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TEACHER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

2015-2016

Procedures for Administrators

Upon enrollment and registration each year, parents, and guardians will be given notice of

the State Compulsory Attendance Law pursuant to O. C. G. A. Code 20-2-690.1 and local

Board of Education school attendance policy JBD. The school will make reasonable efforts to

ensure receipt and comprehensive of the policy by requesting signatures from parent/guardians

that this notice was received and understood. At the Middle and High Schools, this notice will

be received by all students who have reached age ten (10) or above y September 1 of that school

year. This notice should also be included in each school’s Code of Conduct. Also before school

begins for the year, Principal, or designee will send a letter to the parents of those students who

had fifteen (15) or more absences during the previous year referencing the importance of good

attendance and offering support. These letters should contain information about the Student

Attendance Rules’ expectations. Teachers should also be notified of students in their classes that

had more than fifteen (15) days or more absences the previous year so that they can be given

special positive attention and encouragement.

Each school will establish an Attendance Support Team, (hereinafter, AST) which will be

chaired by each school’s Counselor and include as it’s members the School Social Worker

and faculty having direct contact with the parents/guardians of or providing direct service

to the specific student to be discussed. Each school’s AST will meet weekly and be

responsible for implementing and monitoring policies to reduce tardy days, early withdrawals,

and truancy. Parents/guardians shall be invited to and encouraged to attend these meetings.

Daily attempts will be made to call the parent/guardians of absent students. In cases known

to involve joint custody or guardianship of a student, efforts should be made to contact all

individuals with custodial rights. This standard shall also apply to steps mentioned hereinafter.

The teacher will refer students after 3 unexcused absences to the School Counselor and the

counselor office will send a copy of the referral to the School Social Worker and Assistant

Principal.

Terrell County High School

201 Greenwave Boulevard

Dawson, GA 39842

Phone: (229) 995-2544

Fax (229) 995-4523 dbell@mail.tcgreenwave.net

Douglas Bell, Principal

Home of the

“Greenwaves”

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***After three absences, parents will be notified by the assistant principal or designee to

attend an Attendance Support Team meeting. Verification of this will be kept in a parent

contact log.

Attendance letters will be sent by the Counselor’s office at three (3) absences.

After three (3) unexcused absences:

A referral will be made to the Attendance Support Team, which will assess the student’s

absences and determine strategies to address attendance, including the possibility of referring to

the School Social Worker. Each school will take reasonable steps to ensure that parent/guardians

are, in writing, invited to and encouraged to attend these meetings. Students may also participate

in AST meetings, as deemed appropriate by the AST.

In addition to a notice of the AST meeting, attempts will be made by the school to notify

parents/guardians, in writing, of attendance law, and potential consequences and penalties for

failure to comply. A signature of receipt of this notice will be obtained, and kept on file for the

remainder of the school year. Students age ten (10) and older will also receive a copy of the

notice and provide a signature of receipt.

After two (2) unsuccessful reasonable attempts to provide notice to parent(s)/guardian(s) and

obtain signatures, notice shall be sent via certified mail, with return receipt requested. The

school should keep a copy of the notice attached. This will be kept in the School Social Worker'’

Office.

The AST will develop a plan of action that appropriately addresses the needs of the student

and/or family to assist in improving student attendance. This may include: (1) direct services

from the school system, (i.e., tutoring, mentoring, attendance contracts) (2) Request further

medical documentation if appropriate; referring the child and/or parent to the appropriate social

services; this plan will also identify the local staff that is responsible for student case follow-up.

If the student is receiving Special Education services, consideration should be made to include

attendance as an objective on the student’s IEP.

At five (5) unexcused absences, the AST will review the case again and make a referral to

the Social Worker.

TERRELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL POLICIES FOR TEACHERS

GRADES 1. Nine-week grades will be recorded in via TEMS in numerical

numbers for each period. These grades will also be placed on the report card in like manner. All semester and final grades will be numerical. Minimum grade for 9 weeks ONLY will be 60 and maximum grade is 100. A semester grade may be less than 60.

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2. Passing grade is 70. 3. The teacher will base students’ grades on their efforts and ability to achieve. 4. There will be no exemptions for the first semester. To be exempted the second semester, students must have at least 90 average for each semester. No exemptions are allowed for courses taken for 1 semester only. (To exempt - students must average 90 for both semesters). 5. Subject teachers are responsible for recording all grades in TEMS. 6. No students shall earn more than four units for chorus, band, and physical education during four years of high school. A student who participates in the high school band and the high school chorus will be given the same credit for chorus as a non-band member. 7. Students will be given a minimum of 4 tests exclusive of the nine

weeks/semester exams per grading period. All tests will be secured in the student’s personal folder and stored by the administering teacher. Copies of all tests administered to students are to be turned in to the office along with the appropriate lesson plan. The teacher’s name, date administered, and objectives assessed are to be documented on all tests. Students’ personal folders will be submitted to the administration upon request.

8. Teachers will upload all weekly lesson plans into the TKES Platform

no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday night. 9. Teachers are responsible for uploading all professional learning

activities into the TKES Platform monthly. 10. Students should have a minimum of 4 grades in each subject for

progress reports. 11. Students should have a minimum of 9 grades in each subject each 9

weeks. 12. All teachers must sign THEMSELVES in by 7:40 a.m. each morning

and remain on campus until 3:40 p.m. Teachers should have their room open by 7:40 and stand by their door until the tardy bell stops ringing at (7:50 a.m.) All teachers are expected to direct students to classes.

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13. Any teacher wishing to sign out early must see the principal or

his/her designee. 14. Teachers who are late 4 times or more will be required to have a

conference with the principal or his/her designee. Failure to show improvement will result in a written plan to improve. If improvement is not made, the teacher may receive an unsatisfactory annual evaluation for duties and responsibilities and/or a recommendation for termination to the Board of Education.

15. Teachers are required to call the school before 7:30 a.m. to notify

the administration if tardiness is imminent. 16. Teachers demonstrating a pattern of absenteeism may be required

to bring a medical excuse for sick leave upon the request of the principal or his/her designee. Failure to show improvement will result in a written plan to improve. If improvement is not made, the teacher may receive an unsatisfactory annual evaluation for duties and responsibilities and/or a recommendation for termination to the Board of Education.

17. Teachers are never to leave the school grounds between 7:40 a.m

and 3:40 p.m without permission from the principal or his/her designee..

18. Any teacher who is unable to attend school duties either from

sickness or other causes must notify the principal or his/her designee before the school hour.

Note: If you leave a message on the answering machine, you must contact the school by 7:30 a.m. to ensure the message was received. Bell. . . . . . . . . . . . 995-2982 894-8667 Cell Laster. . . . . . . . . . 435-3480 869-6285 Cell Davis . . . . . . . . . . 594-9448 886-9813 Cell Redhead . . . . . . . . 995-2381 537-9226 Cell 19. Teachers are asked to take care of minor disciplinary problems as

defined by the code of student conduct, with the realization that inability to do so weakens their position of leadership in the classroom. However, Level III and Level IV infractions should be reported to the administration.

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Teacher detention will be held after school for those students who commit infractions that are directly related to classroom behavior. Examples: Not following directions, not completing assignments, off task, disruptive behavior, etc... A teacher may hold detention in his/her classroom. Students must have a twenty-four hour notice before they are kept for detention. Also a phone call must be made or a letter must be sent to the parent(s) so that the student will have adequate transportation to get home. Examples: Cutting class, truancy, cutting detention, etc...Students must have a twenty-four hour notice before they are kept for detention. Again, students must have a twenty-four hour notice before they are kept for detention. Also a phone call must be made or a letter must be sent to the parent(s) so that the student will have adequate transportation to get home. 20. The teacher is to see that the school building, furniture, apparatus

are not defaced or injured. The teacher is also asked to keep his/her room thoroughly cleaned, well ventilated, and orderly at all times.

21. THE TEACHER IS TO REFRAIN FROM USING LANGUAGE IN

THE CLASSROOM THAT TENDS TO HUMILIATE OR EMBARRASS THE PUPIL.

22. No outsider is to have access to the classroom for complaints or for

any other purpose that may interfere with the daily program or consume the teacher’s time. Conferences for these purposes are to be scheduled and held in the office.

23. All monies raised for any school purpose are to be turned over to

the principal’s secretary immediately for account purposes. 24. Teachers are not to engage students in solicitation of funds on or off

the school campus without permission from the principal. 25. The school will not assume the responsibility of paying for any

purchases that are made without any approved requisition. 26. Accounts issued to clubs, athletics, and other school organizations

must be in the black with a positive balance at the end of the school year. The employee creating the account will be responsible for all transactions associated with the account.

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27. All teachers are to use the pass system when permitting students to

leave the room for any reason. 28. Emergency Lesson Plans should encompass 5 days of instructional

materials and are to be submitted to the Instructional Coach as requested.

29. All teachers are to have lesson plans displayed daily in the area

designated by the administration and written in sufficient detail for a substitute teacher to be able to carry on the work of the regular teacher with as little confusion as possible. Teachers without regular classrooms will notify the principal in writing of a permanent place where their daily lesson plans can be found. Lesson plans will be turned in at the beginning of the instructional week. All weekly lesson plans are to be submitted to the administration via the TKES Platform no later than 11:59 p.m. Sunday night.

30. Teachers are to place their daily routine on the bulletin board or in a

conspicuous place so that substitutes will have access to them. 31. Between classes, all teachers are expected to stand by their doors

and direct students to classes until the tardy bell stops ringing. Note: Students are tardy when they are not in the proper room when the tardy bell stops ringing. 32. Students must have a pass from the office to enter class when

tardy. 33. Teachers should report to the Counselor’s Office students who miss

3 days from any class. 34. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT EACH TEACHER DISCOURAGE

AMONG CO-WORKERS AND AVOID ALL PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT IN “SMALL TALK” GOSSIP, AGITATION, AND DISTORTED CONVERSATIONS. ABSOLUTELY NO DEROGATORY DISCUSSION OF SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS SHOULD BE MADE IN THE PRESENCE OF STUDENTS.

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35. State law requires that teachers report cases of possible child abuse or neglect. Any teachers that have a cause to believe that a case of possible child abuse or child neglect exists should contact the principal or associate principal at once. The principal or associate principal will then make a report to the School Social Worker. The School Social Worker will interview the teacher and student. If there is sufficient evidence, the visiting teacher will contact the Department of Family & Children Services. Any teacher may contact the visiting teacher if the matter needs immediate action and the principal/associate principal is unavailable.

36. The Faculty and staff are asked to refrain from the use of tobacco in

any form during faculty meetings and class time. 37. No eating or drinking in the classroom during class by students or

teachers. 38. Smoking is not permitted on campus during the school day. 39. No teacher is to allow a non-school person in your classroom at any

time unless they have a pass from the office. 40. Any teacher that invites a guest speaker to their classroom

must clear it through the administration. 41. Faculty and staff are not to use cellular phones during the

instructional period.

INJURIES 42. All injuries MUST be reported immediately to the principal or

designee. Injuries not reported within 24 hours of the occurrence may not be honored by Workmen Compensation.

43. Employees should review the approved list of medical doctors and

facilities located in the main office on the bulletin board before receiving services for job related injuries.

CLASSROOM APPEARANCE CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO GODLINESS. THE CLASSROOM MIRRORS THE ONE WHO OCCUPIES IT. PLEASE KEEP YOUR CLASSROOM CLEAN, NEAT, AND ORDERLY AT ALL TIMES.

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SICK LEAVE POLICY

Beginning July 1, 1980, each person employed in a school system in the capacity of teacher, student services support personnel or administrative and supervisory personnel as provided by APEG Sections 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 20, and 21 shall be entitled to sick leave with full pay computed on the basis of one and one-fourth working days each completed contract month. This means that an employee provided under the above APEG Section earns twelve and one-half days on a 10-month contract, thirteen and three-fourths days on all 11-month contracts, and fifteen days on a 12-month contract. The Georgia Teacher Salary Schedule provides for teachers to be on a 10-month contract. No more than three (3) days may be used for personal leave. All of the above employees may accumulate sick leave from one year to the next up to a maximum of sixty days. Bus drivers earn sick leave computed on the basis of one and one-fourth working days for each completed school month nine (9) or a total of eleven and one fourth (11 1/4) days per school year. Up to the forty-fifth days of accumulated sick leave is transferable from one system to another. This does not apply to bus drivers. The above provisions apply to CESA and area vocational technical schools as well as to local school systems. ALL TEACHERS MUST SIGN THEIR CONTRACTS BY MAY 15 OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR. THIS IS A MUST. IF THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, THE PRINCIPAL AND SUPERINTENDENT MUST BE NOTIFIED BEFORE MAY 15.

DRESS CODE FOR TEACHERS AND PARAPROFESSIONALS All teachers and paraprofessionals are expected to dress professionally each day with the exception of Fridays. Casual dress may be worn on Fridays. Casual is defined as blue jeans and tennis shoes. Any form of dress less casual than blue jeans and tennis shoes is prohibited. Cotton sweat pants or cotton warm ups are prohibited. Through our dress, we project an image of ourselves and an example for our children. In order to present the most professional and respectable appearance, we prefer that our teachers wear dresses, hosiery, shirts with tie, and skirts or pants with coordinated shirts, blouses

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or sweaters. City shorts MUST be worn with hosiery. Teachers should not wear blue jeans to work except on Fridays, teacher work days, and during pre- and post-planning days.

COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES Equal Opportunity-Complaints Procedures for Filing, Processing and Resolving Alleged Discrimination Complaints (Students and Employees) The Terrell County Board of Education will comply with the regulation set forth in Title 1X and Section 504. Complaints regarding alleged discrimination on the basis of race color or national origin in violation of Title 1X, on the basis of sex in violation of Title 1X or on the basis of handicap in violation of the rehabilitation act of 1973, also known as Section 504, will be processed in accordance with the following procedures. The procedures provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints. 1. Prior to filing a written complaint, the student or employee is encouraged to visit the coordinator and a reasonable effort should be made to resolve the problem or complaint. 2. Any student, employee or other person with a complaint alleging a

violation as described above shall promptly (within 3 days) notify, in writing or orally, the appropriate coordinator designated below for the school system. If the complaint is oral, the coordinator shall promptly prepare a memo or written statement of the complaint as made by the complainant and shall have the complainant read and sign the memo or statement if it accurately reflects the complaint made. Written complaints should state the name, nature and date of alleged violation; names of persons responsible (where known), and requested action. The superintendent will be notified of all complaints of discrimination.

3. The appropriate coordinator shall have fifteen days to investigate

the complaint, gather all information relevant to the complaint made, review the information, determine the facts relating to the complaint, and attempt to resolve the complaint with the complainant and any other persons involved. The coordinator shall prepare a written response to the complaint to assess the validity of the complaint, detailing any action to be taken in response to the complaint and the

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time frame in which such action will be taken. Copies of this response shall be furnished to the complainant and the superintendent. Files and records will be maintained in the office of each coordinator.

4. If the complainant is not satisfied with the resolution, the

complainant shall have the right, within five days of receiving a copy of the written response, to have the complaint referred to the Superintendent of Schools.

5. The Superintendent shall have fifteen days to review the complaint

and the response of the coordinator and attempt to resolve the complaint. The Superintendent shall furnish to the complainant a written response setting forth either approval of the action recommended by the coordinator of the action to be taken by the system in response to the complaint in lieu of that recommended by the coordinator and the time frame in which such action shall be taken.

6. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the response of the

Superintendent, then the complainant shall have the right, within ten days of the receipt of the written response of the Superintendent, to have the complaint referred to the Board of Education. In order to have the Board review the Superintendent’s decision, the complainant must file with the Superintendent a written statement setting forth the reasons he or she disagrees with the response of the Superintendent and the action the complainant is requesting the system to take. The complainant shall also include in the written response a request that the complaint be referred to the Board of Education.

7. Within thirty days of receipt of the written request of the

complainant, the Superintendent shall present the matter to the Board of Education at its regular meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose. The Board shall review the original complaint, the response of the coordinator, the response of the Superintendent and the response of the complainant. In addition, the Board may, but is not required to, hear directly from any individuals with knowledge of any relevant facts relating to the complaint.

8. The Board of Education will either uphold the recommendation of

the Superintendent or require the system to take some other action in response to the complaint. A copy of the action of the Board will be furnished to the complainant, either as a part of the minutes of

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the Board of Education or as a separate written statement. The Board shall be the final reviewing authority within the system. A record of complaints will be established and maintained for a period of not less than three years subsequent to the last documental action.

9. This procedure is not intended to deprive any employee of any right

that may have to file a grievance pursuant to any other policy of the Board of Education. This policy is not intendant to provide an alternative process for resolving evaluation and employment mandated by state law or State Department of Education regulations, specifically including, but not limited to, hearings to be conducted pursuant to the Fair Dismissal Act of Georgia, Official Code of Georgia Annotated 20-2-940 through 947. The complainant retains at all times the right to contact the Office of Civil Rights, Washington, D.C. 20201, with regard to any allegations that the system has violated the statutes described above.

10. This procedure is available to students, employees and the general

public through School Board Policy Manuals available in all school offices, media centers and the central office facilities.

NONDISCRIMINATION

The Terrell County Board of Education is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in relation to race, color, religion, national origin, age, handicap or sex. This policy will prevail in all matters concerning employees, (employment, retention and advancement), students, parents, the general citizenry, educational program and services and persons with whom the Board does business. In keeping with the Board’s commitment and the requirement of applicable State and federal law, the Board and staff will strive to remove any vestige of discrimination in employment, assignment and promotion of personnel; in educational services and opportunities offered students; in location and use of facilities; in educational materials and in all business transactions conducted by the Board.

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Title 1X Compliance It shall be the policy of the Board that no person shall on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity or in recruitment for employment and related benefits. The Superintendent has been designated responsible for coordination of efforts to assure compliance with Title 1X mandates with regard to employed personnel. The Title 1X Coordinator is responsible for processing complaints and serves as moderator and recorder during hearings. The principal of each school has been designated as the official responsible for coordination of efforts in the school to comply with requirements of Title IX with regard to students. Title IX Coordinator: Tonya Perkins, Terrell County School, P.O. Box 151, Dawson, GA 31742, (229) 995-4096 Section 504 Compliance The Board recognizes its responsibility, in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to provide a public education to those students enrolled in an education program in the school system or entitled to an education within the school system. The Board appoints the Curriculum Director to serve as the coordinator for Section 504 to assure compliance with the law system-wide. The Section 504 Coordinator is responsible for processing Complaints and serves as moderator and recorder during hearings. The principal of each school has been designated as the official responsible for coordination of efforts in the school to comply with Section 504. 504 Coordinator: Bernice Burke, CD, Terrell County Schools, P.O. Box 151, Dawson, GA 31742, (912) 995-4726 Teacher Tardiness Teachers with four or more tardies will be required to conference with the principal. SEXUAL HARASSMENT All persons associated with the Terrell County school system including, but not limited to, the Board, the administration, the staff and the students are expected to conduct themselves at all times so as to provide an atmosphere free from sexual harassment. Any person engaging in sexual harassment will be in violation of this policy. All matters involving sexual harassment complaints shall remain confidential to the extent possible.

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For purposes of this policy sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, where 1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a person’s employment or participation in an educational function, or 2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual issued as the basis for employment or decisions affecting such individual’s education, or

3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or educational performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or education environment The Hearing Officer.

The Superintendent shall serve as the harassment hearing officer vested with the authority and responsibility of processing all sexual harassment complaints in accordance with the procedure set out in Policy JAA-R/GAA-R

If a sexual harassment complaint is filed against the Superintendent of Schools, the complaint shall be presented to the Board of Education and will be processed by a special hearing officer appointed by the Chairman of the Board.

Daily Attendance and Monthly Report of Time Off

Reports are turned in to the county office on the 15th of every month for any days you are out for illness, personal, etc. December is the only month that reports must be submitted by the 9th. This will allow the staff in the county office time to get your checks ready before the Xmas break. You must sign the attendance book on the day you return to work and indicate on the sign in sheet type of day taken in the block where you would normally sign in each morning. Please use the following code on the sign in sheet when you are absent. P personal J jury duty D death in family* PF professional day I illness If no reason is listed, it will be counted as a Personal Day.

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Accumulative time cannot be counted as a personal day. If you use all of your personal days and indicate “P” on the sign in sheet, you will not be paid for the day. Accumulative time is used only when you have used all of your illness days for the school year. Jury Duty checks are to be signed and given to Mrs. Schofill. Mrs. Schofill cannot receive cash for Jury Duty. If the check is not turned in, you will be docked for a personal day. Time away from work (This is doing normal work day, arriving late or leaving early) will be counted as follows. Up to: 2 hours = 1/4 day 4 hours = 1/2 day 6 hours = 3/4 day 8 hours = 1 day *Death not in immediate family will be counted as a personal day.