Annual Notifications

Children’s Online Privacy & Protection Act (COPPA)

The Oelwein School District seeks to extend and enhance the educational opportunities for students through the use of varying web-based tools and applications. The use of many of these resources by children under the age of 13 is governed by a federal law known as the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA).

COPPA “was put in place to protect kids’ personal information on websites and online services — including apps — that are directed to children under 13. The Rule also applies to a general audience site that knows it’s collecting personal information from kids that age.” (www.ftc.gov)  Under COPPA, these websites must provide parental notification and obtain parental consent before collecting personal information from children under the age of 13.

Our district utilizes several computer software applications and web-based services, operated not by this school, but by third parties. These include Google Apps for Education, Prezi, Schoology, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Math ebooks, Thinglink, and similar educational or education-related programs. A complete list of the programs can be found on our district website.

In order for our students to use these programs and services, certain personal identifying information - generally the student’s name and school-provided email address - must be provided to the website operator. The law permits schools to obtain parental consent to the collection of personal information on behalf of all of its students, thereby eliminating the need for individual parental consent to be given directly to the website operator.

The district's COPPA form, when completed below and on file with the district, will constitute consent for the district to provide personal identifying information for your child consisting of first name, last name, email address and username to our associated web-operators as appropriate for school-related purposes.

• Web-based resources used by OCSD staff and students.

You can view each resource’s privacy policy by going to their website.

Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act affords parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights with respect to access and confidentiality of student educational records.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act provides that a school may disclose appropriately designated "directory information" without written consent.

Annual Notice of Non-discrimination

It is the policy of the Oelwein Community School District Board of Education to extend equal opportunities to all employees and to applicants for employment who meet the qualifications established for a class or a position for which the application is made.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

Students, parents, employees and others doing business with or performing services for the Oelwein Community School District are hereby notified that this school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (except students), religion, national origin, creed, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability in admission or access to, or treatment in, its programs and activities.

The Oelwein Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following service areas: Health Science, Agricultural, Food, and Natural Resources, Business, Finance, Marketing, and Management, and Applied Science, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing.

It is the policy of the Oelwein Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator, Joshua Ehn, Superintendent, 307 8th Ave. SE, 319-283-3536.

The Oelwein Community School District offers career and technical education programs in the following service areas: Industriaial Technology, Business, Health Services, Agriculture and Family & Consumer Sciences.   

The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (except students), religion, national origin, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability in admission or access to, or treatment in, its hiring and employment practices. Any person having inquiries concerning the school district’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), § Section 504 or Iowa Code § 280.3 is directed to contact the Central Office at 319-283-3536 or email jehn@oelwein.k12.ia.us

Section 504

Section 504 is an Act which prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability in any program with federal financial assistance. The Act defines a person with a disability as anyone who:

1. Has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities including activities such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working;
2. Has a record of such an impairment; or
3. Is regarded as having such impairment (34 Code of Federal Regulations Part 104.3).

In order to fulfill its obligations under Section 504, the Oelwein School District recognizes a responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and learners. No discrimination against any person with a disability will knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices in the school system.

The school district has specific responsibilities under the Act which include the responsibility identify, evaluate and if the child is determined to be eligible under Section 504, provide access to appropriate education services.

If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he/she has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) also specifies rights related to educational records. The act gives the parent or guardian the right to: 1) inspect and review his/her child’s educational records; 2) make copies of these records; 3) receive a list of all individuals having access to those records; 4) ask for an explanations of any item in the records; 5) ask for an amendment to any report on the grounds that it is inaccurate, misleading or violates the child’s rights; and 6) a hearing on the issue if the school refuses to make the amendment.

If there are any questions, please feel free to contact the 504 Coordinator (Jayme Hurley 319-283-3015) for the school district.

Annual Asbestos Notification Letter

For the School Year 2022-2033

Dear Parents, Students, and Staff: 

Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) in 1986. This act concerns asbestos in schools. As of a result of this act, our facilities were inspected for asbestos containing building materials and their conditions assessed. The materials are re-inspected and re-assessed every three years. We continue to monitor the conditions of these materials through our ongoing six-month surveillance program. It is our district's intent to comply with federal, state, and local regulations governing asbestos to ensure a safe environment for our students, staff, and visitors. A copy of our district's Asbestos Management Plan is available at our facilities' administrative offices during regular school hours. Any inquiries regarding our district's Asbestos Management Plan should be directed to our district's Asbestos Designated Person, James Prouty and can be reached at (319)-283-3536.

During the past year, our district has complied with the required six-month surveillance program, and had asbestos abated prior to renovations at the High school and Wings Park school.

Had our buildings re inspected as required by AHERA 

During the upcoming year, our district will continue the six-month surveillance program and is planning on .... 

We have no asbestos projects scheduled at this time 

A copy of this letter is enclosed in our district's Asbestos Management Plan.

The State of Iowa requires that all students enrolled in public schools meet specific immunization requirements for attendance. These requirements are intended to protect the health of our students and the broader school community by reducing the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.

We also recognize that parents/guardians have legal rights regarding medical and religious exemptions to immunization requirements. This notification provides important information about those rights and how to request an exemption.

Medical and Religious Exemptions

Parents/guardians may request an exemption from required immunizations for the following reasons:

• Medical Exemption: A licensed physician must document that a specific vaccine is medically contraindicated for your child due to health reasons.

• Religious Exemption: Based on sincerely held religious beliefs, parents/guardians may request that their child be exempt from one or more required immunizations.

To request either type of exemption, parents/guardians must complete the appropriate documentation provided by the school health office or the Iowa Department of Public Health and submit it to the district. Additional information on exemption procedures is available upon request from your school nurse or district office.

Important Considerations

• Exemptions may affect your child’s ability to remain in school during outbreaks of certain communicable diseases as defined by Iowa law and public health guidelines.

• Exemptions are granted in accordance with state statute and district policy.

District Policy

For detailed information on immunization requirements and exemption procedures, please refer to the Oelwein Community School District policy:

📄 Immunization and Exemption Policy
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/Policy/ViewPolicy.aspx?S=36031866&revid=IyplusQImB1nqlpLmHmc6OnQQ==&ptid=McGIVFIFyy65GtnRbGDfuw==&secid=&PG=6&IRP=0&isPndg=false

Contact Information

If you have questions regarding immunization requirements, medical or religious exemptions, or need assistance with exemption documentation, please contact:

School Nurse – 
Email: @oelwein.k12.ia.us