Parent(s)/guardian(s), upon request, shall be given the opportunity to review the Asbestos Management Plan. The Sevier County School System’s AHERA Management Plan is available for public inspection upon request at the Sevier County School System Maintenance Department at 405 Catlett Road, Sevierville, TN 37862. Anyone interested in reviewing this plan should contact Kevin McClure or Roger Shorter at 865-453-4140.

In the operation of the child nutrition program, no student will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. A student enrolled in the Sevier County School System may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals and/or free milk if income eligibility criteria are met.  These criteria are posted annually on Sevier County School System or can be found on the Free and Reduced Meal Application distributed by the school.

Students identified as in foster care, homeless, migrant, or runaway students are categorically eligible for free meals and free milk.

The Free and Reduced Meal Application for the 2020-2021 school year is now available online at www.sevier.org. Families can complete and submit the application from any Internet-connected computer, tablet, or smartphone. Applications are also available in the office of each school.

An application for free or reduced-price meals cannot be approved unless it contains complete information. All information provided on the application may be verified at any time during the school year.

For more information as to the free or reduced-price meals or for questions as to the appeal process due to an application denial, contact Mrs. Lisa McMahan at the Child Nutrition Office at 865-453-4671. If you wish to review this decision further, you have the right to a fair hearing by calling or writing the following official: Mr. Tony Ogle, Director of Student Services, 226 Cedar Street, Sevierville, TN 37862 (865-453-4671).

Per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the District may disclose appropriately designated directory information without written consent, unless the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student (a student who is 18 years or older) has opted out of the disclosure of directory information.

In addition, federal law requires the District to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the names, addresses, and telephone listings of students unless parents/guardians have opted out in writing.

According to Board Policy 122 (Student Records), the Sevier County School System has designated the following information as directory information:

• Name
• Physical and electronic mail address;
• Telephone listing;
• Date and place of birth;
• Major field of study;
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports;
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams;
• Dates of attendance;
• Degrees and awards received; and
• The most recent previous LEA or institution attended by the student.

If the parent/guardian wishes to opt-out of the above, he/she shall indicate his/her preference on the “Opt-Out Notifications” form located on the last page of the Handbook.

FERPA affords parent(s)/guardian(s) and 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 forty-five (45) days after the day the District receives a request for access.

a. Parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible students who wish to inspect education records shall submit to the principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect.

b. Arrangements for access will be made, and the parent(s)/guardian(s) or eligible student will be notified 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/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.
3. 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. Please refer to Sevier County Board of Education Policy 122 (Student Records) for more information about this matter.

a.  Education records may be disclosed without prior written consent if a school official has a legitimate educational interest.

i.  An LEA official is a person employed by the LEA as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member.

ii.  An LEA official also may include a contractor outside of the LEA who performs an institutional service or function for which the LEA would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the LEA with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as: an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; or other contractor or volunteer assisting another LEA official in performing his or her tasks.

iii.  An LEA official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

iv.  Upon request, the LEA discloses education records without consent to officials of another public 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.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC  20202

Surveys, analyses, and evaluations for research purposes shall be allowed by the Sevier County Board of Education (SCBE) when the project is viewed as contributory to a greater understanding of the teaching-learning process, the project does not violate the goals of the SCBE, and the disruption of the regular school program is minimal.

No student shall be required to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning:

1. Mental or psychological problems of the student or the student's family;
2. Sexual behavior or attitudes;
3. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
4. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
5. Legally privileged relationships;
6. Income; or
7. The collection of student biometric data involving the analysis of facial expressions, EEG brain wave patterns, skin conductance, galvanic skin response, heart-rate variability, pulse, blood volume, posture, and eye-tracking without the prior consent of the eligible student or parent/guardian.

The collection of the following student data is strictly prohibited:

1. Political affiliation or voting history;
2. Religious practices; and
3. Firearm ownership.

Per state and federal law, prior to the dissemination of a survey, analysis, or evaluation to students, parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be notified of their ability to review the materials. Such notification shall include information indicating the purpose of the survey, analysis, or evaluation as well as who will have access to the results. Following such notification and prior to the administration of the survey, analysis, or evaluation, parent(s)/guardian(s) may opt their student out of participation.

Students who attend a school within the Sevier County School System identified by the State of Tennessee as persistently dangerous or students who are victims of a violent crime while in or on school grounds shall be given the opportunity to attend a safe school within the school system.

Per state law, the Sevier County School System is required to provide information to parent(s)/guardian(s) as to the following diseases.

Meningococcal meningitis is inflammation of the tissues and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Symptoms can include fever, sudden severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, and vomiting.

The bacteria that causes meningococcal meningitis is very common. Most people will carry this bacteria in the back of their nose and throat at some point in their lives without ever getting sick. In a few people, the bacteria overcomes the body’s immune system and passes through the lining of the nose and throat into the blood stream where it can cause meningitis.

Meningitis is spread through exchange of respiratory droplets or saliva with an infected person. Only a small percentage of people who are exposed to the bacteria will develop meningitis. The bacteria that causes meningitis is not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.

There is a vaccine that will decrease the risk of some types of meningococcal meningitis, but it does not totally eliminate risk of the disease.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, feeling tired, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea.

Flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when someone with the flu coughs, sneezes, or talks. A person can also get the flu by touching something that has the flu virus on it and then touching his/her mouth, eyes, or nose.

There is a vaccine that can be received in the form of a flu shot or by nasal spray that can protect against the flu.

To receive additional information regarding these diseases, including locations to receive the vaccinations, contact Mr. Steve Branton, School Health Coordinator.