Iowa law authorizes the creation of a Common Schools System. As part of this Common Schools System, this school district is a school corporation created and organized under Iowa law. This school district is known as the Mid-Prairie Community School District.
This school corporation is located in Johnson, Iowa and Washington Counties, and its affairs are conducted by elected school officials, the Mid-Prairie Community School District Board of Directors. This school corporation has exclusive jurisdiction over school matters in the territory of the school district.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 274.1, .2, .6, .7; 278.1(9); 279.8; 594A (2013).
Cross Reference: 200 Legal Status of the Board of Directors
Original Adopted Date: 4-08-02 Last Revised Date: 4-14-03 Last Reviewed Date: 8-22-22
Mission Statement
Preparing today's students for tomorrow's world in a caring learning environment
Belief Statements
We believe . . .
1. The district exists not to serve itself, but its students and their futures.
2. Every student can learn, and needs access to outstanding learning resources, and a diversity of ideas, people and experiences.
3. Every student is worthy of respect, ethical leadership, and a safe learning environment.
4. Student potential is maximized through a relevant and ambitious curriculum, effective instruction, rigorous thinking, and student effort.
5. Involvement by families and community members is facilitated by frequent and open communication.
6. Celebrating success creates a sense of community.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.11 (2013).
Cross Reference: 102 Equal Educational Opportunity
103 Long-Range Needs Assessment
209 Board of Directors' Management Procedures
600 Goals and Objectives of the Education Program
602 Curriculum Development
Original Adopted Date: 5-90 Last Revised Date: 4-08-02 Last Reviewed Date: 8-22-22
As a school corporation of Iowa, the Mid-Prairie Community School District, acting through its board of directors, is dedicated to promoting an equal opportunity for a quality public education to its students. The board’s ability may be limited by the school district's ability and willingness to furnish financial support in cooperation with student’s parents and school district community. The board is also dedicated to providing the opportunity to develop a healthy social, intellectual, emotional, and physical self-concept in a learning environment that provides guidance to, and encourages critical thinking in, the students for a lifetime.
The board endeavors, through the dedication of the school district's resources, to encourage students, who come to the school district from a variety of backgrounds, to look forward to the time when they will have jobs, homes, families, places in the school district community, and attain recognition as individuals. In order to achieve this goal, the board will seek qualified employees dedicated to development of their professional skills for the betterment of the education program and for the expertise for educational productivity.
Instruction and curriculum are the key elements of a public education. Critical thinking and problem solving skills that will assist the students' preparation for life is instructed as part of a sequentially coordinated curriculum. The school district strives to prepare students for employment, to discover and nurture creative talent and to prepare them to meet and cope with social change in an atmosphere conducive to learning.
The support and involvement of the home and the school district community are essential to achieve educational excellence in the school district. The school district strives to maintain an active relationship with the home and the school district community to create within the students an awareness of dignity and worth of the individual, civic responsibility and respect for authority.
It is the goal of the board to develop a healthy social, intellectual, emotional, and physical self-concept in the students enrolled in the school district. Each student attending school will have the opportunity to use its education program and services as a means for self-improvement and individual growth. In so doing, the students are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that assures each student the same educational opportunity.
The Mid-Prairie School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. The belief in equal educational opportunity serves as a guide for the board and employees in making decisions relating to school district facilities, employment, selection of educational materials, equipment, curriculum, and regulations affecting students. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact Frank Slabaugh, PO Box 150 Wellman, Ia 52356, 319-646-6093, fslabaugh@mphawks.org
Board policies, rules and regulations affect students while they are on school district property or on property within the jurisdiction of the school district; while on school owned and/or operated school or chartered vehicles; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if misconduct will directly affect the good order, efficient management and welfare of the school district.
The board requires all persons, agencies, vendors, contractors and other persons and organizations doing business with or performing services for the school district to subscribe to all applicable federal and state laws, executive orders, rules and regulations pertaining to contract compliance and equal opportunity.
Inquiries by students regarding compliance with equal educational opportunity and affirmative action laws and policies, including but not limited to complaints of discrimination, are directed to the Affirmative Action Coordinator by writing to the Affirmative Action Coordinator, Mid-Prairie Community School District, Wellman, Iowa; or by telephoning 319-646-6093.
Inquiries by students regarding compliance with equal educational opportunity and affirmative action laws and policies, including but not limited to complaints of discrimination, may also be directed in writing to the Director of the Region VII office of Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, John C. Kluczynski Federal Building, 230 S. Dearborn St., 37th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60604 (312) 730-1560, fax (312) 730-1576 OCR.Chicago@ed.gov, the Iowa Civil Rights Commissioner, https://icrc.iowa.gov, (515) 281-4121 or the Iowa Dept. of Education, Grimes State Office Bldg., Des Moines, IA 50319. (515) 281-5294. This inquiry or complaint to the federal or state office may be done instead of, or in addition to, an inquiry or complaint at the local level.
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1221 et seq.
20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq.
20 U.S.C. §§ 1701 et seq.
29 U.S.C. § 206 et seq.
29 U.S.C. § 794
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d and 2000e.
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.
34 C.F.R. Pt. 100.
34 C.F.R. Pt. 104.
Iowa Code §§ 216.6; 216.9; 256.11; 280.3.
281 I.A.C. 12.
Cross Reference: 101 Educational Philosophy of the School District
401.1 Equal Employment Opportunity
500 Objectives for Equal Educational Opportunities for Students
506.1 Student Records
Long-range needs assessment enables the school district to analyze assessment data, get feedback from the community about its expectation of students and determine how well students are meeting student learning goals. The board will conduct ongoing and in-depth needs assessment, soliciting information from business, labor, industry, higher education and community members, regarding their expectations for adequate student preparation.
In conjunction with the in-depth needs assessment of the school district, the board will authorize the appointment of a committee, representing administrators, employees, parents, students and community members, to make recommendations and assist the board in determining the priorities of the school district in addition to the basic skills areas of the education program.
This committee will be called the School Improvement Advisory Committee and will meet periodically throughout the school year.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure the school district community is informed of students' progress on state and locally determined indicators. The superintendent will report annually to the board about the means used to keep the community informed.
As a result of the board and committee's work, the board will determine major educational needs and rank them in priority order; develop long-range goals and plans to meet the educational needs; establish and implement short-range and intermediate-range plans to meet the goals and to attain the desired levels of student performance; evaluate progress toward meeting the goals and maintain a record of progress under the plan that includes reports of student performance and results of school improvement projects; and annually report the school district's progress made under the plan to the committee, community and Iowa Department of Education.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 21; 256.7; 280.12 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.8(1)(b).
Cross Reference: 101 Educational Philosophy of the School District
200 Legal Status of the Board of Directors
208 Committees of the Board of Directors
603.1 Basic Instruction Program
801.1 Buildings and Sites Long Range Planning
801.2 Buildings and Sites Surveys
The Mid-Prairie School District is committed to providing all students, employees, and volunteers with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassing behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of school employees to maintain a safe and civil environment, and the ability of students to learn and succeed.
Bullying and/or harassment of or by students, employees, and volunteers is against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the board.
Accordingly, school employees, volunteers, and students shall not engage in bullying or harassing behavior while on school property, while on school-owned or school-operated vehicles, while attending or participating in school-sponsored or sanctioned activities, and while away from school grounds if the conduct materially interferes with the orderly operation of the educational environment or is likely to do so.
Complaints may be filed with the superintendent or superintendent’s designee pursuant to the regulation accompanying this policy. Complaints will be investigated within a reasonable time frame.
A school employee, volunteer, or student, or a student’s parent or guardian who promptly, reasonably, and in good faith reports an incident of bullying or harassment, in compliance with the procedures in the regulation, to the appropriate school official designated by the school district, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability relating to such report and to participation in any administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from or relating to the report.
Retaliation Prohibited
Individuals who knowingly file false bullying or harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation may be subject to discipline by appropriate measures.
Any student found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. Any school employee found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, termination of employment. Any school volunteer found to have violated or retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, removal from service and exclusion from school grounds.
Definitions
For the purposes of this policy, the defined words shall have the following meaning:
“Electronic” means any communication involving the transmission of information by wire, radio, optic cable, electromagnetic, or other similar means. “Electronic” includes but is not limited to communication via electronic mail, internet-based communications, pager service, cell phones, and electronic text messaging.
“Harassment” and “bullying” mean any repeated or potentially repeated electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or other ongoing conduct toward an individual based on any trait or characteristic of the individual which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:
Places the individual in reasonable fear of harm to the individual’s person or property.
Has a substantial detrimental effect on the individual’s physical or mental health.
Has the effect of substantially interfering with the individual’s academic or career performance. Has the effect of substantially interfering with the individual’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
“Trait or characteristic of the individual” includes but is not limited to age, color, creed, national origin, race, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, political belief, socioeconomic status, or familial status.
“Volunteer” means an individual who has regular, significant contact with students.
Publication of Policy
The board will annually publish this policy. The policy may be publicized by the following means:
Inclusion in the student handbook,
Inclusion in the employee handbook
Inclusion in the registration materials
Inclusion on the school or school district’s web site,
(other)
Filing a Complaint
A Complainant who wishes to avail himself/herself of this procedure may do so by filing a complaint with the building principal or superintendent. An alternate will be designated in the event it is claimed that the building principal or superintendent committed the alleged discrimination or some other conflict of interest exists. Complaints shall be filed within 60 days, or as soon as reasonably possible, of the event giving rise to the complaint or from the date the Complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence. The Complainant will state the nature of the complaint and the remedy requested. The Complainant shall receive assistance as needed.
School employees, volunteers, and students shall not engage in reprisal, retaliation, or false accusation against a victim, witness, or an individual who has reliable information about an act of bullying or harassment.
Investigation
The school district will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of bullying or harassment. The building principal or superintendent (hereinafter “Investigator”) will be responsible for handling all complaints alleging bullying or harassment. The Investigator shall consider the totality of circumstances presented in determining whether conduct objectively constitutes bullying or harassment. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall also be responsible for developing procedures regarding this policy.
Decision
If, after an investigation, a student is found to be in violation of this policy, the student shall be disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include suspension and expulsion. If after an investigation a school employee is found to be in violation of this policy, the employee shall be disciplined by appropriate measures, which may include termination. If after an investigation a school volunteer is found to be in violation of this policy, the volunteer shall be subject to appropriate measures, which may include exclusion from school grounds.
A school employee, volunteer, or student, or a student’s parent or guardian who promptly, reasonably, and in good faith reports an incident of bullying or harassment, in compliance with the procedures in the policy adopted pursuant to this section, to the appropriate school official designated by the school district, shall be immune from civil or criminal liability relating to such report and to participation in any administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from or relating to the report.
Individuals who knowingly file false bullying or harassment complaints and any person who gives false statements in an investigation may be subject to discipline by appropriate measures, as shall any person who is found to have retaliated against another in violation of this policy. Any student found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion. Any school employee found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, termination of employment. Any school volunteer found to have retaliated in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, exclusion from school grounds.
Publication of Policy
The board will annually publish this policy. The policy may be publicized by the following means:
Inclusion in the student handbook,
Inclusion in the employee handbook
Inclusion in the registration materials
Inclusion on the school or school district’s website,
(other) _______________________________________________________
Legal References: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1221-1234i.
29 U.S.C. § 794.
42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d-2000d-7.
42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 2et. seq.
Iowa Code §§ 216.9; 280.28; 280.3.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(6).
Morse v. Frederick, 551 U.S. 393 (2007)
Cross References: 102 Equal Educational Opportunity
502 Student Rights and Responsibilities
503 Student Discipline
506 Student Records
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Mid-Prairie Community School District prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment as defined by the regulations implementing Title IX (34 C.F.R. § 106.30), against any individual participating in any education program or activity of the District. This prohibition on discrimination applies to students, employees, and applicants for employment.
The Board authorizes the Superintendent to adopt procedures for any individual to report sexual harassment to the District’s Title IX Coordinator, for the provision of supportive measures to anyone who has been subjected to sexual harassment whether or not they proceed with a formal complaint under those procedures, and for the investigation and resolution of such complaints, as required by Title IX. This Title IX grievance process shall be used to respond to all complaints of sexual harassment that fall within the scope of Title IX. For complaints of sexual harassment that do not fall within the scope of Title IX, the District may still offer supportive measures to the subject of such conduct and shall apply any other policy or procedure applicable to the alleged conduct.
Any individual with questions about the District’s Title IX policy and procedures, or who would like to make a report or file a formal complaint of sex discrimination or sexual harassment may contact the District’s designated Title Coordinator, Frank Slabaugh, PO Box 150, Wellman, IA (319)646-6093, fslabaugh@mphawks.org.
Retaliation against a person who made a report or complaint of sexual harassment, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a sexual harassment report or complaint is strictly prohibited. Retaliation includes threats, coercion, discrimination, intimidation, reprisals, and/or adverse actions related to employment or education. Any individual who believed they have been retaliated against in violation of this Policy should immediately contact the District’s Title IX Coordinator.
Legal References: 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.
34 C.F.R. § 106 et seq.