McKinney High School Faculty Handbook

2014-2015

The purpose of the McKinney High School Faculty Handbook is to provide information that will help with questions and pave the way for a successful year. This handbook is neither a contract nor a substitute for the official McKinney Independent School District Employee Policy Manual. Nor is it intended to alter the at-will status of noncontract employees in any way. Rather, it is a guide to and a brief explanation of MHS policies and procedures related to employment. The MHS Faculty Handbook is a fluid document also – there will be additions throughout the year.

Welcome to McKinney High School

It is a pleasure to have you at MHS! The Administrative Staff has prepared and published this handbook to help you better understand the daily operations of our school. It is imperative you carefully review this handbook as several changes have been made for the upcoming school year. Your knowledge and understanding of the contents of this handbook is very important to the success of MHS.  As we begin a new school year, I encourage you to set personal goals for yourself and approach the year with a positive attitude, high levels of enthusiasm, and focused on success. Our campus motto “rich in legacy … focused on the future” is a key element in developing this focus along with a sense of urgency that drives our effort. We are proud to be at McKinney High School! 

The 2014-2015 school year will continue to have elements of change and an abundance of opportunities for new beginnings with new staff members and new opportunities for learning. One area of focus will be to establish a stronger sense of our “standards” and “accountability” in our day-to-day operation. Everyone must have a clear understanding of the standards for curriculum, discipline, and the overall day-to-day operation. We will continue our focus on designing engaging lessons; however, we must see everyone increasing the depth and levels of academic challenge in all classes. A second focus will be to continue to focus our efforts in making connections/relationships with a goal on meeting the needs of all students. Our students are ready to be encouraged and held to the highest expectations possible. We must continue our work with the design qualities and leveraging our PLC time to ensure that our students are challenged every day. The quality of our daily lessons must be designed in such a way that causes us all to focus on stronger depth and rigor of instruction, frequent assessments of mastery and a tenacious pursuit of mastery for every student. We must have our students fully prepared to meet the challenges that lie ahead. McKinney High School is not the best because we are the original high school in McKinney, but rather because of the levels of commitment to excellence demonstrated by our students, teachers, administrators and parents working toward a common goal of student success!

I am proud to serve as the principal of McKinney High School.  This will be our best year ever and I am looking forward to the challenges before each of us. It is my sincerest hope this year is a successful one for you.  I encourage you to build positive relationships, remain focused and committed to success every minute of every class period of every day of every week of every semester of every year.  Focus on the details yields success over time. There are several new faces at MHS this year and I ask you to welcome them to our school. I look forward to a great year of learning at MHS. 

Press On!

Table of ContentsAccidents/InjuriesAccommodationsAdministrative ContactsAnnouncementsAttendance – TeachersBadges, Keys and Keyless Entry into MHSBell ScheduleBudgetCalendarCell Phone UsageClassroom ExpectationsClassroom and Student Management

ExpectationsLesson Plans/SyllabusAttendance CommitteeBehavior Management/Student DisciplineParent ContactParent CommunicationTechnology Expectations (Digital Citizenship)

Cheating and/or PlagiarismClassroom Phone ListClinic and Nurse InformationClosing of SchoolsCommunication Flow at MHSCommunicating with Central Office DepartmentsCommunicating with the MediaContract Teaching Dates and TimesCopyingCounselor ReferralsCrisis PlanDesign TeamDiscretionary LeaveDress CodeDrills

FireLockdownTornado

DutyEduphoriaeHighESL/McKinney ISD New Comer CenterEnergy ConservationFaculty MeetingsField TripsFlex Room Use

Food and Drink in the ClassroomFundraiser Approval FormGrading PolicyHall PassesHallway SignsHallway SupervisionLeaving School during Contract TimeLibrary Media CenterMaintenance and Work OrdersMovie/Video/DVD usePaperParkingPDAS CalendarPLC (Professional Learning Communities)RtI (Response to Intervention) and 504SecuritySmoking/Tobacco PolicySocial MediaSpecial EducationStudent MoniesTeacher WorkroomsTechnology Usage – Computers, Cell Phones, etc.Technology Help RequestTextbooks – Students and TeachersTransportation of StudentsTutorialsUILVending MachinesVisitorsVoicemailWalk-through Observations

Appendix

Accidents/InjuriesShould a staff member become injured on the job, he/she should report directly to the campus nursing station, which is located near the main entrance of McKinney High School. The school nurse will evaluate the situation, assist in getting the correct treatment, and complete an accident report. Should the injury require treatment from a doctor, the proper forms will be completed and submitted to the MISD Central Office.

AccommodationsSome students at MHS have to follow accommodations based on their specific educational needs. This is in the form of Special Education IEP’s (Individual Education Plans), as well as, 504 and RtI accommodations.

Administrative Contacts (See chart in the Appendix section)

AnnouncementsDaily PA announcements will be made at the start of 3rd period. Announcements will include the Pledge of Allegiance, the Texas Pledge of Allegiance, a Moment of Silence and any other “housekeeping” announcements beneficial to the entire student body. Students may be excused from these pledges only if the request is in writing from the parent (see MISD Student Handbook). It is an MHS expectation that students are quiet during the announcements.

Attendance – TeachersStaff members are expected to be in attendance each day from 7:15 AM until 3:15 PM. If you happen to have a morning duty, then you will be expected to be there by 7:00 AM until 7:20 AM.

For absences known in advance, teachers are expected to enter the absence as soon as possible. A substitute folder with emergency lesson plans should be prepared. Video watching is not an acceptable substitute plan. Department chairpersons and PDAS appraisers will check to see that a substitute folder is prepared for each teacher by Tuesday, September 2, 2014.

When a substitute is needed, a substitute must be secured from the MAC system, (Click here for link, MAC Center) before 5:30 a.m., the morning of the absence. Staff members should call or text their Team Lead, Department chairperson, PDAS supervisor and the Associate Principal’s secretary (Kelsey Jessee) in the event of their absence.

Each classroom substitute folder should have the following information: Updated roster for each teaching or coaching period Seating chart (for each period) Directions on where attendance should be taken (F203, House of Leadership secretary,

Kim Montgomery) Classroom expectations Detailed lesson plans Phone list and administrative contacts Directions is case of an emergency (Fire, Lockdown, Tornado Drill) Individual student special instructions (by period)

Departmental contacts (room and phone numbers) Extra paper (for substitute notes) Notice to the substitute NOT allowing a student to “borrow” a textbook from the class set If your lesson requires the use of technology, please make sure your substitute has

the correct sub login information.o LOGIN – subby13o Password - substitute

Badges, Keys and Keyless Entry into MHSEach staff member is responsible for locking/unlocking his/her classroom and office each day. The custodians will not be opening classroom doors. Please keep your keys secure and lock your doors when you leave your classroom. Do not leave your keys unattended.

You may enter the building by using your McKinney ISD Employee Badge. Entry door will be locked at all times and you must use your ID to enter the building. If you lose your ID, you may get a replacement badge at Central Office for a cost of $8.00 – cash only.

All MHS Faculty and Staff will be required to wear their MISD ID badge while they are on the MHS campus as well as any other MISD campus and sponsored event.

Bell Schedules See schedule in the Appendix section – this will include Regular and Pep Rally bell schedules. Late Start (due to Inclement Weather) and Testing bell schedules will be TBA.

BudgetThe school principal and leadership team administer the school budget. All purchasing is approved first by the team leader, then by the department chair and finally by their PDAS appraiser. Only the department chairperson should approach the bookkeeper, Gail Erger, about budgets and spending. Department chairpersons should check with the bookkeeper prior to making purchases that require reimbursement. Staff members needing to make purchases of any kind are responsible for following the procedure outlined in the MISD Purchasing Manual. You can find the list of current MISD vendors by clicking on the following link - Vendor List. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact Gail Erger at gerger@mckinneyisd.net.

CalendarA Master Calendar will be available on the MHS Campus Portal. You will be able to sync this calendar onto your Microsoft Outlook calendar. National and state testing will be added to this calendar. If you would like something added to the MHS Calendar, you must email Jennifer Duke and/or Kelsey Jessee – they will add it to the calendar.

Cell Phone UsageStaff members are expected to use professional judgment when using their cell phones during the school day. Staff members are directed not to receive personal phone calls during instructional time.

Classroom ExpectationsAs a teacher at McKinney High School, it is imperative that classrooms are maintained to the highest professionalism. Any poster or sign should be of professionally appropriate for the grade level and department. Also, all whiteboards, bulletin boards and SMART boards should not be moved for any reason.

If you have a classroom that has a large window with pull down shades to the hallway, the shades are to stay up during the instructional day. Shades can be pulled down during any lockdown, fire or tornado drill. If you would like to decorate the glass window of your room, you may do so. Teachers will need to leave room for school personnel to view into the classroom though.

Classroom and Student ManagementExpectationsMHS teachers will be held accountable for the following classroom standards:

Greet students at the door. Supervise both the hallway and classroom during passing period. Never leave the classroom unattended. Display content and language objectives, daily. Take attendance electronically after ten minutes of class-time passes,

(absences only). Classroom expectations should be posted. Plan lessons so that learning takes place from bell to bell. Differentiation of lessons is expected. WICOR strategies in every class is an expectation.

Lesson Plans/SyllabusLesson Plans will be submitted through Eduphoria (in Forethought) according to the specific template of your department. These will be due by 10:00 AM Monday of each instructional week.

Attendance CommitteeThroughout the school year, an Attendance Committee comprised of administrators, counselors and teachers will meet to discuss students who are in violation of Texas’ Compulsory School Attendance Law (TEC Chapter 25.085). Members of the attendance committee may request information or your presence during a meeting. If you are invited to a meeting, then attendance is mandatory. The purpose will be to determine credit denials and approve and/or adjust any consequences or actions taken.

Behavior Management/Student Discipline

Behavior management is essential in creating a positive environment for learning. Discipline is corrective, not punitive. Teachers must clearly communicate the expectations of the class to the students and then model your expectations.

Be a positive role model for your students, parents, and colleagues. (See Code of Ethics and Standards Practices for Texas Educators, Rule §247.2)

Hold each student accountable for his/her actions. Do not ignore or tolerate inappropriate behavior anytime. This would include

sleeping in class and having students not participating at all. Consistency and fairness are best exhibited when decisions are made after all the

information is collected, considered, and discussed with the appropriate resources. Discipline is best taught when the students’ self-esteem and dignity are kept in

mind and maintained.

Behavior Management Procedural Steps at MHS 1. Teacher/student conference 2. Parent phone call 3. Teacher detention before or after school (this should be held in the teacher’s

room)4. Teacher/student/parent conference (department chair, counselor or assistant

principal may be available upon request) 5. Written referral to the Assistant Principal for support and assistance.

* For emergencies (i.e. fighting, cussing, extreme disrespect), send student directly to their House Principal. Call the AP House Secretary notifying them of the

student who is being sent to the office.

* Imposing a grade penalty for disciplinary purposes is not allowed.

Parent CommunicationTeachers will be required to send a weekly email by Monday to their parents and students, outlining upcoming events, due dates, tutorial options, and other instructions. You can send a mass email from your Gradebook. Please see your department chair if you have any questions in regards to this feature. In addition, teachers will also carbon copy their PDAS appraiser.

Also, teachers should respond to voice mails and e-mails within 24 hours. If a student is in danger of failing or has attendance issues, teachers must make contact with the parents/guardian, the student’s Counselor and House Principal. If you have difficulty in contacting a parent/guardian, please contact the student’s House Principal for assistance. And, if there is an “undeliverable” email from a parent, please contact the student’s House Secretary for an update.

All communication will need to be documented with time, date, and a brief statement explaining the nature of the conversation.

Technology Expectations (Also known as Digital Citizenship)Effective teacher planning and supervision are the most important elements in keeping students safe and productive while they use computers or personal devices. MHS teachers will take all reasonable measures to ensure students use the MISD computer network correctly.

Teachers will: Diligently protect their passwords to prevent unauthorized access to restricted

programs and network spaces. Do not share your passwords with any student, teacher, office aide, etc. Actively monitor students who are using electronic devices. Teach students the proper procedures for using electronic devices and insist

students follow procedures and expectations. Teach students about acceptable use and the consequences for failure to obey the

Acceptable Use Policy (AUP).

Staff members are held responsible for the regulations outlined in the employee AUP. These computers which are owned by MISD are subject to the regulations provided in the AUP, whether used at school or at home. Staff email accounts are also the property of MISD and are subject to inspection. Please use your professional judgment when checking emails throughout the day.

Cheating and/or PlagiarismIf there is an incident of cheating and/or plagiarism, please adhere to the following steps.

1. Investigate thoroughly to determine all parties involved in the incident.2. Contact and conference with appropriate administrator (s) with the results of your

investigation (e.g. provide a copy of the paper and/or exam that was used).3. Write referral for the student (s).4. At this point, the teacher has two options

a. Option 1 – Student receives a 0 and no other disciplinary action from the administrator

b. Option 2 - Student receives 2 days of ISS. Student is allowed to redo the assignment (if applicable, it can be an alternate assignment) and student is able to receive full credit.

Classroom Phone ListWhen the Classroom Phone List is complete, a copy will be provided to all MHS Faculty and Staff.

Clinic and Nurse InformationStudents must have a pass to come to the nurse during class time. Students are not to come to the nurse between classes. During 1st period the clinic is closed, except for emergency situations. Students returning to class from the nurse should have a signed pass. If an emergency arises, please call the clinic rather than sending an email or a student. You may also contact an administrator for assistance. If students have any special health needs or a health plan, you will

be notified by the nurse and trained as appropriate. Individual students who need to see the nurse on a routine basis will have specially designated passes. Please contact the MHS Nurse,Angela Hageman (ahageman@mckinneyisd.net) or the MHS nurse aide, Ginger Sudduth (gsudduth@mckinneyisd.net) or Adriana Gentea (agentea@mckinneyisd.net) if you have any specific questions.

Closing of SchoolsSchools may be closed due to inclement weather. Radio and television stations carry this news as soon as such decisions are made. Please do not call the school or school officials.

AM Radio FM Radio Television Channels Websites

WBAB 820 KSCS 96.3 Fox – Channel 4 http://www.myfoxdfw.com/KLIF 570 KLAK 97.5 NBC – Channel 5 http://www.nbcdfw.com/

KRLD 1080 KLUV 98.7 ABC – Channel 8 http://www.wfaa.com/KVIL 103.7 CBS – Channel 11 http://dfw.cbslocal.com/KYNG 105.3

Communication Flow at MHSIn order to have a consistent flow of communication, please follow the following expectations.

Check your email consistently. A large part of communication, from other staff members as well as parents, will go through our email system. It is imperative that this is checked often.

If you have a concern with a student, please contact his or her counselor, house principal, and the student’s parents/guardians. The most productive way to do this is to pick up a phone and call the parent. A face to face conference is also appropriate in this situation.

If you have a concern with another teacher, have a discussion with the teacher. If the issue is not resolved, then you will contact your team leader. If there is still an issue, you will then contact your department chair. Finally, at that time, the department chair will determine whether or not the PDAS appraiser will become involved.

A grievance policy is outlined in MISD board policy for those staff members needing to utilize this resource. (See Board Policy DGBA, Legal for specific information).

Communicating with Central Office Departments Staff members should direct all concerns or questions to campus-based personnel. Should the questions need to be reviewed by someone outside of the campus, a MHS administrator will call the appropriate person at the McKinney ISD Central Office. This would include inquiries about work orders and purchasing.

A grievance policy is outlined in MISD board policy for those staff members needing to utilize this resource. (See Board Policy DGBA, Legal for specific information).

Communicating with the MediaAll publicity, announcements, news releases, web sites, and articles concerning school-related matters should be coordinated through Dr. Faris. Staff members should not contact the newspaper, radio, or television stations directly. Should a crisis situation arise, the principal will give information to the media. Staff members shall refer all questions or inquiries to Dr. Faris.

Contract Teaching Dates and Times and other duties as assignedTeachers under contract with MISD begin the 2013-14 school year on August 14, 2014 and end on June 5, 2015 (See MISD calendar in the Appendix for specific dates). The High School contract times for MISD begin at 7:15 AM and end at 3:15 PM. All MHS teachers have a conference period within their daily schedule. Teachers may not leave the building during the conference period without the permission of the principal and/or their PDAS evaluator. If you do need to leave the building during the school day, you will need to contact the following people before you leave and when you return:

Department chair PDAS Appraiser Jennifer Duke and/or Kelsey Jessee

* This protocol is being put in place for any unforeseen emergencies that would arise if you leave campus and would be unable to return in time for your class.

The teacher's daily conference period shall be used for the following purposes: lesson planning and preparation, conferences with parents, conferences with administrators, supervisors, counselors, department heads, etc., and conferences with students. Teachers and librarians are entitled to a duty-free lunch period of at least 30 minutes.

Extra Duty Assignments: Building principals shall assign extra duties to employees. Duties may include, but are not limited to the following: lunch duty, hall duty, duty at extracurricular activities, bus duty, parking lot duty, supervising detention hall or in-school suspension, tutoring, and housekeeping duties (such as turning out lights, locking doors, straightening classrooms at the end of the day, etc.). Each building principal shall prepare the schedule of extra-duty assignments. A copy of the schedule will be available and orientation shall be provided for duty assignments.

CopyingThe MHS Copy Center copies and laminates items for teachers.  Please expect at least a 24 hour turn-around time for copies and laminated items.  For questions or concerns please email the copy center staff at MHS_copy_center@mckinneyisd.net.

A couple of reminders:1. Do not use the laminator without proper training from Stephanie Marchal.2. If you choose to use the Copy Center and the volunteer, make sure you pick up your

copies.

Counselor ReferralsStaff members needing to refer a student to the counselor for academic or emotional concerns should either fill out a counselor request form (located in each House office) or email the appropriate counselor based on the student’s last name.

Susan Bell – Students with last name A-DMelissa Howard – Students with last name E-IPamala Adams – Students with last name J-MJennifer Akins – Students with last name N-SaJeff Cranmore – Students with last name Sc-Z

Students must fill out a counselor request form in order meet with a counselor. Except for emergencies, students should not be referred to the counselor during class time without prior approval from the counselor.

If you have any specific questions, such as schedule changes, please email the appropriate counselor and house principal.

Crisis PlanShould a crisis occur, refer to the neon flip chart provided to every employee. Michael Bennett is the Crisis Plan administrative contact.

Design TeamsInstructional: The Instructional Design team consists of McKinney High School teachers, counselors, and administrators.  This team uses design principles and the ten design qualities to make decisions beneficial for academic success at MHS.

Operational: The Operational Design Team (OLT) consists of MHS staff members who are duly elected to represent their departments in providing thoughtful input designed to analyze the operational efficiency of the organization as a whole. Members will meet as needed to resolve outstanding issues. 

Discretionary LeaveStaff members requesting personal leave are responsible for reviewing the Discretionary Leave policy outlined in the MISD Employee Handbook. Discretionary leave is prohibited in the following situations:

More than two consecutive days. Days before or after a school holiday. Days scheduled for final exams and state testing. More than five days per year.

The Discretionary Leave form can be found by clicking on this link - Discretionary Leave Form

Dress CodeStaff: Staff members should dress in a professional manner, which provides students with an appropriate role model, commands respect, and is in compliance with the MISD student dress code. Male teachers do not have to wear ties; however, business casual is expected. Female teachers may wear sleeveless dresses or tops, but not tank-style tops. Women may also wear Capri pants and open-toe shoes. Jeans may be worn on Fridays only when worn with a MHS staff shirt, school colors and/or college shirt.

Students: If students are in violation of the dress code, professionally remind the students of the violation and have them correct their behavior. This can be done with having a student put on a jacket or if they have a change of clothes in their athletic locker. If a student does not comply with the redirection of their dress code violation, please have them go to their House Principal office and contact their House Secretary.

DrillsMHS maintains an up-to-date Crisis Management Plan. Students will follow directions of teachers and administrators to ensure safety and appropriate communication during all drills. A copy of the evacuation route is posted in each classroom. All MHS faculty and staff will need to be well versed in the MHS and MISD fire, lockdown and tornado procedures and share these protocols with their students. Fire, lockdown and tornado drills are held throughout the school year and will be available on the MHS Master Calendar.

DutyEvery teacher will be assigned a before or after school duty. It is imperative that each teacher is on duty during their assigned day and time. Department chairs will provide a list of the duty stations and duty assignments to their teachers by Tuesday, September 4, 2014. Should a staff member need to miss his/her assigned duty, it is the responsibility of the staff member to find a replacement. Duty rosters will be placed at each duty station.

EduphoriaIt is a MISD expectation that all faculty and staff use Aware and Forethought on the Eduphoria website. Aware is the data tool in which teachers can access important data in order to drive their instruction for student success. It is also used to import individual student information via the forms found in Aware. Forethought is the curricular tool in which teachers will access the TEKS and lesson plans in order to create engaging and well-rounded lessons.

eHigheHigh is an academic intervention program that is located near the Media Resource Center. Students must apply to this program via their counselor and/or house principal. If you have any specific questions on the eHigh program, please contact Michael Bennett at mbennett@mckinneyisd.net or Jerry Crum at jcrum@mckinneyisd.net.

ESL/McKinney ISD New Comer CenterBelow is a small sampling of ELL strategies that can be implemented into any daily lesson plan. If you have any specific questions, please contact the MHS ESL teacher, Julia Gameros at jgameros@mckinneyisd.net or the MHS ESL aide, Rebecca Marquez at rmarquez@mckinneyisd.net.

Checking students’ comprehension of the content:- Use sentence strips- Set up dialogue journals between teacher and student- Use student reading logs- Use Cloze exercises- Write summaries

- RAP with students (Read, annotate and process)- Write character diaries- Have students present information with illustration or other visual representations-Allow students to provide answers and explain processes instead of you telling them

Helping ESL students adjust to the classroom:- State and display language and content objectives- List instructions / process steps and review orally- Present information in varied ways (oral, written, demonstrations, with tangible objects)- Frequently summarize key points- Repeat and paraphrase important terms- Provide Word Wall with vocabulary for unit/ chapter- Have students maintain notebook- List due dates- Allow sufficient response time-Speak a little slowly (not louder), use simple sentences and avoid idioms if possible

Providing background knowledge:- Use graphic organizers- Use Anticipation Reaction Guides- Have students brainstorm, then record responses on document camera before starting lessons-Use KWL charts-Use realia, maps, photos, and manipulatives- Do activities where students can interact and move around

Adapting ESL techniques to the content classroom:- Have students do hands-on activities-Do demonstrations and model, model, model- Use a variety of groupings so that ESL students can interact with different classmates (not only the Spanish speaking ones)- Provide students with outline of lesson and questions that will be asked beforehand so they have an opportunity to process information and participate more readily- The document camera or smart board is your best friend, so use it every day to model highlighting/annotating text, identifying main ideas/new vocabulary or to show pictures

*These are only a few of the many strategies that can be used for the benefit of any and all students. If you have any other ideas that are effective in your class, please share with the MHS faculty and staff.

McKinney High School also will be housing the McKinney ISD New Comer Center, which is a district wide center for students with limited English language proficiency and academic deficiencies.  Although the students in the New Comer Center will be self contained for the

majority of the day, they will be participating in classes offered at McKinney High School with additional support from the New Comer Center staff. Energy ConservationStaff members are responsible for turning off lights, presentation stations, and all other electronic devices every time the classroom is empty. Computers/Laptops should be shut down and turned off every night. Also, a recycling program for paper and plastic will begin during the 2014-15 school year. Once this program is started, more information will be provided to the faculty.

Faculty MeetingsFaculty Meetings will be held quarterly and as an “as needed” basis in the Cafeteria or Auditorium. Attendance is an expectation. Teachers not able to attend should contact Dr. Faris the day before the scheduled meeting.

Field TripsField trip approval must be received for any situation where you are taking students off campus, holding a group activity off campus, or removing students from class. Weekend trips must also receive approval. The field trip request form can be found on the employee campus portal. All field trips must be approved by your PDAS appraiser two weeks prior to the date of the event. If a bus is needed for this trip, please contact Michael Bennett at mbennett@mckinneyisd.net.

Flex Room UseWith our new building, open classrooms, called flex rooms; have been created for student and staff use. All teachers will have the opportunity to use these rooms for instructional purposes, PLC’s, etc. Jennifer Duke will be sending out an Outlook calendar for teacher sign-up.

Also, after using the flex rooms, all walls/white boards will need to be erased, desks should be in order and trash will be picked up and thrown away. If these points are not adhered to, then the flex room use will be limited.

Food and Drink in the ClassroomWater, in a clear container and lid, is the only acceptable item that students may have in the hallway or classroom. All food items will need to stay in the dining hall area. This includes all breakfast and lunch items. No food or drink is allowed in the library at any time.

Fundraiser Approval Form (See form in Appendix section)Fundraising efforts must be approved by the MHS bookkeeper, Gail Erger and House of Strength House Principal, Michael Bennett.

Grading PolicyThe MISD grading policy can be found at the following MISD Board Policy link, MISD Grading Policy. All teachers will be required to adhere to this policy.

Hall PassesIf a student is in the hallway during instructional times, they must have a hall pass. The pass should include student name, date, time left, time back, destination, and teacher signature. If a

student does not have a pass, please assist them back to their class from which they came. A sample of a pass is found in the appendix section of this handbook

Hallway SignsThere are designated areas for signage at McKinney High School. Any teacher wanting to post a sign for their program or club must have it approved by House of Strength Assistant Principal, Michael Bennett. This does not include student work outside of individual classrooms. There should be no grades or negative feedback written on the work because it is a violation of FERPA law.

Hallway SupervisionDuring passing periods, it is the expectation for all MHS faculty and staff to be present in the hallways, actively monitoring student behavior.

Leaving School during Contract TimeStaff members are expected to be on campus for the duration of their workday, 7:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Teachers may not leave the building during the conference period without the permission of the principal and/or their PDAS evaluator. If you do need to leave the building during the school day, you will need to contact the following people before you leave and when you return:

Department chair PDAS Appraiser Jennifer Duke and/or Kelsey Jessee

* This protocol is being put in place for any unforeseen emergencies that would arise if you leave campus and would be unable to return in time for your class.

Library Media CenterThe Library Media Center is open from 6:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. on all regular school days.  Teachers may send up to three students at a time to use computers or check out materials from the media center.  The MHS Library Media Center is staffed by a full time Media Resource Specialist, Media Resource Specialist Assistant and Technology Integrator.

Teachers may schedule time in the library computer labs by contacting the MRS assistant, Maria Gonzalez.  The Media Resource Specialist and the Technology Integrator are both available to support teachers in the effective use of technology in the classroom.  The Media Resource Specialist is an expert in the research process and helping students and teachers find information in the district and campus digital and print collections.

Media Resource Specialist- Kristen Spain kspain@mckinneyisd.net Media Resource Specialist Assistant- May Gonzalez mgonzalez@mckinneyisd.net

Maintenance and Work OrdersFor all building or campus maintenance requests, contact House of Scholarship, Assistant Principal, Annuar Ortiz and/or Office Manager, Jennifer Duke. Do not call maintenance directly to report any problems in the building.

Movie/Video/DVD useMovies/Videos/DVDs must be approved by your PDAS appraiser one week prior to viewing. Only Movies/Videos/DVDs with the proper copyright and with an accompanying summary and justification will be shown.

PaperPaper is provided to the faculty and staff at McKinney High School. Please use copy paper for educational use only.

ParkingMcKinney High School faculty and staff must park in the back of the building or on the west side of the building (near E-hall). MHS parking hangtags must be visible on all staff vehicles. All employees are to obey visitor, fire zone, and handicap restrictions for parking.

PDAS – Calendar and List of Appraisers (See in Appendix section)

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)In order to increase student engagement and learning, teachers need to be in constant dialogue with their content team and other teachers throughout the school year.  Although this productive dialogue can take place at any time, the following framework is set forth in order for teachers to reserve a set time during which these conversations will take place.

Each week, teachers are expected to meet twice with their content teams: one meeting for “Mastery Learning” and another meeting for “Planning.”  One of these meetings must take place during the teachers’ conference period.  During the “Mastery Learning” meeting teachers will lead discussions that focus on increasing student mastery.  This may include, but is not limited to data analysis, book studies, RTI, and lesson design.  The “Planning” meeting will be focused on developing and modifying lessons so that students are more engaged and their learning increases; this includes developing assessment tools that can be used to measure and analyze the progress of learner toward mastery.  Each team leader is responsible for communicating to their evaluator when their team will be scheduling these meetings.

RtI (Response to Intervention) and 504All RtI and 504 accommodations will be provided to you by Troylynn Paul-Jarreau by September 4, 2014. If you have any specific questions, please contact Troylynn at tpauljarreau@mckinneyisd.net, House of Pride Assistant Principal, Tom Wales at twales@mckinneyisd.net or House of Integrity Assistant Principal, Stephenie Wood at swood@mckinneyisd.net.

SecurityAll of the exterior doors must remain locked during the school day. DO NOT PROP DOORS OPEN FOR ANY REASON. Staff entering from the back parking lot should use their employee badge to gain entry to the building. Visitors must check in at the front office and have a visitor’s badge. If you see a person in the building without a badge, please escort them to the front office. Teachers and students are to not allow any person(s) into the building from an exterior door. Mr. Michael Bennett is the administrative contact for MHS Security.

Smoking/Tobacco PolicySmoking and/or the use of any tobacco products (including electronic cigarettes) are prohibited on any MISD school properties and events. This smoking and tobacco policy includes all parking lots, fields, and athletic centers.

Social MediaStaff members are expected to use professional judgment when using social media. Please see the MISD Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for more clarification. Click the following link for the AUP - MISD Acceptable Use Policy

Special EducationStudents who fall under the Special Education umbrella need specifically designed instruction which may include accommodations and/or modifications based on their specific needs. If you have a class or classes in which a student or students have these specific educational needs, you will need to follow his or her accommodations exactly how they are written in their IEP (Individual Education Plan).

In addition, educational requests will be made for specific students by the Special Education department for their ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) meeting. These requests will have to completed and returned to the Special Education department within 24 hours of receiving the request.

Finally, attendance at ARD meetings is mandatory. If the Special Education department requests your presence in one or more of these meetings, your attendance is mandatory.

Student MoniesStaff must have prior approval from their PDAS appraiser to collect money from students other than those monies for official school business. Teachers should not leave money in their classrooms. All money should be turned into the bookkeeper, Gail Erger, at the end of the school day.

Teacher WorkroomsAll teacher workrooms must be kept clean and relatively organized. Students will not be allowed, for any reason, into any Teacher Workroom.

Technology Usage – Computers, Cell Phones, etc.The District’s electronic communications system, including its network access to the Internet, is primarily for administrative and instructional purposes. Limited personal use of the system is permitted if the use:

Imposes no tangible cost to the District Does not unduly burden the District’s computer or network resources Has no adverse effect on job performance or on a student’s academic performance

Electronic mail transmissions and other use of the electronic communications systems are not confidential and can be monitored at any time to ensure appropriate use.

A District employee shall retain electronic records, whether created or maintained using the District‘s technology resources or using personal technology resources, in accordance with the District‘s record management program. Electronic mail stored on the District server is purged after ninety (90) days. District employees shall ensure that electronic mail required to be maintained under the records management program is archived and accessible from a location off the server.

Employees who are authorized to use the systems are required to abide by the provisions of the District‘s communications systems policy and administrative procedures. Failure to do so can result in suspension or termination of privileges and may lead to disciplinary action.

Technology Help RequestReport all hardware and software issues through the Technology Help Desk located in Eduphoria. Issues with staff passwords are resolved by calling the Technology Help Desk 2-4048.

Textbooks – Students and Teachers (See Appendix for Textbook Agreement Form)

MHS Textbook Guidelines and Policies Students are responsible for all textbooks that are checked out to them. Any book that is damaged or not turned in will be charged in full to the

student. Any book that is turned in without a barcode or a damaged barcode will be

considered stolen and will not be accepted as that student’s book. Any damage to the barcode will result in a $5.00 fine. Students will not be able to purchase a Parking Tag or a Senior Parking Spot

if they have outstanding books or fines. Students will not receive a VOE form if they have any outstanding textbooks. Students with outstanding textbooks will not be able to participate in school

sponsored events (dances, class sponsored events, extra-curricular field trips, or fundraisers) until books are returned and fines paid.

Students must have all textbooks and fines cleared up prior to taking final exams.

Seniors will not receive their diploma or any official transcripts until all textbooks are returned and fines are paid in full.

If a student needs a book, please email either Mr. Bennett (mbennett@mckinneyisd.net) or Mrs. Minyard (sminyard@mckinneyisd.net). You will need to provide the book the student needs as well as their ID number. Please allow at least 24 hours for the student to receive the book(s) requested – the book(s) will be delivered to the student during one of their classes.

MHS Classroom Set Textbook Guidelines If a class set is checked out to a teacher, each book must be numbered and left

in the classroom. Students will not check out a book from a classroom set. Do not let them “borrow” a book from you.

Each teacher checking out a class set is responsible for all books checked out under their name. If there are any books not turned in at the end of the 2014-2015 school year, then the department budget for the 2015-2016 school year will be affected.

o For example, if there are 3 World History books that are unaccounted for (from a class set), then the Social Studies department would have $201 deducted from their upcoming year’s budget ($67 x 3 World History books = $201)

Transportation of StudentsTeachers should not transport students in their vehicles for any reason.

TutorialsTeam Leads will provide the Department Chair the team’s tutorial schedule and it will be posted in each classroom.

Teachers must keep the door open at all times when working with one student only. It is best to attempt to work with multiple students and not be alone with a student in any part of the building. Tutoring should look like:

Individual Teacher Tutoring Days/times determined by teacher and team Dates and times posted on the syllabus, inside the classroom and by the outside door Departmental Tutoring Multiple levels of coursework may be offered. Lessons will be redesigned, not re-taught. Students must have a signed pass by a teacher in order to enter the academic area prior

to 7:20 a.m. Teachers must require students to sign in and sign out for each tutoring session and keep

the sign in sheets on file. A sample version of a sign in /sign out log in the Appendix of this handbook.

In the event of an emergency, either (a) have a co-worker cover your tutoring session or (b) leave a note up on your door, cancelling your tutoring session.

Students are encouraged to attend any teacher’s tutorials within a given department when their specific teacher is not present. For example, if Student A has Algebra I with Ms. Doe and Ms. Doe is absent, Student A is encouraged to attend a tutoring session with any of the other Algebra I teachers.

UIL (See schedule in Appendix section)The UIL calendar can also be used for Report Card and Progress Report dates. For any specific questions on eligibility, please contact House of Pride Assistant Principal, Tom Wales.

Vending MachinesVending machines will be available for student use before and after school and during their lunch times. Vending machines will be off limits to students during instructional times and teachers will not be allowed to send students to the vending machines for their personal use.

VisitorsStudent visitors are not allowed at MHS. Parent visitors are always welcome, but we do ask that all visitors, even familiar ones, sign in with the receptionist, in the main office, and receive a visitor’s badge. Anyone not wearing an appropriate MISD badge or visitor badge should be escorted to the front office. If you see a person without the appropriate badge, please assist them in checking with the front office.

Voicemail Please record your name and a personal greeting on your voice mailbox. Prompt return of parent calls is expected of each staff member within 24 hours. For any other questions on the MISD phone system, use the following Classroom Phone Instructions.

Walk-through ObservationsClassroom visits will be conducted periodically by the principal, assistant principals and central office support personnel. The main purpose of the visit is to seek ways to continually improve the instructional program at MHS. An observation summary will be provided when the walkthrough is considered a part of PDAS. Other walkthrough observations may or may not result in written feedback. When a member of the administrative team enters a classroom, teachers should continue with their lesson.

Appendix (Table of Contents)

Administrator Contacts

Bell Schedules

District Calendar

ESL

Fundraiser Guidelines

PDAS Calendar

Phone Numbers

Textbook Agreement Form (Teachers)

UIL Eligibility (and Report Card/Progress Report dates)

Administrative Contacts

McKinney High SchoolOrganization Chart

Dr. Logan Faris – PrincipalJennifer Duke – Office Manager/Principal Secretary

Jimmy Bowser – Associate Principal Kelsey Jessee – Associate Secretary

House of Scholarship

(N-Sa)

Annuar Ortiz – Assistant Principal

Jennifer Akins – Counselor

Sara Arnold – Secretary

House of Leadership

(Sc-Z)

Mitch VandenBoom – Assistant Principal

Jeff Cranmore – Counselor

Kim Montgomery - Secretary

House of Pride

(A-D)

Tom Wales – Assistant Principal

Susan Bell – Counselor

Carol Appleby – Secretary

House of Strength

(E-I)

Michael Bennett – Assistant Principal

Melissa Howard – Counselor

Sally Minyard – Secretary

House of Integrity

(J-M)

Stephenie Wood – Assistant Principal

Pam Adams – Counselor

Julie Lee - Secretary

Bell Schedules Pep Rally Bell Schedules will be provided as needed Also, there is no B or D lunch.

District Calendar

ESL

English as a Second Language Campus Contacts:

ESL Aide- Rebeca Lopez ESOL Teacher/ESL/LPAC Lead- Julia Gameros LPAC Administrator- Amanda Gavin

District Contacts:

High School ESL Facilitator- Amber BuieSecondary ESL Facilitator- Sonia RhykerdDirector of Bilingual/ESL Programs –Judith Coffman

The ESL program objective is to develop English language learners (ELLs), enrolled in mainstream English-only classrooms, into fluent English speakers, readers, writers and listeners.

ELLs are typically referred to as Limited English Proficient (LEP) students, and they are identified upon entry into the MISD district. They may or may not struggle with English in their:

-Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills (BICS)-Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency Skills (CALP)

A Few Factors Affecting Second Language Acquisition-Development and quality of education in L1 (first language)-Access to new language and literature outside of school-Motivation (could be from lack of success)-Quality of instruction-Learning style-Peer and role models-Poor vocabulary development -Inability to communicate with teacher and classmates-Lack of parent contact/involvement (due to many reasons and obstacles)-Lack of accommodations being used in classroom

AccommodationsYou will receive a list of suggested accommodations for each ESL student you have in your class. Accommodations must be referenced and utilized by law. (TAC Chapter 89)Accommodation logs will be given at the end of each quarter for those students who continually struggle with passing a class to ensure accommodations are being referenced.

TIP**Avoid making reference to a student being in ESL in front of an audience

Fundraiser Guidelines

FUND-RAISINGSTEP-BY-STEP GUIDELINES

This memo is to provide step-by-step guidelines for the sponsors and the principals in the fundraising process.

1. The sponsor fills out the Authorization to Conduct a Fund Raiser Form and submits to the designated principal for approval. It is recommended that the request be sent in early to avoid conflict of schedule with other clubs’ fundraising projects. (See Appendix B-1)

2. A copy of the form is sent to the bookkeeper/secretary to ensure MISD policies are followed such as the sponsor using a MISD authorized vendor, and the clubs having funds budgeted for the merchandise.

3. Once the fundraiser form is approved, the sponsor will prepare the Blue Requisition form to acquire inventory or services needed for the project. Projects for fund 865 will require meeting minutes to be attached to show student approval. The bookkeeper/secretary checks all details about the form before entering the purchase order on the MUNIS system for the principal approval. No phone orders are allowed.

4. During the fundraising project, the sponsor is responsible for securing and keeping track of the inventory, collecting all money and issuing receipts. Sponsors should keep accurate records of all money collected. Various forms are available for recording different types of sales. (See Appendix B 3-5)

5. Money should be counted and reconciled at the end of each day. Every effort should be made to turn in the money with a copy of the sales records to the bookkeeper daily. If money has to be turned in the next day, it has to be kept in the safe or a secured place on campus. The sponsor is responsible for securing all funds collected.

6. The sponsor should submit a Fundraiser Profit/Loss Statement to the bookkeeper within 30 days of the conclusion of the project. The bookkeeper will verify the figures on the statement before sending the statement to the designated principal for signature. (See Appendix B-2 )

7. If the project does not involve any sale of inventory or acquisition of services, skip step # 3. All documents related to fundraising projects should be kept on campuses and are subject to future audits. Please refer to the MISD Activity Funds Manual for details and forms regarding District fundraising policies. If you have further questions about this memo, please contact April Lam at 2-4052.

PDAS Information

PDAS Calendar2014-2015

September 15 PDAS Campus Annual Review must be completed by today New Hires must have completed online PDAS Training

September 16 Appraisals may begin today

September 16 Teacher Self-Report I due today

November 21 Day Before a School Holiday

December 1 Day After a School Holiday

December 19 Day Before a School Holiday

January 6 Day After a School Holiday

January 16 Day Before a School Holiday

January 20 Day After a School Holiday

March 6 Day Before a School Holiday

March 16 Day After a School Holiday

April 2 Day Before a School Holiday (if April 3rd is a Holiday)

April 6 Day After a School Holiday (if April 3rd is a Holiday)

April 29 Teacher Self-Reports II & III due today (or two weeks before

summative)

May 13 Summative Conferences must be completed by today

PDAS Administrative Contacts Dr. Logan Faris – Fine Arts, Health and PE Mr. Jimmy Bowser – Career and Technology Education Mr. Tom Wales – Special Education, Languages Other than English Mr. Michael Bennett – Social Studies, eHigh Mrs. Stephenie Wood - Math Mr. Annuar Ortiz – Science Mr. Mitch VandenBoom – ELAR, ESL, Journalism

Textbook Agreement Form

McKinney High School

Textbook Request form

Class Sets only

(Please fill out legibly)

Teacher

Room

Book needed

Number of books needed

If a class set is checked out to a teacher, each book must be numbered and left in the classroom. Students will not check out a book from a classroom set. Do not let them “borrow” a book from you.

Each teacher checking out a class set is responsible for all books checked out under their name. If there are any books not turned in at the end of the 2014-2015 school year, then the department budget for the 2015-2016 school year will be affected. o For example, if there are 3 World History books that

are unaccounted for (from a class set), then the Social Studies department would have $201 deducted from their upcoming year’s budget ($67 x 3 World History books = $201)

UIL Eligibility

McKinney Independent School District2014-2015 TEA/UIL Eligibility Calendar

This document is intended to bring clarity to the eligibility calendar for U.I.L participants.   Specifically be aware of the following issues: 

Grading periods for eligibility are seven (7) calendar days after the evaluation, with the  exception of holidays. 

Eligibility is determined from nine week grades, not semester grades.  After the 1st six weeks eligibility check, students may only lose eligibility at the nine 

weeks grading report.  Students can regain eligibility at the three weeks progress reports, and at the nine weeks  grading report.  All students are eligible during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break holidays.  Following Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break holidays, ineligible students return to being ineligibl

e until the next grade check and grace period.  All students are eligible through the summer.  Total credits from the previous year determine the first 2013‐14 six weeks eligibility for  10th‐

12th students.o The 2nd year of high school, they need 5 credits.  o 3rd year = 10 credits.  o 4th year = 15 credits. o For 7th‐9th students, promotion to the next grade means they are  eligible the first six weeks.   

Date Action NotesFriday, October 3, 2013 Evaluate all students 6 week grade checkFriday, October 10, 2013 Students gain or lose eligibility End of School DayFriday, October 17, 2013 Evaluate all students End of Q1Friday, October 24, 2013 Students gain or lose eligibility End of School DayFriday, November 7, 2013 Re-Evaluate failing students 1st 3 week progress reportFriday, November 14, 2013 Students may regain eligibility End of School Day

Thanksgiving Break – All Students are Academically EligibleFriday, December 5, 2013 Re-Evaluate failing students 2nd 3 week progress reportFriday, December 12, 2013 Students may regain eligibility End of School DayFriday, December 19, 2013 Evaluate all students End of Q2

Winter Break – All Students are Academically EligibleTuesday, January 13, 2014 Students gain or lose eligibility End of School DayMonday, January 26, 2014 Re-Evaluate Failing students 1st 3 week progress reportMonday, February 2, 2014 Students may regain eligibility End of School DayFriday, February 13. 2014 Re-Evaluate failing students 2nd 3 week progress reportFriday, February 20, 2014 Students may regain eligibility End of School Day

Friday, March 6, 2014 Evaluate all Students End of Q3Spring Break – All Students are Academically Eligible

Monday, March 23, 2014 Students may gain or lose eligibility End of School DayFriday, April 2, 2014 Re-Evaluate failing students 1st 3 week progress reportFriday, April 9, 2014 Students may regain eligibility End of School DayFriday, April 24, 2014 Re-Evaluate Failing students 2nd 3 week progress reportFriday, May 1, 2014 Students may regain eligibility End of School Day

Thursday, June 4, 2014 End of Q4