programs. This policy shall be interpreted consistently with Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 and the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). The Superintendent or designee will ensure each school building complies with this policy.

All school-based activities are to be consistent with the District Wellness Policy and current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. All foods and beverages, including vending, concessions, a la carte, student stores, parties, celebrations, treats, snacks, and fundraising, are to follow the guidelines outlined in the District 63 Wellness Policy, Policy 6:50 School Wellness and 6:50.E2 Classroom Snacks, Celebrations, and Fundraisers.

• No outside lunch parties during lunch serving hours are permitted per federal regulation (National School Lunch Program).
• Teacher/Staff-Led Incentives
  • Food items are not permitted, unless specified in an education plan, e.g., IEP, 504.
• Daily Classroom Snacks
  • Permitted in preschool.
  • Permitted for students with a medical need, e.g., diabetes.
  • Permitted in all grades at times designated by the principal, e.g., during standardized testing, up to four times a year.
  • Snacks must meet the nutritional guidelines as listed in 6:50.E3 Explanation of Allowable Beverages and Foods under USDA Regulations.
• Holidays (Halloween/Fall Festival, Valentine’s Day Only)
  • Non-food items are encouraged, and treats must meet the nutritional guidelines. Homemade treats are not allowed.
• Birthdays
  • Birthday celebrations must be under teacher supervision, brief in duration, and may not include food items.
• Fundraising
  • May include foods outside the nutritional guidelines only if other options are available for purchase, e.g., healthy foods or non-food items.
  • Off-site food fundraising should be limited to restaurants that offer some healthy choices.
• PTO Events
  • Food served at events held during the school day must meet the nutritional guidelines.
  • Food served at events held outside of the regular school day do not need to meet the nutritional guidelines if parents are present. Eating treats is a parental decision.
  • Food served at events where parents are not present (for example, a dance for older students) must meet the nutritional guidelines.

Invitations & Gifts
Party invitations or gifts for classmates should not be brought to school to be distributed. Items such as these are of a personal nature and should be mailed home using the list in the school directory. The office is unable to release addresses and phone numbers of students who are not listed in the school directory.

In cases of bad weather and other local emergencies, please listen to any local radio or television station to be advised of school closings or early dismissals. School closings for any reason will be announced as early as possible. If bad weather or other emergency occurs during the day, please listen to local media stations for possible early dismissal information.

For your child’s safety, make certain your child knows ahead of time where to go in case of an early dismissal. If we dismiss early for an emergency, all after-school functions are automatically cancelled.

A video and/or audio monitoring system may be in use on school buses, and a video monitoring system may be in use in public areas of the school building. These systems have been put in place to protect students, staff, visitors, and school property. If a discipline problem is captured on audiotape or videotape, these recordings may be used as the basis for imposing student discipline. If criminal actions are recorded, a copy of the tape may be provided to law enforcement personnel.

Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities

Individuals with disabilities will be provided an opportunity to participate in all school-sponsored services, programs, or activities. Individuals with disabilities should notify the superintendent or building principal if they have a disability that will require special assistance or services, and, if so, what services are required. This notification should occur as far in advance as possible of the school-sponsored function, program, or meeting.

Students with Food Allergies 

State law requires our school district to annually inform parents of students with life-threatening allergies or life-threatening chronic illnesses of the applicable provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and other applicable federal statutes, state statutes, federal regulations and state rules.

If your student has a life-threatening allergy or life-threatening chronic illness, please notify the building principal.

Federal law protects students from discrimination due to a disability that substantially limits a major life activity. If your student has a qualifying disability, an individualized Section 504 Plan will be developed and implemented to provide the needed supports so that your student can access his or her education as effectively as students without disabilities.

Not all students with life-threatening allergies and life-threatening chronic illnesses may be eligible under Section 504. Our school district also may be able to appropriately meet a student’s needs through other means.

Care of Students with Diabetes

If your child has diabetes and requires assistance with managing this condition while at school and school functions, a Diabetes Care Plan must be submitted to the building principal. Parents/guardians are responsible for and must:

1. Inform the school in a timely manner of any change which needs to be made to the Diabetes Care Plan on file with the school for their child.
2. Inform the school in a timely manner of any changes to their emergency contact numbers or contact numbers of health care providers.
3. Sign the Diabetes Care Plan.
4. Grant consent for and authorize designated School District representatives to communicate directly with the health care provider whose instructions are included in the Diabetes Care Plan.

For further information, please contact the building principal.

Accommodating Breastfeeding Students

Students who choose to breastfeed an infant after returning to school are provided reasonable accommodations. A student who is a nursing mother may take reasonable breaks during the school day to express breast milk or breastfeed her infant. Reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to:

1. Access to a private and secure room, other than a bathroom, to express breast milk or breastfeed an infant.
2. Permission to bring onto school campus a breast pump or other equipment used to express breast milk.
3. Access to a power source for a breast pump or any other equipment used to express breast milk.
4. Access to a place to store expressed breast milk safely.
5. Reasonable breaks to accommodate the student’s need to express breast milk or breastfeed an infant child, or attend to health needs associated with breastfeeding (including eating, drinking, or using the restroom).
6. The opportunity to make up work missed due to the student’s use of reasonable accommodations for breastfeeding.

Complaints regarding violations of this procedure should be made to the District’s Complaint Manager or Non-Discrimination Coordinator.

Student Appearance

A student’s appearance, including dress and hygiene, must not disrupt the educational process or compromise standards of health and safety. The school does not prohibit hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists. The school will not prohibit students from wearing or accessorizing the student's graduation attire with items associated with the student's cultural, ethnic, or religious identity or any other protected characteristic or category identified in the Illinois Human Rights Act. Students who disrupt the educational process or compromise standards of health and safety must modify their appearance.

Youth suicide impacts the safety of the school environment. It also affects the school community, diminishing the ability of surviving students to learn and the school’s ability to educate. Suicide and depression awareness and prevention are important goals of the school district.

The school district maintains student and parent resources on suicide and depression awareness and prevention. Much of this information, including a copy of the school district’s policy, is posted on the school district website. Information can also be obtained from the school office.

If you need assistance, help is also available from the following organizations:
 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call or text 988 

Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 

Safe2Help Illinois
Call 844-4-SAFEIL (723345)
Text SAFE2 (72332)

Child sexual abuse, grooming behaviors, and boundary violations harm students, their parent/guardian, the District’s environment, its school communities, and the community at large, while diminishing a student’s ability to learn.

Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

Warning signs of child sexual abuse include the following.

Physical signs:

• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or other genital infections
• Signs of trauma to the genital area, such as unexplained bleeding, bruising, or blood on the sheets, underwear, or other clothing
• Unusual weight gain or loss

Behavioral signs:

• Excessive talk about or knowledge of sexual topics
• Keeping secrets
• Not talking as much as usual
• Not wanting to be left alone with certain people or being afraid to be away from primary caregivers
• Regressive behaviors or resuming behaviors that the child had grown out of, such as thumb sucking or bedwetting
• Overly compliant behavior
• Sexual behavior that is inappropriate for the child’s age
• Spending an unusual amount of time alone
• Trying to avoid removing clothing to change or bathe

Emotional signs:

• Change in eating habits or unhealthy eating patterns, like loss of appetite or excessive eating
• Signs of depression, such as persistent sadness, lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawing from normal activities, or feeling “down”
• Change in mood or personality, such as increased aggression
• Decrease in confidence or self-image
• Anxiety, excessive worry, or fearfulness
• Increase in unexplained health problems such as stomach aches and headaches
• Loss or decrease in interest in school, activities, and friends
• Nightmares or fear of being alone at night
• Self-harming behaviors or expressing thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior
• Failing grades
• Drug or alcohol use

Warning Signs of Grooming Behaviors

School and District employees are expected to maintain professional and appropriate relationships with students based upon students’ ages, grade levels, and developmental levels.

Prohibited grooming is defined as (i) any act, including but not limited to, any verbal, nonverbal, written, or electronic communication or physical activity, (ii) by an employee with direct contact with a student, (iii) that is directed toward or with a student to establish a romantic or sexual relationship with the student. Examples of grooming behaviors include, but are not limited to, the following behaviors:

• Sexual or romantic invitations to a student
• Dating or soliciting a date from a student
• Engaging in sexualized or romantic dialog with a student
• Making sexually suggestive comments that are directed toward or with a student
• Self-disclosure or physical exposure of a sexual, romantic, or erotic nature
• Sexual, indecent, romantic, or erotic contact with a student
• Failing to respect boundaries or listening when a student says “no”
• Engaging in touching that a student or student’s parents/guardians have indicated as unwanted
• Trying to be a student’s friend rather than filling an adult role in the student’s life
• Failing to maintain age-appropriate relationships with students
• Talking with students about personal problems or relationships
• Spending time alone with a student outside of their role in the student’s life or making up excuses to be alone with a student
• Expressing unusual interest in a student’s sexual development, such as commenting on sexual characteristics or sexualizing normal behaviors
• Giving a student gifts without occasion or reason
• Spending a lot of time with a student
• Restricting a student’s access to other adults

Warning Signs of Boundary Violations

School and District employees breach employee-student boundaries when they misuse their position of power over a student in a way that compromises the student’s health, safety, or general welfare. Examples of boundary violations include:

• Favoring a certain student by inviting the student to “hang out” or by granting special privileges
• Engaging in peer-like behavior with a student
• Discussing personal issues with a student
• Meeting with a student off-campus without parent/guardian knowledge and/or permission
• Dating, requesting, or participating in a private meeting with a student (in person or virtually) outside of a professional role
• Transporting a student in a school or private vehicle without administrative authorization
• Giving gifts, money, or treats to an individual student
• Sending a student on personal errands
• Intervening in a serious student problem instead of referring the student to an appropriately trained professional
• Sexual or romantic invitations toward or from a student
• Taking and using photos/videos of students for non-educational purposes
• Initiating or extending contact with a student beyond the school day in a one-on-one or non-group setting
• Inviting a student to an employee’s home
• Adding a student on personal social networking sites as contacts when unrelated to a legitimate educational purpose
• Privately messaging a student
• Maintaining intense eye contact with a student
• Making comments about a student’s physical attributes, including excessively flattering comments
• Engaging in sexualized or romantic dialog
• Making sexually suggestive comments directed toward or with a student
• Disclosing confidential information
• Self-disclosure of a sexual, romantic, or erotic nature
• Full frontal hugs
• Invading personal space

If you believe you are a victim of child sexual abuse, grooming behaviors, or boundary violations, or you believe that your child is a victim, you should immediately contact the Building Principal, a school counselor, or another trusted adult employee of the School.

Additional Resources include:
National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)
National Sexual Abuse Chatline at online.rainn.org
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Hotline at 1.800.25.ABUSE (2873)

Parent organizations and booster clubs are invaluable resources to the District’s schools. While parent organizations and booster clubs have no administrative authority and cannot determine District policy, the School Board welcomes their suggestions and assistance.

Parent organizations and booster clubs may be recognized by the Board and permitted to use the District’s name, a District school’s name, or a District school’s team name, or any logo attributable to the District provided they first receive the Superintendent or designee’s express written consent. Consent to use one of the above-mentioned names or logos will generally be granted if the organization or club has by-laws containing the following:

1. The organization’s or club’s name and purpose, such as, to enhance students’ educational experiences, to help meet educational needs of students, to provide extra athletic benefits to students, to assist specific sports teams or academic clubs through financial support, or to enrich extracurricular activities.
2. The rules and procedures under which it operates.
3. An agreement to adhere to all Board policies and administrative procedures.
4. A statement that membership is open and unrestricted, meaning that membership is open to all parents/guardians of students enrolled in the school, District staff, and community members.
5. A statement that the District is not, and will not be, responsible for the organization’s or club’s business or the conduct of its members, including on any organization or club websites or social media accounts.
6. An agreement to maintain and protect its own finances.
7. A recognition that money given to a school cannot be earmarked for any particular expense. Booster clubs may make recommendations, but cash or other valuable consideration must be given to the District to use at its discretion. The Board’s legal obligation to comply with Title IX by providing equal athletic opportunity for members of both genders will supersede an organization or club’s recommendation.

Permission to use one of the above-mentioned names or logos may be rescinded at any time and does not constitute permission to act as the District’s representative. At no time does the District accept responsibility for the actions of any parent organization or booster club regardless of whether it was recognized and/or permitted to use any of the above-mentioned names or logos. The Superintendent shall designate an administrative staff member to serve as the recognized liaison to parent organizations or booster clubs. The liaison will serve as a resource person and provide information about school programs, resources, policies, problems, concerns, and emerging issues. Building staff will be encouraged to participate in the organization.

Faith’s Law Notification

Employee Conduct Standards
School districts are required to include in their student handbook the District’s Employee Code of Professional Conduct. These standards, in part, define appropriate conduct between school employees and students. A copy of these standards can be found in Diligent Community or requested from the Superintendent’s office.

• 5:120, Employee Ethics; Conduct; and Conflict of Interest
• 5:120-AP2, Employee Conduct Standards

Prevention of Anaphylaxis
While it is not possible for the School or District to completely eliminate the risks of an anaphylactic emergency, the District maintains a comprehensive policy on anaphylaxis prevention, response, and management in order to reduce these risks and provide accommodations and proper treatment for anaphylactic reactions. Parent(s)/guardian(s) and students who desire more information or who want a copy of the District’s policy may contact the Building Principal.

Sexual Abuse Response and Prevention Resource Guide
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) maintains a resource guide on sexual abuse response and prevention. The guide contains information on and the location of children’s advocacy centers, organizations that provide medical evaluations and treatment to victims of child sexual abuse, organizations that provide mental health evaluations and services to victims and families of victims of child sexual abuse, and organizations that offer legal assistance to and provide advocacy on behalf of victims of child sexual abuse. This guide can be accessed through the ISBE website at www.isbe.net or you may request a copy of this guide by contacting the school’s office.

Free and Reduced-Price Food Services; Meal Charge Notifications

The following notification is provided to all households of students at the beginning of each school year as federally required notification regarding eligibility requirements and the application process for the free and reduced-price food services that are listed in Board Policy 4:130, Free and Reduced-Price Food Services, and 4:140, Waiver of Student Fees. This notification is also provided to households of students transferring to the District during the school year. For more information, see www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/unpaid-meal-charges, and/or contact the Building Principal or designee.

Free and Reduced-Price Food Services Eligibility
When the parents/guardians of students are unable to pay for their child(ren)’s meal services, meal charges will apply per a student’s eligibility category and will be processed by the District accordingly.

A student’s eligibility for free and reduced-price food services shall be determined by the income eligibility guidelines, family-size income standards, set annually by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and distributed by the Ill. State Board of Education.

Meal Charges for Meals Provided by the District
The Building Principal and District staff will work jointly to prevent meal charges from accumulating. Every effort to collect all funds due to the District will be made on a regular basis and before the end of the school year. Contact your Building Principal or designee about whether your child(ren)’s charges may be carried over at the end of the school year, i.e., beyond June 30th.

Unpaid meal charges are considered delinquent debt when payment is overdue as defined by Board Policy 4:45, Insufficient Fund Checks and Debt Recovery and the Hunger-Free Students’ Bill of Rights Act (105 ILCS 123/). The District will make reasonable efforts to collect charges classified as delinquent debt, including repeated contacts to collect the amounts and, when necessary, requesting that the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) apply for meal benefits to determine if the student qualifies for such benefits under Board Policy 4:130, Free and Reduced-Price Food Services. The District will provide a federally reimbursable meal or snack to a student who requests one, regardless of the student's ability to pay or negative account balance.

When a student’s funds are low and when there is a negative balance, reminders will be provided to the staff, students, and their parent(s)/guardian(s) at regular intervals during the school year. State law allows the Building Principal to contact parents(s)/guardian(s) to attempt collection of the owed money when the amount owed is more than the amount of five lunches [or insert lower amount]. If a parent/guardian regularly fails to provide meal money for the child(ren) that he/she is responsible for in the District and does not qualify for free meal benefits or refuses to apply for such benefits, the Building Principal or designee will direct the next course of action. Continual failure to provide meal money may require the District to notify the Ill. Dept. of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and/or take legal steps to recover the unpaid meal charges, up to and including seeking an offset under the State Comptroller Act, if applicable.