Official Notices

he Mercer Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The Mercer Island School District offers classes in many College and Career Readiness Programs, admission to which is non-discriminatory. Lack of English-language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in those programs.

The following people have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies.

Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) Coordinator
Erin Battersby, Executive Director - Legal, Compliance & Human Resources
erin.battersby@mercerislandschools.org
206-475-3023

Title IX Compliance Coordinator
Erin Battersby, Executive Director - Legal, Compliance & Human Resources
erin.battersby@mercerislandschools.org
206-475-3023

Section 504 & ADA Coordinator
Dr. Sue Ann Bube, Director - Special Services
sueann.bube@mercerislandschools.org
206-236-3329

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
Erin Battersby, Executive Director - Legal, Compliance & Human Resources
erin.battersby@mercerislandschools.org
206-475-3023

Notice of Rights Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s education records. These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days after the day the school receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school principal will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. Parents, including when the student is a dependent under the IRS tax code, or eligible students have a right to inspect or review information when the student has violated a law or the school rules regarding alcohol or substance abuse (and the student is under 21), and when the information is needed to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.

4. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information from the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school who performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of personally identifiable information from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

Upon request, the school may also disclose education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer.

5. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.

It is a violation of Mercer Island School District Policy and Procedure and Washington state law for any person to carry a firearm or dangerous weapon on school premises, school-provided transportation or areas of other facilities being used exclusively for school activities. We are asking parents and guardians to explain and discuss the rules to their students so that our schools will continue to be safe places for both students and adults.  The full policy regarding the regulation of dangerous weapons on school premises is available by clicking the link below.

POLICY 4210A REGULATION OF DANGEROUS WEAPONS ON SCHOOL PREMISES