General Information

The daily bell schedule for each school will be provided to parents and students by the school administration prior to the beginning of the school year. Parents are encouraged to review the schedule carefully, and whenever possible, try to arrange early dismissals for the end of class periods.

When bad weather or other factors cause us to change the normal schedule of the school day, we use the School Messenger parent notification system, the news media, and the NCCVT District website (http://nccvotech.com) to inform parents. We encourage you to tune in early when bad weather is predicted as we try to make the announcements as soon as the decision is made. Please remember that any decision affects only one school day; a new announcement will be made if the situation continues.

Some other notification options:

• The State of Delaware School Closing Information website (http://schoolclosings.delaware.gov), email notification

(http://diss.state.de.us/DWS/public.diss), and their Voice Activation System (1-877-831-7215)

• Radio - Listen for school closing information . . .

- WDEL 1150 AM/ 101.7 FM - view the SnoWatch listings and listen online- http://www.wdel.com

- WILM 1450 AM - listen online at http://www.wilm.com

- WJBR 99.5 FM - view the Operation Snowflake listings and listen online - http://www.wjbr.com

- WSTW 93.7 FM - view the SnoWatch listings and listen online - http://www.wstw.com

School counselors are usually the best first contact to resolve a problem or concern. Counselors provide many services to students related to academic, vocational, or personal issues. Always feel free to call the guidance department at the phone numbers listed in the telephone guide.

The Wellness Centers provide accessible, affordable, physical and mental healthcare for students, especially for those who are underserved, through on-site services and referrals. They focus on preventive care and adolescent issues through educational programs, which reduce risk-taking behavior. Parents are encouraged to provide approval for their son or daughter to visit the Center.

All students entering 9th grade must have a health examination done within two years prior to entry into the grade. To assure compliance for September 2020, we are urging our students to schedule appointments as soon as possible. The required form will be available at the school guidance office or school nurse. If you have any questions, please contact the guidance office or school nurse.

For more information on Regulation 815: http://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title14/800/815.shtml#TopOfPage

The orientation program is designed to familiarize new students with their assigned school, supportive school personnel and administrators, student activity organizations, and their course schedule. Students must attend the orientation. Further information will be mailed to parents and students.

State law mandates that free school bus transportation be provided when a student lives outside a two-mile radius from the school. In special situations where hazards exist, the State may approve transportation within the two-mile limit. The district attempts to schedule the bus stops within a reasonable walking distance of the homes. Transportation concerns may be addressed by calling the transportation at (994-8544).

During the school year, students may not ride, or change to, an unassigned bus without official approval obtained at the Guidance Office at Howard, the Student Advisor's Office at Delcastle and Hodgson, or the main office at St. Georges.

Parking on school property is a privilege. The privilege to park in the school student parking lot can be taken away by the school administration if deemed necessary.

(Complies with recent State of Delaware legislation, Delaware Code, Title 14, Section 4115 Choice of Transportation.)

The school district shall offer, to each parent or guardian of a student within the district who is licensed to drive a motor vehicle, a choice between driving a private vehicle to the school and transportation to the school by a school bus provided by the district. However, those who choose to drive a private vehicle shall not be transported by a school bus, and those who choose to be transported by a school bus shall not be permitted to park on school grounds. The principal of each school may issue passes for school bus transportation to certain pupils who have chosen to drive a private vehicle, for use on a temporary and emergency basis; and may also set aside a specific number of parking spaces for use on a temporary and emergency basis by pupils who originally chose transportation by school bus.

Please note: In the case of inclement weather, the District will provide bus transportation to students who request it from their principal, even though they may have chosen the option to drive. Also, the District will provide transportation to students that present a documented case of hardship during a specific period of time that prevents the student from driving as initially planned. In these situations, students will need to get to an established bus stop nearest to their home.

A limited number of buses are made available at district expense to provide transportation for students who participate in after-school activities. Students may not leave campus and return to take the activity bus without permission. Due to the wide area covered, the buses stop only at points in the general area where the students live (hub locations). The stops are made in areas that provide well-lighted shelter (e.g. convenience stores). These stops are scheduled in areas that make it convenient for parents to pick up students. Parents and students should discuss hub locations that are closest to their homes.

The New Castle County Vo-Tech School District offers free or reduced-price meals to any student who qualifies. To apply for these benefits, a Meal Benefit Form must be completed. Forms are available online, in the Guidance Office, or from the school cafeteria manager. Forms should be completed and then returned to Guidance or the Cafeteria. You may apply at any time during the school year should your income change or should you become unemployed.

The New Castle County Vocational Technical School District School Nutrition Services recognizes that healthy, nutritious meals are an important component to student readiness and ability to learn. NCCVT School District shall provide nutritious and well-balanced meals in the school meal programs. By statute, the District’s Nutrition Services department is a self-supporting fund that shall not have a negative balance at the close of a fiscal year. Unpaid charges place a financial strain on the Nutrition Services Department and on the District’s operating budget. To be fair and equitable and in order to ensure compliance of all who participate in the school meal program, the procedure establishes practices for methods of payment, charge availability and collection methods.

Nutrition Services establishes the following goals:

• To establish a consistent district procedure regarding the method of payment for meals, charge availability and collection methods for charges in the district’s meal program.

• To treat all students with dignity at all times.

• To waive all cost for students who are eligible and approved free or reduced school meals after completing the Delaware Department of Education approved Free and Reduced Price School Meals Household Application or qualifying through the Delaware SNAP, TANF or DCRT.

• To support positive interactions with students, parent(s)/guardian(s), and district staff to the maximum extent possible.

• To encourage the parent(s)/guardian(s) to assume the responsibility of payments and to promote self-responsibility of the student.

ADMINISTRATION OF PROCEDURE

The district administration is responsible for ensuring that the Nutrition Services accounts are properly managed and accurately reported. The administration will closely monitor student meal accounts with the goal of eliminating negative balances and delinquent accounts.

Parent(s)/guardian(s) will strongly be encouraged to register for a free account on the school meal online payment center, PayPAMS which gives access to parents/guardians to: view student transaction history, request e-mail alerts to low balances, make payments and pre-payments to a student’s account, schedule payments to add funds to a student’s account, and set up automatic deposits to a student’s account.

The district administration will provide at least annual notice of how to access the online payment center. There will be a minimal fee for using the online payment center. This fee does not benefit the NCCVT School District.

MANAGEMENT SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

a.) Nutrition Services Cafeteria Manager and site designees – Responsible for maintaining records of charges and for notifying the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) of low and/or negative account balances. The Cafeteria Manager is responsible for notifying the Supervisor of Nutrition Services of negative account balances in a timely manner.

b.) Supervisor of Nutrition Services, as the district’s designee – Responsible for supporting and assisting the Cafeteria Manager and site designees in the collection process.

c.) Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Immediate correspondence and full payment of outstanding or delinquent balance.

METHOD OF PAYMENT

The NCCVT School District will accept pre-payment of school meals in the form of cash or check at the register or via the school meal online payment center. Cash for a daily meal will also be accepted at the register.

CHARGES

Any student whose school meal account has a zero or negative balance will be allowed to charge a reimbursable meal. Charging a reimbursable meal will result in a negative balance on the student’s account until funds are added to the student’s account. Under no circumstances will a student with a zero or negative account balance be allowed to purchase a second meal or a la carte items until the student’s account is in good standing.

For students with Free or Reduced Price School Meals Status, the federal school lunch program allows an eligible student to receive a one free school lunch and breakfast, where available, every day. In our district, we cover the cost for our reduced students. Students are required to take a reimbursable meal. If a student does not take a reimbursable meal, the meal does not qualify for free status and full price must be paid for with cash or pre-paid funds on account at the time of sale. Non reimbursable meals, second meals and a la carte items cannot be charged but may be purchased with cash or pre-paid funds on account.

For students with Paid School Meals Status, prices for school meals are set by the NCCVT School District within parameters of federal and state regulations. Non reimbursable meals, second meals and a la carte items cannot be charged but may be purchased with cash or pre-paid funds on account. Students with paid school meals status may charge reimbursable meals up to -$10.00.

Nutrition Services will contact the parent/guardian(s) of students with charge balances to notify them of the amount currently owed to the cafeteria. Options for payment will be provided for the negative balance to be resolved and return the student meal account to good standing. Cashiers will also notify the student of the balance owed at the point of sale in the cafeteria.

If a student’s charge balance exceeds -$10.00, the administration may take the following action: Offer the student an alternative meal (At breakfast, cereal with a milk and juice or, at lunch, choice of ham & cheese or tuna sandwich with a milk and juice).

If a student’s account is not in good standing, the administration may take one or more of the following actions, unless or until prohibited by state law or regulation: Prohibit the student’s participation in any future fee or charge-based program until or unless the negative or delinquent balance is paid in full.

If a senior’s account is not in good standing, the administration may take the following action: Prohibit student from participation in senior activities and/or graduation exercises.

REFUNDS

For any student who has withdrawn or is graduating, a request for a refund of any funds remaining in the student’s account may be made by visiting the cafeteria or calling the Nutrition Services Office. Any positive balance remaining on a student account may remain on account to be used in the following school year, be transferred to a sibling’s account, or be refunded.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Checks Returned for Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF): When a check is returned to the District for Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF), Documentation will be sent to the Supervisor of Nutrition Services and to the Cafeteria Manger. The Cafeteria Manager will call to inform the issuer. Payment for the NSF check must be in the form of cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Payment must be received within ten (10) days of the date of the letter. Any bank fee imposed upon the district will be reimbursed to the district by the issuer.

If payment of an NSF check is not received within the ten (10) days of the date of the communication, a second request will follow. The Director of Business or their designee may take one or more of the following actions: Prohibit the student’s participation in any future fee or charge-based program until or unless the negative or delinquent balance is paid in full. Prohibit student from participation in senior activities and/or graduation exercises.

KEY TERMS

A la carte Items: Any single component of a meal, a snack, bottled water, bottled juice or milk priced individually, not as part of a reimbursable meal. A la carte items do not qualify for free or reduced price and must be paid for at time of sale with cash or pre-paid funds on account.

Charge: Purchasing a reimbursable meal without making payment at time of purchase with cash or pre-paid funds on account.

Credit Limit: The dollar limit to which students may charge school meals, based on the student’s eligibility status. Paid students: $10.00. Reduced price students and Free students: not eligible to charge.

Free Meal: A reimbursable meal served to a student certified as eligible for such benefits.

Good Standing: A school meals account with a zero or positive balance.

Non-Reimbursable Meal: Non-reimbursable meal prices are determined by the NCCVT School District and are priced differently than a Paid Reimbursable meal. Non-reimbursable meals are not part of the USDA program and do not qualify for free or reduced price and must be paid for at time of sale with cash or pre-paid funds on account. A meal not consisting of at least three (3) of the five (5) offered meal components (grain, meat or meat alternative, fruit, vegetable and milk) or not including a fruit and/or vegetable component is considered a non-reimbursable meal.

Parent/Guardian Account: Can participate in an account on PayPAMS, an online program for parents/guardians that works in conjunction with their student’s school meal account. By accessing their student’s account, parents/guardians can view their student’s purchases and account balance at any time, setup balance notifications to be automatically sent by email or make payment or pre-payment on their account by credit card or e-check (an automatic deposit from a bank account).

Payment: Cash or check paid daily for school meals or a la carte items or with pre-paid funds on account.

Pre-payment: Funds on account. Pre-payment is accepted in the form of cash or check at any register or through the district’s online payment center.

Reduced Price Meal: A reimbursable meal served to a student certified as eligible for such benefits. Our district covers the student cost for both breakfast and lunch for reduced meal participants.

Reimbursable Meal: To qualify as a reimbursable meal, the meal must include a fruit and/or vegetable component. A meal consisting of at least three (3) of the five (5) offered meal components (grain, meat or meat alternative, fruit, vegetable and milk), at least one of which is a fruit or vegetable.

School Meal Account: An account assigned to every student in the district whether or not they participate in the school meals program. Students participating in the school meals program access their account using a unique, Personal Identification Number (PIN) on PIN pads located at every register. School meal accounts maintain data required to be reported to federal and state agencies. Information pertaining to a student’s eligibility status is securely contained within the account to assure confidentiality

Second Meals: An additional meal consisting of one (1) or more components of the offered meal sold on an a la carte basis. Second meals are not part of the USDA program and do not qualify for free or reduced price and must be paid at full price at time of sale with cash or prepaid funds on account.

An Open House for parents will be held during the month of September. It provides an opportunity to meet the teachers and tour the school building. Further information regarding Parent Night will be provided to parents and posted on the school website.

All prescription and non-prescription drugs shall be presented to the school nurse upon entering the school building. (See Drug and Alcohol Policy, Section VII).

The ninth grade is designed for career exploration. A new application must be submitted for enrollment to tenth grade in one of the career programs offered. Counselors in each vo-tech high school will provide applications and assistance to students in their school and career selections.

Counselors meet to review repercussions of and reasons for a withdrawal/transfer with the student and parent/guardian, have multiple personnel sign the Permanent check out/Transfer form, and then have the administrative assistants provide the student/family with copies of the form and all of the necessary documentation to transfer/enroll into another program. Administrators also conduct their own exit interview with the student and family prior to the forms being signed. Administrators and counselors work together to ensure that the family makes a well-informed decision.