Public Act 12 of 2014 requires all schools in the State of Michigan to conduct school safety drills in conjunction with their local Emergency Management Office.
A school that operates any of grades K through 12 must conduct the following drills annually:
- Fire Drills (5 required)
3 must be held by December 1 of the school year. - Tornado Drills (2 required)
At least 1 must take place in March. - Lockdown/Secured Building Drills (3 required)
At least 1 must take place by December 1 of the school year and at least 1 must take place after January 1 of the school year.
For all drills, at least one must take place during a lunch or recess period, or at another time when students are gathered but not in classrooms.
Documentation of each completed school safety drill is located below.
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits the district to publish or otherwise disclose directory information relating to a student without the consent of the parent or eligible student, unless the parent or eligible student expressly objects to such disclosure. Fitzgerald Public Schools has compiled student records for use in providing appropriate educational programs and services. Management and use of these records and access to them is controlled by Board of Education policy, state and federal legislation. All parents and guardians of students under age 18 and all students age 18 or older have a right to review the official school records, which relate directly to their student or themselves. They also have a right to limit the disclosure of these records and to request changes to ensure accuracy and fairness. For further official student records information, contact building principals.
Fitzgerald Public Schools has designated the following as directory information to be disclosed to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies without prior written consent:
- Student’s name and address
- Names of parents
- Student’s date of birth
- Class (first grade, etc)
- Student’s photograph
- Student’s extracurricular participation
- Student’s attendance record
- Student awards/honors (not specific grades)
- Student’s weight/height if a member of an athletic team
- School or district student has attended
If parents or eligible students object to the publication of any of the above information, they must notify the Superintendent in writing of any items they do not want designated as directory information. Please send to: Office of the Superintendent, Fitzgerald Public Schools, 23200 Ryan Rd, Warren, MI 48091.
Media Release
Various school and classroom activities are recorded by Fitzgerald Public Schools throughout the school year through the use of photography and video equipment. Such photographs and recordings may be circulated to other students, classrooms, or be used in district publications, social media, or television programs. If parents or eligible students object to the use of their child’s photo/image in this way they must notify the building their child attends in writing.
PPRA
The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents of students certain rights regarding, among other things, participation in surveys, the collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. The Fitzgerald Public Schools Board of Education recognizes the importance of safeguarding a student’s right to privacy. No student shall be required, without prior written consent of the student’s parent or guardian (or the student’s own consent if the student is 18 years of age or older or an emancipated minor) to submit a survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals personally protected information. Parent/guardians are entitled to inspect any survey that references protected information prior to administering to students, along with any instrument used to gather personal information for the purpose of marketing or selling information. In addition, parent/guardians may inspect, upon request, any instructional materials used as part of the educational curriculum which will be used in connection with any survey, analysis or evaluation that is part of any school program or activity.
AHERA Notification
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) was passed in 1986. District buildings are monitored every six months and re-inspected every three years to comply with AHERA regulations. Our next re-inspection is scheduled for April 2024. Fitzgerald Public Schools may conduct minor asbestos abatement within its facilities in the next year. When asbestos is disturbed in our District, it is performed by Michigan Licensed Asbestos Abatement Contractors and managed by Nova Environmental, Inc., the district’s environmental consulting firm. Questions relating to asbestos-related issues can be addressed to Facilities Department, Fitzgerald Public Schools, 23200 Ryan Rd, Warren, MI 48091, Attn: Bill Rudd or call (586) 757-5502.
Pesticide Notice
As part of the Fitzgerald Public School District’s Pest Management Program, pesticides are periodically applied to school property. Planned applications will be posted at building entrances at least 24 hours prior to an application. In certain emergencies, pesticides may be applied without prior notice, but if requested, you will be provided notice following any such application. If you wish to be notified prior to pesticide applications, please mail your name, student’s name, address, city, zip code, phone number and school your student attends to: Operations Department, Fitzgerald Public Schools, 23200 Ryan Rd, Warren, MI 48091, Attn: Bill Rudd or call (586) 757-5502.
Drug-Free Schools
The drug-free zone surrounding school property is 1,000 feet. Any individuals who delivers cocaine, narcotics, or other illicit substances to a minor student within the 1,000-foot drug free zone around school property shall be punished by at least two years in prison and up to three times the term of imprisonment and fine or both that would otherwise apply. “School Property” is defined as a “building, playing field, or property used for school purposes to impact instructions to children in grades kindergarten through 12, when provided by a public private, denominational, or parochial school, except those buildings used primarily for adult education or college extension courses.”
Notice of Nondiscrimination, Title IX
Section 1: Any person believing that the Fitzgerald Public School District or any part of the school organization has inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of (1) Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, (2) Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, (3) Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, (4) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and (5) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 may bring forward a complaint, which shall be referred to as a grievance, to the local Civil Rights Coordinator at the following address: Jazell Hogans, Fitzgerald Public Schools, 23200 Ryan Rd, Warren, MI 48091 or call (586) 757-1751.
Section II: The person who believes a valid basis for grievance exists shall discuss the grievance informally and on a verbal basis with the Civil Rights Coordinator, who shall in turn investigate the complaint and reply with an answer within (5) business days. The complainant may initiate formal procedure according to the following steps:
Step 1. A written statement of the grievance signed by the complainant shall be submitted to the local Civil Rights Coordinator within (5) business days of receipt of answers to the informal complaint. The coordinator shall further investigate the matters of grievance and reply in writing to the complainant within (5) business days.
Step 2. A complainant wishing to appeal the decision of the local Civil Rights Coordinator may submit a signed statement of appeal to the Superintendent of Schools within (5) business days after receipt of the coordinator’s response. The superintendent shall meet with all parties involved, formulate a conclusion, and respond in writing to the complainant within ten (10) business days.
Step 3. If unsatisfied, the complainant may appeal through a signed, written statement to the Board of Education within five (5) business days of receiving the superintendent’s response in Step 2. In an attempt to resolve the grievance, the Board of Education shall meet with the concerned party and their representative within fifteen (15) days of the receipt of such an appeal. A copy of the Board’s disposition of the appeal shall be sent to each concerned party within days of this meeting.
Inquiries concerning policies may be directed to Director, Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education, Washington, D.C. 20202, or Jazell Hogans, Fitzgerald Public Schools, 23200 Ryan Rd, Warren, MI 48091. A copy of each of the Acts and regulations may be found in the local Civil Rights Coordinator’s office.