Required Notices

Notice is hereby given that the annual inspection for 2025-2026 of the school buildings of Rochester School for the Deaf for fire hazards that might endanger the lives of students, teachers, and employees therein, has been completed.  The report thereof is available by contacting the Director of Facilities at 1545 St. Paul Street, Rochester NY, 14621 for inspection by all interested persons.

New York State Education Department has rules, regulations, and laws that RSD must be in compliance with. We are required to follow these procedures explicitly. We need your complete cooperation and ask that you please follow these procedures with us. Thank you.

• The student’s parent or guardian must contact the Student Health Center before 8:30 AM, on the morning their child is absent. The numbers are 585-336-5841 (V) or 585-286-2814 (VP). You may also email schooloffice@rsdeaf.org.
  • If you know your child will be missing school for a certain length of time, please tell the nurse the reason and the anticipated length of the absence. If you do not know how long your child will be absent, then you must call the school each day before 8:30 AM.
  • If the student’s parent or guardian does not call the school by 8:30 AM, then they will be contacted directly by the school nurse.
• The student must return to school with a written excuse from their parent or guardian, including the reason and dates of the absence. They should give this excuse to the building administrative assistant.
  • RSD is required to keep these written excuses in the child's file.
  • If a written excuse is not received within 3 days of the child's return to school, the absence will remain recorded as an unexcused absence.

If your child must leave school early, a note explaining the reason for the early dismissal, the time your child must leave, and who will pick up your child is required. We cannot allow students to leave school without written permission. A form is available in the office for such purposes. Email is also acceptable.
 

Students, Families/Parents/Guardians, Faculty and Staff, Mental Health Team members, Administrators, and the Superintendent/CEO are all essential partners within RSD.  It is understood that it takes the hard work, cooperation, participation, and support of all parties involved for RSD to reach academic excellence and for our students to achieve success.  

Student Rights
RSD is committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under state and federal law.  In addition, to provide a safe, healthy, orderly, and civil school environment, all school students have the right to: 

• Pursue a free and appropriate education in an environment that is safe and conducive to learning.
• Due process under federal and state law and the opportunity in matters of discipline to present the facts and circumstances relevant to the issue, which may lead to disciplinary action.
• Freedom of speech and expression; however, this does not give anyone the license to interfere with the orderly educational process of others and/or to infringe on the rights of others.
• Participate in school-sponsored activities within the scope of the law (including, but not limited to, courses of study, curricular offerings, athletics, extracurricular activities, etc.) on an equal basis regardless of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, genetic predisposition, or any other protected criteria.
• Expect respect and courtesy from peers, staff, and other participants in the school community.
• Receive a copy of the school rules and, when necessary, an explanation of those rules from staff.
• Be free from intimidation, discrimination, bullying, and harassment on school property or school functions, including but not limited to the educational program, activities, or admission policies of their school.  Such conduct shall include, but is not limited to, threats,  intimidation, or abuse based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, religious practices, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected category.

Student Responsibilities
Rules and policies are not intended to place undue restrictions on a student, but rather to encourage all students to behave in a manner that will reflect pride in themselves and to become a credit to their parents/guardians and the school.  At the same time, RSD staff are committed to helping students learn constructive and adaptive ways to deal with conflict or problems.  Ultimately, students must learn to accept responsibility for their own behavior, as well as the consequences associated with misbehavior. 
The responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Attend school every day unless they are legally excused and be in class, on time, and be prepared to learn.
• Work to the best of their ability in all academic and extracurricular pursuits and strive toward their highest level of achievement possible.
• Conduct themselves with respect toward self, other persons, and property.  They will contribute to maintaining a safe and orderly school environment that is conducive to learning.
• When participating in or attending school-sponsored extracurricular events, understand that they are representatives of the school and hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, demeanor, and sportsmanship.
• Follow the directions of the faculty, staff, and administration at all times, including while being transported to and from school or other activities.
• Fulfill all classroom obligations to teachers.
• Dress appropriately for school and school functions in accordance with the guidelines outlined in this handbook. 
• Be familiar with and abide by all school policies, rules, and regulations regarding conduct.
• Ask questions when they do not understand.
• Seek help in solving problems.
• Accept responsibility for their actions.
• Maintain academic honesty.
• Use school and personal technology appropriately.

Parent/Guardian Rights

• Participation in all school activities on an equal basis regardless of a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other categories of individuals protected against discrimination by federal, state, or local law. 
• Presentation to school personnel on behalf of their child, individual accounts, and details of events in connection with the imposition of a consequence.    
• Ongoing communication directly to them or through their child from administrators, teachers, and support staff regarding school rules, course objectives, grade-level expectations, requirements, and assignments.
• Excusing (in writing) their child, as they deem necessary, from attending classes due to illness, family emergency, or obligations. 

Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
All parents/guardians are expected to recognize that the education of their child is a joint responsibility between them and the school community.  School is a place where parental involvement and support are essential for affecting change and achieving success for students.  These responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Communicate in their child’s language.
• Send their child to school regularly and on time according to the school calendar, ready to participate and learn (necessary supplies, rested, well-nourished).
• Provide a place of study for their child and making certain homework assignments are completed to the best of the child’s ability.
• Inform school officials of changes in the home situation that may affect their child’s conduct or performance.
• Know the school rules and help their child understand their meaning and purpose.
• Model for their child a positive behavior and a supportive attitude toward education and the school community as a whole.
• Teach their children respect and dignity for themselves and others regardless of a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other categories of individuals protected against discrimination by federal, state, or local law.
• Teach and model for their children how to constructively manage and respond to incidents of harassment, bullying, and/or discrimination, including reporting such incidents, either experienced or witnessed, to school officials.
• Treat students and school staff with respect and understanding.  Additionally, understand that if harassing language or bullying occurs on campus, during a virtual meeting or phone call, the parent may be asked to leave campus or have the meeting/call ended.

Faculty and Staff Responsibilities
All school faculty and staff are expected to:

• Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender sex, or any other legally protected category, which will strengthen students' self-concept and promote confidence to learn.
• Promote a bilingual environment. 
• Be prepared to teach and demonstrate an interest in teaching, learning, and concern for student achievement.
• Ensure that instruction is in line with both NYS standards and the student’s IEPs.
• Know school policies and rules, and enforce them fairly and consistently.  
• Report violations of the code of conduct or any other school policy to the administrators in a timely manner.
• Communicate to students and parents/guardians:
• Course objectives and requirements
• Expectations for students
• Marking/grading procedures
• Assignment deadlines
• Classroom discipline plan
• Communicate regularly with students, parents/guardians, and other teachers concerning growth and achievement.
• Understand that each member of the community, e.g., student, staff, parent/guardian, or visitor, is worthy of respect and consideration.
• Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting.

Mental Health Team Staff Responsibilities
In addition to the Faculty and Staff responsibilities, all individuals serving in these titles are also expected to:

• Assist students in coping with peer pressure and emerging personal, social, and emotional problems.
• Initiate conferences, as necessary, as a way to resolve problems and support individual students in overcoming unique challenges.
• Regularly review students' educational progress, post-secondary education, and career planning.
• Encourage students to benefit from the curriculum and extracurricular programs.

Building Administrators’ Responsibilities
The building administrators are expected to:

• Promote a safe, orderly, stimulating, and bilingual school environment, supporting active teaching and learning.
• Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex, or any other legally protected category, which will strengthen students’ self-concept and promote confidence to learn.
• Ensure that students and staff have the opportunity to communicate regularly with the building administrators and approach the building administrators for conflict resolution.
• Evaluate all instructional programs on a regular basis.
• Support the development of, and student participation in, appropriate extracurricular activities.
• Be responsible for enforcing the code of conduct and all other school policies, and ensure that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly.
• Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting.    

Superintendent/CEO Responsibilities
The Superintendent/CEO is expected to:

• Promote a safe, orderly, stimulating, and bilingual school environment, supporting active teaching and learning.
• Maintain a climate of mutual respect and dignity, regardless of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, sex, or any other legally protected category, which will strengthen students’ self-concept and promote confidence to learn.
• Review with school administrators the policies of the Board of Directors and state and federal laws relating to school operations and management.
• Inform the Board about educational trends relating to student discipline.
• Work to create instructional programs that minimize problems of misconduct and are sensitive to student and teacher needs.
• Work with and support school administrators in enforcing the code of conduct and ensure that all cases are resolved promptly and fairly.
• Ensure that the staff, students, and families are informed about the code of conduct.
• Address personal biases that may prevent equal treatment of all students in the school or classroom setting.

Please note that RSD has a staff-student fraternization policy.  While extensive, it clearly states that staff members are prohibited, under any circumstances, from dating or engaging in any improper fraternization or undue familiarity with students, regardless of the student’s age and regardless of whether the student may have “consented” to such conduct.  Further, staff shall not entertain students or socialize with students in such a manner as to create the perception that anything other than a professional relationship exists.  Similarly, any action or comment by a staff member that invites romantic or sexual involvement with a student is considered highly unethical and is in violation of RSD policy, and may result in disciplinary action by RSD up to and including termination of employment and notification of law enforcement officials.

Examples of improper fraternization include things such as sharing personal notes/messages through paper, email, or text, “friending”/”following” staff/students on social media platforms, and using its direct message capabilities.

Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to inappropriate staff behavior shall report the incident to any other staff member, who has the responsibility to report the claim to the administration and the Justice Center.
 

New York State recognizes that certain professionals are specially equipped to fulfill the important role of mandated reporters of child abuse or maltreatment.  Mandated reporters are required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when, in their professional capacity, they are presented with reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment.  This includes all faculty and staff at RSD who are directly involved in working with students.

Child Protective Services (CPS)
All staff members are required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when they are presented with a reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment in a situation where a child, parent, or another person legally responsible for the child is before the mandated reporter when the mandated reporter is acting in his or her official or professional capacity. “Other person legally responsible” refers to a guardian, caretaker, or another person 18 years of age or older who is responsible for the care of the child.

All requests by CPS to interview a student on school property shall be made directly to the Director of Support Services.  The Director of Support Services shall set the time and place of the interview as well as cooperate with the CPS workers related to the requested information.

Justice Center (JC)
RSD staff are also mandated reporters for the Justice Center.  RSD staff are required to report any suspected wrongdoing by staff towards a student or one student towards another student that happens on campus or at a school-sponsored event.

For examples of what falls within this category, please visit The Justice Center.

El Estado de Nueva York reconoce que ciertos profesionales están especialmente capacitados para desempeñar la importante función de notificadores obligatorios de casos de abuso o maltrato infantil. Los notificadores obligatorios tienen la obligación de reportar las sospechas de abuso o maltrato infantil cuando, en el ejercicio de su profesión, tengan motivos razonables para sospechar que se está produciendo dicho abuso o maltrato. Esto incluye a todo el profesorado y al personal de RSD que trabaje directamente con los estudiantes.

Servicios de Protección Infantil (CPS, por sus siglas en inglés)
Todo el personal tiene la obligación de reportar las sospechas de abuso o maltrato infantil cuando existan motivos razonables para sospechar de ello en una situación en la que el niño, el padre o madre, u otra persona legalmente responsable del menor se encuentre ante el notificador obligatorio mientras este actúa en su calidad oficial o profesional. El término "otra persona legalmente responsable" se refiere a un tutor, cuidador o cualquier otra persona mayor de 18 años encargada del cuidado del menor.

Todas las solicitudes de CPS para entrevistar a un estudiante en las instalaciones escolares deberán dirigirse directamente al Director de Servicios de Apoyo. El Director de Servicios de Apoyo fijará la hora y el lugar de la entrevista y colaborará con los trabajadores de CPS en relación con la información solicitada.

Justice Center (JC)
El personal de RSD también actúa como notificador obligatorio para el Justice Center. El personal de RSD está obligado a reportar cualquier sospecha de conducta indebida —ya sea por parte de un miembro del personal hacia un estudiante o de un estudiante hacia otro— que ocurra en el recinto escolar o durante un evento organizado por la escuela.

Para ver ejemplos de situaciones incluidas en esta categoría, visite el sitio web del Justice Center.

New York State Education Law Section 409-H, effective July 1, 2001, requires all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools to provide written notification to all persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff regarding the potential use of pesticides throughout the school year or summer school period.

Rochester School for the Deaf is required to maintain a list of persons in parental relation, faculty, and staff who wish to receive 48-hour prior written notification of certain pesticide applications.

Forms are available at every school and can be downloaded by clicking here. Return the form to your child's main school office. If you have any specific questions about our pest management program, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr. John Krautwurst, Director of Facilities, 585-336-5829 (V), jkrautwurst@rsdeaf.org.

Education Law §807 requires a minimum of eight (8) evacuation drills and four (4) lockdown drills to be conducted throughout the school year.  RSD will comply with these laws without exception. 

Fire Drills 
The flashing/buzzing of the fire alarm signals either a fire drill or an actual fire.  Evacuation instructions giving specific directions for leaving the building are posted in each classroom.  During the first week of school, teachers will be responsible for familiarizing their students with the fire drill directions. 

Lockdown/Other Drills
New York State requires all schools to conduct lockdown and other drills during the school year, to ensure that if an event takes place that could threaten the students’ and staff's safety, they know how to respond. 

There are also policies in place for Code Auditorium (for when there is an environmental condition that requires the students to stay inside the building), Shelter in Place (for when there is police activity off campus but near the property), and Evacuation (for potential bomb threats or other conditions that require the students to leave a building).  If one of these events takes place, students are expected to follow the directions given to them by RSD faculty and staff. 
 

½-Day FIRST Program ................. 8:25 - 11 AM
Early Childhood Center.................... 8:25 AM-3 PM
K-12 Program .................................. 8:25 AM-3 PM

If RSD needs to close because of the weather or an emergency, we will announce it on:

• Local television and radio stations 
• www.13wham.com, www.rochesterfirst.com, www.whec.com, www.spectrumlocalnews.com 
• The RSD website
• RSD social media pages

Announcements will be made no later than 6:30 AM.  Please keep your child home when RSD is closed.

Please note that RSD closes independently of any other district, including the city school district.  We will be listed as “Rochester School for the Deaf” or “Roch Sch Deaf” depending on the news outlet.

Residential Students

• Monday Closings
  • Parents of residential students living in Monroe County should check TV, radio, or online sources for closing announcements.
  • Carrie Fisher-Malley, Director of Student Life, will contact parents of residential students living outside Monroe County to confirm the best way to share closing information.
• Tuesday–Thursday Closings
  • If RSD is closed on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, all residential students will remain at school, and RSD will provide full staff coverage and all meals for the duration.
  • Students may not leave campus unless they are going home.
  • If you plan for your child to come home on an emergency day, please contact us to confirm your arrangements.
• ​​​​​​​Friday Closings
  • If RSD is closed on a Friday, we will contact parents and transportation departments as soon as possible to arrange dismissal and transportation.

After-School Activities
When RSD is closed for the day, all after-school activities are canceled.  

If your child’s transport provider requests to pick them up before 3:00 PM because of the weather, we will not release your child until we receive your permission. 

Be Prepared

In the next few days, please review these questions with your child’s transporter so everyone knows what to do in an emergency:

1. What happens if RSD is closed for the day?
2. What should we do if RSD closes early?
3. What should we do if our child’s home school district is closed?

It is essential that we have your most up-to-date contact information.  If you did not return the school contact update form (attached), please do so as soon as possible.  We want to avoid any situation that delays contact with you due to incomplete or inaccurate information.
 

RSD is committed to ensuring student privacy in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations. To that end, we will:

• Provide students with the tools and guidance necessary to encourage them to be responsible digital citizens and to maintain their personal digital well-being.
• Protect their personally identifiable digital information.
• Train staff annually regarding data privacy and security awareness.

For more information, including the Parent’s Bill of Rights and the list of vendors with access to students’ PII, click here: https://www.rsdeaf.org/nysed-2d.

RSD adheres to the federal law, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which safeguards the privacy of student educational records. FERPA grants specific rights to parents regarding their children's educational records. These rights transfer to the student upon reaching the age of 18 or enrolling in a post-secondary institution. Students with transferred rights are referred to as "eligible students."

Rights of Parents and Eligible Students

• Inspection and Review: Parents and eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's educational records maintained by the school.
• Requesting Correction: Parents and eligible students can request the school to correct any records they believe are inaccurate or misleading.
• Record Disclosure: Personally identifiable information within a student's educational records won't be disclosed without parental consent, except in situations authorized by FERPA. FERPA allows the district to release student directory information without parental approval.
  • "Directory information" includes the following information relating to a student:  the student's name; address; telephone number; e-mail address; date and place of birth; major field of study; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; dates of attendance; degrees and awards received; the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student; and other similar information.
  • Authorized Disclosures (without consent):
    • Other school officials with legitimate educational interests.
    • Officials in another school where the student intends to enroll (for transfer or enrollment purposes).
    • Authorized representatives of designated federal and state agencies with a lawfully issued court order or subpoena.
    • Individuals needing the information in the event of a health or safety emergency.

Record Location and Access

• All official records of currently enrolled students are housed in the Main School Office, excluding medical records, which are kept at the Student Health Center.
• A written request to the Superintendent or their designee is required for parents or eligible students to schedule an appointment to review records in the presence of a designated school official who can explain the contents.

Parental Authority and Disputes

• The school presumes that either parent has the authority to inspect and review their student's records unless legally binding documents (e.g., divorce decree, custody order) dictate otherwise.
• Parents or eligible students can request a correction of records or a hearing to amend records through a request directed to the Superintendent.
• If the school decides against amending the records and this decision is upheld in a hearing, the parent or eligible student has the right to attach their own statement to the student's records.

Record Access Logs

• A record of disclosures of personally identifiable information from the records will be maintained.
• School officials accessing the files for legitimate educational interests will sign a log with their name, date, and reason for accessing the student's records. Parents and eligible students may inspect that log.
• A list of authorized school officials and the log are maintained in the Main School Office.

Obtaining Copies of Records

• Parents or eligible students have the right to request copies of the student's official records. 
• A reasonable fee may be charged for making copies, and a reasonable timeframe of up to ten school days is allowed to complete them.