To: Nyack School Community

From: Roberta R. Zampolin

Date: July 3, 2001

Re: S.A.V.E. PLANS: Recommendations for Changes to Drafts

You were previously notified about the Board of Education's required Public Hearing (June 19) on the District's drafts of three mandated safety plans that are part of the New York State Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act (S.A.V.E). The Board will vote on their adoption on July 10.

After consideration of verbal and written feedback received on the drafts of the District Safety Plan and the Code of Conduct, both documents are recommended for adoption as written, with the following content changes that address several key areas which elicited the most feedback:

• CODE OF CONDUCT:
  • Student Dress Code: formalizes expectations for dress
  • The wearing of hats in the High School will remain as currently permitted.
• DISTRICT SAFETY PLAN:
  • High School Open Campus Policy:
    • The current practice will remain for students who have written parent consent, and who meet eligibility and attendance criteria.
    • In the event of a threat of violence with a weapon, or a bomb threat, the campus will be closed for all students for a minimum of two weeks.
  • School IDs:
    • Only staff will be required to wear school photo I.D.s during school and school-related activities.
    • Students will be required to carry and present upon request their IDs during school and at all school-related activities. In the event of lost or forgotten cards students can be issued a temporary I.D. once. Beyond that one occurrence, students who are not able to produce their I.D. upon request will lose "open campus" privileges.

In the event that any item in these plans is not consistent with existing Board of Education policy, the language of these plans will prevail. Hard copies of the original draft documents are available at each school, in the District Public Information Office at Hilltop (353-7000) and in the Public Libraries. They can also be accessed on the District website, www.nyackschools.com.