STUDENT HANDBOOK

The School of Applied Technology (TECH) offers eight vocational and technical courses for freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Oxford and Lafayette High School. Each course is designed to provide two years of vocational training that can give the student four Carnegie credits toward graduation. Career Pathway Experience is for juniors and seniors and Carnegie credits vary according to completion.

The TECH will comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). The policy of the TECH is to recognize achievements and honors which students earn. The TECH may be called upon to release information for student recognition. This information may include the following: the student’s name, address, telephone number, participation in officially recognized activities, dates of attendance, awards received, and other similar information. Parents who have objections to the release of such information on their child should contact the TECH director during the student’s first week of attendance.

The TECH does not discriminate regardless of race, color, creed, sex, disability, religion, or marital status. No student shall be excluded on such basis from participating in or having access to any course offering or club organization.
LEGAL REF: Mississippi Code, 37-15-35 and 1972 Educational Amendments, Title IX; 45 CFR Part 86; 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title VI, 1973 Rehabilitation Act, Section 503 & 504; 45 CFR Part 84.

Attendance is vital to success; thus, students are expected to report immediately to class upon their arrival to the TECH. An absence will be considered unexcused until proper documentation is provided to the instructor. An unexcused absence will result in the student receiving a zero for all work missed. If transportation is provided by the home school, a student must attend or will be counted absent. The TECH will adhere to the home school’s absentee policy.

If a student is absent, he/she must present an admission slip from his/her home school to his/her instructor. After three days, the absence will automatically be considered unexcused, and no make-up work will be accepted. Any student who is late arriving to the TECH should report immediately to the office and obtain a tardy slip. No student will be admitted to class without a tardy/admit slip. Once a student has three unexcused tardies, the instructor may send the student to the TECH director.

Within three (3) school days of the student’s return, he/she will be responsible for contacting the teacher and arranging for makeup work/test. The instructor will determine when and how the work is to be completed.

Students must immediately exit from the bus upon arrival at the TECH and report directly to their classroom.

Students will be accompanied by a parent/guardian when signing out early from school. Should a parent/guardian be unable to accompany their child, a letter will be acceptable. The letter should contain the parent/guardian’s signature, current date, and a telephone number where they can be contacted. A parent/guardian who wishes for another person to sign out their child must notify the office, in advance, of the early departure and identify the individual responsible for the student. At all times during the school day, students must sign out in the office when leaving and sign back in upon their return. Students who leave the campus without permission will be referred to the office for possible disciplinary action.

The home schools provide bus transportation for the students who attend the TECH. Student misconduct on the bus will not be tolerated, and those who violate this policy will be referred to the office for disciplinary action. Students enrolled in Career Pathway Experience are permitted to drive to the TECH, and they must display their TECH parking tag while on campus. Should any other student need to drive to the TECH, they must obtain permission from their instructor prior to bringing their vehicle onto campus. A permission slip should be completed and returned to the instructor completely filled out and signed by all authorized personnel. Students must discuss other daily driving conditions with the TECH director. No student is to ride with another student unless approved by the TECH director. A student who does not follow the guidelines as stated above may lose the privilege to drive to the TECH campus for the remainder of the school year or may face other disciplinary action.

The TECH will grant student parking permission on a case-by-case basis. See your instructor to request permission and for designated parking areas.

Each course at the TECH has a classroom and lab component. The student is responsible for keeping up with all assignments, lab projects, and/or required clinical and working hours. Progress reports and nine weeks grades are given for each student in accordance with the school
calendar. TECH nine weeks, semester, and final exam dates will be set by the School of Applied Technology.  Grades will adhear to the student’s home school grading scale.  Numerical grades will be given at the Oxford-Lafayette of Applied Technology.  An “incomplete” will become an “F” unless all work is completed within a time set by the instructor. Exceptions may be permitted on a case-by-case basis.

The TECH will adhere to the exemption policies of Oxford High School and Lafayette High School. Students will need to provide proof from their home school that they are exempt.

Should a parent desire to meet with their child’s instructor, they should call the TECH office, 234-9469, and make arrangements with the instructor.

Students are encouraged to participate in organized clubs at the TECH. Instructors will inform the students of the availability of club membership and dues. Keep in mind that membership in these clubs will provide students with opportunities to excel at district, state, and national levels. The following is a list of clubs available at the TECH:
Future Farmers of America (FFA) – Mr. Terry James, Advisor
Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) – Ms. Beverly Brent, Advisor
EdRising – Ms. Christy Jordan, Advisor
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) – Ms. Sandi Allen, R.N., Advisor
SkillsUSA – Mr. Ryan Avent, Advisor; Mr. Stuart Meagrow, Advisor and
Mr. Perry McCormick, Advisor
National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) – Ms. Inda Linzy, Advisor

Students who attend the TECH should exhibit appropriate behavior at all times. When a student does not behave as expected, he/she may be removed from the class. The parent will be contacted and informed of the offense and disciplinary action taken by the administration. If a student continues to misbehave, then a recommendation may be made to remove the student permanently from the TECH. The following are some infractions and their penalties:

Bullying or Harassing Behavior

The TECH does not condone or tolerate bullying or harassing behavior when it takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or when it takes place off school property when such conduct, when determined by administration, renders the offending person’s presence in the classroom a disruption to the educational environment of the school or a detriment to the best interest and welfare of the pupils and teacher of such class as a whole. Bullying or harassing behavior is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic that (1) places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property or (2) creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits. The TECH will adhere to the home school’s Bullying Policy.

Damage of School Property

If any student willfully damages any school building, equipment or other part of the school facility, he/she will be recommended for suspension or expulsion. Mississippi code 3922 provides for the recovery of damages in an amount not to exceed $5000 from the parents/guardian of any minor under the age of 18 years who intentionally or recklessly destroys school property.

Tobacco

Consistent with the provisions of Public Law 104-227, 20 USC 6083, the TECH bans the use of all tobacco products on the TECH campus, building, and on all school vehicles on campus and by all persons at all times. Any student in violation of this policy will face the following consequences:

1st offense – Parent notification and penalty are at the discretion of director. 2nd offense and subsequent offenses – In-school or out-of-school suspension

Alcohol and Drugs

It is against TECH policy for any student to be found using or in possession of any alcoholic beverage or illegal drugs on any bus, property, or any function/location which falls under the heading of TECH jurisdiction. It is also prohibited for any student to come onto the TECH campus, school bus, or come to any activity or any function/location which falls under the heading of TECH jurisdiction after having used alcohol or illegal drugs.

Cell Phones

The use of cell phones while at the TECH is not permitted unless the student receives permission from his/her instructor. Any student who uses a cell phone without permission from his/her instructor will face the following consequences:
The TECH instructor will complete a discipline form on the student and turn it into the TECH director with the student’s cellular device.

1st offense – lose cell phone for 1 day (24 hours); instructor will call student’s parent/guardian and student’s phone must be given to the TECH director.

2nd offense – parent/guardian must retrieve phone from the TECH director

3rd offense – referral to the TECH director for disciplinary action for repeated offenses.

Weapons

Mississippi law states that any student who possesses any controlled substance is in violation of the Uniform Controlled Substances Law. This includes items such as a knife, handgun, or any other instrument capable of causing bodily harm. It also includes anyone who commits a violent act on school grounds. Student violators may be subject to automatic expulsion and arrest beginning immediately, subject to the constitutional rights of due process.

Suspension

When a student is suspended from the home school, that student forfeits the right to attend the TECH during that time.

Expulsion

A student recommended for expulsion from their home school will not be permitted to attend the TECH, subject to the constitutional rights of due process.

A student who is placed in the Oxford Learning Center or Lafayette Alternative School will not be permitted to attend the TECH. Should a student be placed in the alternative school or learning center while attending the TECH, the TECH course instructor may/will provide the student with the academic portion of that class. Since a large part of the class is lab based and cannot be replicated off site, the student will not receive credit for missed lab assignments.

The TECH reserves the right to call for the assistance of the Oxford Police Department and/or the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department when necessary for the safety of students and staff. When law enforcement officers are called to remove individuals, the director may file appropriate charges.

Students will be required to pay all lab fees before being admitted into the shop area.

If TECH instructors assign individual students textbooks at the beginning of the school year, the student is responsible for their assigned textbook(s).

• Lost textbooks – Fees will be collected as follows: Books used less than 1 school year assess full price. Books used less than 2 school years assess 3⁄4 price. Books used less than 3 school years assess 1⁄2 price. Any other circumstances assess 1⁄4 price.
• Damaged textbooks – A fine of not less than 1⁄4 of full price of the textbook will be assessed.

Students will be required to follow the safety rules/regulations as outlined by the classroom instructor. In order to be permitted access to the lab area, all students are required to take a safety test and score 100%. All students must wear the proper clothing and eye safety glasses while in their respective lab areas. This clothing may be stored in the student’s locker provided at the TECH. The student can use his/her own lock for added security to his/her locker.

Students are discouraged from bringing valuable belongings to school. Should students choose to bring such items to school, they do so at their own risk. The TECH shall not be liable for theft or loss of personal property on school grounds. Should students choose to bring personal belongings to school, the students, not the TECH, are responsible for ensuring that their belongings are secured.

The TECH’s computer resources and Internet access is through the Lafayette County School District; therefore, the TECH will adhere to the Lafayette County School District’s Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy. A copy of the adopted Internet Acceptable Use and Safety Policy is attached to this handbook. The policy covers the user’s responsibility as he/she access the Internet through the Lafayette County School District. Please read the policy carefully. Sign the attached acknowledgement sheet and return it to the TECH.  Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks. General school rules for behavior and communications apply. Access is a privilege – not a right. Access to the district’s network entails responsibility. Although freedom of speech and access to information will be honored, network storage areas are similar to school lockers. Technology personnel may access storage areas for the purposes of maintaining system integrity and ensuring the system is being used responsibly. Files on district resources will not always be private. Individuals should realize that network use is logged and subject to administrative monitoring/review at any time.