Required Notices

In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Manitou Springs School District does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment, or employment in educational programs or activities which it operates.

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex/gender), may be filed with Sarah McAfee, Title IX Coordinator, or may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), can be filed with Kolleen Johnson.  Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

Title IX Coordinator:
Eric McMartin
emcmartin@mssd14.org
405 El Monte Place
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
719-685-2013

Title VII Coordinator:
Kolleen Johnson
kjohnson@mssd14.org
405 El Monte Place
Manitou Springs, CO 80829
719-685-2024

Formal Complaint Form

Policy Code: AC (III. 1)
Policy Name: Nondiscrimination/Employment
 

Policy Code: AC-R
Policy Name: Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity

Title IX Personnel Training

What is Section 504?

Section 504 is the part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which applies to individuals with disabilities. Section 504 is a civil rights act which protects the civil and constitutional rights of individuals with disabilities.

Section 504 states that no individual with a disability can be excluded from or denied benefits of any program receiving federal financial assistance.

To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to:

Have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits access to general education, have a record of such impairment; or be regarded as having an impairment.

A physical or mental impairment is defined as any physiological disorder or condition, cosmetic disfigurement, or anatomical loss affecting one or more of the following body systems:

Neurological; musculoskeletal; special sense organs; respiratory, including speech organs; cardiovascular; reproductive; digestive; genito-urinary; hemic and lymphatic; skin; and endocrine; or any mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities.

How are children with disabilities identified?

Supporting a student with a suspected disability begins  with the Child Find process. If a parent, teacher or other individual knowledgeable about the child suspects an impairment or disability, a Child Find Evaluation for Section 504 may be requested. Each school has a designated person(s), typically the school counselor who will handle the process. In evaluating a student for eligibility, all determinations are made on the basis of individual inquiry.

What are accommodations?

Accommodations are adjustments made by the classroom teacher(s) and other school staff to help students access the general education curriculum.

The School 504 Coordinator will:

• Call a pre-planning to determine what if any evaluations are needed to determine eligibility. 
  • In attendance: counselor, teacher, student, and parent(s), along with anyone else that have expertise in the area(s) of concern. 
• Within 60 Days:
  • The team will meet again to determine eligibility and if eligible a 504 can be written.
• Convene a group of persons knowledgeable about the student to collect and review information about the student from a variety of sources.
• Work with the team to review the data about the student to determine if the student has s physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity, and thus, is eligible to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE)
• As a member of the team decide if, because of the disability, the educational needs of the student are not met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled students in order for the student to be entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE)
• After the team determines that a student is eligible for a Section 504 Plan, work with the team to develop a Section 504 Plan for the student
• As part of the team, determine the student's needs as they relate to the identified disability.
• Complete the Section 504 Plan by outlining the education or services, reasonable accommodations that the student requires.
• Plan a review meeting date.
• Obtain signatures of team participants.
• Send copies of 504 Plan to designated individuals.
• Monitor the implementation of the 504 Plan.
• Reconvene the team on the date agreed upon to review and reassess any change in status.

MSSD14 504 Parental Rights

Counselors

UPES

Crystal Sherwood
E-mail:   csherwood@mssd14.org
Phone: 719 685 2209

MSES

Meredith Hinds
E-mail: mhinds@mssd14.org
Phone: 719 685 2160

 

MSMS

Eric Holt
E-mail: eholt@mssd14.org
Phone: 719 685 2135

 

MSHS
Christopher Lewis (A-K)
E-mail:  clewis@mssd14.org
Phone: 719.685.2050

 

Phone: 719.685.2059

If there are any questions concerning this information, please feel free to contact

Kolleen Johnson, Section 504 Compliance contact  for Manitou Springs School District, at 685-2040 or email at kjohnson@mssd14.org.

 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law protecting the privacy of student education records. It is meant to ensure that students and parents may gain access to the student’s educational records and challenge the content or release of these records to third parties. Schools are allowed to disclose content considered to be “directory” information without consent. Directory information includes a student’s name, address, phone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and attendance dates. Schools are required to inform parents and students of this disclosure, allowing ample time for a request to deny release of this information.

Parents and guardians want assurances that personal information and data about their children are secure and protected by our school system. These questions are rising as we use the internet, mobile apps, cloud computing, online learning and new technologies to deliver exciting new education services.

In Manitou Springs School District 14 we desire to be clear about what data we collect, how this data is used to support your child’s education and the safeguards in place to protect your child’s data.

MSSD14 holds data privacy and security in high regard and takes action to ensure that our students’ data is handled securely in compliance with the Colorado Student Data Transparency and Security Act (HB 16-1423) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Protecting personal information in a secure and responsible way is at the heart of our efforts to provide a richer and more dynamic learning experience for all our students.

District Contracted Educational Partners
On Demand School Service Providers