BOARD OF EDUCATION

The Board of Education meets regularly the third Tuesday of the month. All meetings of the Board of Education and its committees are open to the public. In certain circumstances, portions of the meetings can be conducted in Executive Session. Such circumstances are prescribed by law. If you attend the Board of Education meeting and wish to speak, you may do so during citizen comments at the beginning or close of the meeting. Traditionally, at the beginning of the meeting comments are restricted to those on agenda items only. By calling the board of Education office, you can learn how to obtain an agenda, and the date, time and location of the next board meeting. (848-1228).

STARTING SCHOOL

There are state and district requirements that must be completed before your Kindergarten or transfer student may be admitted to Montville schools. Parents and guardians should visit the school office as soon as possible after moving to the district. Children whose fifth birthday falls on or before December 31st may be admitted to Kindergarten. Early registration of your child for Kindergarten will allow them to participate in orientation and visitations. If your child has a late fall birthday, you may want to contact the principal or one of the Kindergarten teachers in your school to discuss your child's developmental readiness to begin Kindergarten.

ADMISSION PLACEMENT

District schools shall be open to all children five years of age and over who reach age five on or before the first day of January of any school year. Each such child shall have, and shall be so advised by the appropriate school authorities, an equal opportunity to participate in the program and activities of the school system without discrimination on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin or sexual orientation. Students who are classified as homeless under federal law, and therefore do not have a fixed residence, will be admitted pursuant to federal law and Policy #5118.1. Exceptions from routine admission may be made by the school principal on the basis of supporting evidence from physical and psychological examinations.

Children who apply for initial admission to the district's schools by transfer from non-public schools or from schools outside the district will be placed at the grade they would have reached elsewhere pending observation and evaluation by classroom teachers, guidance personnel, and the school principal. After such observations and evaluations have been completed, the principal will determine the final grade placement of the children.

The parent or person having control of a child five years of age shall have the option of not sending the child to school until the child is six years of age. The parent or persons having control of a child six yeas of age shall have the option of not sending the child to school until the child is seven years of age.

The parent or person shall exercise such option by personally appearing at the school district office and signing an option form. The district shall provide the parent or person with information on the educational opportunities available in the school system.

According to the Connecticut General Statute 10-76d(b2), special education will be provided for children who have attained the age of three and who have been identified as being in need of special education, and whose educational potential will be irreparably diminished without special education at an early age. If a special education student is being considered for an exception, the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) will make a recommendation to the administrator in charge of special education.

Each child entering the district schools for the first time must present a birth certificate or offer legal evidence of birth data, as well as proof of a recent physical examination and required immunizations. Proof of domicile may also be requested by the Building Principal.

The parent or person having control of a child sixteen or seventeen years of age may consent to such child's withdrawal from school. The parent or person shall exercise this option by personally appearing at the school district office to sign a withdrawal form. The district shall provide the parent or person with information on the educational opportunities available in the school system and in the community.

Children who have attained the age of sixteen and who have terminated enrollment in the district's schools with permission as described previously and subsequently seeks readmission may be denied readmission for up to ninety school days from the date of such termination.

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for enrollment, the following documentation is required at the time of registration:

1. Birth Certificate or Baptismal Record. The child must be five (5) years old by December 31st.

2. Physical Examination Form (blue) given not more than one (1) year prior to the first day of school

3. Proof of Immunization Requirements:

a. DTP/Td &endash; minimum of four (4) doses of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus - for children 48 months and older, the last dose must be given on or after the fourth birthday;

b. TOPV/IPV &endash; minimum of three (3) doses of trivalent oral polio vaccine &endash; for children 48 months and older, the last dose must be given on or after the fourth birthday;

c. MMR &endash; measles, mumps and rubella, 2 doses given at least thirty (30) days apart, the first given after the twelfth (12) month of age.

d. HIB &endash; Hemophilus influenza, type B (given at age twelve (12) months or older). This vaccine is only for children entering school who have not reached their fifth (5) birthday by the opening day of school.

e. Hepatitis B &endash; completion of a series of three (3) doses of hepatitis B vaccine, two doses given at least four (4) weeks apart followed by a third dose at least four (4) months after the second.

f. Varicella &endash; immunized with one (1) dose of varicella vaccine on or after the child's first birthday.

A child is considered adequately protected against measles, rubella, mumps, HIB, varicella and Hepatitis B if he/she has it confirmed in writing by a physician based on a specific blood test conducted by a certified laboratory.

By law, children who do not meet state immunization requirements must be excluded from school until the requirements are met.

Board of Education policy requires a pre-school physical examination one (1) year prior to entering school in September. The physical should be conducted any time after September 1, 2001.

Forms for registration, physical examination and health forms are available at any one of the three elementary schools during regular office hours (8:30 AM-4:00 PM, Monday &endash; Friday).

Should you have any questions, please call one of the following schools:

OAKDALE SCHOOL 859-1800

MOHEGAN SCHOOL 848-9261

DR. CHARLES E. MURPHY 848-9241

HOMELESS STUDENTS

The Board shall make reasonable efforts to identify homeless children within the district, encourage their enrollment and eliminate existing barriers to their education, which may exist in district policies or practices, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Further, it is the policy of the Board of Education that no child or youth shall be discriminated against or stigmatized in this school district because of homelessness. Homeless students, as defined by federal and state statutes, residing within the district or residing in temporary shelters in the district are entitled to free school privileges.

MIGRANT STUDENTS

The Superintendent will develop and implement a program to address the needs of migrant children in the District.

This program will include a means to:

1. Identify migrant students and assess their educational and related health and social needs.

2. Provide a full range of services to migrant students including applicable Title I programs, special education, gifted education, vocational education, language programs, counseling programs and elective classes.

3. Provide migrant children with the opportunity to meet the same statewide assessment standards that all children are expected to meet.

4. Provided advocacy and outreach programs to migrant children and their families and professional development for District staff.

5. Provide parents/guardians an opportunity for meaningful participation in the program.