District Information Guide - South Brunswick Public Schools

Facility MaintenanceAnnual Asbestos NoticeIn compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asbestos HazardEmergency Response Act (AHERA), South Brunswick School District is required annuallyto inform all parents, teachers and staff as to the availability of our asbestos managementplan as well as any activities which have taken place in the previous year.A periodic surveillance of asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM) is performed inall District buildings every six months. A complete re-inspection of all buildings containingasbestos is completed every three years and was last completed in July 2010. Informationabout these inspections is included in the AHERA Asbestos Management Plan, whichcan be found in each school’s main offi ce and at the Board of Education MaintenanceAnnex located at 4 Executive Drive, Monmouth Junction. Over the past year, the Districthas removed asbestos-containing materials from a few of our buildings. This work wasdone by a licensed contractor as part of our completion of routine maintenance tasks.The District continues to update and improve the AHERA Asbestos Management Plan.This work includes the sampling of materials that were originally assumed to containasbestos. Questions or concerns should be addressed to John Bruff, Director ofBuildings and Grounds, (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5109.Annual Integrated Pest Management NotificationIn accordance with State law (New Jersey School Integrated Pest Management Act),South Brunswick School District is required to annually notify all staff, students andparents of the District policy.Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a holistic, preventative approach to managingpests. As part of the District’s pest management plan, the District may use pesticides tocontrol pests. The District posts a copy of its Pest Management Policy; the date, time andplace of any meeting, if one is being held, for the purpose of adopting or modifying thePolicy or Plan. Finally, the District posts a list of pesticides that have been used duringthe past calendar year, on any school property, on its Web site at www.sbschools.org.The District has an IPM Coordinator, John Bruff, who maintains the pesticide productlabel and the Material Safety Data Sheet (when one is available) of each pesticide productthat may be used on school property. The label and the data sheet are available forreview by a parent, guardian, staff member or student attending the school.South Brunswick School District may use pesticides to control pests. The United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of EnvironmentalProtection (DEP) register pesticides to determine that the use of a pesticide in accordancewith instructions printed on the label does not pose an unreasonable risk to humanhealth and the environment. Nevertheless, the EPA and the DEP cannot guarantee thatregistered pesticides do not pose any risk to human health, thus unnecessary exposureto pesticides should be avoided. The EPA has issued the statement that, where possible,persons who are potentially sensitive, such as pregnant women, infants and children,“Building “Success Tomorrow, is a Choice” Today”8should avoid unnecessary pesticide exposure. Questions regarding the District’s IPMshould be addressed to Mr. Bruff. He can be reached at 4 Executive Drive, MonmouthJunction or by calling (732) 297-7800, Ext. 5109.Gifted and Talented ServicesAs a District, we believe many of our children possess special talents and gifts. Throughcomprehensive K-12 Gifted and Talentedservices, it is our professionalresponsibility to recognize and nurturethose talents as they emerge.We look to develop the whole childby offering an overall enriching environmentthat enhances the child’sdevelopment on a daily basis in anatural school setting, as well as byoffering experiencesbeyond the regular class.Student: Natasha BadamiTeacher: Tracey DovasCrossroads South Middle SchoolThe South Brunswick School DistrictGifted and Talented Services arecentered on a three-tiered approachto afford fl exibility to meet the varyingneeds, abilities and interests of students. Tier I includes enrichment within the regularclassroom and enrichment in “Good For All” experiences, Tier II includes enrichmentbeyond the regular classroom, and Tier III includes advancement and/or accelerationabove grade level.Throughout these areas of focus, students are identified and encouraged to exploreissues of diversity, community, and the world around them in an ongoing and flexiblemanner. In an effort to “label the program and not the child,” at no time will a child receivethe title Gifted and Talented, as it burdens the child both emotionally and socially.For additional information on the District’s Gifted and Talented Services, visit theDistrict’s Web site, www.sbschools.org.Graduation RequirementsThe District’s curricula is written from a K-12 perspective with the goal of preparingall students to meet the high school graduation requirements as set forth byState code. To view the District curriculum guides, please go to the District Web sitewww.sbschools.org. Click on Departments and go to Curriculum and Instruction.The guides are also available in the schools and in the Central Office curriculum library.Assessments: The State of New Jersey mandates all high school students pass theHigh School Profi ciency Assessment (HSPA) in the areas of English Language Artsand Mathematics in either their junior or senior year in order to qualify to receive astandard New Jersey High School diploma. The State also mandates that an “end-