West Islip Union Free School District

The West Islip Union Free School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Dawn Morrison
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction
100 Sherman Avenue
West Islip, NY 11795

For further information on notice of non-discrimination, see list of OCR enforcement offices for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call 1-800-421-3481.

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) is a federal law enacted in 1987 that requires all school districts to inspect and re-inspect for asbestos-containing building materials every three years. Our facilities have been inspected and response actions have been developed to ensure a continued safe environment for our students and employees. Activities include training of custodial and maintenance staff to prevent disturbance of asbestos and periodical re-inspection and surveillance activities by trained personnel. The Asbestos Management Plan and re-inspection reports available for your review are located in the Buildings and Grounds office, as well as the Main Office of each school building.

As required by the Federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act our schools were inspected for asbestos in 1988.  This inspection resulted in the development of an Asbestos Management Plan, which was implemented in 1989. The last required three year re-inspection was conducted in March 2014.  The results of these inspections as well as the Asbestos Management Plan are available for your inspection. 

Please contact:             
James Bosse  
Director of Facilities III  
West Islip Public Schools  
100 Sherman Avenue  
West Islip, NY 11795  
631) 893-3200  

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age (“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 of the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to Patricia Denninger, Records Access Officer, a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official 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 or misleading. Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the Records Access Officer, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. 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 advise them 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. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in 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); a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the school has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as disciplinary or grievance committee, or 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. The school may disclose education records without consent to officials of another school in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, upon request, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Special Education, or upon the determination of the Superintendent of Schools pursuant to Education Law section 3214.
4. 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
Maryland Avenue, SW,  Washington, DC  20202-4605

Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate or contribute in society. Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of IDEA, ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.

The Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) requires each public school district to locate, identify and evaluate all non-public school students with disabilities residing within the district, including students attending religiously-affiliated schools, in the same manner in which it is required to identify and evaluate all other students with disabilities residing in the district. 

The school district must consult with appropriate representatives of private school students with disabilities as how to carry out these “child find” responsibilities. Additional information about special education can be acquired by calling the Special Education Office of the West Islip School District at 893-3200 x360.

For more information, visit the New York State Education Department's website.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in federally assisted programs or activities solely on the basis of disability. The District does not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its program or activity. The District shall also make its program and facilities accessible to all its students with disabilities.

Section 504 defines a person with a disability as anyone who:

1. has a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.
2. has a record of such impairment, or
3. is regarded as having such an impairment.

The District shall also identify, evaluate and extend to every qualified student with a disability under Section 504 a free, appropriate public education, including modifications, accommodations, specialized instruction or related aids and services, as deemed necessary to meet their educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students are met.

The District's Coordinator and Compliance Officers are set forth below and can be contacted should you have any questions or concerns:

• Coordinator: Superintendent of Schools
• Compliance Officers: Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Special Education, Assistant Director of Special Education, principals, assistant principals, psychologists