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New Ulm Public Schools
2020-2021
Substitute Teacher
Handbook
Jeff Bertrang
Superintendent of Schools
507-233-6180
jbertrang@newulm.k12.mn.us
ISD #88 web page:
http://www.newulm.k12.mn.us
Table of Contents WELCOME .................................................................................................................................................. 2 DIRECTORY OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #88............................................................. 2 ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT ......................................................................................................... 3 GENERAL DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................... 3 SCHOOLS................................................................................................................................................................ 3 MAP OF DISTRICT 88 SCHOOL BUILDINGS ..................................................................................... 4 QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.......................................................................................... 5 PROFESSIONAL ETHICS ......................................................................................................................... 6 SUBSTITUTE TEACHER SYSTEM ........................................................................................................ 6 PROCEDURES FOR THE DAY ................................................................................................................ 7 IN THE CLASSROOM ........................................................................................................................................... 7 EMERGENCY/CRISIS PLAN .............................................................................................................................. 8 SCHOOL POLICIES............................................................................................................................................... 8 AT THE END OF THE DAY ................................................................................................................................. 9 GENERAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION ........................................................................................ 9 SUBSTITUTE TEACHER COMPENSATION PLAN .......................................................................... 11 2020-2021 SCHOOL CALENDAR ....................................................................................................... 12 SUBSTITUTE TEACHER'S ASSIGNMENT RECORD ....................................................................... 13 BULLYING PROHIBITION POLICY 514................................................................................... 14 New Ulm Public Schools 1 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
WELCOME
This booklet is a guide for the substitute teacher program in Independent
School District 88.
Substitute teachers are valuable assets to our educational process. Whether
the stay is short or continues over a long period of time, each time one
enters a classroom to teach, the substitute teacher is responsible for the
most important resource we have in this district – our children.
DIRECTORY OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT #88
Name of School Address Phone
District Offices 414 S Payne St
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. New Ulm MN
Superintendent’s Office 507-233-6180
Facilities Office 507-233-6185
Food Services Office 507-233-6186
Business Office 507-233-6187
Learning Services Office 507-233-6193
Annex 400 S Payne St
New Ulm MN
Kids Connection Office 507-233-6191
Technology Office 507-233-6195
Washington Learning Center 910 – 14th St N 507-233-8300
New Ulm MN
Community Education Office 507-233-8307
Early Childhood Family Education 507-233-8308
Jefferson Elementary School 318 S Payne St 507-233-3500
New Ulm MN
New Ulm Middle School 414 S Payne St 507-233-6100
New Ulm MN
New Ulm High School 1600 Oak St 507-233-6400
New Ulm MN
New Ulm Public Schools 2 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
ABOUT OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT GENERAL DESCRIPTION ISD #88 is located in Brown, Nicollet and Blue Earth Counties and covers 365 square miles. The population of the school district exceeds 19,000. The communities served in ISD #88 include Cambria, Courtland, Essig, Hanska, Klossner, Lafayette, New Ulm, St. George, and Searles. ISD #88 follows the state guidelines by providing busing outside the two-mile limit and contracts with New Ulm Bus Lines for transportation services. ISD #88 contracts with Chartwells for Food Service Management. SCHOOLS New Ulm High School is located at 1600 Oak Street. The high school was built in 2016 and encompasses over 167,000 square feet. The building has collaborative learning spaces, outdoor learning areas, a state of the art performing arts center, three gym athletic complex, outside athletic facilities for football, soccer, baseball, tennis, softball and track. The high school educates students in grades 9-12. New Ulm Middle School is located at 414 South Payne Street. The middle school shares the site with Jefferson Elementary School and the Annex Building. Separating the buildings is a parking lot, with land south of the middle school providing facilities for physical education and athletic practice areas, a track and tennis courts. The present middle school opened in 1966 as a high school. A major addition was added in 1997. A new secure entrance, remodeled spaces, student commons, and new office areas were completed in 2016. The middle school educates students in grades 5-8. Jefferson Elementary School is located at 318 South Payne Street. Jefferson Elementary School shares the site and parking lot with the New Ulm Middle School and the Annex Building. The school building was completed in September of 1962. An addition of nine classrooms was completed in 1997. Jefferson Elementary School educates students in grades 1-4. In 2016, a new secure entrance and multipurpose room were added, the office areas remodeled, a new cooler/freezer installed in the kitchen and bathroom upgrades to meet ADA requirements. New Ulm Public Schools 3 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
Washington Learning Center is located on the north side of the city at 910 14th Street North. Washington Learning Center provides programming for Kindergarten, Early Childhood Family Education, Pre-Kindergarten, Little Kids Connection, and Head Start. The school building was completed in 1968. An addition and renovation was completed in 1997. In 2016, the building was remodeled to meet the needs of early learners and community education. Early Childhood Family Education programming and Head Start is also available at this site. The District Offices are located in the Middle School building. The following offices are located in the district offices’ area: Superintendent’s, Business Office, Facilities, Food Service and Boardroom. The Annex Building is located at 400 South Payne Street. Offices located in this building include the Technology Department and Kids Connection. MAP OF DISTRICT 88 SCHOOL BUILDINGS New Ulm Public Schools 4 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
There are three general requirements for substitute teaching in ISD 88:
1. A substitute teacher must have a valid and current Minnesota teaching license to be
eligible. To obtain licensure, contact:
Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board
1021 Bandana Blvd E, Suite 222
St. Paul, MN 55108-5111
pelsb@state.mn.us
Phone: 651-539-4200
Phone hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 2 PM
It is the substitute teacher's responsibility to remain currently licensed and to file
such license with the superintendent’s office.
All recertification credits are now recorded online. There is a contact person at each
New Ulm school site and credits can be turned into any committee member.
Deb Irmiter, Chair
Local Continuing Education Committee
New Ulm Middle School
414 S Payne St
New Ulm MN 56073
Email: dirmiter@newulm.k12.mn.us
Please note the current requirements for renewal. These can be checked on the
PELSB website or by contacting a committee member. Credits should be turned in
as they are earned.
Credits need to be filed with the committee before the end of the school year.
2. An application for substitute teaching must be completed online. The district website
is www.newulm.k12.mn.us. The application process includes the applicant's social
security number, which must be on file in the district offices. Please bring verification
of this number. Substitute teachers should also have a TRA (Teachers' Retirement
Association) number or have applied for one.
3. Other forms to be completed are:
a. Request for Employee Social Security Number;
b. Form W-4 Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate;
c. ISD 88 Personnel Data Form;
d. Employment Eligibility Verification (must have two forms of identification);
New Ulm Public Schools 5 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbooke. Background Check Completed Online with Trusted Employees, an MRI
Software Company (Fee of $25.00 payable online with a debit or credit card).
As soon as all necessary papers are on file, Absence Management System
(formerly AESOP) will be notified that the substitute teacher’s name is added to the
substitute database (see page 7).
If the teaching license has expired, the substitute teacher’s name will be taken off
the list until a current license is on file.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
A substitute teacher may have access to student records and reports. These should be
handled with extreme care. Many records are of a confidential nature and are maintained
in order to provide information for the professional staff on child development. All such
materials should be handled in a confidential manner.
Substitute teachers are responsible for knowing the principles of child development,
accepted teaching techniques, educational programs, and the rules and regulations of
Independent School District 88. These two latter areas can be fulfilled by knowing the
information contained in this handbook and by learning about the individual schools in
which one teaches.
Substitute teachers may encounter many styles of teaching. Substitutes should
understand that not all teachers teach in the same manner. Make every effort to carry on
the program of the regular teacher and to fit in with the schedule.
Maintain professional standards in each teaching situation. The substitute shall not
criticize a school, teacher, or student outside of the school or in another school. The
principal is the person to hear any concerns substitutes may have.
The district reserves the right to terminate the employment of a substitute teacher.
Reasons for such action could include lack of initiative, unsatisfactory teaching, inability
to arrive at work on time, or undue difficulty with discipline.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER SYSTEM
New Ulm Public Schools has implemented an automated service that has simplified and
streamlined the process of obtaining a substitute when services are needed.
This service is called Absence Management. Absence Management will automatically
call the substitute via telephone when a school has an absence that needs to be filled,
and then notify the school when the substitute has accepted an assignment. Substitute
teachers may also accept days by accessing Absence Management on the Internet.
New Ulm Public Schools 6 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher HandbookSubstitute teachers may access Absence Management via telephone (800) 942-3767 or via Internet at http://www.AesopOnline.com. An informational letter will be sent to the substitute teacher upon being entered into the system. If questions arise regarding Absence Management, please contact Michelle Johnson at (507) 233-6183. Please notify the office of any change of address, phone number, or e-mail address. If substitutes are temporarily unavailable or wish to be removed from the substitute teacher list, please notify the superintendent’s office. The start and end time for substitute teachers is 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for Washington Learning Center, Jefferson Elementary School, New Ulm Middle School, and New Ulm High School. PROCEDURES FOR THE DAY Substitute teachers should report directly to the principal's office and sign in with the principal's secretary. This is necessary for payroll purposes. Also, this is where substitutes will receive a packet of materials, which will help with the assignment for that day. School procedures, rules, regulations and the specific assignment will be included. Obtain the key (if necessary) to the teacher's room and check the teacher's mailbox. Take from it anything pertinent to the teaching day, but leave any personal or United States mail. Ask about any early morning duties and find out where the first teaching station is located. Begin immediately to become familiar with the teaching day. If the teacher’s lesson plans are not available at the principal’s office or in the room, notify the principal immediately. Knowing that this occasionally happens, the district encourages substitutes to carry a good package of teaching information so that a rewarding and productive day will occur. Other than the 30 minute duty-free lunch period, unscheduled time should be used for grading papers, preparing materials, or doing other needed tasks. Unless directed to do otherwise, save the graded papers for the teacher to see upon his/her return to school. If there are any questions/problems, ask a neighboring teacher or the principal for help. IN THE CLASSROOM The information needed to carry on the regular classroom program should be available at the teaching station. We request that substitutes follow the lesson plans or specific teacher instructions as closely as possible. If the lesson plans were not completed, please leave a note of explanation. New Ulm Public Schools 7 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
Become familiar with seating charts, special schedules, a list of student helpers and their assignments, lunch/recess schedule, bell schedule, bus schedule, special seating for assemblies, emergency/crisis plan, and instructions to follow in case of accident or illness of pupils. Be aware some rules and procedures will vary from building to building such as whether or not to walk the students to/from specialists. A dignified, businesslike, sensitive, warm and respectful attitude toward students usually merits the respect a teacher deserves. If there are students who become major discipline problems and/or disrupt the teaching atmosphere to the extent that the substitute cannot carry on his/her duties, know the procedure to use in contacting an administrator to help resolve the problem. In all other normal teaching situations, the substitute teacher is expected to be able to handle the routine discipline problems and any other normal behavior that is exhibited by students. EMERGENCY/CRISIS PLAN Each classroom has a copy of the Emergency/Crisis Plan that should be located on the wall near the door to exit the classroom. The book is a black 3-ring binder, approximately one-inch thick, with a fire evacuation map located on the front cover. The plan contains information on procedures to follow during an emergency situation. SCHOOL POLICIES These policies are general, but very important. They pertain to all school buildings. Substitutes should be aware of specific and detailed policies that each school may have. Classroom materials and supplies should be used with discretion, properly cared for during the day, and left in an orderly fashion at the end of the day. All money collected in the classroom for any reason should be removed from the classroom at the end of the teaching day and turned in to the principal's office in accordance with building procedures. If a person, not connected with the school, wants information about a child or permission to take a child from the room, refer that person to the principal's office and alert the office. Under no circumstances should a child be released without permission from the principal or designee. Order and control should be maintained within classrooms, hallways, playground, or in any area of the school. Techniques other than shouting should be used and at no time are substitutes to administer corporal punishment. If there is a problem, notify the principal. New Ulm Public Schools 8 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
All cases of accident or illness are to be reported immediately to the school office. No medicine is to be administered to students. Substitutes are responsible for learning about emergency procedures in each building where they teach. Information concerning students that may be confidential should be kept confidential by the substitute teacher. AT THE END OF THE DAY When leaving the classroom at the end of the day, please see that the room is orderly and that all windows and classroom doors are closed and locked. The substitute teacher should check out with the principal's secretary at 3:30 p.m. At that time, report anything that happened during the day that the principal should know. Find out at this time if a substitute will be required again for the following day. Return to the school secretary room keys and any packets or forms from the teacher or office. At the end of the assignment, be sure to leave a comprehensive report for the regular teacher. Indicate the work covered, any homework assigned, any discipline problems encountered, and notations regarding any departure from the lesson plans of the regular teacher. Positive statements concerning students or the entire class are important as well. If it is necessary to contact the teacher about any specific information, obtain the teacher's telephone number from the school secretary. GENERAL EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION Once an individual has applied for a substitute teacher position and has worked in the district in that capacity, they will remain on the list until they have notified the superintendent’s office that they wish to be removed or until the licensure is not current. If current licensure is not on file, the substitute will be notified. To remain on the list, a current, valid teaching license or substitute teaching license must be on file in the superintendent’s office at the beginning of each school year. Substitute pay is based on days worked and reported on an Independent School District No. 88 Substitute Teacher Report Form at each school. Payroll will be processed the 15th and 29th of each month. There are no fringe benefits for substitute teaching. Mileage New Ulm Public Schools 9 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
reimbursement may be available for a substitute teacher whose regular assignment is split between two or more buildings. The building principal will have complete information. Social security (FICA), and teacher retirement (TRA) are withheld from the substitute teacher's salary as well as federal and state withholding depending on earnings and number of exemptions claimed. A substitute teacher is covered under Worker's Compensation and the district's liability insurance. New Ulm Public Schools 10 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER COMPENSATION PLAN
1. Rate of Pay
$130.00 Daily Rate (7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) (Includes a 30-minute unpaid
lunch.)
(Arrive at 7:30 a.m. or as arranged with the principal.)
$16.25 Hourly Rate of Pay
2. Long Term Substitute Situation (31 days or more in the same assignment)
Lane BA, Pre-approved long-term substitute teachers will be paid off of the base
salary in the master agreement at the start of their assignment.
3. For substitute teachers in the same assignment, the 31-day eligibility
requirement will not be interrupted if the substitute is ill for two days within the 31-
day period. (Sick days are without pay.)
4. Late starts and early dismissals paid in half-day increments or the hourly
rate, whichever is more.
5. If the school district gives the substitute teacher a cancellation notice less than
24 hours prior to service, the substitute will be paid for their time if they report to the
school and perform other assigned duties. (Does not apply to snow days and other
emergencies)
6. Substitute teachers will be invited to workshops (not paid).
7. Liability insurance is provided by the district.
8. Mileage between buildings will be paid as per district mileage policy if travel is
required for the substitute assignment.
New Ulm Public Schools 11 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook2020-2021 SCHOOL CALENDAR New Ulm Public Schools 12 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook
SUBSTITUTE TEACHER'S ASSIGNMENT RECORD
NAME OF
DATE SCHOOL SUBJECT ABSENT TEACHER REMARKS
_______________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________
New Ulm Public Schools 13 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher HandbookBULLYING PROHIBITION POLICY 514
I. PURPOSE
A safe and civil environment is needed for students to learn and attain high
academic standards and to promote healthy human relationships. Bullying, like
other violent or disruptive behavior, is conduct that interferes with students’ ability to
learn and teachers’ ability to educate students in a safe environment. The school
district cannot monitor the activities of students at all times and eliminate all
incidents of bullying between students, particularly when students are not under the
direct supervision of school personnel. However, to the extent such conduct affects
the educational environment of the school district and the rights and welfare of its
students and is within the control of the school district in its normal operations, it is
the school district’s intent to prevent bullying and to take action to investigate,
respond, remediate, and discipline those acts of bullying which have not been
successfully prevented. The purpose of this policy is to assist the school district in
its goal of preventing and responding to acts of bullying, intimidation, violence, and
other similar disruptive behavior.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
A. An act of bullying, by either an individual person or a group of persons, is
expressly prohibited on school district property, at school functions or activities,
or on school transportation. This policy also applies to any student whose
conduct at any time or in any place constitutes bullying or other prohibited
conduct that interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations of the school
district or the safety or welfare of the student or other students, or materially and
substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or performance
or ability to participate in school functions or activities or receive school benefits,
services, or privileges. This policy also applies to an act of cyberbullying
regardless of whether such act is committed on or off school district property
and/or with or without the use of school district resources.
B. No teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school
district shall permit, condone, tolerate or engage in bullying.
C. Apparent permission or consent by a person being bullied does not lessen the
prohibitions contained in this policy.
D. Retaliation against a victim, good faith reporter, or a witness of bullying is
prohibited.
E. False accusations or reports of bullying against another person are prohibited.
New Ulm Public Schools 14 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher HandbookF. A person who engages in an act of bullying, reprisal, or false reporting of bullying
or permits, condones, or tolerates bullying, reprisal or false reporting shall be
subject to discipline for that act in accordance with school district’s policies and
procedures. The school district may take into account the following factors:
1. The developmental and maturity levels of the parties involved;
2. The levels of harm, surrounding circumstances, and nature of the behavior;
3. Past incidences or past or continuing patterns of behavior;
4. The relationship between the parties involved; and
5. The context in which the alleged incidents occurred.
Consequences for persons who commit acts of bullying may range from positive
behavioral interventions up to and including suspension and/or expulsion. The
school district shall employ research-based developmentally appropriate best
practices that include preventative and remedial measures and effective
discipline for deterring violations of this policy, apply throughout the school
district, and foster student, parent, and community participation. Consequences
for employees who permit, condone, engage in or tolerate bullying or engage in
an act of reprisal or intentional false reporting of bullying may result in
disciplinary action up to and including termination or discharge. Consequences
for other individuals engaging in acts of bullying may include, but not be limited
to, exclusion from school district property and events and/or termination of
services and/or contracts.
G. The school district will act to investigate all complaints of bullying and will
discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator,
volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school district who is found to
have violated this policy.
III. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this policy, the definitions included in this section apply.
A. “Bullying” means intimidating, threatening, abusive, or harming conduct that is
objectively offensive and:
1. An actual or perceived imbalance of power exists between the student
engaging in the prohibited conduct and the target of the prohibited conduct,
and the conduct is repeated or forms a pattern; or
New Ulm Public Schools 15 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook2. Materially and substantially interferes with a student’s educational
opportunities or performance or ability to participate in school functions or
activities or receive school benefits, services, or privileges.
The term, “bullying, ” specifically includes cyberbullying as defined in this policy.
B. “Cyberbullying” means bullying using technology or other electronic
communication, including, but not limited to, a transfer of a sign, signal, writing,
image, sound, or data, including a post on a social network Internet website or
forum, transmitted through a computer, cell phone, or other electronic device.
The term applies to prohibited conduct which occurs on school premises, on
school district property, at school functions or activities, on school transportation,
or on school computers, networks, forums, and mailing lists, or off school
premises to the extent that it substantially and materially disrupts student
learning or the school environment.
C. “Immediately” means as soon as possible but in no event longer than 24 hours.
D. “Intimidating, threatening, abusive, or harming conduct” means, but is not limited
to, conduct that does the following:
1. Causes physical harm to a student or a student’s property or causes a
student to be in reasonable fear of harm to person or property;
2. Under Minnesota common law, violates a student’s reasonable expectation of
privacy, defames a student, or constitutes intentional infliction of emotional
distress against a student; or
3. Is directed at any student or students, including those based on a person’s
actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, national origin,
immigration status, sex, marital status, familial status, socioeconomic status,
physical appearance, sexual orientation including gender identity and
expression, academic status related to student performance, disability, or
status with regard to public assistance, age, or any additional characteristic
defined in the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). However, prohibited
conduct need not be based on any particular characteristic defined in this
paragraph or the MHRA.
E. “On school premises, on school district property, at school functions or activities,
or on school transportation” means all school district buildings, school grounds,
and school property or property immediately adjacent to school grounds, school
bus stops, school buses, school vehicles, school contracted vehicles, or any
other vehicles approved for school district purposes, the area of entrance or
departure from school grounds, premises, or events, and all school-related
functions, school-sponsored activities, events, or trips. School district property
New Ulm Public Schools 16 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbookalso may mean a student’s walking route to or from school for purposes of
attending school or school-related functions, activities, or events. While
prohibiting bullying at these locations and events, the school district does not
represent that it will provide supervision or assume liability at these locations and
events.
F. “Prohibited conduct” means bullying or cyberbullying as defined in this policy or
retaliation or reprisal for asserting, alleging, reporting, or providing information
about such conduct or knowingly making a false report about bullying.
G. “Remedial response” means a measure to stop and correct prohibited conduct,
prevent prohibited conduct from recurring, and protect, support, and intervene on
behalf of a student who is the target or victim of prohibited conduct.
H. “Student” means a student enrolled in a public school or a charter school.
IV. REPORTING PROCEDURE
A. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of bullying or any person
with knowledge or belief of conduct that may constitute bullying shall report the
alleged acts immediately to a building principal or designee. A person may report
bullying anonymously. However, the school district’s ability to take action against
an alleged perpetrator based solely on an anonymous report may be limited.
B. The school district encourages the reporting party or complainant to use the
report form available from the principal of each building or available from the
school district office, but oral reports shall be considered complaints as well.
C. The building principal, the principal’s designee, or the building supervisor
(hereinafter “building report taker”) is the person responsible for receiving reports
of bullying at the building level. Any person may report bullying directly to the
school district’s human rights officer or the superintendent. If the complaint
involves the building report taker, the complaint shall be made or filed directly
with the human rights officer or the superintendent.
The building report taker shall ensure that this policy and its procedures,
practices, consequences, and sanctions are fairly and fully implemented and
shall serve as the primary contact on policy and procedural matters. The building
report taker or a third party designated by the school district shall be responsible
for the investigation. The building report taker shall provide information about
available community resources to the target or victim of the bullying or other
prohibited conduct, the perpetrator, and other affected individuals as appropriate.
D. A teacher, school administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other school employee
shall be particularly alert to possible situations, circumstances, or events that
New Ulm Public Schools 17 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbookmight include bullying. Any such person who witnesses, observes, receives a
report of, or has other knowledge or belief of conduct that may constitute bullying
or other prohibited conduct shall make reasonable efforts to address and resolve
the bullying or prohibited conduct and shall inform the building report taker
immediately. School district personnel who fail to inform the building report taker
of conduct that may constitute bullying or other prohibited conduct or who fail to
make reasonable efforts to address and resolve the bullying or prohibited
conduct in a timely manner may be subject to disciplinary action.
E. Reports of bullying are classified as private educational and/or personnel data
and/or confidential investigative data and will not be disclosed except as
permitted by law.
F. Submission of a good faith complaint or report of bullying will not affect the
complainant’s or reporter’s future employment, grades, or work assignments, or
educational or work environment.
G. The school district will respect the privacy of the complainant(s), the individual(s)
against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses as much as possible,
consistent with the school district’s obligation to investigate, take appropriate
action, and comply with any legal disclosure obligations.
V. SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION
A. Within three days of the receipt of a complaint or report of bullying or other
prohibited conduct, the school district shall undertake or authorize an
investigation by school district officials or a third party designated by the school
district.
B. The school district may take immediate steps, at its discretion, to protect the
target or victim of the bullying or other prohibited conduct, the complainant, the
reporter, and students, or others pending completion of an investigation of
bullying, consistent with applicable law.
C. Upon completion of the investigation, the school district will take appropriate
action. Such action may include, but is not limited to, warning, suspension,
exclusion, expulsion, transfer, remediation, termination or discharge. Disciplinary
consequences will be sufficiently severe to try to deter violations and to
appropriately discipline prohibited behavior. School district action taken for
violation of this policy will be consistent with the requirements of applicable
collective bargaining agreements; applicable statutory authority, including the
Minnesota Pupil Fair Dismissal Act; school district policies; and regulations.
D. The school district is not authorized to disclose to a victim private educational or
personnel data regarding an alleged perpetrator who is a student or employee of
New Ulm Public Schools 18 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbookthe school district. School officials will notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of
students who are targets of bullying or other prohibited conduct and the parent(s)
or guardian(s) of alleged perpetrators of bullying or other prohibited conduct who
have been involved in a reported and confirmed bullying incident of the remedial
or disciplinary action taken, to the extent permitted by law.
VI. REPRISAL
The school district will discipline or take appropriate action against any student,
teacher, administrator, volunteer, contractor, or other employee of the school district
who retaliates against any person who makes a good faith report of alleged bullying
or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in an investigation, or
against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in a proceeding or hearing
relating to such bullying. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of
intimidation, reprisal, harassment, or intentional disparate treatment.
VII. TRAINING AND EDUCATION
A. The school district shall discuss this policy with school personnel and volunteers
and provide appropriate training to school district personnel regarding this policy.
The school district shall establish a training cycle for school personnel to occur
during a period not to exceed every three school years. Newly employed school
personnel must receive the training within the first year of their employment with
the school district. The school district or a school administrator may accelerate
the training cycle or provide additional training based on a particular need or
circumstance. This policy shall be included in employee handbooks, training
materials, and publications on school rules, procedures, and standards of
conduct, which materials shall also be used to publicize this policy.
B. The school district shall require ongoing professional development, consistent
with Minn. Stat. § 122A.60, to build the skills of all school personnel who
regularly interact with students to identify, prevent, and appropriately address
bullying and other prohibited conduct. Such professional development includes,
but is not limited to, the following:
1. Developmentally appropriate strategies both to prevent and to immediately
and effectively intervene to stop prohibited conduct;
2. The complex dynamics affecting a perpetrator, target, and witnesses to
prohibited conduct;
3. Research on prohibited conduct, including specific categories of students at
risk for perpetrating or being the target or victim of bullying or other prohibited
conduct in school;
New Ulm Public Schools 19 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook4. The incidence and nature of cyberbullying; and
5. Internet safety and cyberbullying.
C. The school district annually will provide education and information to students
regarding bullying, including information regarding this school district policy
prohibiting bullying, the harmful effects of bullying, and other applicable initiatives
to prevent bullying and other prohibited conduct.
D. The administration of the school district is directed to implement programs and
other initiatives to prevent bullying, to respond to bullying in a manner that does
not stigmatize the target or victim, and to make resources or referrals to
resources available to targets or victims of bullying.
E. The administration is encouraged to provide developmentally appropriate
instruction and is directed to review programmatic instruction to determine if
adjustments are necessary to help students identify and prevent or reduce
bullying and other prohibited conduct, to value diversity in school and society, to
develop and improve students’ knowledge and skills for solving problems,
managing conflict, engaging in civil discourse, and recognizing, responding to,
and reporting bullying or other prohibited conduct, and to make effective
prevention and intervention programs available to students.
The administration must establish strategies for creating a positive school
climate and use evidence-based social-emotional learning to prevent and reduce
discrimination and other improper conduct.
The administration is encouraged, to the extent practicable, to take such actions
as it may deem appropriate to accomplish the following:
1. Engage all students in creating a safe and supportive school environment;
2. Partner with parents and other community members to develop and
implement prevention and intervention programs;
3. Engage all students and adults in integrating education, intervention, and
other remedial responses into the school environment;
4. Train student bystanders to intervene in and report incidents of bullying and
other prohibited conduct to the schools’ primary contact person;
5. Teach students to advocate for themselves and others;
6. Prevent inappropriate referrals to special education of students who may
engage in bullying or other prohibited conduct; and
New Ulm Public Schools 20 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher Handbook7. Foster student collaborations that, in turn, foster a safe and supportive school
climate.
F. The school district may implement violence prevention and character
development education programs to prevent or reduce policy violations. Such
programs may offer instruction on character education including, but not limited
to, character qualities such as attentiveness, truthfulness, respect for authority,
diligence, gratefulness, self-discipline, patience, forgiveness, respect for others,
peacemaking, and resourcefulness.
G. The school district shall inform affected students and their parents of rights they
may have under state and federal data practices laws to obtain access to data
related to an incident and their right to contest the accuracy or completeness of
the data. The school district may accomplish this requirement by inclusion of all
or applicable parts of its protection and privacy of pupil records policy (See
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 515) in the student handbook.
VIII. NOTICE
A. The school district will give annual notice of this policy to students, parents or
guardians, and staff, and this policy shall appear in the student handbook.
B. This policy or a summary thereof must be conspicuously posted in the
administrative offices of the school district and the office of each school.
C. This policy must be given to each school employee and independent contractor
who regularly interacts with students at the time of initial employment with the
school district.
D. Notice of the rights and responsibilities of students and their parents under this
policy must be included in the student discipline policy (See MSBA/MASA Model
Policy 506) distributed to parents at the beginning of each school year.
E. This policy shall be available to all parents and other school community
members in an electronic format in the language appearing on the school
district’s or a school’s website.
F. The school district shall provide an electronic copy of its most recently amended
policy to the Commissioner of Education.
IX. LEGAL REFERENCES
Minn. Stat. Ch. 13 (Minnesota Government Data Practices Act)
Minn. Stat. § 120A.05, Subds. 9, 11, 13, and 17 (Definition of Public School)
Minn. Stat. § 120B.232 (Character Development Education)
Minn. Stat. § 121A.03 (Sexual, Religious and Racial Harassment and Violence)
New Ulm Public Schools 21 2020-2021 Substitute Teacher HandbookMinn. Stat. § 121A.031 (School Student Bullying Policy)
Minn. Stat. § 121A.0311 (Notice of Rights and Responsibilities of Students and Parents under the
Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act)
Minn. Stat. §§ 121A.40-121A.56 (Pupil Fair Dismissal Act)
Minn. Stat. § 121A.69 (Hazing Policy)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.10 (Charter School)
Minn. Stat. Ch. 363A (Minnesota Human Rights Act)
20 U.S.C. § 1232g et seq. (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
34 C.F.R. §§ 99.1 - 99.67 (Family Educational Rights and Privacy)
X. CROSS REFERENCES
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 403 (Discipline, Suspension, and Dismissal of School District
Employees)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 413 (Harassment and Violence)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 414 (Mandated Reporting of Child Neglect or Physical or Sexual Abuse)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 415 (Mandated Reporting of Maltreatment of Vulnerable Adults)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 423 (Employee-Student Relationships)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 501 (School Weapons Policy)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 506 (Student Discipline)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 507 (Corporal Punishment)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 515 (Protection and Privacy of Pupil Records)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 521 (Student Disability Nondiscrimination)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 522 (Student Sex Nondiscrimination)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 524 (Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 525 (Violence Prevention)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 526 (Hazing Prohibition)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 529 (Staff Notification of Violent Behavior by Students)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 709 (Student Transportation Safety Policy)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 711 (Video Recording on School Buses)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 712 (Video Surveillance Other Than on Buses)
XI. DATE(S) ADOPTED / REVISED
March 25, 2004
September 23, 2004
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 1/10/05
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 10/12/05
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 4/2/07
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 3/3/10
August 19, 2010 (renumbered - was previously 534)
February 10, 2011
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 2/19/14
June 26, 2014
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 05/28/15
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: March 29, 2016
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 11/16/17
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: November 29, 2018
Reviewed by Policy Committee, no action recommended: 11/21/19
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