BCSD Family Handbook

Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence based framework that helps schools design effective environments and supports that, when implemented with fidelity, increase teaching and learning opportunities for all students. PBIS allows our staff to proactively teach, model and reinforce positive behaviors expected of all students.

PBIS is part of an equitable, multi-tier system of supports. Each school has expectations, and teach, model, and reinforce appropriate behavior unique to their culture, and district involvement and support is essential to create consistent aligned systems, practices and data use to support teaching and learning for all students.

Anti-Bullying/Harassment

104       Anti-Bullying/Harassment 
104.E1 Anti-Bullying/Harassment Complaint Form

The Bettendorf Community 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.

Anti-Bullying/Harassment Investigation Procedures 

104.R1 Anti-Bullying/Harassment Investigation Procedures 

Individuals who feel that they have been harassed should:

• Communicate to the harasser that the individual expects the behavior to stop, if the individual is comfortable doing so.  If the individual wants assistance communicating with the harasser, the individual should ask a teacher, counselor or principal to help.

• If the harassment does not stop, or the individual does not feel comfortable confronting the harasser, the individual should:

  • tell a teacher, counselor or principal; and

  • write down exactly what happened, keep a copy and give another copy to the teacher, counselor or principal including;

    • what, when and where it happened;

    • who was involved;

    • exactly what was said or what the harasser did;

    • witnesses to the harassment;

    • what the student said or did, either at the time or later;

    • how the student felt; and 

    • how the harasser responded.

Equal Educational Opportunity 

102 Equal Educational Opportunity

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 Bettendorf Community 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 Section 504 Student and Parental Rights Processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the Affirmative Action Coordinator, District Administration Center, and P.O. Box 1150, Bettendorf, IA. 52722. 563-359- 3681.

Multicultural Gender Fair Education 

603.4 Multicultural Gender Fair Education 

Students will have an equal opportunity for a quality education without discrimination, regardless of their race, religion, creed, color, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. 

The education program is free of discrimination and provides equal opportunity for the students. The education program will foster knowledge of and respect and appreciation for the historical and contemporary contributions of diverse cultural groups, as well as men and women, to society. Special emphasis is placed on Asian-Americans, African-Americans, HispanicAmericans, American Indians, European-Americans, and persons with disabilities. It will also reflect the wide variety of roles open to both men and women and provide equal opportunity to both sexes. 

Non Discrimination Statement

102.E1 Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination
102.E2 Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination
102.E3 Section 504 Student and Parental Rights

It is the policy of the Bettendorf Community School District not to 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. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the Affirmative Action Coordinator, District Administration Center, 3311 18th St., Bettendorf, IA. 52722. 563-359-3681.

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

PPRA affords parents and students who are 18 or emancipated minors ("eligible students") certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. 

Security Cameras

804.6 Use of Recording Devices on School Property

The Board authorizes the use of video cameras on district property to ensure the health, welfare and safety of all staff, students and visitors to district property, and to safeguard district facilities and equipment. As deemed appropriate by the superintendent, video cameras may be used in any location where there is no legitimate expectation of privacy. Video cameras will not be used in locker rooms or restrooms. Due to student confidentiality, these videos are not accessible to students or parents.

Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in education, including K-12 schools. Title IX is a federal law that has been used to promote equity in education by ensuring that girls and women receive equal resources and treatment in the classroom and provides protections for all students who are sexually harassed and discriminated against and/or bullied based on their gender. Contact the Title IX Compliance Coordinator: the BCSD Executive Director of Human Resources for inquiries or complaints related to students or employees, Phone: (563) 359-3681 Address: 3311 18th St., Bettendorf, Iowa  52722. In addition to this federal law, Bettendorf Community School District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived age, ancestry, color, mental/physical disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical information, nationality, or race. 

Complaint Policy & Procedures

102.R1 Grievance Procedure

Students, parents/guardians of students, employees, and applicants for employment in the school district have the right to file a formal complaint alleging discrimination. The district has policies and procedures in place to identify and investigate complaints alleging discrimination. If appropriate, the district will take steps to prevent the recurrence of discrimination and to correct its discriminatory effects on the Complainant and others.

A Complainant may attempt to resolve the problem informally by discussing the matter with a building principal or a direct supervisor. However, the Complainant has the right to end the informal process at any time and pursue the formal grievance procedures outlined below. Use of the informal or formal grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies. Please note that informal processes and procedures are not to be used in certain circumstances (e.g., sexual harassment and/or sexual assault).

Filing a Complaint

A Complainant who wishes to avail himself/herself of this grievance procedure may do so by filing a complaint with the equity coordinator(s). An alternate will be designated in the event it is claimed that the equity coordinator or superintendent committed the alleged discrimination or some other conflict of interest exists. Complaints shall be filed within 180 days 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 equity coordinator(s) shall assist the Complainant as needed. 

District/School Safety

The safety of our students and staff is very important. We work to keep our parents and staff informed about general information as well as situations that impact our ability to work with our students such as inclement weather. Please be sure to keep your contact information up-to-date.

Asbestos Notification

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1987 enacted the Asbestos Containing Materials in Schools Rule, often referred to as the AHERA Rule. This rule requires that all of the nation’s nonprofit elementary and secondary schools, both public and private, inspect their school buildings for asbestos-containing building materials, develop a plan to manage the asbestos for each school building, notify parents and staff regarding management plan availability and provide asbestos training to appropriate staff.

The original Asbestos Management Plan for Bettendorf Community School District was completed in 1988. That plan included a set of plans and procedures designed to minimize the disturbance of any assumed asbestos-containing materials, as well as periodic surveillance of these materials. A re-inspection by a certified asbestos inspector is required every three years and was most recently completed in August 2020 by Shive-Hattery, Inc., Iowa City, Iowa.

All of our District Buildings meet or exceed standards for asbestos management and are considered safe. The District is actively pursuing the removal of asbestos-containing materials.

A copy of the asbestos management plan is available for review by appointment in each building’s office and at the Operations Center Office during regular business hours.

Emergency Procedures

We have a number of fire, tornado, and emergency drills throughout the school year.  The district also has emergency procedures in place for emergency situations involving a building intruder or unsafe condition.

Safe + Sound Iowa -  Safety App

Safe + Sound Iowa is a free anonymous K-12 school safety reporting system available from P3 to help prevent violence, unlawful possession of weapons, self-harm, and other forms of victimization and threatening behaviors in schools across Iowa.

The Governor’s School Safety Bureau is sponsoring Safe+Sound Iowa for students, school staff, parents, and concerned community members to help identify and provide interventions for students in crisis before they hurt themselves or others. Reports of safety concerns can be made securely and anonymously three ways:

1. Downloading and using the free Safe+Sound Iowa app

2. Going to SafeandSoundIowa.gov, or

3. Calling 800-224-6018

Police Liaison Officers - School Security Staff

The Bettendorf Community School District partners with the Bettendorf Police Department in having two Police Liaison Officers on staff. Although they have offices at Bettendorf High School and Bettendorf Middle School, they provide services and support across the District.  

In addition to providing security, the full-time police officers and security guards provide a variety of educational opportunities, a positive law enforcement presence in our school community, and information and advice to staff, students, and parents.  Security works closely with members of the school staff and administration in solving matters directly related to routine police matters or investigations and school safety and security.

Student Behavior and Discipline

503.1 Student Behavior and Discipline Policy

Inappropriate student conduct causes material and substantial disruption to the school environment, interferes with the rights of others, or may present a threat to the health and safety of students, personnel, and visitors. When participating in sanctioned or unsanctioned demonstrations, students shall conduct themselves in a manner fitting to their age level and maturity and with respect and consideration for the rights of others while on school district premises.

Students who fail to abide by this administrative regulation may be disciplined for conduct that disrupts or interferes with the educational program, conduct which disrupts the orderly and efficient operation of the school district or school activity, conduct which disrupts the rights of other students to participate in or obtain their education, conduct that is violent or destructive, or conduct that interrupts the maintenance of a disciplined atmosphere. Disciplinary measures include, but are not limited to, removal from the classroom, detention, suspension, probation, and/or expulsion.

 Behavior Response Matrix Guidance Companion 
At-A-Glance Student Problem Behavior 

The Iowa Department of Education provides local school districts with the Student Reporting in Iowa (SRI) information. This information is to reduce data burden and encourage better decision-making by establishing and maintaining accurate record information. A Data Dictionary Elements and Codes are provided in this SRI information to districts for behavior incidents definitions to code and define problem behaviors (The problem behavior that caused action to be taken) and action taken (the action taken by school personnel because of the problem behavior incident aka consequence). Incident types for school setting are categorized into two levels of significance: Minor and Major to support decision making in the classroom and the school environment. Minor is any low-lying behavior that responds to re-direction but is frequent enough to document and is classmanaged. Major/Serious are office managed or someone other than the classroom teacher for response and support. The manner in which school staff respond to problem behaviors is guided by a district Behavioral Flow Chart and the student’s age and development, the impact that the situation had on others and other contextual factors. The document for these considerations is called: Incident Response Consideration. 

At Bettendorf Community School District, building leadership teams along with a district representative team aligned reported behavior language and IA state reporting information language to create districtwide consistency across BCSD K-12 classrooms and schools to ensure a more equitable range of response. Below is an at a glance of this larger scale decision making tool. 

To see definitions and actions taken visit: https://educate.iowa.gov/media/8703/download?inline=

Suspension

Probation

Probation is conditional suspension of a penalty for a set period of time. Probation may be imposed by the principal for infractions of school rules which do not warrant the necessity of removal from school.

The principal will conduct an investigation of the allegations against the student prior to imposition of probation. The investigation will include, but not be limited to, written or oral notice to the student of the allegations against the student and an opportunity to respond. Written notice and reasons for the probation will be sent to the parents.

In-School Suspension

In-school suspension is the temporary isolation of a student from one or more classes while under supervision. In-school suspensions may be imposed by the building administrator for infractions of school rules, which are serious but which do not warrant the necessity of removal from school.

The building administrator will conduct an investigation of the allegations against the student prior to imposition of an in-school suspension. The investigation will include, but not be limited to, written or oral notice to the student of the allegations against the student and an opportunity to respond. In-school suspension will not be imposed for more than ten school days. Written notice and reasons for the in-school suspension will be sent to the student's parents.

A re-entry meeting with student, guardian and administration must occur before the student can return to class.  

Out-of-School Suspension

Out-of-school suspension is the removal of a student from the school environment for periods of short duration. Out-of-school suspension is to be used when other available school resources are unable to constructively remedy student misconduct.

A student may be suspended out of school for up to ten school days by a building administrator for a commission of gross or repeated infractions of school rules, regulations, policy or the law, or when the presence of the student will cause interference with the maintenance of the educational environment or the operation of the school. The principal may suspend students after conducting an investigation of the charges against the student, giving the student:

• Oral or written notice of the allegations against the student and,

• The opportunity to respond to those charges.

• At the building administrator’s discretion, the student may be allowed to confront witnesses against the student or present witnesses on behalf of the student.

Notice of the out-of-school suspension will be mailed no later than the end of the school day following the suspension to the student's parents and the superintendent. A reasonable effort is made to personally notify the student's parents and such effort is documented by the person making or attempting to make the contact. Written notice to the parents will include the circumstances which led to the suspension and a copy of the board policy and rules pertaining to the suspension.

A re-entry meeting with student, guardian and administration must occur before the student can return to class.  

Suspensions and Special Education Students

Students who have been identified as special education students may be referred for a review of the student's Individual Education Program (IEP). The IEP may be revised to include a continuum of intervention strategies and programming to change the behavior.

Students who have not been identified as special education students may be referred for evaluation after the student's suspension to determine whether the student has a disability and is in need of special education.

Corporal Punishment, Restraint, and Physical Confinement and Detention - Iowa Chapter 103

Recent amendments to the Iowa Department of Education’s administrative rules on corporal punishment, physical restraint, and physical confinement and detention require annual notice to parents of the terms of those administrative rules, as well as any other policies or procedures on corporal punishment, restraint, or physical confinement and detention adopted by an AEA, a public school district, or an accredited nonpublic school. The following text is considered by the Iowa Department of Education to contain the information required to be provided to parents in an annual notice.

Corporal Punishment, Restraint, and Physical Confinement and Detention

State law forbids school employees from using corporal punishment against any student. Certain actions by school employees are not considered corporal punishment. Additionally, school employees may use “reasonable and necessary force, not designed or intended to cause pain” to do certain things, such as prevent harm to persons or property. State law also limits school employees’ abilities to restrain or confine and detain any student. The law limits why, how, where, and for how long a school employee may restrain or confine and detain a child. If a child is restrained or confined and detained, the school must maintain documentation and must provide certain types of notice to the child’s parent/guardian. If you have any questions about this state law, please contact your school. The complete text of the law and additional information is available on the Iowa Department of Education’s website: https://educate.iowa.gov/.

Reports of Abuse of Students by Employees

State guidelines establish uniform procedures for the reporting, investigation, and disposition of allegations of abuse of students directly resulting from the actions of school employees and requires the publication of the names and telephone numbers of the designated investigator and alternates for the Bettendorf School District.

 The designated investigator and alternates are:
  LEVEL I: Investigator - Maile Mejia (563) 359-3681
  LEVEL II: Investigator - Anne Morgan  (641) 208-1017