Student Disability Nondiscrimination

A. Disabled students who meet the criteria of Paragraph C. below are protected from discrimination on the basis of a disability.

B. The responsibility of the school district is to identify and evaluate learners who, within the intent of Section 504, need services, accommodations, or programs in order that such learners may receive a free appropriate public education.
For this policy, a learner who is protected under Section 504 is one who:

1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of such person’s major life activities; or
2. has a record of such an impairment; or
3. is regarded as having such an impairment.

C. Learners may be protected from disability discrimination and be eligible for services, accommodations, or programs under the provisions of Section 504 even though they are not eligible for special education pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Persons who have questions, comments, or complaints should contact Human Resources Officer Nikki Elwell (Central Office,307 East 6th Street , Litchfield, Minnesota 55355, Telephone: (320) 693-2444) regarding grievances or hearing requests regarding disability issues. This person is the school district’s Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504 Coordinator.

 

Student Sex Nondiscrimination

1. The school district provides equal educational opportunity for all students, and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of sex. No student will be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity operated by the school district on the basis of sex.
2. It is the responsibility of every school district employee to comply with this policy.
3. The school board hereby designates Activities Director Justin Brown, ISD 465 High School, 901 North Gilman Avenue, Litchfield, Minnesota 55355, Telephone: (320) 693-2424 as its Title IX coordinator. This employee coordinates the school district’s efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX.
4. Any student, parent or guardian having questions regarding the application of Title IX and its regulations and/or this policy should discuss them with the Title IX coordinator. Questions relating solely to Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education. In the absence of a specific designee, an inquiry or complaint should be referred to the superintendent or the school district human rights officer.

 

Student Parental, Family, and Marital Status Nondiscrimination

1. The school district provides equal educational opportunity for all students, and will not apply any rule concerning a student’s actual or potential parental, family, or marital status which treats students differently on the basis of sex.
2. The school district will not discriminate against any student, or exclude any student from its education program or activity, including any class or extracurricular activity, on the basis of such students’ pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy or recovery therefrom, unless the student requests voluntarily to participate in a separate portion of the program or activity of the recipient.
3. The school district may require such a student to obtain the certification of a physician that the student is physically and emotionally able to continue participation in the normal education program or activity so long as such a certification is required of all students for other physical or emotional conditions requiring the attention of a physician.
4. The school district will ensure that any separate and voluntary instructional program is comparable to that offered to non-pregnant students.
5. It is the responsibility of every school district employee to comply with this policy.
6. The school board has designated Activities Director Justin Brown, ISD 465 High School, 901 North Gilman Avenue, Litchfield, Minnesota 55355, Telephone: (320) 693-2424 as its Title IX coordinator. This employee coordinates the school district’s efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX.
7. Any student, parent or guardian having questions regarding the application of Title IX and its regulations and/or this policy should discuss them with the Title IX coordinator. Questions relating solely to Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education. In the absence of a specific designee, an inquiry or complaint should be referred to the superintendent or the school district human rights officer.
8. Any reports of unlawful discrimination under this policy will be handled, investigated and acted upon in the manner specified in Policy 522 – Student Sex Nondiscrimination.

 

Equal Access to School Facilities

1. The policy of the school district is not to deny equal access or a fair opportunity to, or to discriminate against, any students who wish to conduct a meeting, on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings.
2. The school board has created a limited open forum for students enrolled in secondary schools during which noncurriculum-related student groups shall have equal access and a fair opportunity to conduct meetings during noninstructional time.
3. Student use of facilities under this policy does not imply school district sponsorship, approval, or advocacy of the content of the expression at such meetings.
4. The school district retains its authority to maintain order and discipline on school premises, to protect the well-being of students and faculty, and to assure that attendance of students at meetings is voluntary.
5. In adopting and implementing this equal access policy, the school district will NOT:

1. influence the form or content of any prayer or other religious activity;
2. require any person to participate in prayer or other religious activity;
3. expend public funds beyond the incidental cost of providing the space for student-initiated meetings;
4. compel any school agent or employee to attend a school meeting if the content of the speech at the meeting is contrary to the beliefs of the agent or employee;
5. sanction meetings that are otherwise unlawful;
6. limit the rights of groups of students based on the size of the group;
7. abridge the constitutional rights of any person.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity

1. The policy of the school district is to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The school district does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status, or veteran status. The school district also makes reasonable accommodations for disabled employees.
2. The school district prohibits the harassment of any individual for any of the categories listed above. For information about the types of conduct that constitute impermissible harassment and the school district’s internal procedures for addressing complaints of harassment, please refer to the school district’s policy on harassment and violence.
3. This policy applies to all areas of employment including hiring, discharge, promotion, compensation, facilities, or privileges of employment.
4. It is the responsibility of every school district employee to follow this policy.
5. Any person having a question regarding this policy should discuss it with Human Resources Officer Nikki Elwell (Central Office, 307 East 6th Street , Litchfield, Minnesota 55355, Telephone: (320) 693-2444).

 

Disability Nondiscrimination Policy

1. The school district shall not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities because of the disabilities of such individuals in regard to job application procedures, hiring, advancement, discharge, compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
2. The school district shall not engage in contractual or other arrangements that have the effect of subjecting its qualified applicants or employees with disabilities to discrimination on the basis of disability. The school district shall not exclude or otherwise deny equal jobs or job benefits to a qualified individual because of the known disability of an individual with whom the qualified individual is known to have a relationship or association.
3. The school district shall make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant or employee, unless the accommodation would impose undue hardship on the operation of the business of the school district.
4. Any job applicant or employee wishing to discuss the need for a reasonable accommodation, or other matters related to a disability or the enforcement and application of this policy, should contact Human Resources Officer Nikki Elwell, Central Office, 307 East 6th Street, Litchfield, Minnesota 55355, Telephone: (320) 693-2444. This individual is the school district’s appointed ADA/Section 504 coordinator.