Code of Conduct

One of the primary goals of the Menands Union Free School District is to provide an outstanding educational program for each student in an environment free of disruptions that is conducive to learning. The purpose of our Code of Conduct is to inform all students and parents of Menands’ expectations regarding behavior and conduct.  Visit our Code of Conduct page to learn more. 

Dignity for All Students Act

A regulation named the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) went into effect July 1, 2012 in New York State. Its purpose is to ensure that all elementary and secondary public school students have the right to attend school in an environment that is free of discrimination, harassment, and bullying. Learn more about how DASA is put into practice in our school. 

District Wide School Safety Plan & Emergency Response Plan

New York State school districts are required to develop a district-wide school safety plan to help school officials identify and respond to potential emergencies. The Menands Union Free School District-Wide Safety Plan was developed by the Menands School District Safety Team with guidance from the New York State Police. Learn more about the Menands District Wide School Safety Plan here.

Annual Notification of the Availability of the District Asbestos Management Plan

The Menands Union Free School District has submitted information to the New York State Education Department regarding asbestos containing building materials in the school district. This information is documented in the school district’s Asbestos Management Plan, which is in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) of 1987 (40 CFR Part 763). This memorandum is intended to fulfill annual notification requirements.

In compliance with the AHERA Regulation, the school district conducted its 2019 Triennial Re-inspection on June 15, 2022. The school continues to perform the Six Month Periodic Surveillances as required under the AHERA Regulation as well. Documentation related to all inspections is available in the Asbestos Management Plan, found here.

The Asbestos Management Plan for the Menands Union Free School District is located in the Main Office and is available to the public for review during the following times: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

For more information, please contact Jose Calderon, LEA Designee, at 518-465-4561, ext. 012.

Fire Inspection Report

Notice is hereby given that the annual inspection of the school buildings of the Menands Union Free School District for fire hazards which might endanger the lives of students, teachers, employees therein, has been completed on Oct. 21, 2022. The report thereof is available through this link and at the district office of the Menands Union Free School District, 19 Wards Lane, Menands, NY 12204 for inspection by all interested persons.

Technology

Parents’ Bill of Rights for Data Privacy and Security

The Menands Union Free School District Board of Education is committed to ensuring privacy in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations and District policies.

1. A student’s personally identifiable information (PII) cannot be sold or released for any commercial purpose.
2. The right to inspect and review the complete contents of the student’s education record stored or maintained by an educational agency.
3. State and federal laws, such as NYS Education Law §2-d and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, that protect the confidentiality of a student’s PII, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices, including but not limited to, encryption, firewalls, and password protection, must be in place when data is stored or transferred.
4. A complete list of all student data elements collected by NYSED is available for public review online or by writing to: Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234.
5. The right to have complaints about possible breaches and unauthorized disclosures of student data addressed. Complaints may be submitted to Dr. Maureen Long at mlong@menands.org or 518-465-4561, or submitted to NYSED online or by mail to: Chief Privacy Officer, New York State Education Department, 89 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12234, by email to privacy@nysed.gov, or by telephone at 518-474-0937.
6. To be notified in accordance with applicable laws and regulations if a breach or unauthorized release of their student’s PII occurs.
7. Educational agency workers that handle PII will receive training on applicable state and federal laws, the educational agency’s policies, and safeguards associated with industry standards and best practices that protect PII.
8. Educational agency contracts with vendors that receive PII will address statutory and regulatory data privacy and security requirements.

Reference: New York Education Law § 2-d(3)(a)

Adopted: 2/8/2021

Supplemental Information
* Menands UFSD and South Colonie Central School District have a shared services agreement.

Technology Use Policy For Students

General Guidelines

 Student use of district issued computers and electronic devices is for school-related use only. Foreign or home software is not permitted. The District retains the right to review the contents of any data storage device and e- mail of any user. Network etiquette, consistent with expected school behavior, should be observed (e.g., no abusive language, inappropriate behavior, cyber bullying or illegal activities will be allowed).

Students may not misrepresent themselves or the Menands UFSD through any communication or publication via the Internet or other media/information outlet. Real time conference uses (e.g. video conferencing, use of “chat rooms,” etc.) must be approved and supervised by the appropriate staff member, teacher, principal, IT staff member, etc.

Students should never give out their own or anyone else’s personal identification information such as home addresses, age, telephone number or physical location in an email message or any on- line communication.

Students should never arrange a face-to-face meeting with the Internet user without parent/ guardian permission.

Students should never respond to e-mail messages that are threatening, obscene, or from an unknown source. They should seek the supervising adult if any inappropriate messages are received.

Students should remember that on-line users may or may not be who they say they are. The anonymity of the Internet allows some users to misrepresent themselves or their intentions.

Students may participate in only those Internet exchanges approved by school personnel. Any Internet security problems must be reported to a supervising adult.

Students will be required to acknowledge and agree with the Student Computer Use Agreement to have access to their District accounts.

All materials over the Internet should be assumed to be copyrighted for citation purposes. The Menands UFSD has no responsibility for the accuracy or the quality of information obtained through Internet services.

E-mail is not confidential and messages related to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the authorities.

Use of another individual’s account without permission from that individual is strictly prohibited. Student account numbers are confidential to the student and should not be revealed to other students.

Pesticide Notification

Under state law, the Menands Union Free School District is required to notify you that pesticide products may be used in school buildings throughout the year. Parents, guardians, and staff may request 48-hour advance written notification, including the date and place where the pesticide will be used, the name of the pesticide and its EPA registration number and who to contact for more information. To be placed on the list, contact Jose Calderon at 518-465-4561, ext. 012.

Water Testing

In September 2016, a state law went into effect that requires all public school districts in New York to test water for lead. The law requires school districts to sample all water outlets currently or potentially used for drinking or cooking purposes in buildings that may be occupied by students and to submit those samples to a state-approved lab for analysis. Regulations call for testing to take place every five years, unless the state Commissioner of Health requires testing sooner.

View the results from our latest round of water testing, conducted in 2020.