A Reference Guide of the Bakersfield City School District

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIESVisiting SchoolsParents, legal guardian and interested members of the community are encouraged to periodically visit the schools andview the educational program. Procedures have been established to minimize interruption of the instructional program.In general, classroom visits would be limited to once per month or less. Typically, a reasonable visit to the classroomwould last thirty minutes or less.Visits during school hours should be first arranged with the principal/designee and teacher. If a teacher conference isdesired, an appointment should be set with the teacher during noninstructional time. All visitors to the campus, exceptstudents of the school and staff members, shall register immediately upon entering any school building or groundswhen school is in session. Visitors should model appropriate conduct for students. Visitor registration privileges maybe denied or revoked consistent with applicable law.Penal Code 627.2, 627.7; Board Policy 300.45 & 300.46, & 400.33Video Surveillance in District Schools and FacilitiesThe District places a priority on safety and the prevention of student injury. To help minimize the risk of harm anddeter against vandals, video surveillance systems (cameras) are among the security measures in use on most schoolsites and District facilities. Signage is posted at conspicuous locations at affected school buildings and grounds. Thesigns clarify that there is no expectation of privacy in those locations where the cameras capture images. The wordingof the sign is the same or substantially similar to the following:“The recording of activity by video camera, including occasional monitoring in real time, is used in the open and publicareas of these school grounds for the safety of students, staff, and visitors.”Cameras may be used in locations such as the open campus, hallways, stairwells, parking lots, and cafeterias. Imagesfrom surveillance cameras may be used in disciplinary proceedings and matters captured by the camera may be referredto local law enforcement, as appropriate. By law, use of a recording device does not occur in a classroom without theprior consent of the teacher and principal.Education Code 51512, Board Policy 300.42, 300.44, 605.7; New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985) 469 U.S. 325Student RecordsDistrict Officials Responsible for Student RecordsThe custodian of student records shall be responsible for the security of student records and shall assure that access islimited to authorized persons. The custodian of student records for the district is the Supervisor of the Student ServicesDepartment. The custodian of student records for each school is the principal or the principal’s designee.California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Sec. 433Types and Locations of Student RecordsThe district and individual schools maintain, for time periods set by law, a variety of student records. For example, thedistrict maintains a student’s attendance records, suspension records, the student’s legal name, place of birth, date ofbirth, the results of standardized tests, health information, progress slips and parental restrictions. Records for eachindividual student are maintained in a central file at the school attended by the pupil. This central file is commonlyreferred to as the “cumulative file”. Records are also stored on each student in the electronic/computer system of theDistrict. Upon request to access a student’s records, the parent /legal guardian will be notified by the school if studentrecords are maintained in a location other than the cumulative file.26