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Big Lake Schools has a stringent inspection and management program for all asbestos containing building materials. As a matter of policy, the district will maintain a safe and healthful environment for our community’s youth and employees. All buildings owned and leased by the district have been inspected by an EPA accredited inspector for asbestos content. Any known materials were removed under our asbestos operation and maintenance program safely and responsibly.

As part of the Assurance of Compliance, all districts must verify that there is a copy of each of the following laws in every building in the district.

Federal Laws

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 USC § 2000d, et. seq.; 34 C.F.R. Part 100)
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 USC § 2000e, et. seq.; P.L. 88-352)
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Pregnancy Discrimination Act (within Title VII) (42 USC § 2000e(k)
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 USC §§ 1681-1688; 34 C.F.R. Part 106)
• Equal access to public school facilities (20 U.S. Code § 7905)
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (29 USC § 621; 42 USC § 6101; 29 C.F.R. Part 621)
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (42 USC § 701; 34 C.F.R. Part 104)
• American with Disabilities Act (42 USC § 12101, et. seq.)
• Denial of Equal Educational Opportunity Prohibited (20 USC § 1703)
• Fair Housing Act (42 USC § 3601, et. seq.)
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (42 USC § 6101 and 6102; 34 C.F.R. part 110)
• Prohibition against Discrimination Based on Blindness (20 USC § 1684)

State Laws

• Minnesota Human Rights Act (Minn. Stat. § 363A)
• Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.031, prohibits student bullying
• Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.03 – requires school districts to have a policy prohibiting sexual/racial/religion harassment and violence
• Minnesota Statutes, section 121A.04 – prohibits sex discrimination in athletic programs
• Minnesota Rules, part 3500.0550 – relating to Inclusive Educational Program Plan
• Minnesota Rules, Chapter 3535.0100-.0180; 3535.2300-.2800; 3535.3000-.3700 – relating to equality of education opportunity, school desegregation, and prohibition of discriminatory practices

If any links do not work, please visit MDE's Assurance of Compliance and Mandated Reporting webpage

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights include:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day Big Lake Schools receives a request for access.
• The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
• The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by Big Lake Schools to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows Big Lake Schools to disclose personally identifiable information it has labeled as directory information without prior notification or consent, unless a legal guardian has advised the district otherwise through an opt-out form. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow Big Lake Schools to include information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

• The annual yearbook/graduation programs
• Honor roll or other recognition lists
• Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members
• District print, broadcast or online publications such as social media, websites, and marketing materials for district use
• Media’s request of information such as the newspaper or online news stories

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.

In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the following information – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.

Big Lake Schools considers the following information as directory information:

• Student’s name
• Age
• Gender
• Grade level 
• Dates of attendance
• Degrees, honors and awards received
• Participation in officially recognized activities
• Weight and height of members of athletic team
• Any photograph, video or recording of a student’s likeness

To opt-out of directory information, complete and submit the Directory Information Opt-Out Form.

Please note that opting out of directory information means your child will NOT be included in items such as:

• the annual yearbook/graduation programs 
• honor roll or other recognition lists 
• sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members 
• district print, broadcast or online publications, such as social media, websites, and marketing materials for district use 
• Partner organization or media’s request of information for promotional purposes  

Big Lake Schools has implemented an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management plan which is based on the Environmental Protection Agency's IAQ Tools for Schools Program.  The goal of the program is to maintain a healthy environment in our buildings by identifying, correcting, and preventing IAQ problems.  

Walkthroughs and inspections of each building are performed annually, and more often as needed, to detect issues that could lead to IAQ concerns and to prevent future problems from occurring.  Reports of IAQ concerns or problems are responded to promptly and addressed as appropriate.

Additional information is available at www.epa.gov/iaq/schools and www.health.state.mn.us. Please contact Terrence Zerwas, Director of Buildings and Grounds for further information.
 

The MN Department of Education in partnership with the MN Department of Health, Safety and Human Services administers the MN Student Survey to students in grades 5, 8, 9, and 11 every three years. This survey is about various youth behaviors related to personal health, school safety, drug use and violence in the school.

As part of Protection of Pupil Rights Amendments, all parents and students are provided notification of the survey distribution. Parents are allowed to review the survey and are given the opportunity to elect not to allow their child to participate in it.

Big Lake Schools uses licensed professional pest control services for the prevention and control of rodents, insects, weeds, and other pests in and around our buildings.  Our combined integrated pest management program consists of: 

• Inspection and monitoring of facilities to determine if pests are present and if any treatment is needed;
• Recommendations for maintenance and sanitation practices to eliminate pests without the need for pest control materials;
• Use of non-chemical measures such as traps, caulking, and screening; and 
• Application of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered pest control materials when needed.

As pests sting, bite, cause contamination, damage property, and spread disease, we must prevent and control them.  The long-term health effects on children from the application of such pest control materials or the class of materials to which they belong may not be fully understood.  All pest control materials are chosen and applied according to label directions per federal law.  

An estimated schedule of pest control inspections and possible treatments is available here.  Parents or guardians may request prior notification of any application of a pest control material, should such an application be deemed necessary on a day different from the days specified in the schedule.  If you wish to be placed on the advance notice list, please complete the IPM Notification Request form.  This form must be completed each school-year if you wish to continue to receive advanced notifications. 

For questions or concerns regarding IPM, please call 763-262-5148 or email t.zerwas@biglakeschools.org  

The Pledge of Allegiance will be recited at least once a week in Big Lake Schools. Anyone who does not wish to participate in reciting the pledge of allegiance for any personal reason may elect not to do so. Students must respect another person's right to make that choice.

Students will be instructed in the proper etiquette toward, correct display of, and respect for the flag, and in patriotic exercises.

Minnesota Statutes, section 120B.31, subdivision 4a, requires the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) to publish a form for parents/guardians to complete if they refuse to have their student participate in state-required standardized assessments. It includes some basic information to help parents/guardians make informed decisions that benefit their child and their school and community.

The form to meet this legislative requirement is available at the link below. When completed, it must be returned to your student’s district; your student’s district may require additional information.

Parent/Guardian Guide and Refusal for Student Participation in Statewide Testing Form

Big Lake Schools uses a variety of digital tools to support student learning. Technology vendors and software is utilized to support work as we help all students develop the skills necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world.

We have an inventory of our curriculum, testing, and assessment tools posted at Technology Digital Tools and include an outline of the student data elements within each tool. This list is maintained and communicated annually to all families at the start of the school year.

Please reach out to j.beach@biglakeschools.org for additional questions regarding specific digital tools used in classrooms

The school district will make reasonable efforts to communicate with families to resolve the matter of unpaid charges. Where appropriate, families may be encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meals for their children.

The school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. Unpaid meal charges are designated as delinquent debt when payment is overdue, the debt is considered collectable, and efforts are being made to collect it.

Negative balances of more than $50 not paid prior to the end of the school year, will be turned over to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee for collection. The school district does use a collection agency to collect unpaid school meal debts after reasonable efforts first have been made by the school district to collect the debt. Other collection options may include, but are not limited to, use of collection agencies, claims in the conciliation court, or any other legal method permitted by law.

The school district may not enlist the assistance of non-school district employees, such as volunteers, to engage in debt collection efforts.

The school district will not impose any other restriction prohibited under Minnesota Statutes section 123B.37 due to unpaid student meal balances. The school district will not limit a student’s participation in any school activities, graduation ceremonies, field trips, athletics, activity clubs, or other extracurricular activities or access to materials, technology, or other items provided to students due to an unpaid student meal balance.

Please see School Board Policy 534: School Meals Policy for more information.

Big Lake Schools has historically conducted, and continues to conduct, Lead in Drinking Water testing per the Minnesota Department of Health and Education “Reducing Lead in Drinking Water:  A Technical Guidance and Model Plan for Minnesota’s Public Schools” recommendations. 
MN Statute 121A.335 requires public school buildings serving kindergarten through grade 12 to test for lead in potable water sources every five years, and to make results of these tests available. Testing results are available upon request through the Director of Buildings and Grounds – Health & Safety at 763-262-5148 who is the designated contact person for the district’s lead in water program.
 

Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil, rocks, underground water supplies, and in the ambient air.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other scientific organizations, naturally-occurring radon gas has been associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer.  The chance of developing lung cancer from radon exposure is dependent on several factors, including individual susceptibility and, perhaps more importantly, the dose and duration of exposure.  The EPA and other major national and international scientific organizations have concluded that radon is a human carcinogen and a serious environmental health problem.  Radon gas typically moves up through the ground into the air in buildings through subsurface wall and/or floor cracks, floor drains, and construction joints and pipes.  The water supply may also be a source of radon exposure.

The EPA and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) advise schools to test for radon after any renovation to the building or HVAC system, or periodically, such as every 5 years and to reduce levels to below 4 picoCuries per Liter (pCi/L).  

Does your child have health insurance? If not, help may be  available.

Minnesota Health Care Programs have free and low-cost health insurance for children and families who qualify. Your child may qualify if your household income is below the following:

Income is one factor for qualifying. Other rules and limits apply. For more information, call your county office or visit http://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/adults/health-care/. These income limits are valid until June 30, 2025.

To get a MNsure application for health coverage and help paying costs (DHS-6696):

•  Print one from the DHS website
•  Call 877-KIDS-NOW toll free
•  Call Sherburne County Health and Human Services (763-765-4000 or 800-433-5239)

MN Health Care Programs Notification Flyer