Student and Family Handbook

If your child is unable to attend school, the parent or guardian should call our school attendance line at 314-467-5910 to report his/her absence.  Please do this prior to 9:00 a.m.  If a parent or guardian does not call to verify a student’s absence, the absence is marked as unexcused.  Frequent unexcused absences could result in a referral to Children’s Division or St. Louis County Family Court (Policy JED and Regulation JED-R1). 

At Point, we desire to have our students here each and every day, all day. Consistent attendance promotes academic success, fosters social awareness, and prepares students to enter the workplace. We do understand there are absences due to sickness.

The following guidelines will be put in practice when a student shows a lapse in school attendance.

STEP 1: A letter from the office will be sent if your student is in attendance for less than 90% of the time.

STEP 2:  A parent/guardian will be required to meet with Mrs. Rich, a counselor, and/or resource officer (police officer) if attendance is below 80%. A meeting might also be held if tardiness or early releases is the concern.  The purpose of this meeting is to form a plan to reduce the tardies, early releases, or absences.  At this point, all future absences will require a doctor’s note to avoid step 3.

STEP 3 If the absenteeism, tardiness, or early releases continues after we have formed and implemented our attendance improvement plan, a referral will be made to the Division of Family Services to report educational neglect/truancy per Mehlville School District Policy.

As a reminder, our school day is from 8:45-3:35. Students may enter the building at 8:35.  The tardy bell rings at 8:45.  Students should be in their classrooms at 8:45, not entering the school building at that time.

School begins promptly at 8:45 a.m.  Students may enter the building at 8:35 a.m. For your child’s safety, please do not drop off students before 8:35 a.m.  Prior to 8:35 a.m., parents/guardians must remain with their children. Parent drop off and pick up will take place on the backside of the building. All parents must follow the drop off procedures and remain in their cars unless arriving after 8:45 am. Students riding the bus will enter through the gym. For students who must arrive earlier, before and after school childcare is available on site through Right at School. You can learn more about Right at School at their website or call 855-AT-SCHOOL.  

Students arriving after 8:45 a.m. are marked tardy, and parents should use the buzzer on the front door to drop off their child(ren). Parents of children arriving after 8:45 a.m. must bring the student to the office to sign in and receive a pass before they are allowed to go to class.

When it is necessary for a student to leave school early, the parent or guardian should come to the office to sign the student out. Photo ID’s are required to be presented when signing a student out in the office. Office personnel will call the student to the office.

No early dismissals after 3:15 p.m.

At 3:15 p.m., teachers are teaching their end of the day lessons and then will begin getting students ready to end the school day, organizing homework assignments, and preparing to be dismissed.  We appreciate your support in allowing for a smooth end of the school day transition. The school day ends at 3:35 p.m.  Students will be escorted to the buses and the parent pick-up area by their teachers after announcements starting at 3:25 p.m. Buses will be dismissed at 3:35 p.m.

While we do acknowledge student birthdays, the sharing of birthday snacks or treats is prohibited. Providing outside food to share with classmates can be dangerous for children with allergies and does not align with our district Wellness Policy. Your child’s school or teacher will determine how they will recognize and celebrate students on their birthday. Thank you for your understanding as we work to keep all of our students healthy and safe.

We will also not deliver any kind of presents to students during the school day. This includes flowers, balloons, etc. We do recognize birthdays are a special day for our students; however, we cannot allow them to become a distraction to the learning process.

Bus transportation is available free of cost to students living inside the Point attendance zone.  For information on bus routes or if there is a change in address, parents of Mehlville residents should contact the school office at 314-467-6500.  Parents of VICC students should contact the VICC office at 314-721-8657.  

Bus passes are not permitted for any reason.  Students will only be authorized to ride their assigned buses to their assigned stops. The practice of riding multiple buses to different stops will no longer be permitted except in the case of authorized daycare centers.

Bus drivers will only allow kindergarten students off the bus if a parent or guardian is at the bus stop to pick up the child.  Kindergarten students not met by a parent or guardian will be brought back to school.

Be Responsible: 

• Stay in your seat (sit seat to seat, back to back and feet on the floor)

Be Respectful: 

• Follow directions of the bus driver the 1st time given

Be Kind: 

• Use kind words
• Use “Level 1” voice

Be Safe:

• KHFOOTY
• Keep your hand inside the bus

Bus drivers have the responsibility to maintain a safe and orderly environment on the school bus.  The drivers have the authority to warn students, conference with students, and assign specific seats.  The driver will note on a Bus Safety Report any behaviors that are deemed hazardous while riding the school bus.  Video cameras are on each bus. The building principal will handle behavior that results in a Bus Safety Report.  Parents having questions or concerns regarding bus behavior should contact the building principal.  

Any offense committed by a student on transportation provided by or through the district shall earn consequences in the same manner as if the offense had been committed at the student’s assigned school.  In addition, transportation privileges may be suspended or revoked.

Phone calls to a teacher’s direct phone line will go straight to voicemail during school hours so that the classroom is not disrupted. Teachers check their voicemail throughout the day and return messages within a 24 hour period. If you have an emergency, or transportation issue, please call the Point main office at 314-467-5900.  ParentSquare is a great place to send direct messages to teachers during the school day.

The intent of all rules and regulations is to protect the health and welfare of students and staff at Point Elementary School while maintaining an atmosphere conducive to learning.  

Point students are expected to

• Attend class on a regular basis and participate in class activities.  
• Make choices that demonstrate respect for self, others, and property. 
• Maintain appropriate behavior so as not to interfere with the teacher’s teaching and other students’ learning.  

Our objective is to encourage and reinforce appropriate social skills and behavior to ensure a positive learning environment for students and staff.  Teachers will use a variety of strategies to guide students to correct misbehavior and assign consequences according to classroom discipline plans.  

Students will be referred to an administrator for serious or recurring misbehavior.  

Parents will be notified about the disciplinary referral, interventions used to correct the inappropriate behavior, and the consequences earned by the student.  

Students will be assigned consequences in accordance with the Mehlville School District Disciplinary Policies, Procedures, and Consequences Manual.  

Student Searches: 

• Students have no expectation of privacy in lockers, desks, computers, or other district-provided equipment or areas. 
• The district will conduct periodic and unannounced administrative searches of lockers, computers, and other district equipment. 
• The district uses dogs to indicate the presence of alcohol, drugs, or other prohibited substances on campus, including the parking lot.  
• Additional searches of bags, purses, coats, electronic devices, other personal possessions and cars in accordance with law.  
• The district may require a student to submit to a drug or alcohol test if there is reasonable suspicion that the student has consumed prohibited substances.  
• Policy JFG.

Parents have the opportunity to review their child’s progress through conferences.  Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences take place in October.  In the spring, teachers will meet with parents on an as needed basis before Spring Break in March. Parents are encouraged to contact their student’s teacher at any time to discuss their child’s progress. Informal conferences are encouraged; however, arrangements need to be made between the parent and teacher for a mutually suitable time.

A certified school counselor, Mrs. Alyssa Fraher, is on staff for the benefit of students, parents, and teachers.  The counselor works within each classroom to instruct students in skills that will enhance their learning.  The counselor’s primary responsibility is to work with students to develop appropriate and positive social, personal, or academic behavior.  Counseling sessions may be on an individual basis in order to provide an outlet for the student to express his or her feelings.  The counselor will talk with students at the request of students, parents, or teachers.  Families with academic/school issues, as well as concerns about personal well-being, can contact the counselor.  The counselor, Mrs. Fraher, may be reached at 314-467-5905.

We believe student safety is our most important task.  Keeping this in mind, we have developed plans for emergency situations that could happen at school.  The Point plan was created in conjunction with the St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District, and American Red Cross.  Plans include, but are not limited to: 

• Fire
• Accident / Medical Situations
• Intruders
• Hostage Situations
• Earthquakes
• Tornadoes

All staff members are trained on our crisis plans, and we regularly practice these procedures with the students.  Additionally, in the State of Missouri, school crisis plans are “closed” records.  This prevents us from giving parents or community members details of our crisis plans, which will help keep anyone who would use our crisis plan to intentionally hurt our students.        

In the case of an emergency, parents will be notified via phone call and/or text message using our student information database.  If the emergency will cause school to dismiss for the day, the phone call will have details on the procedures for dismissal.  The St. Louis County Police, Mehlville Fire Protection District, and building administrators will be responsible for managing the crisis scene.  Please follow their directions when picking up your child.  

You can help us by making sure you always have accurate and working phone numbers.  Please call the school office at (314) 467-5900 if you need to update any of your contact information. 

It is the goal of the Mehlville School District to provide a safe environment for students.  The district recognizes that rules regarding the dismissal of students are a necessary part of the district’s safety program.  Students will only be released to the parent, guardian or to other individuals or agencies as permitted by law.  The district will release a student to either parent unless the district has a valid court order directing otherwise, or unless the parent requesting release is only entitled to supervised visitation.  Any person requesting release of a student must present proper identification prior to the release of the student.  See Policy JEDB for more information. 

In the event that a child is living with only one parent, conferences will be offered to the non-custodial parent upon request.  If the non-custodial parent is not to be involved with his/her children, then the custodial parent must present legal documentation of custodial rights to the school principal.   

School hours are 8:45 a.m. until 3:35 p.m.  The district is not responsible for supervising students outside of these times, unless the student is involved with a before or after-school club. Do not drop your child off or leave your child at school during unsupervised periods.

Every student is expected to present a proper and appropriate appearance.  Students should dress in a manner that will not disrupt the educational process.  Student clothing should be functional, safe, and reflect the attitude of the student toward his or her primary job – learning. 

Students’ health and safety are always a factor in establishing dress codes.  A principal may determine a student’s attire to be inappropriate for the school setting.  For more information, view Policy JFCA.  

Early childhood classes are available from two to four days a week on a tuition-paid basis.  Please contact the John Cary Early Childhood Center at 314-467-5300 for more information.

Students may not use, display or turn on personal communication devices during the regular school day, including instructional class time, class change time, breakfast, or lunch (Procedure EHB-AP1).  Students are not allowed to use, display or turn on SMART watches at school.

Students are prohibited from using visual or audio recording equipment on district property or at district activities unless: done in the scope of a district-sponsored class, at performances to which the general public is invited, at open meetings of the Board of Education, or as otherwise permitted by the building principal.  The Board of Education prohibits the use of audio, visual, or other recording devices at meetings unless approved within a reasonable time period prior to the scheduled meeting (Policy KKB).   

Staff members may communicate electronically with students for educational purposes only between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.  Staff members are discouraged from communicating electronically with students for reasons other than educational purposes (Policy GBH).

When severe weather necessitates the closing of school, the Superintendent strives to make the decision by 5:30 a.m.  School closings will be broadcast through Parent Square, on the district website (www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com) and on most major radio and television stations.  If school is closed, all other school-related activities are canceled for that day.

If the district has to send home students due to inclement weather during the school day, families will be notified through a Parent Square broadcast, the district website, and on most television and radio stations.  Please contact the Point office at 314-467-5900 immediately if your child will be going home from school differently than normal.  

AMI Days are school days done by Alternate Means of Instruction.  Students learn with their teachers via Google Meet.  Typically taken on a day with severe weather/snow, staff and students have a virtual day of instruction.  Students use their district issued Chromebooks and click on their teacher’s Google Meet link.  They have instruction from 9-11 a.m.  Students have a combination of whole group lessons delivered by their teacher, teacher guided practice, and independent practice; this can include reading and math groups.  To count as present for attendance, students must complete their assignments for the day, not just attend the Google Meet.

When severe weather necessitates the closing of school, the Superintendent strives to make the decision by 5:30 a.m.  School closings will be broadcast through the School Reach phone system, on the district website (www.mehlvilleschooldistrict.com), and on most major radio and television stations.  If school is closed, all other school-related activities are canceled for that day.

The enrollment of a new student is all done online. See enrollment instructions.

Throughout the school year, classes and grade levels go on educational field trips. These field experiences are designed to enhance student learning. Field trips also serve to connect classroom learning with the “real world.” Parents must sign their approval for field trips on the Field Trip Permission Slip in order for a student to attend field trips. Students who have not demonstrated appropriate behavior during the school year may lose the privilege of attending field trips.  

The STRETCH program serves qualifying gifted students in first through fifth grades.  The program, under the direction of certified gifted education teachers, extends student learning through a variety of activities, field trips, and performances. STRETCH students are transported to Beasley Elementary School once a week for gifted services.    

Teachers make student referrals for STRETCH testing in January. Testing occurs throughout the spring, and parents are notified of their student’s admission in the program in late May or early June.

Report cards will be available on Infinite Campus- Parent Portal after each quarter ends. The grading term dates are listed below. 

• Term 1: Aug 24 - Oct 16
• Term 2: Oct 19 - Dec 22
• Term 3: Jan 5 - Mar 12
• Term 4:  Mar 22 - May 27

Students are graded developmentally for each academic/skill area using the following: 

3 = Meets Expectations

2 = Approaching Expectations

I = Beginning to Learn Expectations

The district will comply with all state and federal laws regarding the identification, management, and abatement of asbestos in district buildings.  Follow this link to see the compliance measures followed by Mehlville.

Although students may not have assigned homework every evening, we encourage all of our students to read 15-20 minutes every night. For students who are or will be absent, homework may be requested from the office on the 2nd day of a student’s absence. Those requests must be made by 9:30 a.m. Homework can be picked up from the school office at 3:00 p.m.

Point’s lost items can be found in a box in the cafeteria. To help identify lost items, we strongly encourage parents to label all school clothing and items brought to school. Point Elementary is not responsible for lost items.

The school health room is located near the office and it is staffed daily during school hours. The school nurse, Mrs. Michelle Cook may be reached at 314-467-5930 or cookm@msdr9.org.  Preventative health care is a primary goal of Point Elementary.  In addition to providing emergency care in case of accidents or illness, the nurse distributes prescription medication, reviews immunization records and conducts regular hearing and vision screenings for students.  Referrals for follow-up care are made when indicated.  

Ensure your child’s well-being by:

• Keeping a child home if the child is running a fever or vomiting… other students and parents will thank you!
  • Students should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Having someone available to pick your child up from school if he/she is injured or sick at school.  
• Keeping all emergency data current.  This includes a home and work telephone number, addresses, the names of other persons to which your child may be released.  A yearly emergency form must be on file before a student may participate in field trips and sports activities.  
• Calling or sending a note sharing any medical information that may affect your child’s performance in school in any way. 
• Sending a copy of all immunization boosters.  Student records must remain current for the student to attend school.  Missouri law does not allow for a grace period on immunizations. 
• Sending a copy of the results of physical examinations (required of all new students, pre-school, kindergarten, fourth, seventh, and tenth grade students.)
• Sending all medications in the original container along with a note from the parent or guardian with specific instructions (signed and dated) and a prescription from your child’s physician for all over-the-counter medications.

Medical Emergencies: 

The health room stocks epinephrine and emergency asthma medication for any student experiencing a medical emergency, if appropriate.  If you do not want your child treated with these medications, please notify the nurse in writing.   

Student Medications and Immunizations: 

• Students cannot possess or administer their own over-the-counter or prescription medications.  All medications must be administered by the school nurse.  For more information, see Policy JHCD and Procedure JHCD-AP(1). 
• Information made available on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications, or other school health issues will be identical or similar to that produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Procedure KB-AP(1)). 

Too Sick for School: 

If a child is too sick to stay at school, the nurse will call the child’s parent to tell him or her to come pick the child up from the building.  If the nurse cannot reach a parent, then she will call the child’s emergency contacts to arrange picking the child up.  

Oasis is a national nonprofit educational organization designed to enhance the quality of life for mature adults.  The OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring Program trains volunteers to work with young children to build reading skills and positive attitudes towards learning.  Point Elementary is fortunate to have OASIS volunteers working each week with designated students.

Parents As Teachers, or PAT, is a nationally recognized, free program offered to all families in the Mehlville School District. It is a voluntary parent and child early education program. Parents with children from birth to age five are eligible.  PAT educators work with families using developmental screening, home visits, group meetings, family activities, and referral network. For more information, call 314-467-5300.

• Be Responsible:
  • Agree on game rules before the game and stick to them
• Be Respectful:
  • Use appropriate language- only put-ups, no put downs
  • Follow directions of recess aides the first time given
• Be Kind:
  • Include anyone who wants to play
• Be Safe:
  • Use equipment safely

Students will have outdoor recess whenever possible.  They will have indoor recess during periods of inclement weather, including rain, snow, extreme heat (95 degrees or higher with the heat index) or extreme cold (20 degrees or colder with the wind chill).

The Point Parent Organization (PPO) is open to all parents and guardians.  The PPO sponsors many of the student and school activities. Anyone interested in volunteering time or serving on the PPO board should email the 26-27 PPO President Jennifer Portell at Jenportell910@outlook.com.

Starting in June 2026, Right At School will take over the responsibility for before-school and after-school care. Highlights of this new partnership include:

• Program availability from 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. every day school is in session.

• Flexible weekly schedules that fit families' busy schedules from only one day a week to a full week.

• Drop-in care is available, as well as a 10-day drop-in punch card.

• Discounts are available for siblings, military families, district employees, and families who qualify for free and reduced lunch. State subsidies are also accepted.

• Availability during non-school days

Right At School will also provide care during Summer Session and a summer camp program. 

Right At School provides a comprehensive enrichment curriculum to keep students engaged while they participate. Students will receive a healthy snack, engage in fitness activities, participate in student-driven projects, team building, and leadership development, and have the opportunity to complete homework.

Meal Programs: 

The Mehlville School District participates in the federal Free/Reduced Lunch Program.  Eligible students will be provided meals, snacks, and milk at free or reduced prices.  Learn more regarding the Free/Reduced Lunch Program here.  

Unpaid charges place a financial strain on district finances. The food service department is responsible for maintaining food charge records and for notifying the district's accounting department of outstanding balances.

At the beginning of each school year, a copy of this procedure will be provided to every parent/guardian in the district as required by law. In addition, a copy of this procedure, along with information about free and reduced-price school meals, will be provided to the parents/guardians of all students who enroll after the beginning of the school year.

The district has nutrition standards for food/treats brought into school by families for celebrations or parties.  More information can be found here.  

Breakfast and lunch are available to students on a daily basis.  Breakfasts include milk, fruit, juice, cereal, and/or another breakfast entrée.  Lunch includes milk or juice, a main entrée, fruit, and vegetables.  Menus are published monthly.  Follow this link to access the breakfast and lunch menus.    

All students are required to eat lunch in the cafeteria, whether they bring their lunch or buy their lunch, unless a teacher has made other arrangements.  The lunch period should be used not only as a period to satisfy one of our basic physical needs, but also as a time to develop desirable cultural habits.  Therefore, students are expected to be orderly in line, to sit at their assigned tables as soon as served, to use good table manners, to talk quietly while eating, and to leave the lunchroom when excused.  Students are expected to clear their trash from the tables.  For the health and safety of the students, food cannot be shared.  

Breakfast
Reduced Price: $0.30
Full Price: $2.20

Lunch
Reduced Price: $0.40
Full Price: $3.35

MySchoolBucks

School Food & Nutrition Services offers MySchoolBucks®, an online payment service that provides a quick and easy way to add money to your student’s meal account using a credit/debit card or electronic check. You can also view recent purchases, check balances, and set-up low balance alerts for FREE! 

MySchoolBucks provides:  

• Convenience - Available 24/7 on the web or through our mobile app for your smartphone
• Efficiency - Make payments for all your students, even if they attend different schools within the district. Please note, there is a $3.25 transaction fee for online payments. The fee is a flat rate. No matter how much money or how many students the payment is being applied to, the fee is $3.25 per transaction.  
• Control - Set low balance alerts, view account activity, recurring/automatic payments & more!
• Flexibility - Make payments using credit/debit cards and electronic checks.  
• Security – MySchoolBucks adheres to the highest security standards, including PCI and CISP. 

Enrollment is easy!

1. Go to www.MySchoolBucks.com and register for a free account. 
2. Add your students using their school name and student ID. 
3. Make a payment to your students’ accounts with your credit/debit card or electronic check. 

If you have any questions, contact MySchoolBucks directly at support@myschoolbucks.com or 1-855-832-5226.  Visit myschoolbucks.com and click on Help All meal account balances will roll-over into the new system. Payments can also be sent to school in the form of cash or checks made payable to the Mehlville School District. If you have any questions about your student’s meal account, please contact the School Food & Nutrition Office at (314) 467-5250.

Cafeteria Rules: 

Be Responsible

• Raise hand and listen for directions when finished eating

Be Respectful

• Follow adult directions
• Say please and thank you

Be Kind

• Use “Level 1” voice when eating

Be Safe

• Wait patiently with hands at your sides

The district offers instruction in human sexuality and will provide instruction regarding sexual abuse as required by law.  This link contains Policy IGAEB, which deals with sexual health instruction.

Visitors

A visitor is anyone who is on campus for a short, specific, one-time purpose, and is never left alone with a student. This includes

• Parents or guardians attending a meeting.
• Parents or guardians eating lunch with a child.
• Guests for a school assembly, performance, or special event.
• Individuals dropping off a student or an item at the office.
• Vendors or contractors with a scheduled appointment.

Volunteers

A volunteer is an individual who provides their time, skills, and services to support the school community on an ongoing basis, and may spend time alone with a student without the supervision of a staff member. This includes

• Classroom assistants
• Field trip chaperones 
• Tutors or mentors
• Library helpers
• PPO members who work on campus
• Anyone who consistently volunteers in a school and who may be alone with a student or students.

Volunteers need to complete background checks. Learn more about how to become a volunteer.

In order to promote a safe learning environment for all students, Mehlville School District prohibits all forms of bullying. The district also prohibits reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying among or against students. Policy JFCF outlines how the district defines bullying, identifies who investigates incidents of bullying and how to report bullying. Review Policy JFCF: Bullying on the district website.

The Mehlville School District strictly prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, students or others on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, or sex including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity and other characteristics protected by law. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: contact Brian Smith at 314-467-5154 or bsmith@msdr9.org.

On Oct. 22, 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Act (AHERA, Public Law 99-519). The law required the EPA to develop regulations, which provide a comprehensive framework for addressing asbestos problems in public and private elementary and secondary schools to inspect for friable and non-friable asbestos, develop asbestos management plans that address asbestos hazards in school buildings, and implement response actions in a timely fashion.

The Mehlville School District had conducted a complete inspection of its facilities in October 2018, and a three-year re-inspection has been completed since the initial asbestos audit in 1988. In addition to the three-year re-inspection, (2) six month surveillance inspections take place each year and are included in the management plan. This management plan is available in the district’s Maintenance Building and in the offices of each school during normal business hours, without cost or restriction, for inspection by representatives of the EPA and the State, and the public, including teachers, other school personnel and their representatives, and parents.

Asbestos-containing material was removed from the following building(s) performed by licensed contractors using state of the art technology and methodology. An on-site manager, project designer, and a third-party air monitor were also used.

• Oakville High – Storage Tank Domestic Hot Water
• 3121 Old Baumgartner – Flooring and Insulation
• Trautwein Elementary – Boiler Flue Pipe
• Mehlville High School – Restroom Renovations
• Oakville High School – Restroom Renovations
• MOSAIC Elementary – Elevator Installation

The purpose of the federal and state regulations is to protect the health and well-being of all persons entering the buildings of this district for any reason.

The person in this district trained to oversee asbestos activities and ensure compliance is Mr. Mike Gegg, Director of Facilities. As required in the rule, Mr. Gegg is the single contact for the public to obtain information about asbestos-related activities in the district and can be reached at 314-467-7800.
 

It is essential that the district maintain a safe school environment and a climate that allows teachers to communicate effectively with all students in the class and allows all students in the class to learn. Discipline will be equitably applied and viewed as a learning opportunity with the ultimate goal of improving behavior, safety and the school climate. The district seeks to minimize the unnecessary exclusion of students from classrooms and school and encourages the superintendent and district staff to exclude students only when necessary to maintain a safe and appropriate learning environment.

The Board of Education has created a discipline code that addresses the consequences for students whose conduct is prejudicial to good order and discipline in the schools or impairs the morale or good conduct of other students.

The following policies and associated procedures encompass the district’s discipline code and can be accessed via the district website:

• Policy JG, Student Discipline
• Regulation JG-R1, Student Discipline 
• Policy JGA-2, Corporal Punishment
• Policy JGB, Detention and/or In-School Suspension of Students
• Policy JGD, Student Suspension and Expulsion
• Policy JGE, Discipline of Students with Disabilities 
• Policy JGF, Discipline Reporting and Records

Our district is required to inform you of information that you, according to the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-95), have the right to know. Upon your request, our district is required to provide to you in a timely manner, the following information:

• Whether your student’s teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction.
• Whether your student’s teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived.
• Whether your student’s teacher is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher.
• Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications. In addition to the information that parents may request, a building receiving Title I.A. funds must provide to each individual parent:
  • Information on the level of achievement and academic growth of your student, if applicable and available, on each of the State academic assessments required under Title I.A.
  • Timely notice that your student has been assigned, or has been taught for 4 or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who has not met applicable State certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned. 

1. What is a complaint?
For these purposes, a complaint is a written allegation that a local education agency (LEA) or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (the Department) has violated a federal statute or regulation that applies to a program under ESSA.

2. Who may file a complaint?
Any individual or organization may file a complaint.

3. How can a complaint be filed?
Complaints can be filed with the LEA or with the Department.

4. How will a complaint filed with the LEA be investigated?
Complaints filed with the LEA are to be investigated and attempted to be resolved according to the locally developed and adopted procedures.

5. What happens if a complaint is not resolved at the local level (LEA)?
A complaint not resolved at the local level may be appealed to the Department.

6. How can a complaint be filed with the Department?
A complaint filed with the Department must be a written, signed statement that includes:

1. A statement that a requirement that applies to an ESSA program has been violated by the LEA or the Department, and
2. The facts on which the statement is based and the specific requirement allegedly violated.

7. How will a complaint filed with the Department be investigated?
The investigation and complaint resolution proceedings will be completed within a time limit of forty-five calendar days. That time limit can be extended by the agreement of all parties.

The following activities will occur in the investigation:

1. Record. A written record of the investigation will be kept.
2. Notification of LEA. The LEA will be notified of the complaint within five days of the complaint being filed.
3. Resolution at LEA. The LEA will then initiate its local complaint procedures in an effort to first resolve the complaint at the local level.
4. Report by LEA. Within thirty-five days of the complaint being filed, the LEA will submit a written summary of the LEA investigation and complaint resolution. This report is considered public record and may be made available to parents, teachers, and other members of the general public.
5. Verification. Within five days of receiving the written summary of a complaint resolution, the Department will verify the resolution of the complaint through an on-site visit, letter, or telephone call(s).
6. Appeal. The complainant or the LEA may appeal the decision of the Department to the U.S. Department of Education.

8. How are complaints related to equitable services to nonpublic school children handled differently?
In addition to the procedures listed in number 7 above, complaints related to equitable services will also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education, and they will receive all information related to the investigation and resolution of the complaint. Also, appeals to the United States Department of Education must be filed no longer than thirty days following the Department’s resolution of the complaint (or its failure to resolve the complaint).

9. How will appeals to the Department be investigated?
The Department will initiate an investigation within ten days, which will be concluded within thirty days from the day of the appeal. This investigation may be continued beyond the thirty day limit at the discretion of the Department. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Department will communicate the decision and reasons for the decision to the complainant and the LEA. Recommendations and details of the decision are to be implemented within fifteen days of the decision being delivered to the LEA.

10. What happens if a complaint is not resolved at the state level (the Department)?
The complainant or the LEA may appeal the decision of the Department to the United States Department of Education.
 

The protection of student rights has always been a top priority of the Mehlville School District. This document is distributed annually to all parents and students in order to comply with state and federal requirements to notify the parents/guardians and eligible students of their rights with respect to the student’s educational records. 

In general, a student’s educational record includes any information maintained by the school district, which contains information directly related to a student. A major exception would be a personal record kept by a staff member if it is kept in the sole possession of the maker of the record and is not accessible or revealed to any other person except a temporary substitute for the maker of the record. 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords to parents/guardians (“parents”) of students, and to students themselves who are over 18 years of age (“eligible students”), certain rights with respect to the student’s education records maintained by Mehlville School District (“District”). 

These rights are outlined below: 

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the District receives a written request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies, as precisely as possible, the record(s) they wish to inspect. School officials will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected. 

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the District to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the principal or other appropriate official, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the District decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the District will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. 

3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official includes a person employed by the District as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, counselor or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel); a person serving on the District’s School Board; a person or company with whom the District has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant or therapist); or a parent, student or other person serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her responsibilities for the District. The Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC) and its officers, employees and agents are also school officials with legitimate educational interests, because they act for and on behalf of the District with respect to transfer students and the transfer program, and because they seek to advance the interests of both. A transfer student’s attendance records and other educational records relevant to the student’s participation in the program or to the program itself may accordingly be disclosed to VICC without obtaining written consent from the parent/guardian or eligible student. Upon request, the District also discloses education records without consent to officials of a school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. 

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: 

Family Policy Compliance Office 
U.S. Department of Education 
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W. 
Washington, D.C. 20202-4605 

5. Directory Information may be released by school officials. This includes print and electronic publications of the school district that, if disclosed, would not be considered as determined by the Mehlville School District as harmful or an invasion of privacy. This information may be released without prior written consent to parent and student organizations for marketing purposes, such as for “buzz” books produced in the fall, and to outside organizations including, but not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks in the spring. Other examples include play bills for drama productions; yearbooks; honor roll or other recognition lists; graduation programs; and sports activity sheets. Directory information is considered a public record, which must be released upon demand to any person who requests it, under the Missouri Sunshine Law. If a parent, guardian, or eligible student does not want the district to release the information listed below, they must notify the district in writing within 10 days of receiving this notification of the information they do not want released. 

General Directory Information - The following information the district maintains about a personally identifiable student may be disclosed by the district to the school community through, for example, district publications, or to any person without first obtaining written consent from a parent or eligible student: 

Student’s name; date and place of birth; parents’ names; grade level; enrollment status (e.g., full-time or part-time); student identification number; user identification or other unique personal identifier used by the student for the purposes of accessing or communicating in electronic systems as long as that information alone cannot be used to access protected educational records; participation in district-sponsored or district-recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; degrees, honors and awards received; artwork or course work displayed by the district; schools or school districts previously attended; and photographs, videotapes, digital images and recorded sound unless such records would be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy. 

Limited Directory Information - In addition to general directory information, the following information the district maintains about a personally identifiable student may be disclosed to: school officials with a legitimate educational interest; parent groups or booster clubs that are recognized by the Board and are created solely to work with the district, its staff, students and parents and to raise funds for district activities; parents of other students enrolled in the same school as the student whose information is released; students enrolled in the same school as the student whose information is released; governmental entities including, but not limited to, law enforcement, the juvenile office and the Children’s Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services: 

The student’s address, telephone number and e-mail address and the parents’ addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses. 

In addition two federal laws require the District to provide military recruiters, upon request names, addresses and telephone listings - unless parents have advised us that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent. 

The Assistant Superintendent of Student Services has district-wide responsibility for student educational records and, as such, is the custodian of the records. Anyone having questions regarding school policy relating to student records is welcome to contact the District at 3120 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, MO 63125; (314) 467-5000.

Students with disabilities have rights and safeguards under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Students who qualify as a person with a disability are protected from discrimination and are guaranteed a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to ensure equal opportunity to access and derive meaningful benefit from public education, as compared to non-disabled peers.

Children under Mehlville School District’s jurisdiction, including students attending non-public schools, between the ages of 3 and 21 may be eligible for special education and related services. The Special School District of St. Louis County (SSD) provides special education and related services (e.g., physical and occupational therapy, speech and language services, social work services, psychological counseling) for students ages 5-21 qualifying as a person with a disability under the IDEA. Mehlville School District provides special education and related services (e.g., physical and occupational therapy, speech and language services, social work services, psychological counseling) for children ages 3-5 qualifying as a person with a disability under the IDEA. Mehlville School District implements the provisions of Section 504.

Mehlville School District and SSD share the responsibility of locating, evaluating, and identifying children with disabilities under the IDEA, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, children who live outside the district but are attending a private school within the district, highly mobile children (e.g., migrant, homeless), children who are wards of the state, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade. Disabilities include Autism, Deaf/Blindness, Emotional Disturbance, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disabilities, Speech and/or Language Impairments, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment/Blindness, and Young Child with Developmental Delay. Parents/guardians may refer a child for an evaluation by contacting the school staff (e.g., principal, assistant principal, school counselor) and are entitled to written notification regarding proposed or refused evaluation and placement decisions.

All students with disabilities are served in the least restrictive environment (LRE) and attend Mehlville School District schools unless determined otherwise by the IEP or 504 team. The disabilities teams are charged with determining the necessary services, accommodations, modifications, related aids and adaptive equipment to ensure FAPE. The opportunity to participate in the Mehlville School District curriculum, extra-curricular activities, earn credits, and obtain a high school diploma is available to all students. 

Mehlville School District and SSD provide assurance of the provision of information and referral services necessary to assist the State Education Department in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps Program.

Mehlville School District and SSD provide that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the districts for the purpose of identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE under the IDEA and Section 504 may be inspected and reviewed by parents/guardians. Additionally, parents/guardians may request an amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the MO Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

A Local Compliance Plan is in effect to ensure implementation of the state regulations for the IDEA. The plan contains the policies and procedures of Mehlville School District and SSD regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agencys' assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act.

The rights of students with disabilities are further explained in the State Plan for Special Education from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and various Mehlville School District Board Policies. 

To review the plan or obtain this notice in an alternate language, contact the Mehlville School District Student Services Department 314-467-5229 or SSD 314-989-8100. 

For more information about special education services for children ages 3-5, call 314-467-5300. 

For more information about special education services for those ages 5-21, contact your child's principal or call 314-989-8100.

If your family lives in any of the following situations:

• In a shelter
• In a motel or campground due to the lack of an alternative adequate accommodation
• In a car, park, abandoned building, or bus or train station
• Doubled up with other people due to loss of housing or economic hardship

Your school-age children may qualify for certain rights and protections under the federal McKinney-Vento Act.

Your eligible children have the right to:

• Receive a free, appropriate public education.
• Enroll in school immediately, even if lacking documents normally required for enrollment.
• Enroll in school and attend classes while the school gathers needed documents.
• Enroll in the local school; or continue attending their school of origin (the school they attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled), if that is your preference.
• If the school district believes that the school you select is not in the best interest of your children, then the district must provide you with a written explanation of its position and inform you of your right to appeal its decision.
• Receive transportation to and from the school of origin, if you request this.
• Receive educational services comparable to those provided to other students, according to your children’s needs.

If you believe your children may be eligible, contact the local liaison to find out what services and supports may be available. There also may be supports available for your preschool-age children.

Local Liaison: Dr. Tiffany Schwaegel, Assistant Superintendent - Student Services, 314-467-5229, schwaegelt@msdr9.org.

All Mehlville School District policies can be viewed on the district website here.

The district will provide information about the state children's health insurance program, MO HealthNet for Kids (MHK), the state of Missouri’s children’s health insurance program, is available to families who do not have health insurance and meet eligibility requirements. Learn more about Mo Healthnet for Kids online.

Qualifying students may enroll in virtual courses offered in the Missouri Course Access Program (MOCAP) at district expense. Learn more about MOCAP and virtual learning.

Mehlville School Food and Nutrition Services provides breakfast and lunch for students and participates in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. 

Learn more about the availability of free and reduced-priced meals and apply.

All school districts participating in the National School Meals Program must have a written unpaid meal charge procedure. Mehlville School District’s unpaid meal policy can be found here.

The Mehlville School District student assessment plan under the curriculum section of the district website.

Missouri law requires that all school districts adopt a policy restricting students’ use of electronic personal communication devices during the school day (from arrival bell to dismissal bell). The Mehlville Board of Education has adopted Policy JFCD: Student Use of Personal Communication Devices to comply with this law.

At Mehlville School District, we support strong and respectful relationships, student and staff well-being and distraction-free opportunities to learn and grow. We expect students to keep their personal communication devices off and put away throughout the school day so they can fully engage in learning and social interactions.

A personal communication device is any portable electronic device used to initiate, receive, store or view communications, information, images or data electronically. This includes cell phones, smart watches, personal laptops, tablets, video game devices and portable media players.

Learn more about this policy.

Information about the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative is available online at dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/school-counseling/traumainformed.