A program for annual inspection, in addition to those conducted by authorized agencies, of the equipment, facilities, and grounds will be conducted as part of the maintenance schedule for school district buildings and sites. The results of this inspection will be reported to the board at its annual meeting. Further, the board may conduct its own inspection of the school district buildings and sites annually.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§279.8.
Cross Reference:
802.1 Maintenance Schedule
Approved: 8/14/1995 Reviewed: 7/10/2023 Revised: 7/11/2022
The safety and security of the school community is paramount to Tipton Community School District. While there is no absolute guarantee of safety, it is the goal of the district to encourage and support a physically secure learning and working environment within its buildings. The district shall work in conjunction with community stakeholders including local emergency management coordinators and local law enforcement agencies to create emergency operations plans for all district buildings and school buildings where students are educated.
The superintendent or their disignee shall be responsible for the development, review and implementation of the district emergency operations plan. The plan shall include procedures for transmitting alerts regarding emergency situations to school personnel, students, and employers for non-school employees whose presence is regularly required in the school building. The emergency operations plan shall be updated and reviewed annually by the Board and shall address responses to natural disasters, active shooter scenarios and other emergencies as determined by the district. The emergency operations plans are confidential and shall not be subject to disclosure under Iowa Code Chapter 22. However, the district shall publish procedures for students, school personnel, parents, and family members to report possible safety threats on school grounds and at school activities.
The administration shall hold annual emergency operations drills at each district building covered by an emergency operation plan in accordance with law. The district shall determine which school personnel shall participate and whether local law enforcement and students participate in annual drills.
Legal Reference:
Iowa Code 280.3.
Cross Reference:
711.7 School Bus Safety Instruction
800 Objectives of Buildings & Sites
Approved: 8/14/1995 Reviewed: 07/10/2023 Revised: 11/9/2020
Friable and nonfriable asbestos containing materials will be maintained in good condition and appropriate precautions will be followed when the material is disturbed. If there is a need to replace asbestos it will be replaced with nonasbestos containing materials. Each school building will maintain a copy of the asbestos management plan.
The school district will annually notify, appoint and train appropriate employees as necessary.
Legal Reference:
20 U.S.C. §§ 3601 et seq.
40 C.F.R. Pt. 763.84.
Iowa Code §§ 279.52-.54.
Cross Reference:
403.4 Hazardous Chemical Disclosure
802 Maintenance, Operation and Management
Approved: 3/11/1991 Reviewed: 11/9/2020 Revised: 11/9/2020
The district believes in the importance of providing a safe and enriching learning environment possible for its students. The district uses digital recording devices on school property including school transportation vehicles to help protect the safety of district students, employees and community members; and to safeguard district property which is funded using public resources. Additionally, district-generated recordings of students engaging in the district’s educational and extracurricular programs can be essential to engage positively with the school community and promote the value of public education.
In order to balance privacy and safety interests, no recording devices will be utilized on district property where individuals maintain a reasonable expectation of privacy. These areas include but are not limited to: the school nurse’s office, restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, lactation spaces and employee break areas.
Recordings of students have the potential to be considered education records. Any recordings will be maintained and accessed in compliance with the requirements of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and the district’s policy on student records.
Recordings will be digitally maintained and stored for an appropriate amount of time to maintain the safety of the educational environment and to safeguard district property, after which they will be destroyed. The superintendent or superintendent’s designee will establish any necessary regulations related to the secure storage, maintenance, viewing and destruction of digital recordings.
Non-District Generated Recordings
The use of non-district owned recording devices on school property and at school events will be regulated. Students, parents and community members will not be permitted to take recordings of other students or employees during school hours unless the recording is authorized in advance by building administration. Students and employees found to violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary measures consistent with board policy and applicable student and employee handbooks. This policy will not be construed or enforced in a way that infringes on employee activity otherwise protected by law.
It is important to foster a community spirit and sense of unity within the district. However, the district acknowledges that not every student or staff member feels comfortable or safe being recorded. At district-sponsored extracurricular events and activities, the use of non-district owned recording devices by the public may be monitored by administration if a concern is made known to district administration by a student, employee or parent. Any individuals determined to be making recordings considered bothersome to students or staff may be asked to stop or destroy their recording and may be asked to leave the event.
Legal Reference:
Cross Reference:
506.1 Student Records
Approved: 1/10/2022 Reviewed: Revised:
The board supports the use of recording devices on district property as a means to monitor and maintain a safe environment for students and employees. District property includes district-owned land, buildings, vehicles, buses and any other property as needed. The contents of the recordings may be used as evidence in a student or employee disciplinary proceeding.
Student Records
The content of the recordings may be a student record subject to federal and state law, board policy and administrative regulations regarding confidential student records. Generally, surveillance video that does not capture any specific incident is not a student record or personnel record and may be disclosed as a public record upon request. Only those persons with a legal basis or legitimate educational purpose may view the recordings. In most instances, individuals with a legitimate educational purpose may be the superintendent, building principal, classroom teacher, transportation director, bus driver, HR director and special education staffing team. A parent may inspect, review or be informed of the content of the recording without consent from any student or parent of a minor student also shown in the recording, whether the student is a bystander to an incident or directly involved. The district may, but is not obligated by law to provide a copy of a recording to a parent or student upon request.
A recording during a school-sponsored trip, such as an athletic event, may also be accessible to the sponsor or coach of the activity. If the content of the recording becomes the subject of a student disciplinary proceeding, it will be treated like other evidence in the proceeding.
Notice
The school district will annually provide the following notice to students, employees, and parents:
The Tipton Community School District Board of Directors has authorized the use of recording devices on school district owned property. The recording devices will be used to enhance safety and security within the educational environment. Students, employees, and parents are hereby notified that the content of the recording may be used in a student or employee disciplinary proceeding. The content of the recordings may be considered confidential student records and will be retained with other student records. Recordings will only be retained if necessary for use in a student or employee disciplinary proceeding or other matter as determined necessary by the administration. Parents may request to view the recording of their child.
The following notice will also be placed on all school buses equipped with recording devices:
This building/bus is equipped with a recording /audio monitoring system.
Review of Recording Devices
The school district will review the recordings when necessary, as a result of an incident reported by an employee or student. The recordings may be re-circulated for erasure after 30 days.
If not public records, the viewing of the recordings is limited to the individuals having a legitimate educational purpose. A written log, as appropriate, may be kept of those individuals viewing the recordings stating the time, name of individual viewing and the date the recordings was viewed.
Student Conduct
Students are prohibited from tampering with the recording devices on the school property. Students found in violation of this regulation will be disciplined in accordance with the school district discipline policy and Good Conduct Rule and will reimburse the school district for any repairs or replacement necessary as a result of the tampering.
Employee Conduct
District-generated recordings may be used as evidence in employee disciplinary matters, as appropriate. Employees are prohibited from tampering with recording devices on school property. Employees found to be in violation of this regulation will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the employee handbook and relevant board policies.
Approved: 1/10/2022 Reviewed: ______________ Revised: _____________