601 - General Organization

601.1 - School Organization

The Linn-Mar Community School District will be organized into levels of instruction as follows:

  1. EARLY CHILDHOOD
    Early childhood will consist of the four-year old voluntary preschool program and three-year olds entitled to special education services.

     
  2. ELEMENTARY
    The elementary schools will consist of kindergarten, grades one through four, and the five-year old junior kindergarten program.

     
  3. INTERMEDIATE
    The intermediate schools will consist of grades five and six.

     
  4. MIDDLE SCHOOL
    The middle schools will consist of grades seven and eight.

     
  5. HIGH SCHOOL
    The high school will consist of grades 9 through 12, as well as individuals eligible for services through the age of 21, per their Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Adopted: 6/70
Reviewed: 6/11; 6/12; 4/15; 1/18
Revised: 9/13; 2/21; 6/21; 2/24
Related Policy: 100.1; 101.1; 102.1

601.2 - School Calendar

The school calendar will accommodate the education program of the school district. The school calendar is for a minimum of 180 days or 1,080 hours and includes, but is not limited to, the days for student instruction, staff development, in-service days, and teacher conferences. Each year the minimum school calendar may include up to 5 days or 30 hours of instruction delivered primarily over the internet.

The academic school year for students shall begin no sooner than August 23rd. Employees may be required to report to work at the school district prior to this date.

Students receiving special education services may attend school on a school calendar different from that of the regular education program consistent with their Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The school board, in its discretion, may excuse graduating seniors from up to 5 days or 30 hours of instruction after the school district requirements for graduation have been met. The board may also excuse graduating seniors from making up days missed due to inclement weather if the student has met the district’s graduation requirements.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent [or designee] to develop the school calendar for recommendation, approval, and adoption by the board annually.

The board may amend the official school calendar when the board considers the change to be in the best interest of the school district’s education program. The board shall hold a public hearing on any proposed school calendar prior to adopting the school calendar.


Adopted: 6/70
Reviewed: 6/11; 6/12; 9/13; 1/18; 2/24
Revised: 4/15; 2/21; 8/23
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): §§ 20.9; 279.10; 280.3; 299.1(2); 281 IAC 12.1(7); 41.106; SF391
IASB Reference: 601.01
Mandatory Policy

601.3 - School Day

The student school day for grades kindergarten through 12 will consist of a minimum of 6 hours and 45 minutes, including the lunch period. The school day consists of the schedule of class instruction and class activities as established and sponsored by the school district. Time during which students are released from school for parent/teacher conferences may be counted as part of the students’ instructional time. The minimum school day will meet the requirements as established for the operation of accredited schools.

The school district may also record a day of school with less than the minimum instructional hours if the total hours of instructional time for grades 1 through 12 in any five consecutive school days equals a minimum of 30 hours. For any one day of school to be less than the minimum instructional hours it must be used for either staff development opportunities provided for the instructional staff or parent/teacher conferences scheduled beyond the regular school day. Schedule revisions and changes in time allotments will be made by the superintendent [or designee].

When school is forced to close due to weather or other emergencies, the part of the day during which school was in session will constitute a school day. The superintendent [or designee] will create administrative regulations necessary to utilize any remote learning opportunities that are available and permitted by law during the period of closure. The provision of special education and accommodations for students who have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Section 504 Plans during periods of closure will be determined by each respective IEP or Section 504 team.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent [or designee] to inform the board annually of the length of the school day.


Adopted: 6/70
Reviewed: 6/11; 6/12; 9/13; 1/18; 2/21; 2/24
Revised: 4/15; 9/20; 3/23
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): §256.7(3)(21)(32); 279.8, .10; 281 IAC 12.1(1), .1(7-10)
IASB Reference: 601.02