PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

It is the policy of the Cashton School District that no person may be denied admission to any public school in this District or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil service, recreational, or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, homeless status, or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability or handicap as required by s.118.13, Wis. Stats.  This policy also prohibits discrimination under related federal statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color and national origin), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (sex), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (handicap), Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (disability) and the McKinney – Vento Homeless Assistance Act (homeless children must have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children residing in the school district).

The District shall provide for the reasonable accommodation of a student’s sincerely held religious beliefs with regard to examinations and other academic requirements.  Requests for accommodations shall be made in writing and approved by the building principal.    Any accommodations granted under this policy shall be provided to students without prejudicial effect.

Any complaint regarding the interpretation or application of this policy should be communicated in writing to the District Administrator who serves as the district equal opportunity coordinator.  The District encourages informal resolution of complaints under this policy.  If the reply to the informal procedures is not acceptable to the complainant, he/she may initiate a formal complaint by contacting the district's section 504, Title II, and Title IX Coordinator, Ryan Alderson, District Administrator, 540 Coe Street, Cashton, WI 54619.  (608) 654-5131.

STUDENT DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

Any complaint regarding the interpretation or application of this policy shall be processed in accordance with the following grievance procedures:

1. Any student, parent, or resident of the District complaining of any form of discrimination shall report the complaint in writing to the District Administrator (Ryan Alderson 540 Coe Street, Cashton, WI 54619, 608-654-5131 e.401).

2. Complaints/appeals relating to the identification, evaluation, educational placement or the provision of a free appropriate public education of a student with a disability must be resolved through procedures established in the District’s special education handbook.

3. Complaints that the District is violation a federal statute or regulation that applies to a program (“EDGAR – Education Department General Administrative Regulations – complaints”) must be referred directly to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

4. The District Administrator, upon receiving such a written complaint, shall immediately undertake an investigation of the suspected infraction.  Within 30 days after receiving the complaint, the District Administrator shall decide the merits of the case, determine the action to be taken, if any, and report in writing the findings and the resolution of the case to the grievant.

5. If the grievant is dissatisfied with the decision of the District Administrator, he/she may appeal the decision in writing to the Board.  The Board shall hear the appeal at its next regular meeting, or a special meeting may be called for the purpose of hearing the appeal.  The Board shall make its decision in writing within 30 days after the hearing.  Copies of the written decision shall be mailed or delivered to the grievant and the District Administrator.  The grievant shall be notified that if he/she is dissatisfied with the Board’s decision, he/she may appeal the decision in writing to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and of the procedures for making the appeal.

MAINTENANCE OF COMPLAINT RECORDS

Records of all complaints shall be kept for the purpose of documenting compliance and past practices.  The records shall include information on all levels of the complaint and any appeals.