The Wentzville R-IV School District (the “District”) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. This notice is provided as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Questions, concerns, complaints, or requests for additional information regarding the ADA may be forwarded to the District’s ADA Compliance Coordinator:

Dr. Jeri LaBrot
Deputy Superintendent
280 Interstate Drive
Wentzville, MO 63385,
636-327-3800, Ext. 20342  

Individuals who need auxiliary aides for effective communication in the District’s programs and services are invited to make their needs and preferences known to the ADA Compliance Coordinator.

This notice will be made available in alternate formats upon request from the ADA Compliance Coordinator.

Board Policies and Regulations are located through the District’s website.

The District is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free of any form of bullying or intimidation. Bullying is strictly prohibited on school grounds, or school time, at a school sponsored activity or in a school related context.  Bullying is the intentional action by an individual or group of individuals to inflict intimidation, unwanted aggressive behavior, or harassment that is repetitive or is substantially likely to be repeated and causes a reasonable student to fear for his or her physical safety or property; substantially interferes with the educational performance, opportunities, or benefits of any student without exception; or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school. Bullying may consist of physical actions, including gestures, or oral, cyberbullying, electronic, or written communication, and any threat of retaliation of reporting acts of bullying.

Cyberbullying means bullying as defined above through the transmission of a communication including, but not limited to, a message, text, sound, or image by means of an electronic device including, but limited to, a telephone wireless telephone, or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager. The District may prohibit and discipline for cyberbullying that originates on any District campus or at a District activity if the electronic communication was made using the school’s technological resources. If there is a sufficient nexus to the educational environment, or if the electronic communication was made on the District’s campus or at a District activity using the student’s own personal technological resources. Further, students who engage in significant acts of misconduct off campus which materially and adversely impact the education of District students will be subject to discipline.

Bullying, as defined in this policy, is strictly prohibited. Students are encouraged to report any incident of bullying which they have witnessed or incurred, by contacting their building principal. District employees are required to report any instance of bullying of which the employee has witnessed within two (2) school days of the occurrence. Employees shall report the occurrence to the building principal, who is the person the District designates to receive reports of incidents of bullying. A principal who receives a report of an incident of bullying shall initiate an investigation into the allegations within two (2) school days of receipt of the report. The principal may assign other employees to assist in the investigation, or request that the superintendent assign an outside investigator. The investigation shall be completed within ten school days from the date of the written report of bullying unless good cause exists to extend the investigation. No employee or student who reports an act of bullying shall be subject to reprisal or retaliation for making such a report. Any person who engages in reprisal or retaliation against an employee or student who reports and act of bullying shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Students who are found to have violated this policy will be subject to consequences depending on factors such as: age of student(s), degree of harm, severity of behavior, number of incidences, etc. Possible consequences to a student for a violation of this policy include: loss of privileges, classroom detention, conference with teacher, parents contacted, conference with principal, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion and/or law enforcement contacted.

The District shall give annual notice of the policy to students, parents or guardians, and staff. This policy shall be included in all student handbooks. This policy shall also be posted on the District’s web page (as a Board policy) and a copy shall be placed in the District Administrative Office.

The District shall provide information and appropriate training to District staff who have significant contact with students regarding the policy. All staff with significant student contact shall be trained on the requirements of this policy on an annual basis.

The District shall provide education and information to students regarding bullying, including information regarding this policy prohibiting bullying, the harmful effects of bullying, and other applicable initiatives to address bullying, including student peer-to-peer initiatives to provide accountability and policy enforcement for those found to have engaged in bullying, reprisal, or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying. The District shall instruct its school counselors, school social workers, licensed social workers, mental health professionals, and school psychologists to educate students who are victims of bullying on techniques for students to overcome bullying’s negative effects. Such techniques include but are not limited to, cultivating the student’s self-worth and self-esteem; teaching the student to defend himself or herself assertively and effectively; helping the student develop social skills or encouraging the student to develop an internal focus of control. District administrators will implement programs and other initiatives to address bullying, to respond to such conduct in a manner that does not stigmatize the victim, and to make resources or referrals available to victims of bullying.

Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (“ESSA”), Title VIII Part C. Sec. 8304(a)(3)(C) requires the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (“DESE”) to adopt procedures for resolving complaints regarding operations of programs authorized under the Act, including Title I.A,B,C, Title II, Title III, Title IV (Part A), Title V.

1. What is a complaint under ESSA?

For these purposes, a complaint is a written allegation that a local education agency (LEA) or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (the Department) has violated a federal statute or regulation that applies to a program under ESSA.

2. Who may file a complaint?

Any individual or organization may file a complaint.

3. How can a complaint be filed?

Complaints can be filed with the LEA or with the Department.

4. How will a complaint filed with the LEA be investigated?

Complaints filed with the LEA are to be investigated and attempted to be resolved according to the locally developed and adopted procedures.

5. What happens if a complaint is not resolved at the local level (LEA)?

A complaint not resolved at the local level may be appealed to the Department.

6. How can a complaint be filed with the Department?

A complaint filed with the Department must be a written, signed statement that includes:

1. A statement that a requirement that applies to an ESSA program has been violated by the LEA or the Department, and

2. The facts on which the statement is based and the specific requirement allegedly violated.

7. How will a complaint filed with the Department be investigated?

The investigation and complaint resolution proceedings will be completed within a time limit of forty-five calendar days. That time limit can be extended by the agreement of all parties.

The following activities will occur in the investigation:

1. Record. A written record of the investigation will be kept.

2. Notification of LEA. The LEA will be notified of the complaint within five days of the complaint being filed.

3. Resolution at LEA. The LEA will then initiate its local complaint procedures in an effort to first resolve the complaint at the local level.

4. Report by LEA. Within thirty-five days of the complaint being filed, the LEA will submit a written summary of the LEA investigation and complaint resolution. This report is considered public record and may be made available to parents, teachers, and other members of the general public.

5. Verification. Within five days of receiving the written summary of a complaint resolution, the Department will verify the resolution of the complaint through an on-site visit, letter, or telephone call(s).

6. Appeal. The complainant or the LEA may appeal the decision of the Department to the U.S. Department of Education.

8. How are complaints related to equitable services to nonpublic school children handled differently?

In addition to the procedures listed in number 7 above, complaints related to equitable services will also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education, and they will receive all information related to the investigation and resolution of the complaint. Also, appeals to the United States Department of Education must be filed no longer than thirty days following the Departments’ resolution of the complaint (or its failure to resolve the complaint).

9. How will appeals to the Department be investigated?

The Department will initiate an investigation within ten days, which will be concluded within thirty days from the day of the appeal. The investigation may be continued beyond the thirty day limit at the discretion of the Department. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Department will communicate the decision and reasons for the decision to the complainant and the LEA. Recommendations and details of the decision are to be implemented within fifteen days of the decision being delivered to the LEA.

10. What happens if a complaint is not resolved at the state level (the Department)?

The complainant or the LEA may appeal the decision of the Department to the United States Department of Education.

Each year the Wentzville R-IV School District (the "District") is required to give notice of the various rights accorded to parents or students pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ("FERPA"), a federal law that requires the District, with certain exceptions, to obtain your written consent before disclosing personally identifiable information from your child's education records.

In accordance with FERPA, you are notified of the following:

• Right to Inspect: You have the right to review and inspect substantially all of your education records maintained by or at this institution.

• Right to Prevent Disclosures: You have the right to prevent disclosure of education records to third parties with certain limited exceptions. It is the intent of the District to limit the disclosure of information contained in your or your student’s education records to those instances when prior written consent has been given to the disclosure, as an item of directory information of which you have not refused to permit disclosure, or under the provisions of FERPA which allow disclosure without prior written consent.

  • One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record to fulfill their professional responsibility.

  • School officials include the following:

    • A person employed by the school district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel)

    • A person serving on the school board;

    • A person or company with whom the school district has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, consultant, or therapist);

    • A parent, student, or volunteer serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee.

• Right to Request Amendment: You have the right to seek to have corrected any parts of an education record which you believe to be inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of your rights. This right includes the right to a hearing to present evidence that the record should be changed if this institution decides not to alter the education records according to your request.

• Right to Complain to FERPA Office: You have the right to file a complaint with the Student Privacy Policy Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, D.C., 20202-8520, concerning the District’s failure to comply with FERPA.

• Right to Obtain Policy: You have the right to obtain a copy of the written policy adopted by the Board of Education of the District in compliance with FERPA. A copy may be obtained in person, by email, or by mail from the District’s Custodian of Records. The policy is also available on the District’s website and below. See Board Policy and Regulation 2400.

Designation of Directory Information

The District may disclose appropriately designated "directory information" without written consent unless you have advised the District to the contrary in accordance with District procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow the District to include this type of information from your child's educational records in certain school publications. Examples include:

• A playbill, showing your student's role in a drama production;

• The annual yearbook;

• Honor roll or other recognition lists;

• Graduation programs; and

• Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent's prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. Additionally, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories - names, addresses, and telephone listings - unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student's information disclosed without their prior written consent.

If you do not want the District to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the District in writing by September 1 of the current school year. For additional information about opting out of the disclosure of directory information, please see Board Regulation 2400.

The District has designated the following information as directory information:

• The student's name,

• Grade level,

• Address,

• Telephone listing,

• District-issued email address,

• Date and place of birth,

• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports,

• Weight and height of members of athletic teams,

• Dates of attendance,

• Degrees and awards received,

• The most recent previous school attended, and

• Photographs or video recordings.

Opt-Out of Directory Information

In accordance with FERPA, the District may disclose directory information to third parties without written consent, unless parents or eligible students have advised the District of their desire to opt-out. Three opt-out options are available. Parents or eligible students must notify the District in writing if they wish to revoke or change their opt-out options. To opt-out, parents or eligible students must complete and return the District’s opt-out form. The opt-out options include:

1. Limited Opt-Out: Do not share the student’s directory information with non-school affiliated third parties, except as required or permitted by law, without written consent. This allows the student to be recognized in school publications such as the yearbook and graduation programs but restricts information from non-affiliated third parties.

2. Full Opt-Out: Do not share the student’s directory information with anyone, other than as required or permitted by law, without written consent. This includes not posting pictures or videos of the student on District or school websites, social media channels, or in print or digital publications, including the school yearbook.

3. Military Opt-Out: (High school students only) Do not share the student’s directory information with military recruiters. This option applies specifically to the names, addresses, and phone numbers of high school students.

The District will comply with all written requests to opt out and will ensure that no directory information is disclosed without the consent of the parent or eligible student who has opted out. Opt-out selections will remain in place each school year. You must notify the District in writing if you wish to revoke or change any opt-out selections previously made.

Parents and eligible students will be notified annually of their right to opt out of the disclosure of directory information.

A parent or student refusing to have any or all of the designated directory information disclosed is required to complete the FERPA Student Directory Information Form and designate that you are refusing to disclose directory information.  Return the form to the principal of the school which the student attends. 

Parents Guide to FERPA

All responsible public agencies are required to locate, evaluate, and identify children with disabilities who are under the jurisdiction of the agency, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, highly mobile children, such as migrant, homeless, and foster children, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade. The Wentzville R-IV School District (the “District”) assures that it will provide a free, appropriate public education (“FAPE”) to all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 under its jurisdiction.  Students with disabilities are defined as those students who have one of the categorical disabilities as enumerated in the Missouri State Plan for Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (the “IDEA”) and who are in need of special education services or who have a mental or physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The District assures that it will provide information and referral services necessary to assist the State in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps program.

The District assures that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the agency for the purposes of identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE of children with disabilities may be inspected and/or reviewed by their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians may request amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

The District has developed a Local Compliance Plan for the implementation of State Regulations for the IDEA. This plan contains the District’s policies and procedures regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information, and the District’s assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act. The Local Compliance Plan may be reviewed at the District’s Central Office, 280 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.

The Wentzville R-IV School District (the “District”) is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their housing situation, have access to a free, appropriate public education. Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, students who are experiencing homelessness are entitled to specific educational rights and services to support their academic success.

Who is Considered Homeless?

Under the McKinney-Vento Act, a student is considered homeless if they lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including those who:

• Share housing with others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason.

• Live in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or campgrounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations.

• Live in emergency or transitional shelters.

• Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for humans.

• Live in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.

• Are migratory children who qualify as homeless because they are living in the conditions described above.

Rights of Homeless Students

Students who qualify as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act have the right to:

• Immediate enrollment in school, even if they lack required documents such as school records, proof of residency, immunization records, or birth certificates.

• Continue attending their school of origin, if in the student’s best interest, and receive transportation to and from the school of origin.

• Enroll in the local school where they are living.

• Receive comparable services to those provided to other students, including transportation and supplemental educational services.

• Participate in school programs with children who are not homeless.

• Receive assistance with school-related expenses such as uniforms, school supplies, and fees.

How to Access Services

If you believe your child may be eligible for services under the McKinney-Vento Act, or if you have any questions about the rights of homeless students, please contact our District's Homeless Liaison:

Dr. Laura Rowe-Holler
Homeless Liaison
280 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
Phone: (636) 327-3800
Email: lauraroweholler@wsdr4.org 

The Homeless Liaison can assist with enrollment, transportation, obtaining school records, and accessing other resources to support your child's education.

For more information about the McKinney-Vento Act and resources for homeless families, you can also visit the National Center for Homeless Education's website at https://nche.ed.gov.

The Wentzville R-IV School District is dedicated to providing every student with the support and resources they need to succeed academically, regardless of their housing situation.

The purpose of this policy is to maintain consistent meal account procedures throughout the District. Unpaid charges place a financial strain on District finances.  The Food Service Department is responsible for maintaining food charge records and for notifying the District’s accounting department of outstanding balances.

Administration

Student Groups:       

• Elementary students will be allowed to charge a maximum of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars.

• These meals will include only the menu items of the reimbursable meal.

• After the balance exceeds twenty-five ($25.00) dollars, the student may be given a designated menu alternate.

• Middle School and High School students will be allowed to charge a maximum of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars.  After this maximum has been met, no additional charges will be accepted.

• No charges will be allowed for ala carte foods and beverages.

Parents/guardians of students with negative balances will be contacted electronically, by correspondence, by phone call by the Food Service Department or designee.

On May 15 annually all charging will be cut off.

Parents/guardians will be sent a written request for “payment in full.”

All charges not paid before the end of the school year will be carried forward into the next school year.

Graduating seniors must pay all charges in full.  Failure to do so may result in the delinquent student being denied participation in graduation ceremonies.

If a financial hardship is suspected, families will be encouraged to apply for free/reduced meals at any time during the school year.

The Food Service Department will notify all parents on or before the first day of school of the requirements of this policy. This policy will also be published on the District’s website.

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA.  The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.  The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: 

(1) mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

(3) email:
program.intake@usda.gov

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

The Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program (“MOCAP”) allows eligible school-age students residing in the State of Missouri to enroll in nonclassroom-based instruction in a virtual setting using technology and internet methods of communication. 

Any student under the age of 21 in grades K-12 who reside in Missouri is eligible to enroll in MOCAP on a part-time or full-time basis.  

Eligible students interested in enrolling in MOCAP should consult DESE’s website: https://mocap.mo.gov/. 

DESE has published guidance documents that detail the options for virtual course access and full-time virtual course access for all students in Missouri. The District is required by law to provide copies of DESE’s guidance documents to every student and parent/guardian at the beginning of each school year. Copies of the guidance documents are provided below and can also be accessed through DESE’s website: 

• https://mocap.mo.gov/documents/MOCAP.Guidance.pdf

• https://mocap.mo.gov/documents/HB_1552_Section_161_FAQGuidanceRevisions12.14.2022_001.pdf

• https://mocap.mo.gov/documents/MOCAPIEPEnrollmentProcessHB155210.3.2022.pdf

Part-Time Enrollment – Board Policy and Regulation 6190

Eligible students may enroll in the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program (“MOCAP”) as part of the student’s annual course load. Course costs will be paid by the District provided that the student: 

• Is enrolled full-time in a public school within the District, and 

• Before enrolling in any MOCAP course, the student has received approval from the District through the procedure set out in Board Regulation 6190. 

Each Program course successfully completed will count as one class and will receive that portion of a full-time equivalent that a comparable course offered by the District generates.

The enrollment process for participation in MOCAP courses on a part-time basis will be substantially similar to the enrollment process for participation in District courses. In making the enrollment decision, the District may consider the suitability of virtual courses based upon prior participation in virtual courses by the student. In addition, available opportunities for in-person instruction will be considered prior to enrolling a student in virtual courses. The process may include consultation with a school counselor.  However, consultation does not include the counselor’s approval or disapproval of enrollment in the Program. 

The District has ten (10) business days from the date the application was submitted to the District to approve or deny the application.  

When a District school denies a student’s enrollment in a MOCAP course, the District will provide in writing a “good cause” reason for the denial. Such good cause determination will be based upon a reasonable determination that the enrollment is not in the student’s best educational interest. Where enrollment is denied, the  student/parent/guardian may seek review of the decision in the same manner as the District allows review from denial of enrollment in an in-class course.

Program credits previously earned by a student transferring into the District will be accepted by the District.  Students who are participating in a Program course at the time of transfer shall continue in the course with the District assessing future monthly payments.

Home school and private students wishing to take additional courses beyond their school’s regular course load will be permitted to enroll in Program courses under an agreement, including the student’s payment of tuition or course fees.

For additional information pertaining to part-time enrollment in MOCAP, please see Board Policy and Regulation 6190: Virtual Education – Less than Full-Time Equivalent. 

Full-Time Enrollment – Board Policy and Regulation 6191 

Students residing in the District may participate in MOCAP as a full-time student, which is a student who is enrolled in the instructional equivalent of six credits per regular term. Each MOCAP course counts as one class and generates that portion of a full-time equivalent that a comparable course offered by the District generates. 

Board Policy and Regulation 6191 establishes how District students may enroll in a full-time virtual program of their choice. District-enrolled students seeking to enroll as full-time students in MOCAP must notify the District of their intent to enroll in a full-time virtual program. Once a student notifies the District of his or her intent to enroll in a full-time virtual program, the District will submit an enrollment request to the host school district (“Host District”) and the virtual program provider (“VPP”). By law, the Host District and VPP make all enrollment decisions. The District is not involved in the eligibility determination, in the enrollment, approval of virtual classes, disenrollment, nor the appeals from such decisions.   

According to DESE’s guidance documents, a student who enrolls in a full-time virtual program through MOCAP must withdraw from the District and enroll in the Host District. The District will communicate with the Host District and VPP to draft an educational services plan, a collaborative agreement, and an enrollment plan. The enrollment plan will include financial terms for reimbursement by the Host District to the District for necessary costs of full-time enrollment in a VPP. 

For additional information pertaining to full-time enrollment in MOCAP, please see Board Policy and Regulation 6191: Virtual Education – Full-Time Equivalent. 

Full-Time Enrollment for IDEA-Eligible Students

DESE has adopted a process by which IDEA-eligible students may enroll as a full-time student in a MOCAP hosted VPP. 

See https://mocap.mo.gov/documents/MOCAPIEPEnrollmentProcessHB155210.3.2022.pdf.  

Parents and students should immediately report to the District for investigation any incident or behavior that could constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. For more information, please refer to Board Policies 1300, 1301, and 2100 as well as the contact information included below.

The Wentzville R-IV School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or age, in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. 

Board Policy 1300 Compliance Officers

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Mr. Douglas Cuneio
Executive Director of Human Resources
280 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
636-327-3800
douglascuneio@wsdr4.org
Staff to Staff
Staff to Student

Dr. Laura Rowe-Holler, PreK-5
Executive Director of Student Services
280 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
636-327-3800
lauraroweholler@wsdr4.org
Student to Student
Student to Staff

Mr. Ryan Bishop
Executive Director of Student Services, 6-12
280 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
ryanbishop@wsdr4.org
Student to Student
Student to Staff

Filing an OCR Complaint

Individuals who wish to file a complaint with OCR may contact OCR: 

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
One Petticoat Lane
1010 Walnut Street, Suite 320
Kansas City, Missouri 64106
Telephone: (816) 268-0550
Fax: (816) 268-0599
TDD (800) 877-8339
Email: OCR.KansasCity@edgov.

For additional information, see https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/nondisc.html.

The Wentzville R-IV School District (the “District”), as a recipient of federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education and operates a public elementary or secondary education program and/or activity is required to undertake to identify and locate every qualified person residing in the District who is not receiving a public education; and take appropriate steps to notify disabled persons and their parents or guardians of the District’s duty.

The District assures that it will provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each qualified disabled person in the District’s jurisdiction regardless of the nature or severity of the person’s disability. For purposes of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the provision of an appropriate education is the provision of regular or special and related aids and services that (i) are designed to meet individual educational needs of disabled persons as adequately as the needs of nondisabled persons are met and (ii) are based on adherence to procedures that satisfy the requirements of the 504 federal regulations.

The District has developed a 504 Procedural Safeguards for the implementation of federal regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Subpart D. These Procedural Safeguards may be reviewed at the District’s Central Office during regular business hours and may be accessed through the District’s website through the following link: https://www.wentzville.k12.mo.us/Page/611.

The Wentzville R-IV School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law and prohibits discrimination, including harassment, in any education program or activity that it operates. Retaliation against anyone who, in good faith, makes a report of  harassment or discrimination, files a complaint of harassment or discrimination, serves as a witness, or  participates in an investigation or grievance process is also a violation of the District’s nondiscrimination policy and is prohibited.

Title IX Compliance Officers

The District has designated the following individuals to coordinate efforts to comply with and carry out its nondiscrimination responsibilities, and questions regarding the District’s nondiscrimination commitments, as well as related laws, regulations, and District policies, may be referred to the designated Title IX Compliance Officers: 

Mr. Douglas Cuneio
Executive Director of Human Resources
280 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
636-327-3800, ext. 20350
douglascuneio@wsdr4.org
Staff to Staff
Staff to Student

Dr. Laura Rowe-Holler
Executive Director of Student Services, PreK-5
280 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
636-327-3800
lauraroweholler@wsdr4.org
Student to Student
Student to Staff

Mr. Ryan Bishop
Executive Director of Student Services, 6-12
280 Interstate Drive, Wentzville, MO 63385
ryanbishop@wsdr4.org
Student to Student
Student to Staff

The District  is required not to discriminate on the basis of sex by Title IX and its implementing regulations. Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the District’s Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of  Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. 

To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, please refer to Board Policy and Regulation 1300. Any person may also report sex discrimination, including harassment, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator.

The District’s nondiscrimination policy and grievance procedures can be located at https://www.wentzville.k12.mo.us/Page/649.

The District is committed to provision of a quality education in a transparent and supportive environment. Employees who engage in certain discussions of District operations; disclosure of alleged prohibited activities or testimony before a court, administrative, or legislative body will not be subject to disciplinary action as provided in this Policy 4865. The protection of this policy extends to dismissal, demotion, transfer, reassignment, suspension, reprimand, warrant of such disciplinary action, withholding of work irrespective of whether such action affects the employees’ compensation.

The following categories of employment activity are protected under this policy.

Discussion of District Operations

Employees are protected in discussing the operations of the District with any member of the legislature, state auditor, attorney general, a prosecuting or circuit attorney, a law enforcement agency, news media, the public or any state official or body charged with investigating any alleged misconduct described in this policy. Such protection will not restrict or preclude the administration from disciplining an employee who knew the information discussed was false; the information was closed or confidential under law, or when the discussions relate to the employee’s own violations, mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, abuse of authority, or endangerment of public health or safety.

Disclosure of Prohibited Activity

Employees are protected in making disclosures of any prohibited activity under investigation or any related activity, or for the disclosure of information which the employee reasonably believes demonstrates:

• Violation of any law, rule or regulation.

• Mismanagement, a gross waste of funds or abuse of authority, violation of policy, waste of public resources, attention of technical findings, or communication of scientific opinion, breaches of professional ethical census, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety, if the disclosure is not specifically prohibited by law.

Similarly, no employee will be required to give notice to a supervisor prior to disclosing any activity set out in this subsection.

Employees are protected in their testimony before a court, administrative body, or legislative body regarding an alleged prohibited activity or disclosure of related information.

Limitations on Protected Activity

The employee protections set out in this policy will not prohibit:

• A supervisor  from  requiring  employees  to  inform  the  supervisor  concerning legislative requests for information; the substance of testimony made or the substance of testimony to be made to legislators on behalf of the District.

• A supervisor may preclude an employee from leaving their assigned work area during normal work hours or without complying with the applicable rules, regulations and policies. However, this limitation will not apply when an employee is requested by a legislator/legislative committee to appear before such legislative committees.

• A supervisor from disciplining an employee who  represents his/her  personal opinions as the opinion of the District.

• A supervisor from disciplining an employee who discloses or discusses information the employee knew was false; the information is closed or is confidential under the provisions of the open meetings law or any other law; or the disclosure relates to the employee’s own violations, mismanagement, a gross waste of funds, abuse of authority or the endangerment of public health or safety.

Referral to the State Auditor

Where an employee alleges that they were disciplined for disclosure or discussion of information related to the receipt or expenditures of public funds, the employee may request the state auditor to investigate the alleged misconduct and whether unlawful disciplinary action was taken as provided in this policy.

Policy Posting

The District will post a summary of this policy in locations in all District facilities where it would reasonably be expected to come to the attention of all District employees. In addition, this policy will be posted on the District’s website.