Family & Student Handbook.

Montesano School District Family & Student Handbook

This handbook covers everything districtwide — required notices, family communication, student rights, health & safety, academic programs. Building-specific information (bell schedule, lunch, building staff, dress code) lives in each school's family handbook: Beacon Elementary, Simpson Elementary, and Monte Jr./Sr. High School.

A welcome from Monte

Montesano School District has educated Bulldog students since 1863. We are four buildings, about a thousand students, and a community that takes its schools personally. Whatever brought you to this handbook — registering a kindergartner, sorting out a 504 plan, looking up the bell schedule, working through a hard situation — we are glad to have you.

This handbook is the master document for districtwide policy and procedure. The four "Required notices" sections at the top are written to satisfy what state and federal law require us to publish, but they are also our promise to families: we name the people who handle each topic, we publish our timelines, and we tell you how to push back if we get something wrong. Where this handbook references something specific, like our HIB process or our 504 procedure, the website has a full page on that topic with all the detail. The handbook is the table of contents; the website is the library.

If you need a paper copy or this content in another language or format, call the District Office at (360) 249-3942 or email community@monteschools.org.

— Mr. Dan Winter, Superintendent

How to use this handbook

The handbook is organized into seven parts:

1. Required notices — the policies state and federal law require us to publish each year. If you are short on time and want to know about HIB, Title IX, Section 504, FERPA, McKinney-Vento, or our nondiscrimination commitment, this is the section to read. Each topic has a one-paragraph summary here and a full page on the website with the procedure, timelines, and named coordinator.
2. Family communication — how we'll reach you (FlashAlert, Skyward, our website, the radio) and how to reach us (each building's office, the District Office).
3. Student rights & conduct — what we expect from students, due-process rights when discipline happens, and how district technology gets used.
4. Health & safety — school nurses, medication, the Standard Response Protocol drills, the concussion law.
5. Academic programs & supports — special education, 504, Title I, Highly Capable, Multilingual Learners, McKinney-Vento, Foster Care.
6. Forms — the canonical forms library at /district-forms.
7. Free help if you're stuck — the Washington Education Ombuds.

For day-to-day questions about your child's specific school — start time, lunch schedule, dress code, who teaches what — read your child's building handbook. The hub at /handbooks lists all four.

Required notices

Washington law (RCW 28A.300.286) requires Montesano School District to publish certain notices each school year, both in handbooks and on our website. The summaries below cover the basics; each topic has a full page on this website with the complete procedure, named coordinator, and any forms.

Nondiscrimination

Montesano School District provides equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program. We do not discriminate on the basis of:

• Race, color, national origin
• Religion or creed
• Age
• Sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity
• Marital status
• Honorably discharged veteran or military status
• The presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability
• The use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability

This commitment applies to admission to programs, employment, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, and access to all district facilities and resources.

Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Shawn Brown, Director of Student Services. Email sbrown@monteschools.org, phone (360) 249-1233. Ms. Brown receives complaints under RCW 28A.642 and WAC 392-190.

Full details: see /nondiscrimination.

Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB)

Monte does not tolerate Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying. Washington law (RCW 28A.600.477) defines HIB as any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act that physically harms a student, substantially interferes with their education, creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment, or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school. The targeted student does not need to belong to a protected class for HIB rules to apply, but when they do, additional protections kick in.

There are three ways to report HIB. Use whichever feels easiest — they all reach our HIB Compliance Officer within one business day:

1. Fill out the HIB Reporting Form (linked from our /district-forms page) and turn it in to any school office.
2. Email or call our HIB Compliance Officer directly.
3. Tell any Monte staff member — teacher, paraeducator, office professional, custodian, bus driver, coach. Every staff member is trained to forward HIB reports.

Anonymous reports are accepted. They cannot result in disciplinary action against a specific student on their own, but they can start an investigation and stop the behavior.

The investigation timeline comes from WSSDA Procedure 3207P, the operational procedure every Washington district works from:

• Day 0 — report received; if immediate safety steps are needed, they happen now.
• Within 2 school days — initial contact and acknowledgment.
• Within 5 school days — investigation completed, with written extensions if needed.
• Within 2 school days of completion — written outcome to both families.
• Within 5 school days of the outcome — appeal window. Appeals go to the Superintendent, then the School Board, then (if a protected class is involved) OSPI's Equity & Civil Rights Office.

Anti-retaliation is required by RCW 28A.600.480. No school employee, student, or volunteer may retaliate against a victim, witness, or person with reliable information about HIB. Reporting in good faith is protected; the district will take steps to ensure that those who report do not experience retaliation.

HIB Compliance Officer: Shawn Brown, Director of Student Services. Email sbrown@monteschools.org, phone (360) 249-1233.

Full details: see /hib.

Title IX — sex-based discrimination & sexual harassment

Title IX (20 USC § 1681) and Washington Policy 3205 prohibit sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and sex-based violence in education programs and activities. Reports may be filed by anyone — student, parent, employee, community member — and may be filed anonymously, though anonymous reports may limit our ability to investigate.

Title IX Coordinator: Dan Winter, Superintendent. Email dwinter@monteschools.org, phone (360) 249-3942.

When a HIB incident also involves sex-based discrimination or sexual harassment, the district runs both the HIB process AND the Title IX grievance procedure in parallel. You do not need to know which process applies before reporting; we'll route appropriately.

Full details: see /title-ix.

Section 504 / ADA — disability-based protections

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act protect students with physical or mental disabilities from discrimination and entitle qualifying students to accommodations through a 504 Plan. Section 504 is broader than special education (IDEA / IEP) — a student may qualify for a 504 plan without qualifying for an IEP.

If you suspect your child needs accommodations under Section 504, contact our 504 / ADA Compliance Officer to request an evaluation. The 504 process includes parent participation, a multidisciplinary team review, and a written plan that's reviewed periodically.

504 / ADA Compliance Officer: Shawn Brown, Director of Student Services. Email sbrown@monteschools.org, phone (360) 249-1233.

Full details: see /section-504.

Gender-Inclusive Schools

All students have the right to attend a school that is safe, welcoming, and free from harassment regardless of gender identity or expression. Washington's Gender-Inclusive Schools statute (RCW 28A.642.080) and Policy 3211 establish that students may use the names, pronouns, and facilities consistent with their gender identity. This applies to records, restroom and locker room access, sports participation under WIAA rules, and dress code.

Concerns about gender-inclusive practices may be brought to our Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator (Stephanie Klinger, sklinger@monteschools.org) or the Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator (Shawn Brown).

FERPA & Directory Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA, 20 USC § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) gives parents and eligible students (18 or older) four rights:

1. Right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days of a written request.
2. Right to request amendment of records the parent believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy rights.
3. Right to consent to disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records, except where FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent (for example, to school officials with legitimate educational interests, to other schools to which a student is transferring, or in response to a lawfully issued subpoena).
4. Right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the district to comply with FERPA. Complaints go to: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.

Directory information. FERPA permits the district to release certain limited information without prior consent: student name, grade level, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance, honors and awards received, and photographs for routine school publications (yearbook, newspaper, social media, district website).

You may opt out of directory-information release by submitting a written request to the District Office. The opt-out form is published on /district-forms under Civil Rights & Reporting once the migration is complete. You may also opt out of the related Photo / Media Release at any time.

McKinney-Vento — students experiencing homelessness

Federal law (42 USC § 11431 et seq.) protects the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness or in transition. This includes families staying with friends or relatives because of loss of housing or economic hardship ("doubled-up"), families in shelters or motels, families in transitional housing, and unaccompanied youth not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

McKinney-Vento students have the right to:

• Immediate enrollment, even without the documents typically required (immunization records, proof of residency, previous school records).
• Continued attendance at the school of origin when in the student's best interest, even if the family moves.
• Transportation to the school of origin, when reasonable.
• Free school meals automatically.
• Title I services as eligible.

If you think your family's situation may qualify for McKinney-Vento support, please contact our Liaison — there is no penalty for asking, and your privacy is protected. Full board policy: Policy 3115 — Students Experiencing Homelessness, Enrollment Rights and Services.

District McKinney-Vento Liaison: Shawn Brown. Email sbrown@monteschools.org, phone (360) 249-1233.

Full details: see /mckinney-vento.

Foster Care — students in foster care

Students in foster care have specific protections under federal and Washington state law. These include the right to immediate enrollment regardless of paperwork status, priority access to school of origin to maintain continuity, transportation when reasonable, and coordination with Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) caseworkers and educational decision-makers.

Our Foster Care Liaison is the same coordinator as McKinney-Vento — Shawn Brown.

Full details: see /foster-care.

Multilingual Learners (TBIP)

Students whose primary or home language is not English are eligible for English-language-development services through the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program (TBIP). All communications, including the home language survey we use to identify eligible students, are available in your family's primary language. Program decisions, parent meetings, and progress reports are likewise translated.

If you would like to learn about your child's TBIP services or speak with someone in your primary language, contact the District Office at (360) 249-3942 and ask to be connected to our Multilingual Learner Coordinator.

Full details: see /transitional-bilingual.

How to file a concern or complaint

Most concerns resolve fastest at the school where they happened. Talk to your child's teacher first; if that doesn't work, talk to the building principal; if that still doesn't work, talk to the District Office.

When that's not enough, every formal complaint path Monte is required to publish — discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, special education, federal programs, public records — is described on a single page with the procedure, timeline, named coordinators, and external escalation paths.

Full details: see /citizen-complaint.

Family communication

How we'll reach you

Closures, schedule changes, emergencies, and routine school updates come through these channels. Sign up for at least the first two; the rest are useful but not required.

• The alert banner at the top of every page on this site. Server-rendered; reads from FlashAlert. Updates within five minutes of a new posting.
• FlashAlert (organization 829) — sign up at flashalert.net/id/MontesanoSD for free email and text alerts. The district does not see your contact information.
• Skyward Family Access for student-specific messages, grades, attendance, and lunch balance. Same login from any device. If you don't have a Skyward login, the building office can set you up.
• Local radio and TV — KXRO 1320 AM, KBKW 1450 AM, and Seattle/Olympia television stations pick up FlashAlert posts automatically.
• District Facebook page for the same updates.

In an emergency requiring family reunification, we will tell you exactly where to go and what to bring through these same channels. We do not pre-publish reunification site addresses; you will be told the location at the moment, with a photo-ID requirement and a controlled, one-student-at-a-time release process.

How to reach us

For most situations, your child's building office is the right starting point.

Email the District Office at community@monteschools.org. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

For school visits and tours: by appointment. Every visitor signs in at the office. Public events — board meetings, games at Rottle Field, school performances — are open to everyone.

Full details: see /contact.

Student rights & conduct

What we expect

Monte expects students to:

• Treat each other and staff with respect.
• Attend school regularly.
• Complete assigned work.
• Follow rules of conduct on school property, on the bus, and at school activities.
• Use district technology appropriately.

When behavior crosses into discipline, students have due-process rights under Washington's student-discipline rules (WAC 392-400). At minimum:

• Notice of the alleged violation.
• An opportunity to be heard before discipline is imposed.
• For longer suspensions and expulsions, the right to a written decision and the right to appeal.

We use restorative practices where appropriate. The goal of discipline is to change behavior, not to punish for its own sake. Full board policy: Policy 3241 — Student Discipline.

Cell phones and personal devices

Use of personal cell phones, smartwatches, and other telecommunication devices on Monte campuses is governed by Policy 3245 — Students and Telecommunication Devices. Building handbooks (Beacon, Simpson, MJSHS) cover the day-to-day specifics — when devices may be used, where they must be put away, and what happens if they aren't. Use during instructional time is generally restricted; emergency contact between families and students always goes through the building office.

Acceptable Use of Technology

Every Monte student receives a district Google Workspace for Education account on the district's domain, and most students receive a Chromebook for use at school and at home. Use of district devices and accounts is governed by the Technology Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), which families acknowledge at registration each year.

Per the federal Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), we filter content on Monte devices and on the school network. The filter applies on Chromebooks at home as well.

District administrators may, in accordance with board policy, access a student's account when there's a documented concern (safety, harassment investigation, suspected academic dishonesty). This is not routine — access is logged and authorized through the building administrator and Superintendent.

For full details on the Google Workspace for Education account — what apps are included, how to log in, password reset, privacy posture under FERPA / COPPA / WA RCW 28A.604 — see /google-workspace.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools

AI tools — ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini, GitHub Copilot, and others — are widely available, and many students are now using them for school work. Whether AI use is appropriate for a given assignment depends on the assignment and the teacher. The general principles below apply across the district; specific course rules live in each course's syllabus, and the suggested syllabus language at the end of this section gives teachers a starting point.

General principles.

• Ask first. If you're not sure whether AI use is allowed for an assignment, ask your teacher before you use it. When teachers haven't said, default to "no" until you've asked.
• AI as a tutor is generally OK. Asking an AI to explain a concept, work through an example with you, or check your understanding is similar to asking a tutor or family member to help. The work you turn in still has to be your own thinking.
• AI doing your work is academic dishonesty. Submitting AI-generated text as your own writing, AI-generated solutions as your own math, or AI-generated code as your own programming is plagiarism — same as if a sibling did it for you.
• Always disclose when permitted. Even when AI use is allowed, a one-line note at the top of your work ("I used Claude to brainstorm this essay outline; the writing is mine") makes the honesty obvious.
• Never share personal information. Don't paste classmates' names, family medical details, or home addresses into AI tools. Don't ask AI to generate content that names other students.
• Be skeptical. AI tools are confidently wrong frequently — they invent facts, mis-cite sources, and miscalculate. Always verify against a real source.

District-provided AI access. Monte's Google Workspace for Education accounts include Google Gemini and NotebookLM with K-12 enterprise privacy protections (no ads, no training on student data, no selling to third parties — see /google-workspace for the privacy details). Whether these tools are enabled for any given grade or class is a teacher- and building-level decision; ask your teacher.

When discipline applies. Misuse of AI that crosses into academic dishonesty, harassment, or violation of the Acceptable Use Policy is subject to the discipline procedures in Policy 3241 — Student Discipline. Disputes about an academic-integrity finding follow the formal process at /citizen-complaint.

Suggested AI Language for Course Syllabi

Teachers may copy and adapt the following paragraphs into course syllabi. Three categories — AI Prohibited, AI Permitted, AI Required — with multiple versions for the latter two. Pick the one that fits the course, or vary by assignment within a course.

AI Prohibited

This course assumes that all your course work will be done by you. You will not need to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as Gemini for any of the assignments. In general, for this class, you should not have an AI instrument do the writing of any portion of any assignment, just as you would not have another person do your writing for you. My aim is to keep the focus on your originality and creativity, your learning and reflection. If you do use AI for any part of any assignment, you will need to cite it fully and properly.

AI Permitted

Version 1

You may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist your learning in this course, including idea generation and grammar assessments for written assignments. However, you are prohibited from using generative AI tools to completely produce, reproduce, and/or manufacture paper and/or other assignments without using any personal effort devoted to the learning process. If you choose to use AI appropriately, you are expected to provide a citation for it using the following format: "Title of AI Tool. Prompt or brief description of topic of search depending on tool. Date of creation."

Version 2

You may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to assist your learning in this course, including idea generation and grammar assessments for written assignments. It is your responsibility, however, to be transparent in your AI use. To that end, you are required to read and edit, thoroughly, your assignment submissions, particularly any items created using AI. For every assignment submission, you will include an AI Acknowledgement that includes the following four components:

1. A citation for the tool(s) used, as follows: "Title of AI Tool. Prompt or brief description of topic of search depending on tool. Date of creation."
2. An explanation of why you decided to use the tool(s).
3. A description of how you used the tool(s) to manage assignment requirements.
4. A reflection on your experience using the tool, exploring what worked or didn't, and acknowledging limitations of the tool for this assignment, potential biases, etc.

AI Required

Version 1

This course encourages and embraces the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As a student in this course, you will sometimes be required to incorporate AI tools in your work. Our use of AI will allow us to develop our understanding of this technology and examine the complex challenges and opportunities it offers to us, both as students and future professionals. For the purposes of this class, you should cite AI tools as follows: "Title of AI Tool. Prompt or brief description of topic of search depending on tool. Date of creation."

Version 2

This course encourages and embraces the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). As a student in this course, you will sometimes be required to incorporate AI tools in your work. Because the policies around the use of large language tools vary across courses, we will spend some time early in the semester co-creating a class agreement on the use of AI tools.

Note on accommodations

Nothing in any of these policy designs interferes with the use of AI systems or tools as determined appropriate by a student's 504 or IEP team.

Health & safety

Health services

Each Monte building has dedicated school nursing support. Our nurses provide health screenings, manage chronic conditions during the school day, administer medications per provider orders, support students with allergies and asthma, and coordinate immunization compliance.

Medication at school requires a signed Authorization for Administration of Medication form from both parent and prescriber. We cannot administer medication — prescription or over-the-counter — without this form on file. Bring the medication in its original labeled container; the building office will store it securely.

Allergies and asthma: students with diagnosed allergies must have an Allergy Care Plan and Orders on file; students with asthma must have an Asthma Care Plan and Orders. Both forms require a provider signature.

Immunizations are required at enrollment per Washington Department of Health rules. If your child is exempt from one or more required immunizations, file a Certificate of Exemption (signed by the family and a licensed health care provider).

Full details: see /health-services. Forms: /district-forms#health-medication.

School safety

Monte uses the Standard Response Protocol — Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter — at every school. These five actions cover the range of situations a school might face, from a routine medical event in the hallway (Hold) to a tornado warning (Shelter) to a fire (Evacuate). Each protocol is a single-word action with a clear instruction; we drill all five every year so the response is muscle memory, not a decision being made under stress.

Per RCW 28A.320.125, we run at least one safety drill per month, including during summer programs. Some are full-school drills; some are walk-throughs that staff lead so younger students aren't alarmed.

If a building must be evacuated and students cannot return that day, we will route families to a reunification site through FlashAlert and Skyward. We do not pre-publish reunification addresses — the right site depends on the incident, and pre-publishing would let bad actors stage there. Bring a photo ID to pickup; release is one student at a time, signed out, with the adult's name matched against the Skyward emergency-contact list. Make sure your contacts in Skyward are current before something happens.

Full details: see /safety.

Concussion and sudden cardiac arrest

Per Washington's Lystedt Law (RCW 28A.600.190), all student athletes and parents must sign annual concussion and sudden cardiac arrest acknowledgments before participation. Most athletic forms now run through FinalForms, our online athletics platform.

Athletes suspected of a concussion are removed from play immediately and may not return until cleared in writing by a licensed health care provider trained in concussion management.

Weapons on school premises

Possession of dangerous weapons on Monte school premises is strictly prohibited. State and federal law (including the federal Gun-Free Schools Act and RCW 9.41.280) and Policy 4210 — Regulation of Dangerous Weapons on School Premises require mandatory disciplinary action — generally including expulsion of one calendar year — for students who bring or possess firearms or other dangerous weapons at school, on school transportation, or at school-sponsored events. Suspected weapons are reported immediately to law enforcement. If you see something, say something — to any staff member, the building principal, or 911 if there's an immediate danger.

Academic programs & supports

Monte runs the full range of state- and federally-required academic programs and supports. Each has its own page on this website with the complete procedure, contact, and forms.

• Early Intervention (Birth–3) — /early-intervention
• Preschool Special Education (3–5) — /preschool-special-education
• Section 504 / ADA accommodations — /section-504
• Title I / LAP (academic support) — /title-i-lap
• Highly Capable — /highly-capable
• Multilingual Learners (TBIP) — /transitional-bilingual
• McKinney-Vento (homelessness) — /mckinney-vento
• Foster Care — /foster-care

If you think your child needs more help than the regular classroom is providing — academic, social-emotional, behavioral, or developmental — please ask. Don't wait for the school to bring it up. The District Office at (360) 249-3942 can route you to the right coordinator, and so can your child's teacher or building principal.

Forms

Every form Monte publishes — health, enrollment, athletics, free & reduced meals, civil rights, special programs, volunteer, facility use, home school — lives at /district-forms. The page is organized by topic with a sticky sidebar of jump links. Forms with no link yet are listed without one — call the District Office to request a copy in the meantime.

Staff and administration forms (timesheets, leave requests, evaluation templates, board agenda template, and the like) live at /staff/forms.

Free help if you're stuck

Sometimes a school concern needs an outside ear. The Washington Education Ombuds is an independent state office — separate from OSPI and from the school district — that listens to families, shares information, and helps work through K-12 concerns informally, before any formal complaint is filed. The ombuds is free, confidential, and offers phone interpretation in 150+ languages. Their toll-free line is 1-866-297-2597, and their website is oeo.wa.gov.

Talking to the ombuds does not start a formal complaint; you can do that any time, with or without the ombuds. Many families find that one call is enough to get unstuck.

This handbook is published in compliance with RCW 28A.300.286 (model handbook language posted to website) and OSPI Bulletin 018-24. The four OSPI-mandated categories — HIB, discrimination, sexual harassment, gender-inclusive schools — are covered above and on the dedicated topic pages cross-referenced throughout. Required-publish content is also included for FERPA, McKinney-Vento, and the Education Ombuds. Each section above cross-links to the full dedicated page.

If you need this handbook in another language or format, call the District Office at (360) 249-3942 or email community@monteschools.org. We will get you what you need.

— Last updated: 2026 school year. Maintained by the Superintendent's Office.