ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT

An asbestos management plan was developed for the school. This plan is available and accessible to the public, and can be reviewed in the administrative office.

The last inspection was in compliance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA).

Parents, students, and staff may contact the Plant Manager for further information.

PEST MANAGEMENT

The school follows Integrated Pest Management procedures to control structural and landscape pests and minimize exposure of children, faculty and staff to pesticides.

To obtain more information or a copy of the school policy, contact the Plant Manager.

COPYRIGHT COMPLIANCE

Federal law makes it illegal, except in certain cases, to duplicate copyrighted materials without authorization from the copyright holder. Severe penalties may be imposed for unauthorized copying or use of audio visual material, printed material or computer software, unless the copying or use conforms to the "fair use" doctrine.

Under the "fair use" doctrine, unauthorized reproduction of copyrighted materials is permissible for such purposes as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research. If duplicating or changing a product is to fall within the bounds of fair use, these four standards must also be met:

• The purpose and character of the use. The use must be for such purposes as teaching or scholarship and must be nonprofit.
• The nature of the copyrighted work. Staff may make single copies of the following for use in research, instruction or preparation for teaching: book chapters; articles from periodicals or newspapers; short stories, essays or poems; and charts, graphs, diagrams, drawings, cartoons or pictures from books, periodicals, or newspapers in accordance with these guidelines.
• The amount and substantiality of the portion used. In most circumstances, copying the whole of a work cannot be considered fair use; copying a small portion may be.
• The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. If resulting economic loss to the copyright holder can be shown, even making a single copy of certain materials may be an infringement, and making multiple copies presents the danger of greater penalties.

Students at GNB Voc-Tech should be aware of federal copyright law and exercise caution when using copyrighted materials.

LAWS AFFECTING SCHOOLS

Controlled Substances, Dangerous Weapons and Assaults on Educational Personnel Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, § 37H (State):

(a) Any student who is found on school premises or at school-sponsored or school-related events, including athletic games, in possession of a dangerous weapon including, but not limited to, a gun or a knife or a controlled substance as defined in chapter ninety-four C, including, but not limited to, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, may be subject to expulsion from the school or school district by the principal.

(b) Any student who assaults a principal, assistant principal, teacher, teacher’s aide or other educational staff on school premises or at school-sponsored or school-related events, including athletic games, may be subject to expulsion from the school or school district by the principal.

(c) Any student who is charged with a violation of either paragraph (a) or (b) shall be notified in writing of an opportunity for a hearing; provided, however, that the student may have representation, along with the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses at said hearing before the principal.

After said hearing, a principal may, in his discretion, decide to suspend rather than expel a student who has been determined by the principal to have violated either paragraph (a) or (b).

(d) Any student who has been expelled from a school district pursuant to these provisions shall have the right to appeal to the superintendent. The expelled student shall have ten days from the date of the expulsion in which to notify the superintendent of his appeal. The student has the right to counsel at a hearing before the superintendent. The subject matter of the appeal shall not be limited solely to a factual determination of whether the student violated any provisions of this section.

(e) When a student is expelled under the provisions of this section, no school or school district within the commonwealth shall be required to admit such student or to provide educational services to said student. If said student does apply for admission to another school or school district, the superintendent of the school district to which the application is made may request and shall receive from the superintendent of the school expelling said student a written statement of the reasons for said expulsion.”

Crimes/Assault and Battery Upon Public Employees Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 265, § 13D

"Whoever commits an assault and battery upon any public employee when such person is engaged in the performance of his duties at the time of such assault and battery, shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than ninety days nor more than two and one-half years in a house of correction or by a fine of not less than five hundred nor more than give thousand dollars."

Disturbance of Schools or Assemblies Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272, § 40m

“Whoever wilfully interrupts or disturbs a school or other assembly of people met for a lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one month or by a fine of not more than fifty dollars; provided, however, that whoever, within one year after being twice convicted of a violation of this section, again violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by imprisonment for one month, and the sentence imposing such imprisonment shall not be suspended.”

Non-Discrimination Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 76, § 5

"No person shall be excluded from on discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation."

Non-Discrimination Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financing assistance.”

Non-Discrimination on Basis of Disability Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 guarantees the right of individuals with a disability to equal opportunity and the freedom from discrimination in all programs and activities which receive Federal financial assistance. Section 504 states: “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States ... shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

SCHOOL CLOSINGS OR DELAYS

Local radio and TV stations will broadcast announcements when school is closed or when the opening of school is delayed. When there is a delay, buses will run one or two hours late. After a one- or two-hour delay, academic cycle students are to report to their scheduled first period.

Whenever possible, the school will provide announcements about school closings, delayed openings, or the unscheduled early release of students to the following:

WCVB-TV Channel 5
WLNE-TV Channel 6
WHDH-TV Channel 7
WBSM Radio AM 1420
WSAR Radio AM 1480

Remember that GNB Voc-Tech is a separate, regional school district. It is not part of the New Bedford school system. Announcements about GNB Voc-Tech will be given separately on radio or TV.

Recorded messages about school closings, delayed openings, or the unscheduled early release of students will also be provided on the school’s phone system.

Announcements will also be posted on the school’s website: www.gnbvt.edu.

WORK PERMITS

If you are under 18 years of age, you must obtain a work permit before starting a new job. In Massachusetts, it is called a work permit if you are 14 or 15 years old, and an educational certificate if you are 16 or 17 years old.

Students interested in obtaining a work permit must see their guidance counselor or the Coordinator of Guidance/Pupil Personnel Services.

WHERE TO GO LIST

The following list is designed to help with some of the questions asked most frequently by new students. We hope this list will help direct you to someone who can help answer a question or solve a problem.