ASD FILE: KA (same as IJO)
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND HOME RELATIONS

The School Board recognizes the importance of having a strong partnership between the school system and the parents of our students as well as the community at large. It is therefore the policy of the Board to define standards for involvement between the schools, the community, and the parents of all students enrolled in District schools. The Superintendent or his/her designee is directed to implement these standards.

• District schools are a welcoming place, clearly accessible to parents and the community.
• Communication between home and school is regular, two-way and meaningful.
• Parents are full partners in the educational decisions that affect children and families.
• Parents will be encouraged to visit their schools for beginning of the year events such as “Open House” and new student orientations. These events will be used to disseminate information on school policies, discipline procedures, assessment tools and school goals.
• Opportunities are provided to guide parents on ways to assist with homework, give feedback to teachers, and how parents can help their children improve skills and perform well on assessments.
• Parents are encouraged to attend school-sponsored parent workshops to learn about parenting skills, health, safety, nutrition, home environments that support education and other topics of child and adolescent development throughout the year.
• Reasonable efforts will be made to communicate with parents in their primary language or in the language in which they feel comfortable.
• For the purposes of this policy, the term “parent” refers to the parent or legal guardian and where appropriate other family members.
• Students and parents will receive information regarding cultural, recreational, academic, health, social and other resources that serve families within the community.
• The support of area businesses, agencies and faith-based organizations will be sought through financial, goods and services, and volunteer contributions.
• Partnerships will be developed with local organizations, local city and county governments, and talented individuals to strengthen school programs, family practices and student learning.
• Student participation in community service will be encouraged.
• Business partnerships will also be developed to assist students in the successful transition to employment or further education.

Legal References: NH Admin Rules Sec. Ed 306.04(a)(11), NH Admin Rules Sec. Ed 306.04(k)

Adopted: June 12, 2007
Revised: January 13, 2009

ASD File: KEC
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
POLICY ON RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Statement of Policy:

Any resident or employee of the Auburn School District may formally challenge learning resources used in
the district’s educational program on the basis of appropriateness. This procedure is for the purpose of
considering the opinions of those persons in the schools and the community who are not directly involved
in the selection process.

Request for Informal Reconsideration:
1. The school receiving a complaint regarding a learning resource shall try to resolve the issue
informally.
2. The principal or other appropriate staff shall explain to the questioner the school’s selection
procedure, criteria, and qualifications of those persons selecting the resource.
3. The principal or other appropriate staff shall explain the particular place the questioned resource
occupies in the education program, its intended educational usefulness, and additional information
regarding its use, or include someone who can identify and explain the use of the resource.
4. If the questioner wishes to file a formal challenge, a copy of the district Selection of Learning
Resources policy and a Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources form shall be handed or
mailed to the party concerned by the principal.
Request for Formal Reconsideration:

Preliminary Procedures –
1. The Principal who receives the complaint will keep on hand and make available Request for
Reconsideration of Learning Resources forms. All formal objections to learning resources must be
made on these forms.
2. The Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources form shall be signed by the questioner and
filed with the principal or someone so designated by the principal.
3. The superintendent (or designee) and the media director shall be informed of the formal complaint
received.
4. The request for reconsideration shall be referred to a reconsideration committee at the school level
for reevaluation of the resource.
5. Requests for reconsideration of materials in district collections shall be referred to the content area
curriculum committee for reevaluation of the resource. This committee may involve additional
personnel as appropriate.

The Reconsideration Committee:
Upon receipt of a request for formal reconsideration of a learning resource, the principal shall:
1. Appoint a reconsideration committee including the following membership as appropriate:
a. One member of the administrative staff chosen by the superintendent (or designee);
b. One member of the school teaching staff chosen by the school staff;
c. One member of the content area curriculum committee chosen by superintendent (or designee);
d. One member of the parent community chosen by PTA.
2. Name a convener of the reconsideration committee.
3. Arrange for a reconsideration committee meeting within 10 working days after the complaint is
received.
4. The reconsideration committee may choose to consult district support staff and/or community
persons with related professional knowledge.
5. The reconsideration committee shall review the challenged resource and judge whether it conforms
to the principles of selection outlined in the district’s Selection of Learning Resources policy.

Resolution:
The reconsideration committee shall:
1. Examine the challenged resource;
2. Determine professional acceptance by reading critical reviews of the resource;
3. Weigh values and faults and form opinions based on the material as a whole rather than
on passages or sections taken out of context;
4. Discuss the challenged resource in the context of the educational program;
5. Discuss the challenged item with the individual questioner if it is deemed
necessary;
6. Prepare a written report.
a. The written report shall be provided to the individual questioner if requested.
b. The written report shall be retained by the school principal, with copies forwarded to
the superintendent (or designee). A minority report also may be filed.
c. Written reports, once filed, are available for examination upon approval of the Principal.
The decision of the reconsideration committee is binding for the individual school.
Notwithstanding any procedure outlined in this policy, the questioner shall have the right to appeal any
decision of the reconsideration committee to the Auburn School Board as the final review panel.

Guiding Principles:
1. Any resident or employee of the school district may raise objection to learning resources used in a
school’s educational program, despite the fact that the individuals selecting such resources were duly
qualified to make the selection, followed the proper procedure, and observed the criteria for selecting
learning resources.
2. The principal should review the selection and objection rules with the teaching staff at least annually.
The staff should be reminded that the right to object to learning resources is one granted by policies
enacted by the School Board.
3. No parent has the right to determine reading, viewing, or listening matter for students other than his
or her own children.
4. Access to challenged material shall not be restricted during the reconsideration process.
5. The major criterion for the final decision is the appropriateness of the material for its intended
educational use.
6. A decision to sustain a challenge shall not necessarily be interpreted as a judgment of
irresponsibility by the professionals involved in the original selection or use of the material.

Adopted: January 15, 2002 See Appendix KEC-R
Revised: October 12, 2010

ASD File: KEC-R
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The Auburn School Board has delegated the responsibility for selection and evaluation of
library/educational resources to the school library media specialist/curriculum committee, and has
established reconsideration procedures to address concerns about those resources. Completion of this
form is the first step in those procedures. If you wish to request reconsideration of school or library
resources, please return the completed form to the Principal.
Name __________________________________________
Date ___________________________________________
Address _________________________________________
City ____________________________________________
State ___________________________
Zip _____________________________
Phone ____________________________________________
Do you represent self? ____ Organization? ____
Received by: _____________________________________
Date: ____________________________________________

ASD File: KEC-R
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Date: _____________________
The questioner is encouraged to attach additional information.
Resource on which you are commenting:
____ Book ____ Textbook ____ Video ____ Display ____ Magazine ____ Library Program
____ Audio Recording ____ Newspaper ____ Electronic Information/Network (please specify):
___________________________________________________________________________
____ Other
___________________________________________________________________
Title
________________________________________________________________________
Author/Producer
What brought this resource to your attention?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Have you examined the entire resource?___________________________________________________
What concerns you about the resource? (use other side or additional pages if necessary)
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Are there resource(s) you suggest to provide additional information and/or other
viewpoints on this topic?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Note: A copy of the cover page will not be provided to the reconsideration committee.

Adopted: January 15, 2002
Revised: October 12, 2010

ASD File: KEB
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ABOUT SCHOOL PERSONNEL

The Auburn School Board places trust in its employees and desires to support their actions in such a manner that employees are freed from unnecessary negative criticism and complaints.

Whenever a complaint is made directly to the Board as a whole or to a board member as an individual, it shall be referred to the school administration for study and possible solutions. The individual employee involved shall be advised of the nature of the complaint and shall be given an opportunity for explanation, comment, and presentation of the facts.

The school administration shall resolve the matter and report to the Superintendent.

Adopted: June 12, 2001

ASD File: KE
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC COMPLAINTS

While the Auburn School Board recognizes its obligation to be available to the public at all times, it also believes that individual complaints can usually be resolved most effectively by parties directly concerned. All complaints will be referred through the proper administrative channels for solution before investigation or action by the Board. Exceptions are complaints that concern board actions or board operations only. The Board, therefore, will not hear complaints from individual parents until such complaints have been raised, first with the child’s teacher, and, if not resolved with the Principal and/or Superintendent or their designees.

Adopted: June 12, 2001

ASD File: KDCA
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
USE OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM

One of the strongest links of communication between the district and the public is the pupil in the classroom. Failure to provide parents with appropriate information may lead to misinformation about the schools.

It is the responsibility of the school administration to see that information regarding school activities, programs, and organizations is properly disseminated to parents.

The school administration shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the use of students as couriers is limited to carrying information about the school system or a particular school, except as specifically provided in the following paragraph. School information may include publications, newsletters, notices, or other printed matter published under the name of the district, the individual school, or the recognized parent/teacher groups.

Students may serve as couriers for information generated by non-school organizations, subject to the following conditions:
1. The information clearly states that it is not school-sponsored.
2. The sponsor of the information/activity is a non-profit organization and the activity is student-related.
3. The School Board, Superintendent or his/her designee reserves the right to refuse any request for distribution of such information on a case-by-case basis.
4. The distribution of such information is subject to prior approval by the Superintendent or designee.

Information published by the district, individual school, employee organizations or unions, recognized parent/teacher groups, or non-school groups which advocates a particular position on bond issues, political matters, labor relations issues, or district budgets will not be distributed through the use of students as couriers.

Adopted: June 12, 2001
Reviewed: February 13, 2007

ASD File: KDA
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM

The Auburn School Board will keep the citizens of Auburn regularly informed of the affairs of the district. To achieve its goals for good school-community relations and maintenance of open two-way channels of communication with the public, the Board authorizes the Administration to:
1. Prepare or guide the preparation of informational materials including the annual report, newsletters, articles for periodicals, newspaper and/or radio releases, special pamphlets and other assigned material, and to maintain close liaison with news media and publicity organizations.
2. Assist in coordinating work with civic and other groups which support the school system.
Adopted: June 12, 2001

ASD File: KCB
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION-MAKING

The Auburn School Board shall encourage the involvement of citizens to fulfill the mission of the schools through such means as hearings, surveys, informational meetings and the like, where the Board may hear and evaluate community opinions as it conducts its responsibilities.

Adopted: June 12, 2001

ASD File: KBA
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC RIGHT TO KNOW

The Auburn School Board wishes to provide any information to the public that falls within the definition of the Right to Know Law, RSA 91-A.

Adopted: November 9, 1976
Adopted: June 12, 2001

ASB File: KB
AUBURN SCHOOL DISTRICT
TITLE I FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

This policy is required for school districts receiving Title I funds (e.g., Title IA, Focus/Priority, SIG.)

The Auburn School District recognizes that a child’s education is a responsibility shared by the school and family during the entire period the child spends in school. To support the goals of the Auburn School District to educate all students effectively, the school and parents must work as knowledgeable partners.

The School Board acknowledges the family and community engagement goals of the Every Student Succeeds Act and encourages regular collaboration between family members, community members, and school leadership. The education of children is viewed as a cooperative effort among the parents, school and community, and other family members involved in supporting the child’s development and education.

Pursuant to federal law, the District will develop jointly, and distribute to parents of children participating in the Title I program, a written family and community engagement policy.

The goal of this policy is to:
(1) Honor and recognize families’ funds of knowledge,
(2) Connect family engagement to student learning,
(3) Create welcoming, inviting cultures, and
(4) Develop the capacity of families to negotiate the roles of supporters, advocates, and collaborators.

The District will implement at least one annual meeting that is available to all families of students attending Title I schools and/or for families that include a student who receives Title I services (Targeted Schools). These meetings will provide parents and family member’s opportunities to participate in the design, development, operation and evaluation of the program for the next school year. Additional meetings may be held at the will of the Superintendent or school board. These meetings will be used to:

1. Involve parents in the joint development of the Title I program plan, the process of reviewing the implementation of the plan, and suggesting overall school improvement goals.

2. Provide the coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing effective family and community engagement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance.

3. Build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong family and community engagement.

4. Coordinate and integrate Title I family and community engagement strategies with those of other educational programs.

5. Conduct, with the involvement of families, an annual evaluation of the content of the family engagement policy and its effectiveness in improving the academic quality of the schools served. This will include identifying barriers to greater participation by parents in activities authorized by law, particularly by parents who are economically disadvantaged, have disabilities, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background. The district will use the findings of such evaluation to design strategies for more effective parental involvement and to revise, if necessary, the parental involvement policies.

6. Involve families in the activities of the schools served.

Title I funding, if sufficient, may be used to facilitate parent attendance at meetings through payment of transportation, childcare costs, food for the event, and academic based supplies and activities during the event. In targeted assistance programs, the families of children identified to participate in Title I programs will receive from the school Principal and/or Title I staff an explanation of the reasons supporting each child’s selection for the program, a set of objectives to be addressed, and a description of the services to be provided. Opportunities will be provided for the parents to meet with the classroom and Title I teachers to discuss their child’s progress. Parents will also receive guidance as to how they can assist in the education of their children at home.

Legal References:
20 U.S.C. §6318, Title I – Parental Involvement

Adopted: March 26, 2002
Revised: February 14, 2017