It is the policy of the Central DeWitt Community School District not to discriminate in its educational programs and/or activities on the basis of age (except for permitting/prohibiting students to engage in certain activities), race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, gender, socioeconomic status, or creed, in accordance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations.  The District is committed to the policy that no otherwise qualified person will be excluded from educational programs or activities on the basis of age (except for permitting/prohibiting students to engage in certain activities), race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status, gender, socioeconomic status, or creed.  Further, the District and the Board affirm the right of all students and staff to be treated with respect and to be protected from intimidation, discrimination, physical harm and harassment.

 The board requires all persons, agencies, vendors, contractors and other persons and organizations doing business with or performing services for the school district to subscribe to all applicable federal and state laws, executive orders, rules and regulations pertaining to contract compliance and equal opportunity.

 The District has adopted grievance procedures for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to sex discrimination pursuant to Title IX, please contact Bill Petsche, Title IX Coordinator, 331 E. 8th Street, DeWitt, IA 52742, (563) 659-4735, bill.petsche@cd-csd.org, or the U.S. Department of Education (attn. Assistant Secretary, Office for Civil Rights; 400 Maryland Avenue Southwest, Washington, DC 20202; 800-421-3481; OCR@ed.gov).  If you have questions or a grievance related to any other provision of this policy, please contact the Superintendent, 331 E. 8th St., P.O. Box 110, DeWitt, IA  52742, phone 563-659-0700.

RELATED BOARD POLICIES
102.E1 - Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination
102.E2 - Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination
102.E3 - Notice of Section 504 Student and Parental Rights
102.E4 - Discrimination Complaint Form

The Central DeWitt CSD is committed to providing all students, employees, and volunteers with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect.  Bullying and/or harassing behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of school employees to maintain a safe and civil environment, and the ability of students to learn and succeed.  

 Bullying and/or harassment of or by students, employees, and volunteers is against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the board. 

 Accordingly, school employees, volunteers, and students shall not engage in bullying or harassing behavior while on school property, while on school-owned or school-operated vehicles, while attending or participating in school-sponsored or sanctioned activities, and while away from school grounds if the conduct materially interferes with the orderly operation of the educational environment or is likely to do so.

RELATED BOARD POLICIES
104 - Anti-Bullying / Anti-Harassment Policy
104.E1 - Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Complaint Form
104.R1 - Anti-Bullying / Anti-Harassment Investigation Procedures

Central DeWitt CSD believes all students should have access to a free, appropriate public education. Assistant Superintendent Jen Vance has been designated as the Homeless Children and Youth Liaison for CDCSD.  In this capacity she is to identify homeless children and youth within the district, encourage their enrollment and eliminate existing barriers to their receiving an education which may exist in district policies or practices. As per board policy, she will continuously track and monitor programs and activities for these homeless children and youth.

If your family finds themselves living in any of these situations, Central DeWitt can provide assistance:

• in an emergency or transitional shelter

• in a hotel, motel, trailer park, campground, abandoned in a hospital, or awaiting foster care

• doubled-up with relatives or friends

• migratory children living in these conditions

Services available to students who are homeless:

• a free public education that meets the student’s academic needs

• immediate enrollment into school, even if records are missing

• free lunch program

• assistance with transportation to the “home” school district

• referrals for other services needed by the student/family

For information on resources that are available to help homeless families, please review the Family Resource Guide. 

If you think that you or someone you know is homeless, please contact Bill Petsche for assistance at (563) 659-4735.

RELATED BOARD POLICY
501.16 - Homeless Children and Youth

If you need further assistance, call the National Center for Homeless Education at the toll-free helpline number: 1 (800) 308-2145.