Access to Student Records
The West Des Moines Community School District intends to comply with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which affords parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights with respect to the student’s education records:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access.
• The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate.
• 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.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the West Des Monies Community School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA. (Contact: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605)

In addition, parents or guardians shall be informed if keeping information in the files becomes unnecessary, and they shall have the right subsequently to request that it be destroyed. For further information, see Board Policy 506.3. Copies are available at the Learning Resource Center, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50265-5556. All Board policies are posted on this website.

Teacher Qualifications
Parents/guardians in the West Des Moines Community School District have the right to learn about the following qualifications of their child's teacher: state licensure requirements for the grade level and content areas taught, current licensing status of the teacher and baccalaureate/graduate certification/degree.

Parents/guardians may request this information from the Office of Human Resources by calling 633-5034 or sending a letter of request to the Office of Human Resources, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265.

Release of Information & Photographs
In the West Des Moines Community School District, information and photographs or likenesses may be released without written consent unless qualified objectors comply with the procedure in the next paragraph. This information may include student name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, date and place of birth, grade level, major field of study, officially recognized activities and sports, height and weight of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. Some of this information may be compiled in an annual directory, published and distributed by parent groups at some schools.

Limited student information may be posted on the World Wide Web pages, under guidelines developed by the West Des Moines Community School District. That information may include a student’s name (for purposes of recognition, posting artwork or written work, etc.) or a photo of a group of students (without individual student identification).

In addition, two federal laws require school districts receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the school district that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent.

Objections to release of information or photographs may be submitted on forms available at the time of registration at all WDMCS schools. Or, objections may be sent within two weeks of the student’s enrollment in school to Kay Rosene, Director of School/Community Relations, West Des Moines Community School District, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265-5556. Appropriate district staff will be informed of the objection to release of information or photographs.

Non-Discrimination & Equity Information

Equity Coordinators
The following personnel have been appointed to serve in equity coordinator capacities in the West Des Moines Community School District. Concerns regarding compliance with any of the equity policies outlined below shall be directed to the appropriate coordinator.

Lisa Remy
Equity Coordinator
Associate Superintendent of Human Resources
Learning Resource Center
3550 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50265-5556
Phone (515) 633-5037

Dr. Lori Diebel
Affirmative Action/EEO Coordinator
Director of Human Resources
Learning Resource Center
3550 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50265-5556
Phone (515) 633-5038

Dr. Donna Wilkin
Multi-Culture Gender Fair Coordinator
Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Services
Learning Resource Center
3550 Mills Civic Parkway
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Phone (515) 633-5057

Nancy Moorhead
Coordinator for Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Special Education)
Principal, Jordan Creek Elementary School
4105 Fuller Road
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Phone (515) 633-5200

Equity Statement
The West Des Moines Community School District will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability in its educational programs, activities or employment policies. This meets the requirements of Title VI and VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments and the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The curriculum content and instructional materials reflect the cultural and racial diversity present in the United States, and the variety of careers, roles and lifestyles open to women as well as men in our society. One of the objectives of the total curriculum and teaching strategies is to reduce stereotyping and to eliminate bias on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion and physical disability.
The curriculum should foster respect and appreciation for the cultural diversity found in our country and an awareness of the rights, duties and responsibilities of each individual as a member of a pluralistic society.

Any concerns regarding compliance with the district’s Equity Statement may be directed to Lisa Remy (see Equity Coordinators); to the Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Des Moines, Iowa; or to the Director of the Chicago Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Chicago, Ill.

Affirmative Action - Equal Employment Opportunity
The West Des Moines Community School District shall provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws, directives and regulations of federal, state and local governing bodies and agencies. The District shall take affirmative action in recruitment, appointment, assignment and advancement of women, minorities and persons with disabilities. Employees shall be given notice of this policy annually.

Individuals who file an application with the school district will be given consideration for employment if they meet or exceed the qualifications set by the Board, administration and State Department of Education for the position for which they apply. It is the policy of the West Des Moines Community School District, in employing school district personnel, to consider the qualifications, credentials, and records of the applicants without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability. In all hiring decisions, the Board will offer employment to the most highly qualified and capable candidates and will not adopt the use of numerical quota systems that would prove counterproductive in hiring and retaining staff. In keeping with the law, the Board shall consider the veteran status of applicants.

Inquiries by employees or applicants for employment regarding compliance with equal employment opportunity and affirmative action shall be directed to Dr. Lori Diebel , Director of Human Resources (see Equity Coordinators). Inquiries may also be directed, in writing, to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, the Director of the Region VII Office of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Kansas City, Missouri or the Chicago Office for Civil Rights within the United States Department of Education in Chicago, Ill. Such inquiry or complaint to the state or federal office may be done instead of, or in addition to, an inquiry or complaint at the local level.