Faculty Manual
2013-2014
Phillipsburg High School
200 Hillcrest Boulevard
Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865
Main Office:
(908) 454–6551
Guidance Office:
(908) 213-2420
PREFACE
Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year! As a member of the Phillipsburg High School faculty, it is important that you are familiar with school board regulations, state law, educational philosophy, and general information related to day-to-day procedures at PHS. The information contained in this manual must be read and understood by everyone to ensure consistent implementation of all policies and procedures. Changes or additions to the information in this manual will be issued throughout the school year.
This manual is not a finished product, but a work in progress. Future revisions depend on your thoughtful consideration of ways to improve its efficiency and effectiveness. Please contact a building administrator if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions for improvement of this manual's contents. I look forward to working with each one of you to provide a safe, secure and intellectually challenging environment at PHS during this school year.
Thank you!
Gregory Troxell
Principal
September, 2013
DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT
The Phillipsburg School District, a proud and diverse learning community with a focus on educational excellence and a strong sense of tradition, ensures that all students are engaged in challenging work resulting in their attainment of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards at all grade levels. Attainment of the skills and knowledge addressed in the standards empowers our graduates to become confident, contributing members of society.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I - Educational Philosophy and General Staff Information
Values and Belief Statements .1
Professional Teaching Standards 2
Common Principles 6
Statement of Non-Discrimination/Affirmative Action 7
Board of Education Committee Appointments 8
Non-Discrimination/Affirmative Action 10
Board Policy on Conduct 21
Board Policy on Dress 23
Board Policy on Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco 24
Board Policy on Weapons and Dangerous Instruments 30
Sexual Harassment/Intimidation Policy 31
Highly Qualified Teacher Information 34
PART II – Administrative and Support Services
Career Development Program 38
Child Abuse Reporting Procedures 40
Crisis Management Plan 46
Home Instruction 48
Phillipsburg Alternative Secondary School 50
School Counselor Program 51
S.H.A.R.P. 54
Section 504 Notice 58
PART III – Student Activities and Procedures
Acceptable Use Policy 59
Attendance Policies 62
Cellular Telephones and Electronic Portable Communication Devices 65
Building and Facilities Use After Hours 66
Dance Decoration Rules 67
Dance Rules 68
Field Trips 69
Foreign Exchange Students 73
Fundraising 74
Locker Facilities Use After Hours 75
Press Release Information 76
Religious Holidays 78
Student Records/Student Directory Information 80
Volunteer Aide Program 80
PART IV – Staff Procedures, Schedules and Assignments
Part A - Staff Procedures
General Staff Information 82
Opening Exercises in Homeroom 82
Arrival and Departure of Staff Members 83
Policy for Staff Members Leaving the Building During the Day 83
Teacher Accidents 84
Policy on Securing Classroom Area 84
Supervision Outside the Classroom 85
Classroom Responsibilities 85
Damage to School Property by Students 86
Stealing School Property 86
Class Attendance Check 86
Lights 86
Students Using School Building 86
Passing the Word 86
Covering Textbooks 87
Lockers 87
Bulletin Board Use 87
Public Telephone 88
Visitors 88
Corporal Punishment 88
Assembly Instructions 88
Care for Ill or Injured Students 89
Cellular Telephones 91
Discipline Procedure and Supervision 92
Emergency Closing of School 97
Evacuation Plans 97
Grading System 104
Honor Code Policy 111
Independent Study 112
Opportunity Period 113
Student Teachers/Interns 116
Student Teachers 117
Preparation for Substitute Teachers 118
Teacher Absences 123
Teacher Supervision Procedures 124
Textbooks 126
Travel Reimbursement 130
Worker’s Compensation Claims 132
Xerox Machines 132
Part B – Schedules
2013-2014 School Calendar 136
Calendar of Meetings 137
Regular Bell Schedule 139
Half Day Bell Schedule 140
Ninety-Minute Delay Bell Schedule 141
Fire Drill Schedule 142
Part C – Tentative Staff Assignments (to be distributed 8/21/13)
Faculty List
Administrative Assignments
Secretarial Assignments
Parking
Coverage Assignments
AM/PM Duty Assignments
Homeroom Assignments
Detention/OP Assignments
Co-Curricular Advisor Assignments
Student Activity Calendar
Assembly Assignments
Counselor Assignments
v
PART I
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND DISTRICT INFORMATION/POLICIES
PHILLIPSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
VALUES AND BELIEF STATEMENTS
1. Every student must master the essential academic learnings and workplace readiness skills as stated in the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.
2. Every student must be actively engaged in high quality, knowledge-based work that extends beyond the state core standards and leads to greater understanding of connections across the curriculum.
3. Every student must broaden perspectives by exploring personal interests via elective courses and co-curricular activities.
4. Every student must foster the habits of lifelong learning through the process of inquiry.
5. The school must provide a personalized educational experience.
6. The teacher, as the facilitator of learning, must use a variety of strategies and settings that identify and accommodate individual learning styles, engage students in meaningful work, and assess their progress authentically.
7. The school must integrate technology in all aspects of the curriculum so that students become proficient in the use of emerging information technologies.
8. The faculty and staff as professionals must be continuous learners whose skills are enhanced by quality staff development.
9. The school must support the learning community by providing facilities and equipment necessary to the delivery of the instructional program, student services, and flexible space to enhance student and staff development.
10. The school as a learning community must provide a safe, secure environment which enhances the pursuit of knowledge and promotes the ideals of democratic citizenship and respect for diversity.
11. The learning community must articulate and reinforce clear expectations for high academic achievement and personal responsibility. Parents, as the students’ first teachers, must be essential collaborators in this process.
12. The learning community must participate directly in the decision-making process through a school management team made up of teachers, parents, administrators, and students.
13. The school must be a community resource where citizens can access instruction, technology, facilities and services which will enhance their personal growth and development.
PHILLIPSBURG HIGH SCHOOL
PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS
The InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards (April 2011)
At A Glance
The Learner and Learning
Standard #1: Learner Development
The teacher understands how learners grow and develop, recognizing that patters of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas, and designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences.
Standard #2: Learning Differences
The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.
Standard #3: Learning Environments
The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self motivation.
Content Knowledge
Standard #4: Content Knowledge
The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
Standard #5: Application of Content
The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.
Instructional Practice
Standard #6: Assessment
The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage
learners in their own growth, to monitor learner progress, and to guide the
teacher’s and learner’s decision making.
Standard #7: Planning for Instruction
The teacher plans instruction that supports every student in meeting rigorous
learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, crossdisciplinary
skills, and pedagogy, as well as knowledge of learners and the
community context.
Standard #8: Instructional Strategies
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to
encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their
connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.
Professional Responsibility
Standard #9: Professional Learning and Ethical Practice
The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning and uses evidence to
continually evaluate his/her practice, particularly the effects of his/her choices
and actions on others (learners, families, other professionals, and the
community), and adapts practice to meet the needs of each learner.
Standard #10: Leadership and Collaboration
The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities to take
responsibility for student learning, to collaborate with learners, families,
colleagues, other school professionals, and community members to ensure
learner growth, and to advance the profession.
Statement of Non-Discrimination/Affirmative Action
The Phillipsburg School District complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and their respective implementing regulations which prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, sex, disability, and age, respectively. The District provides equal access and opportunity in employment as well as enrollment, in vocational and all other educational programs and activities, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age. Through the designated responsible personnel, the District will guarantee that no persons shall on the basis of sex, race, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, affectional or sexual orientation, civil union status, social or economic status, and/or handicap be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity. Anyone who feels that his or her rights have been violated may file a grievance with the Phillipsburg School District through the Affirmative Action/Title IX/504 Officer. Board of Education Policies 4111.1/4211.1 Non-discrimination/Affirmative Action, 4118.4 Grievance Procedure – Discrimination Complaints and grievance forms, as well as the District’s 2007-2010 Comprehensive Equity Plan (CEP), are available in all of the district offices and on the Phillipsburg School District website - www.pburgsd.net.
Affirmative Action/Title IX/504 Officer Dr. Marian Trapani
Phillipsburg Board of Education Office
445 Marshall Street
Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
908.213.2400
PHILLIPSBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION
Committee Appointments by President Kevin DeGerolamo
January 2013
ATHLETIC COMMITTEE Chair. – Mr. Bernard Brotzman
Mr. William Spencer
Mr. James Hanisak
Mr. Kevin Bayne
BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE Chair. – Mrs. Rosemarie Person
Mr. Robert Yale
Mr. Kevin Bayne
Mr. Thomas McGuire
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS Chair.- Mr. James Hanisak
Mr. Richard Turdo
Mr. William Spencer
Mr. William Taggart
CURRICULUM/TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE Chair.- Mr. William Spencer
Mr. James Hanisak
Mrs. Rosemarie Person
Mr. Bernard Brotzman
ED COUNCIL COMMITTEE Chair. – Mrs. Cathy Morgan
Mr. Bernard Brotzman
Mrs. Rosemarie Person
Mrs. Rebecca Petri
PERSONNEL & POLICY COMMITTEE Chair.- Mr. Richard Turdo
Mr. William Taggart
Mr. Robert Yale
Mrs. Cathy Morgan
NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE Chair. – Mr. Robert Yale
Mrs. Cathy Morgan
Mr. Richard E. Turdo
Mrs. Rebecca Petri
Committee Appointments by President Kevin DeGerolamo (cont.)
Mr. Thomas F. McGuire -- Board Representatives
for S.B.Y.S.
Mr. Kevin DeGerolamo -- Board Representative
for Legislation
Mr. Richard E. Turdo -- Board Representatives
for WCSB
Mrs. Rosemarie Person -- Urban Superintendents
Representatives
Mr. William J. Spencer -- Skyland Foundation
Representatives
Mr. James Hanisak -- NJSBA Delegate
PHILLIPSBURG BOARD OF EDUCATION
January 2013
______
Mr. Kevin J. DeGerolamo, President (2015)
Mr. Thomas F. McGuire, Vice-President (2013)
Mr. Kevin Bayne (Greenwich)*
Mr. Bernard Brotzman (2015)
Mr. James Hanisak (2015)
Mrs. Cathy Morgan, (2013)
Mrs. Rosemarie Person (2014)
Mrs. Rebecca Petri (Bloomsbury)*
Mr. William J. Spencer (2014)
Mr. William Taggart (Lopatcong)*
Mr. Richard E. Turdo (2013)
Mr. Robert D. Yale, Jr. (2014)
NONDISCRIMINATION/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
PURPOSE
The Phillipsburg School District is committed to a positive and productive working and learning environment free from discrimination. Discrimination adversely affects morale and interferes with employees' and students' ability to work and learn.
DEFINITIONS
Gender-based Harassment - Gender-based harassment that include acts of verbal, nonverbal, physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on gender, but not involving conduct of a sexual nature, may be a form of sex discrimination if it is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive and directed at individuals because of their gender.
Quid Pro Quo Harassment - When a school employee explicitly or implicitly conditions another school staff member's conditions of employment, or a pupil's participation in an educational program or activity, or bases an educational decision on the pupil's submission to unwelcomed sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other favors, or other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Quid Pro Quo Harassment is equally unlawful whether the staff member or pupil resists and suffers the threatened harm, or submits and thus avoids the threatened harm.
Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment - Sexually harassing conduct (which can include unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other favors, or other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature) by an employee, by another pupil, or by a third party that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive as to limit a school staff member's ability to participate in a workplace environment or activity or a pupil's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity, or to create a hostile or abusive workplace or educational environment.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS
3362
The Board of Education recognizes that an employee's right to freedom from employment discrimination includes the opportunity to work in an environment untainted by sexual harassment. Sexually offensive speech and conduct are wholly inappropriate to the harmonious employment relationships necessary to the operation of the school district and intolerable in a workplace to which the children of this district are exposed.