MSD of Wayne Township - Indianapolis, Indiana

This school year includes additional educational opportunities offered by the Wayne Township Schools to our students. We are adding another grade level to our exciting early college high school program, Ben Davis University High School (BDUHS). BDUHS is a cooperative program with Vincennes University, where students have the opportunity to earn a high school diploma and college credits leading to an associate degree.

For our youngest learners, we are proud to announce the opening of the Wayne Township Preschool at the BDUHS campus. This innovative program will serve children ages 3-5. To enroll your child or for more information please call 988-7900.

Many of you may be familiar with our HOSTS (Help One Student to Succeed) program, where mentors are always needed. For individuals willing to volunteer one hour per week helping an elementary student read better, please call our HOSTS teacher at 227-8675.

The MSD of Wayne Township is a partnership of students, staff, families, and community. By working together, our students can become successful contributing members to society. Thank you for your support over the years and I am looking forward to the 2009-10 school year.

Annually the Board of Education adopts a calendar of regular board meetings. Most regular board meetings will be held on the first and third Mondays of the month; however, in some months there may only be one regular board meeting. Meetings are conducted in the Board Room of the Education Center, 1220 South High School Road starting at 7:30 p.m. unless a different time or location is designated by a majority of the Board. Special meetings are also open to the public. Information on Board meetings may be obtained by calling the Education Center, 243-8251.

The school district administrative offices are located in the Education Center at 1220 South High School Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46241, telephone (317) 243-8251. Some key telephone numbers for district administrators are:

Dr. Terry Thompson, Superintendent of Schools (227-8604)
Dr. Jeff Butts, Assistant Superintendent (227-8684)
Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Assistant Superintendent (227-8606)
Dr. Lisa Lantrip, Assistant Superintendent (227-8608)
David Marcotte, Director of Personnel Services (227-8673)
Dennis Tackitt, Chief Financial Officer (227-8620)
Cheri O’Day, Director of School/Community Services (227-8654)
John Maples, Director of Operations (227-8622)

Area 31 Career Programs offices are located at Ben Davis High School, 1200 North Girls School Road, Indianapolis, IN 46214. Telephone (317) 227-8630. Ron Hoke is the director.

Wayne Enrichment Center (WEC) offices are located at 5248 West Raymond, Indianapolis, IN 46241. Telephone (317) 248-8685. Sally Hoffman is the director.

West Central Joint Services offices are located at Sanders School, 4730 West Gadsden, Indianapolis, IN 46241. Telephone (317) 243-5737.

July
21......................................... Elementary Registration Day for New Students

August
10-11.................................... Teacher Workday (Half Day Staff Development) (No students)
12......................................... Pre-K, Preschool and Kindergarten thru Grade 12 Students - Full Day

October
      9.......................................... END OF FIRST GRADING PERIOD
      19 & 20................................. Preschool thru Grade 12 - Full Day (Evening Conferences Preschool - Grade 12)
      21 & 22 & 23......................... Pre-K, Preschool - Grade 12 - Fall Recess (No School)

November
26 & 27................................. Thanksgiving Recess (No School)

December
18........................................ Kindergarten thru Grade 8 Students - Full Day (No Preschool)
END OF SECOND GRADING PERIOD

January
      4......................................... Staff Workday – Building Professional Development (No Students)
       5......................................... Pre-K, Preschool – Grade 12 Students Return From Winter Recess
BEGINNING OF SECOND SEMESTER
    18.......................................... Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (No School)

February
3......................................... Staff Development Day (No Students)
15.......................................... Great Americans’ Day (No School)

March
12.......................................... END OF THIRD GRADING PERIOD

March 29 through
April 2......................................... Spring Recess (No School)

May
      25......................................... Grade 12, Last Day (If no make-up days)
     27......................................... Kindergarten – Grade 11 Students - Last Full Day
      28......................................... Last Teacher Workday (No Students)
      31......................................... Memorial Day
June
      1........................................... Ben Davis High School Graduation

State law requires that school days lost because of emergency cancellations (closings) be made up, if the total number of school days does not equal the minimum mandated. Possible school make-up days are: January 18 – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; February 3 - Staff Development Day; February 15 – Great Americans’ Day; May 31 – Memorial Day; Extension of School Year and Saturdays, if necessary.

A uniform code of student conduct emphasizes reasonable expectations and responsibilities for stude

nts as well as their rights. This code is distributed annually to students and parents. A Parental Acknowledgment Reply accompanies the Student Code of Conduct and Annual Notices. After reviewing the information, the reply should be completed and returned to each child's school during the first week of classes. Parents not receiving copies of the Student Code of Conduct and Parental Acknowledgment Reply should contact their child's school.

Any child with legal settlement in the MSD of Wayne Township who will be five years of age on or before August 1, 2009, is eligible for admission to kindergarten. A waiver may be requested from the school principal for children who will turn five years of age after August 1, 2009, and on or before September 1, 2009. A birth certificate, immunization records, and medical history must be presented at the time of registration.

Full-day kindergarten classes are offered at all elementary schools. Depending upon enrollment other options may be offered.

Pre-registration enrollment for entrance to kindergarten for the next school year for students who will be five years of age on or before September 1, 2010 will take place in all elementary schools on March 17 or April 21, 2010. Registration hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Lunches and breakfast which qualify as reimbursable under the National School Lunch Program of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture are available in all buildings of the school district. Milk may also be purchased separately. All breakfast and lunch prices are approved by the Board of Education for the school district. Menus are available in each school cafeteria and on the district website. Free meals and reduced price meals are available for those who are eligible. Application forms are mailed to each household and are also available in the office of each school. Students who receive free and reduced price meals last year must complete a new application by September 22, 2009 to continue receiving meal benefits.

Elementary breakfast no charge, lunch $1.50 (Lunch at Stout Field and Garden City will be at no charge)
7th and 8th grade breakfast no charge, lunch $1.75
Ninth Grade Center breakfast $1.25, lunch $1.75
Senior high breakfast $1.25, lunch $1.75
Adult breakfast $1.50, lunch $3.00
Milk is 50¢ at all buildings.

The M.S.D. of Wayne Township, exercising sound educational practice to prepare students for the future, assigns students to classes in the following manner:

a. At the elementary level, the general assignment is one of heterogeneous arrangement. There are provisions that allow for adjustment of curriculum to student needs.

b. At the secondary level, the school assigns students or permits selection of courses by the students that allow mixed or random placement in classes, except for certain classes where placement is based on various criteria, including standardized test scores, previous academic performance and teacher observations or student performance.

Neither sex, race, national origin or religion is used as a criteria for assignment of students to any classes.

1. Family life and AIDS education are a part of the educational offerings. Films, videos and other materials used have been approved by the Board of Education as recommended by an advisory committee of parents, nurses, teachers, and administrators. A notice of the opportunity for parents of grades 4-6 students to view and discuss family life and AIDS education films/videos will be sent home with each student. A separate notice will be sent in the mail if requested in writing by the parent. At grades 7-9, notice of the use of these films/videos will be given to parents in a newsletter or mailing. The school will assist those parents who wish to preview the material. It is the parent's responsibility to notify the school if he/she wishes the student to have alternative activities or be excluded from seeing any such films or videos.

It is not the intention of this program to supplant or replace the home or religious training, but to supplement the roles of parents and clergy by reinforcing their efforts to mit knowledge and help students develop values about social, moral, mental, and physical consequences of human sexual behavior. Abstinence is taught as required by state law.

2. Drug education is taught as part of the health program. Making good decisions and responding appropriately to negative peer pressure are emphasized.

3. Teachers are sensitive to the community's beliefs regarding evolution and creationism. Most textbooks used are from the state adoption list and all are approved by the Board of Education. Parents participate in the textbook selection process by reviewing textbooks.

Special Education Services and Evaluation Process - The MSD of Wayne Township is committed to meeting the educational needs of each student. The Office of Special Services coordinates and is responsible for determining eligibility for special education and providing special education and related services.

When a student continues to struggle in the general education classroom and numerous academic/behavioral interventions have been attempted through data collection, a referral for an educational evaluation may be made to determine if a student has a disability. Usually, this referral will start with a building level committee, called the Instructional Data Evaluation Analysis (IDEA) Team. This IDEA Team consists of school administrator, teacher, parent, and other relevant school personnel. Parents may request a referral for an educational evaluation. At the elementary level, referral requests are directed to the Assistant Principal and at the secondary level to the student’s counselor. School personnel will inform parents of interventions attempted and additional interventions that might address the student’s need. If an educational evaluation is deemed necessary, the parents will be invited to attend a case conference meeting to discuss the evaluation and determine if the student is eligible for special education and related services. If the student is deemed eligible for special education services, the case conference committee will determine need and appropriate goals and services to address these needs. Special education programs for students with disabilities are conducted in all of the areas of exceptionality as defined by state law.

Homebound Instructionis provided to students who are temporarily unable to attend school because of health problems. To be eligible for homebound instruction, a statement must be provided by a physician indicating that the student has an illness or injury requiring hospitalization or homebound care as part of the medical treatment and will be absent for at least twenty instructional days due to illness or injury.

Students are the focus of the M.S.D. of Wayne Township. The school corporation's major responsibility is to help all students develop to their fullest potential. The Board of Education has adopted the following statement of policy which embodies that belief:

The members of the Board of Education of the M.S.D. of Wayne Township, Marion County, Indiana, believe that each individual should be accepted in the educational program as he is, that he must be provided with a stimulating environment and that he must have the opportunities for learning experiences which are designed to affect his continuing satisfactory adjustment to life.

The mission of the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township, a partnership of students, staff, families, and community, is to ensure all students acquire and apply knowledge, skills, processes, and values, to become life-long learners and contributors in a democratic society through a comprehensive program of outstanding quality which enables them to develop their potential.

It is the policy of the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township to require that decisions about students and staff be based exclusively on merit, free from consideration of non-merit factors such as gender, race, age, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or United States military service veteran status.

Persons shall be evaluated for employment, educational placement, recognition, and advancement based upon the content of their character, their conduct, and the capabilities they have demonstrated. Every member of the school community shall be afforded an equal opportunity to demonstrate the application of these criteria to the content of their character and their capabilities, free of any assumptions based upon immutable or irrelevant characteristics.

Standing or parked cars in unauthorized areas on school property are a potential hazard to the safety of students. The cooperation of parents and visitors in helping to keep these areas and other approaches to school property clear at all times is requested. Cooperation in each of the following is asked:
• Please follow building procedures for student arrival and dismissal times.
• Please obey all signs and give cooperation to traffic officers.
• Unauthorized motor vehicles and motor sports are prohibited on school property.

All taxpayers are concerned about the cost of school vandalism and cooperation is solicited from area residents to assist school security personnel by reporting observed violations which concern school property. Call for security at 247-9761 during school hours and calls after school should be made to the office of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), 327-3811. Emergency calls should be placed to 911.

Every school in the M.S.D. of Wayne Township has an emergency plan. Also to promote students and staff safety, a Safe Schools Hotline has been established at 227-8322, where school safety tips or requests for information may be left anonymously.

All visitors must report to the Principal’s office.

Students who seek employment must do so in accordance with Indiana and Federal labor laws. A person is eligible for an employment certificate from age 14 up to age 18. If a student has graduated from high school or received a GED diploma before age 18, no certificate is required. Junior High students should obtain their certificates at their school. High school students should obtain their certificates at Ben Davis High School. When schools are closed certificates may be obtained at the Education Center, 1220 S. High School Rd., (8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) These certificates must be completed and approved before work is started by: (1) Obtaining an “Intention to Employ” card from the student’s school, Education Center, or employer. (2) Having the card filled out and signed by the student, employer and parent. (3) Junior high students take the card to their school; Wayne Enrichment Center students and high school students take the same to their school and the certificate will be issued. Students not attending school or home schooled can obtain their work permits from the Education Center by presenting their birth certificate and “Intention to Employ” form. Information about employment certificates may be obtained from the Education Center, 243-8251, or BDHS, 243-5522.

The requirements for graduation established by the Indiana Department of Education and the MSD of Wayne Township Board of Education are:

Graduating Classes of 2010 and 2011
Beginning with the Class of 2010, there will be four types of diplomas: Academic Honors, Technical Honors, Core 40, and General. Students are encouraged to complete the Core 40 Diploma requirements or the requirements for one of the Honors Diplomas. All students must pass the GQE (Graduation Qualifying Exam), complete Wayne Township’s requirements to earn a diploma, and complete specific requirements for one of the above state diplomas.

Graduating Class of 2012 and beyond
Beginning with the Class of 2010, there will be four types of diplomas: Academic Honors, Technical Honors, Core 40, and General. Students are encouraged to complete the Core 40 Diploma requirements or the requirements for one of the Honors Diplomas. All students must pass the Core 40 end of course assessments in Algebra 1 and English 10.

All Ben Davis High School Graduates
A.   A student shall complete 45 credit hours of high school work. The 45 credits must include 28 credits of required work and      17 credits of electives.
B.    The 28 required credits are in specific courses and/or areas.
C.    Any student who graduates from Ben Davis High School must meet all current state and local graduation requirements.

In areas where school bus transportation is furnished, the parents and students are reminded that this is a privilege and not a right. At the beginning of the school term each student receives a copy of bus conduct rules. Continued or serious misbehavior will result in disciplinary action which may include denial of bus riding privileges. The bus driver has the same supervisory responsibility for the student as does the teacher in the classroom. Parent questions on bus schedules should be referred to the Supervisor of Transportation 247-9761.

Student drivers at Ben Davis H.S. must have their cars registered and display a parking sticker. They must obey all school parking lot rules and must park in the south parking lot. Permission to park in school property may be denied for unsafe operation of a vehicle or other disciplinary violation.

For more information click here.

Parents and eligible students (18 years of age and older) may review their present and past school records. Upon request to the principal, arrangements will be made for parents or eligible students to review and discuss their educational records. The principal or designee will be present during the review to answer questions and interpret data. If a parent or eligible student questions the validity of any educational record, the person may ask for a meeting with the Superintendent or his designee to discuss the correction. If the conference with the Superintendent or his designee does not meet the satisfaction of the parent or eligible student, the person may request a further hearing into the matter. Complete procedures for inspection, fee schedules, location and identification of school officials for education records are listed in the School Board policy.

Parents may review all instructional materials including teacher manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary materials which will be used in connection with any survey, questionnaire, analysis, or evaluation administered to students. No student will participate without prior written consent of the student's parent, or of the student if he/she is eighteen (18) years of age or older, in any survey, analysis, or evaluation which contains information concerning: political affiliations; mental or psychological problems potentially embarrassing to a student or other student's family; sexual behavior and attitudes; illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, and demeaning behavior; critical appraisals of other individuals with whom the student has close family relationships; legally-recognized, privileged or similar relationships, such as those with lawyers, physicians, and ministers; or income, other than information required to determine participation in programs or eligibility for receipt of federal financial assistance.

Call your child's teacher or counselor to arrange a conference. If necessary, confer with principal.

A student who becomes ill during school hours is taken to the nurse's office. If it is necessary to send the child home because of illness, the parent or another person designated by the parent in writing will be notified and requested to provide transportation. It is very important that you provide the school with medical emergency information and alternate persons to call for assistance in the event you cannot be reached.

Please call the school within the first hour of each school day of the child's absence. Also, please send a note listing the dates of absence and reason for the absence when your child returns to school. The Ben Davis High School Attendance Office telephone number is 243-5500.

Only emergency messages may be delivered to students. In case of emergency, call the school principal.

Please provide the information needed to forward school records to the building principal in your new school district.

Questions regarding discipline of students on busses are to be referred by parents to the transportation coordinator at 247-9761.

Additional information about the Wayne Township Schools and its many programs may be found at www.wayne.k12.in.us.

Health services are provided at each school. At certain grade levels and by referral, school nurses help conduct screening for hearing and vision.

Parents are requested to advise the school nurse if their child must take prescribed drugs where failure to have prescribed medication during the school hours could jeopardize the child’s health. Parents should notify the school nurse if their child has special medical needs.

If a student is injured at school, including athletics, parents have the responsibility to determine if their child should receive medical attention. School personnel may offer parents their opinions regarding a specific injury or illness, but decisions about the need for medical treatment is the responsibility of the parent, except in emergency situations. Parents should not expect the school staff to make this decision.

Report cards will be distributed and parent conferences held according to the schedule listed below. Conferences may be arranged at other times by contacting the school. Progress reports may be sent home during the grading periods when pupils are not working to capacity or when performance has noticeably improved.

School	Start Times	Dismissal Times
Ben Davis High School	9:30 a.m.	3:05 p.m.
Ben Davis University High School	11:15 a.m.	4:15 p.m.
Ninth Grade Center	9:30 a.m.	3:05 p.m.
All Elementaries	10:00 a.m.	2:25 p.m.
7th and 8th Grade Centers	10:45 a.m.	3:45 p.m.
Sanders	10.45 a.m.	3:30 p.m.

*NOTE: No breakfast program when on a delayed start schedule.
Ben Davis High School campus closed until 9:15 a.m.
Pre-school watch local television stations for more details.

The Adult Education program at Ben Davis High School offers a variety of opportunities for continuing education. Brochures containing pertinent information on enrollment cost and schedules are available by calling the telephone numbers listed below.

Each of the elementary and secondary schools has a human relations advisory committee for the purpose of increasing communications between the home and the school on all matters pertaining to human relations in order that education and its environment enhance learning and give equal opportunity to all. These committees, consisting of parents and staff, meet with the principal throughout the school year. Individuals with human relations problems or concerns are urged to contact the building committee members. There is also a district committee that meets regularly September through May with the Superintendent of Schools. For information regarding the Human Relations Advisory Committees contact the Director of School/Community Services at 227-8654.

It may become necessary to close school because of emergency situations. As a practice, instruction is offered and schools are kept open as long as a learning environment can be maintained. Schools will not be closed except for reasons beyond the control of the schools and for the safety of the students.
There are three types of emergency situations, which could require the closing of our schools:

Should it be necessary to close school for any of the reasons above, the following procedures will apply:

A. Announcements will be made on the following radio and television stations:
WNDE/1260 – WTLC/1310 - WXNT/1430 – WIBC/93.1 – WWFT/93.9 – WFMS/95.5 - WLHK/97.1 – WZPL/99.5 - WJJK/104.5 - WTLC/106.7 - WNTR/107.9
WRTV 6 - WISH 8 - WTHR 13 - WXIN 59

B. Announcements will state the reasons for the school closing. If the closing results in evacuation, the announcement would state where the children have been taken and what parents should do.

C. Parents should make special arrangements with their children in the event of an emergency early dismissal during the school day when children are sent home before the normal schedule.

When the schools remain open during inclement weather, the school corporation recognizes the basic right of parents and guardians to decide whether or not to send their children to school under such conditions. Such absences will not be considered unexcused. Parents and students should also recognize that school bus schedules may be delayed because of weather conditions. In these situations parental decisions about school attendance or tardiness are respected.

State law requires that school days lost because of emergency closings be made up if the total number of school days does not equal the minimum mandated.

Student insurance is available in all schools in the school system. This insurance is not provided by the school system but must be purchased by individual students. Students or parents interested in this insurance should inquire through their principal, athletic coach or trainer.

Parents should realize that there are risks and dangers involved when students are participating in curricular and extracurricular activities and assume all risk of injury and damage incidental to such participation. Parents and students are advised that this risk of being injured is particularly inherent in sports. This risk exists even with good student talent, good facilities, good equipment, carefully taught fundamentals and proper supervision. Cases of severe injury are rare, but the possibility exists. For this reason, student accident insurance is strongly advised for students who are not covered on a parent health plan. The investment of a small premium could save a family thousands of dollars in medical expenses.

The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) carries catastrophic insurance for major injuries incurred during participation in approved IHSAA sports programs. The policy pays a premium on a catastrophic coverage from $25,000 to $1,000,000. It should be noted that neither Wayne Township nor the IHSAA carry any kind of first dollar medical insurance for injuries.

Students arriving before the opening of the building or staying after the building closes will not be supervised if they are not part of a scheduled activity.

For information on school boundary lines and school attendance areas, call the office of the supervision of transportation, 247-9761.

ENGLISH AS A NEW LANGUAGE (ENL)

Services are provided for students whose first acquired language is other than English. The goal of the program is to ensure that ENL students develop their English skills while working on academic content at their grade level. Additional information about the ENL program and services may be obtained by calling the ENL Coordinator at 227-8653.

Information Guide The Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township Indianapolis, Indiana 2009-2010

Information Guide
The Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township
Indianapolis, Indiana
2009-2010