District Newsletter

Home of the Wolverines district newsletter is an online publication of AuGres-Sims School District. Its purpose is to share school district/educational information with the community. Comments or inquiries may be directed to AuGres-Sims School District Administration, P.O. Box 648, AuGres, MI 48703, or by calling 989-876-7150.

2007 - 2008 Board of Education

Robert Lutz......................President

Douglas Furtah........Vice-President

Karl Edmonds.................Secretary

Mike Stanley....................Treasurer

Eric Forton..........................Sec/Treas Pro-Tem

Bonnie Svanberg................Trustee

Jeffrey Taylor......................Trustee

It is the policy of the AuGres-Sims Board of Education not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap in its employment, educational programs, and activities. Anyone believing they have been discriminated against should contact Gary M. Marchel, Superintendent, AuGres-Sims School District, P.O. Box 648, AuGres, MI 48703, or call 989-876-7150.

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Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Education 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 the school principal 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.

Parents or eligible students may ask the school to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate. They should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate. 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 a 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 in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school district 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 Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605

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Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) affords parents and students who are 18 or emancipated ("eligible students") certain rights regarding our conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to:

* Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas ("protected information survey") if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student's parent;

2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student's family;

3. Sex behavior or attitudes;

4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;

6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;

7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents; or

8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

* Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of:

1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;

2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and

3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others.

* Inspect, upon request and before administration or use:

1. Protected information surveys of students;

2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and

3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

AuGres-Sims School District has developed policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. The AuGres-Sims School District will directly notify parents and eligible students of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year, and after any substantive changes. AuGres-Sims School District will provide an opportunity to opt a student out of participating in:

1. Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution.

2. Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.

3. Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

Parents/eligible students who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605.

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Asbestos Management Plan

The AuGres-Sims School District asbestos management plan is available for your review at the principal's office of each building and at the superintendent's office without cost or restriction during normal business hours. If you wish to have a copy, please notify the Administration Office, and it will be supplied to you within five (5) working days at a cost of $.30 per page. Our Administration Office is located at 310 Court St., AuGres, Michigan 48703.

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Pesticide Notification

Public Act 131 of 1993 requires that schools notify parents and guardians of children attending the school of their right to be informed prior to the application of pesticides at that school (MCL 286.536d). From time to time, the school's contracted pest control company or certified school employees will apply substances to deal with weed control, ants, bees, wasps, etc. If you would like to be notified prior to the application of these substances, please notify the school administration office in writing by January 1 of each year.

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Principal and Superintendent Swap Office Locations

We've moved! The elementary and middle/high school principals' offices have been consolidated into one location, and are now centralized in the offices previously occupied by the superintendent, across from the middle school wing. Pamela Morris, K-12 Principal, and Barb Derocher, Secretary, will be happy to assist all parents and students, both elementary and secondary, at this new location. To further enhance our security and monitor visitor traffic coming into the buildings, this will also serve as the main entrance to both schools. All other entrances to the buildings will remain locked from the outside for the majority of the day. The school's telephone system has been revamped, and all phone calls to the elementary and secondary offices will be redirected to this new location. As a reminder, all students in grades kindergarten through twelve arriving late to school must still check in at the Principal's office before proceeding to their classrooms. Parents who wish to pick up their children from school are still encouraged to park on the street to avoid any potential accidents and congestion in the parking lot. We also ask that parents try to avoid any last minute changes to their child's daily routine whenever possible, and notify the principal's office as early in the day as possible if students are to be picked up and by whom, especially when they normally ride the bus home. The safety of your children is our primary focus, and advance notice of any deviations from their normal routine will help limit any confusion at the end of the school day.

In addition to the relocation of the principals' offices, the superintendent and business office can now be found in the elementary building, occupying the space where the principal was formerly located.

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2007 - 2008 HOT LUNCH PRICES

Breakfast: K-12 $1.25 daily Lunch: K-5 $1.50 daily Reduced Breakfast: $ .30

6-12 $1.75 daily Reduced Lunch: $ .40

For information regarding our school meals program, please call Patti Yotkois, Food Service Supervisor, at 876-7150, ext. 235.

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2007 - 2008 ATHLETIC PAY TO PARTICIPATE FEES

Athletic pay to participate fees for the 2007-08 school year will remain the same as last year, and are listed below.

- $35.00 per sport per student, or a cap of $70.00 per student per year for Middle School

- $75.00 per sport per student, or a cap of $150.00 per student per year for High School

- $220.00 cap per family with students in grades 7-12 per year for multiple sports

Please be aware, scholarships through the school are no longer available due to a lack of funding. However, families may still contact the AuGres-Sims Athletic Booster Club at 876-2263 or at the Bingo Hall at 263 S. Main St., AuGres, and in exchange for working a few evenings, have their child's fee paid by the Booster Club. Applications are available at the school or from the child's coach as well, but it is the parents' responsibility to return applications to the Booster Club and make the necessary arrangements to work. Income is not a factor in a family's participation in the program.

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AUGRES-SIMS SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS INFORMATION

BUS INFORMATION

Please find below morning bus routes for the AuGres-Sims School District. As a cost-saving measure, some routes have been condensed into centralized stops, which students may have to walk a short distance to. Actual pick-up and drop-off times will depend upon the number of stops, and will become more consistent as routes are adjusted and refined. Afternoon bus routes will be run in reverse of morning routes. Drivers, bus numbers, routes and times are subject to change/adjustment.

KINDERGARTEN BUS ROUTES

Parents, drivers of each kindergarten route will call or speak with you directly regarding time and location to pick up and return your children.

REMINDER TO PARENTS

For your children's safety, do not pick up or drop off your child in the school parking lot. Please use sidewalks in front of both school buildings.

2007-2008 Bus Routes

BUS 98 – ROUTE 1 Leaves School 6:45 a.m.

Bus Route Roads Approx. Times (a.m.)

Dreyer Rd. 6:52

Corner Gordon Rd. & Davis Rd. 6:55

Manor Rd. & Dreyer Rd. 6:59

Santiago Rd. South of Manor Rd. 7:02

Gordon Rd. East of Santiago Rd. 7:06

Corner Gordon Rd. & Rumsey Rd. 7:08

Pt. AuGres Rd. 7:13

Pt. AuGres Rd. & Booth Rd. 7:15

Booth Rd. West 7:17

Corner Booth Rd. & Santiago Rd. 7:24

Corner Santiago Rd. & West Gordon Rd. 7:26

Manor Rd. East of Santiago Rd. 7:28

Mackinaw St. 7:36

Court St. North 7:38

Corner Thaut Rd. & Santiago Rd. 7:43

School 7:48

BUS 98 – ROUTE 2 Leaves School 6:45 a.m.

Bus Route Roads Approx. Times (a.m.)

US-23 & Crawford Rd. 6:50

US-23 West to Hale Rd. 6:51

Hale Rd. South 6:56

Corner Hale Rd. & Conrad Rd. 6:58

Hansel Rd. 7:04

Hale Rd. North 7:08

Corner M-65 & Noggle Rd. 7:13

M-65 & Ostrander Rd. 7:21

US-23 East of M-65 7:26

Swenson Rd. & US-23 7:31

Swenson Rd. & Jodway Rd. (South of Jodway Students) 7:35

Jodway Rd. & Nearman Rd. 7:37

US-23 & West St. 7:40

West Michigan Ave. 7:42

Fannie St. & West Michigan Ave. 7:43

School 7:46

BUS 03 – ROUTE 3 Leaves School 7:02 a.m.

Bus Route Roads Approx. Times (a.m.)

US-23 & Tonkey Rd. 7:04

Delano Rd. North of US-23 7:07

Bessinger Rd. East 7:13

Bessinger Rd. & Arthur St. 7:15

US-23 North from Bessinger Rd. 7:16

Corner Hammell Bch. Rd. & US-23 7:18

US-23 South from Hammell Bch. Rd. 7:20

US-23 & Maple St. 7:25

US-23 & Foster Rd. 7:27

Delano Rd. South Between US-23 & MI Ave. 7:29

Main St. South of US-23 7:35

Allen Ct. 7:37

Main St. & Riverside Dr. 7:39

Main St. & Michigan Ave. 7:41

School 7:45

BUS 99 - ROUTE 4 Leaves School 7:00 a.m.

Bus Route Roads Approx. Times (a.m.)

Crescent Dr. & 29th St. 7:07

Crescent Dr. & 14th St. 7:10

Crescent Dr. & 5th St. 7:13

AuGres Ave. 7:17

Back to Michigan Ave. 7:19

Michigan Ave. & Sanford Lane 7:20

Michigan Ave. & Pt. Lookout Rd. 7:21

Michigan Ave. & Foster Rd. 7:24

Anne St. 7:31

Taral Terrace Dr. 7:32

Anne St. Back to Michigan Ave. 7:35

Michigan Ave. West to Stanley Blvd. 7:36

East Michigan Ave. to Main St. 7:41

Main St. to US-23 7:42

Harbor Inn on US-23 7:45

Albert St. & Michigan Ave. 7:46

School 7:47

BUS 02 – ROUTE 5 Leaves School 6:45 a.m.

Bus Route Roads Approx. Times (a.m.)

Corner Tonkey Rd. & Bessinger Rd. 6:55

Delano Rd. North 7:00

Corner Delano Rd. & Whitman Rd. 7:03

Corner Whitman Rd. & Van Horn Rd. 7:05

Whitman Rd. West 7:08

Corner Whitman & Edmonds Rd. 7:10

Swartz Rd. 7:13

Corner Swartz Rd. & Tonkey Rd. 7:15

Tonkey Rd. South 7:16

Corner Hammell Bch. Rd. & Mackinaw Rd. 7:21

Tonkey Rd. South of Bessinger Rd. 7:26

Baum Rd. 7:31

Main St. Riverside Apts. 7:33

420 W. Huron Rd. Apts. 7:35

Nearman Rd. North of US-23 7:38

School 7:46

Transportation Department

Robert Thompson, Supervisor

Drivers:

Sharon Briggs

Sandy Callender

Arlie Compeau

Dave Herrington

Diane Hollis

Please Note: If you have any questions regarding bus routes, please call Bob Thompson, Transportation Supervisor, at 876-7159, ext. 239.

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STAFFING CHANGES

Several staffing changes have taken place for the 2007-08 school year, and are as follows:

Sue Willett, Elementary Secretary, retired at the end of the last school year, and Barbara Derocher is now the principal's secretary for both elementary and middle/high schools.

Chuck Nowak, our high school counselor for many years, has also officially retired. Tom Pacynski, who was contracted as a part-time Dean of Students last year, will not be returning as well this fall as we further reduce staffing. Mr. Nowak has agreed to continue working to provide counselor and Dean of Students duties as a contracted service on a daily basis this year.

Kim Aldrich, who taught secondary art on a part-time basis last year, was laid off at the end of the 2006-07 school year due to budget cuts. Mrs. Aldrich has since been hired to teach art for the Bangor Public Schools in Bay City. David Trapp, a custodian, was also laid off effective June 30, 2007 due to budgetary constraints.

Stacey Perrin has moved from the high school into the middle school grades to teach social studies for 2007-08, and Chad Zeien has returned to the elementary school to teach fifth grade this fall. Jessica Nickell, who taught fifth grade last year, will teach one of two sections of fourth grade this year, along with Deb Bilacic.

Barb Richardson, who taught secondary Spanish and language arts on a part-time basis last year, will be with us full-time this year.

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ENCOURAGE GOOD STUDENT BEHAVIOR

With the additional staff reduction in our maintenance department and the tight budget that we continue to face, our schools' resources continue to be stretched. To help keep our school buildings and grounds in great shape, we would like to ask parents and community members for their support. Please speak to your children, provide a good example for them, and stress to them the importance of taking pride in our schools by eliminating even the smallest acts of student vandalism and destruction. Many children probably don't realize that any destructive behavior by students involving our schools, however minor, is greatly compounded by the number of incidences that occur throughout the school year. Stress to your children that even such simple acts as not writing on walls, lockers, and desks, wiping off muddy shoes before entering the buildings, and not throwing trash on the ground has a collectively positive impact on the condition of our facilities. Help them recognize that by conducting themselves responsibly from day-to-day while at school, they contribute greatly to our success in providing a safe and pleasant environment for them, and school facilities that they can be proud of.

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Superintendent's Focus

Mr. Gary M. Marchel, Superintendent

(Coming soon!)

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Principal's Report

Mrs. Pamela Morris, K-12 Principal

(Coming soon!)

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VOLUNTEER ATHLETIC RENOVATION PROJECT

Contributions Come Alive at AuGres-Sims!

Slow but steady progress has continued on the volunteer athletic renovation project throughout this past year and over the summer. The football field lights have been wired and erected, and were lit for the first time at the Junior Varsity football contest held on August 29 against Alcona. Although maiden launch glitches were experienced and darkness descended for a short time on the field, a backup plan went into action and the problem is expected to be resolved before our first home Varsity game of the season versus Hillman, scheduled for Friday, September 7, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.

Work on the concession stand is progressing, with installation of the electrical panel and one wall. Currently, a need exists for the completion of some masonry work, specifically the installation of 40 to 50 blocks, after which a meeting will be held with interested contractors to coordinate plans for framing in the building and construction of the roof. Our goal is to have the building enclosed by winter, when interior work can begin. If you are interested in volunteering labor or materials, please contact Project Coordinator Rex Reittenbach at 989-876-2452.

Many more wonderful contributions have been received over this past year, and are greatly appreciated, but more help is still needed. As with any project of this magnitude, it has been a one-step-forward and two-steps-back process. So far we have managed to deal with the unexpected hurdles that have cropped up as the project advanced, but some came with substantial additional costs, such as the unplanned expenses for the light poles, additional wiring, and electrical panels. In order to keep the project moving forward, additional funds and materials are still needed. Again, please contact Rex Reittenbach if you are interested in donating materials. Financial contributions can be sent directly to AuGres-Sims Schools at 310 Court St., PO Box 648, AuGres, Michigan 48703.

Again, the entire AuGres-Sims school community would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to those who have given so generously to this project. Your continued support for our schools and families is what makes living in our small, northeast Michigan town something to be treasured, and proof that by working together, we truly can accomplish great things!

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