The purpose of this policy is to recognize the need for alternative education programs for some school district students.

Under controlled conditions and for limited purposes, the Byron Public Schools sanctions the presence and use of animals in schools and classrooms. Please review the 525 and 525.1 policies for further information.

As a result of recent federal legislation, each elementary, middle and secondary school in the nation is required to complete a stringent new inspection for asbestos and to develop a plan of management for all asbestos-containing building materials. Byron Public Schools are in full compliance with this law and are following the spirit as well as the letter of the law. As a matter of policy, Byron Public Schools shall continue to maintain a safe and healthful environment for our community’s youth and employees.

A concern has been raised that, with time, asbestos-containing materials could break down and allow particles to enter the air. Because heavy exposure to asbestos particles has been linked to some cancers, an earlier federal law was passed requiring school districts to identify areas in which materials containing friable asbestos were used. More recent legislation (AHERA) requires identification of ALL asbestos-containing materials and a plan to manage those materials.

In keeping with the new legislation, all buildings (including portables and support buildings) owned or leased by the school were inspected by EPA accredited inspectors and samples were analyzed by an independent laboratory. Based on the inspection, the school prepared and the state recently approved a comprehensive management plan for handling the asbestos located within its buildings safely and responsibly.

Federal law requires a periodic walkthrough (called “surveillance”) every six months of each area containing asbestos. Also, the law requires all buildings to be re-inspected three years after a management plan is in effect. This will be accomplished under contract. Short-term workers (outside contractors i.e. telephone repair workers, electricians and exterminators) must be provided information regarding the location of asbestos they may come into contact. All short-term workers shall contact the Superintendent for this information before commencing work.

Byron Public Schools has a list of the location(s), type(s) of asbestos-containing materials found in each school building and a description and timetable for their proper management. Asbestos does not present a hazard if it is properly maintained. In 1988, all ISD 531 school buildings were inspected by accredited personnel for asbestos-containing materials. Since then, the district has conducted surveillance checks every six months and re-inspected buildings every three years as required to ensure that asbestos is property maintained.

Except for floor tile, most of the asbestos in the district is limited to non-public areas such as mechanical rooms and above ceilings. ISD 531 has limited its asbestos removal to areas where renovation or maintenance activities are planned. Management plans are on file and available for review in each building that has asbestos-containing materials. Questions regarding this notice should be directed to the Facilities Maintenance Manager at 507-624-0346.

Regular school attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students, and establishes regular habits of dependability. For detailed information, see the “Student Attendance” policy.

The school district is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning environment for all students. Acts of bullying, in any form, by either an individual student or a group of students, are prohibited on school district property, at school-related functions or activities, on school transportation, and by misuse of technology. For detailed information, see the school district’s “Bullying Prohibition” policy.

• Bully Tipline

Riding the school bus is a privilege, not a right. The school district’s general student behavior rules are in effect for all students on school buses, including nonpublic and charter school students. The school district will not provide transportation for students whose transportation privileges have been revoked.

The school district is committed to transporting students in a safe and orderly manner. To accomplish this, student riders are expected to follow school district rules for waiting at a school bus stop and for riding on a school bus. Please review more complete transportation details here and district policy.

We continually evaluate technology tools to ensure they are appropriate and safe for our students’ ages, grade levels, and are relevant to their learning. Please reference our inventory of our curriculum, testing, and assessment tools, which includes an outline of the student data elements within each tool: Byron Schools Online Software Inventory and Resources. This list is maintained and communicated annually to all families at the start of the school year. 

Byron Public Schools has teamed with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Department to use canine drug dogs at various times during the school year. This is a proactive effort to promote a safe and drug-free environment in middle school and high school. We hope to never find any contraband and that our efforts at prevention will discourage prohibited items from coming onto campus.

The search will be used to detect potential drugs in school buildings and on school grounds, including parking lots. When the search is on school grounds, any school building that is on said grounds may be limit movement within the building of staff and students. We expect this process to cause a minimal distraction to the learning environment as instruction will continue.

If the presence of drugs is detected the school will conduct the investigation and issue any consequences in accordance with the school boards’ policies and procedures. Please review the policy for more detailed information.

The school district recognizes that students and employees have the right to express themselves on school property. This protection includes distributing non-school-sponsored material, subject to school district regulations and procedures, at a reasonable time and place and in a reasonable manner. For detailed information, see the complete “Distribution of Non-school-Sponsored Materials on School Premises by Students and Employees” policy.

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe and healthy environment in the school district in order to promote the physical, social, and psychological well-being of its students. To that end, the school district will seek a criminal history background check for applicants who receive an offer of employment with the school district and on all individuals, except enrolled student volunteers, who are offered the opportunity to provide athletic coaching services or other extracurricular academic coaching services to the school district, regardless of whether any compensation is paid, or such other background checks as provided by this policy. The school district may also elect to do background checks of other volunteers, independent contractors and student employees in the school district. For more information review the policy here.

Materials that are part of the basic educational program are provided with state, federal, and local funds at no charge to a student. Students expected to provide their own pencils, pens, paper, erasers, notebooks, and other personal items. Students may be required to pay certain other fees or deposits, including (not an inclusive list):

• Admission fees or charges for extracurricular activities, where attendance is optional and where the admission fees or charges a student must pay to attend or participate in an extracurricular activity are the same for all students, regardless of whether the student is enrolled in a public or a home school.
• Cost for materials for a class project that exceeds minimum requirements and is kept by the student.
• Security deposits for the return of materials, supplies, or equipment.
• Personal physical education and athletic equipment and apparel.
• Items of personal use or products that a student has an option to purchase such as student publications, class rings, annuals, and graduation announcements.
• Field trips considered supplementary to the district’s educational program.
• Admission fees or costs to attend or participate in optional extracurricular activities and programs.
• Voluntarily purchased student health and accident insurance.
• Use of musical instruments owned or rented by the school district.
• A school district-sponsored driver or motorcycle education training course.
• Transportation to and from school for students living within two miles of school.
• Transportation of students to and from optional extracurricular activities or post-secondary instruction conducted at locations other than school.
• Technology

Students will be charged for technology, textbooks, workbooks, and library books that are lost or destroyed. The school district may waive a required fee or deposit if the student and parent/guardian are unable to pay.

This day refers to a school day where instead of coming to a school, teachers and students communicate online or set up prior learning expectations, and the students continue their learning from home. On a Flex Learning Day (FLD), teachers will share assignments and hold office hours in which they are available to provide learning support to students, see website. Teachers can opt to do this from off-campus or their classroom. For more information see policy for complete details.

Students must meet all course credit requirements and graduation standards, as established by the state and the school board, in order to graduate from Byron Public Schools, see policy for complete details. All students must also pass the state-identified proficiency tests, Minnesota comprehensive assessments, alternate assessments, and/or other applicable tests. Students will have the first opportunity to take a test in basic requirements, contact the Superintendent for more information. Parents may opt out of the statewide assessments for their student(s) by completing the form and returning it to the school district office.

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from harassment, violence, and bullying on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, including gender identity or expression, or disability.

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe learning environment for students and staff that is free from hazing. Hazing activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of the school district and are prohibited at all times.