Parent Handbook

Table of Contents

General Information

District 68 Board of Education

Our Board of Education, the teachers, staff and administration and your PTA are working together to make this an important year of learning for all of the students in School District 68.

The Board of Education meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Educational Service Center, 9440 Kenton Avenue in Skokie (unless rescheduled). You are invited to attend all meetings of the Board.

School Hours
Grades K-5
Grades 6-8
8:40 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. M*
8:40 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. T-F
8:25 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. M*
8:25 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. T-F

* All schools close half an hour early on Mondays to provide
additional time for teachers to plan and assess educational programs.

Accidents and First Aid

Staff in each school are trained to administer routine first aid. If further medical attention is required, the parent and/or paramedics are called.

Attendance at School

Regular attendance is essential to school success.  Therefore, parents are urged to schedule vacations, appointments and other avoidable causes of school absence on non-school days.  Non-medical extended absences of more than 20 consecutive days will necessitate the child's transfer out of the school district.

Parents are required to notify the school of a child's absence and the reason therefore.  When such notification has not been made, the school will call the parent at the number designated by the parent to ascertain the reason for the absence.  Cases of excessive absenteeism and cases of suspected truancy will be acted upon by the responsible school officials for the District in accordance with The School Code of Illinois and local Village ordinances. Students absent from school for more than half a day may not attend after-school or evening activities.

Reporting Absences
Parents report absences from school by telephoning the school's absence call-in line:

  • Devonshire School - 847-676-9283
  • Highland School - 847-676-5087
  • Jane Stenson School - 847-676-9483
  • Old Orchard Jr. High School - 847-676-9129

Custodial Parents/Papers

In order to ensure the safety of each child, it is important that the school have up-to-date written legal documentation regarding custody and visitation rights.  Without written legal documentation, it will be assumed that both parents have custodial rights.

Early or Special Dismissal

No student will be excused from school during the day without a written or oral request to the school office from the parent or guardian. The parent, guardian or designated person must pick up the child in the school office. The school reserves the right to deny early or special dismissal to anyone other than a parent or guardian.

Emergency Cards

Each school maintains an emergency card which lists people who may be contacted if parents cannot be reached in an emergency. Please inform the school office of any changes in contact names and telephone numbers which occur during the year, including your child's current physician.

Emergency School Closing

If it is necessary to close schools, parents will be notified by telephone.   The District has joined with other Niles Township school districts to participate in a phone notification service.  In addition, we will continue to participate in the Weather Alert system which posts school closing information on Chicago-area television stations. The District 68 website will also include emergency closing information.

Your children should know where to go if they arrive home early due to an emergency closing.

In some severe weather conditions, students will be retained at school and buses will be held until it is safe to depart. Non-bus riders will remain in school unless the parent enters and requests release of the child. In an emergency, please do not call the school; the lines are needed for staff and safety communications.

Field Trips

In addition to educational benefits, field trips offer the student an opportunity for improvement in self discipline, self-control, consideration of others, and the experience of learning appropriate behavior in a variety of new situations.  Parents are notified by the teacher sponsor of all field trip information including location, time, methods of transportation and other trip details.  A universal field trip permission form is completed at the time of on-line student registration. The administration may place a restriction upon a student's participation in a field trip when, in the staff's judgments, it is not in the best interest of the student to participate.

Integrated Pest Management Policy

Structural and landscape pests can pose significant health hazards to people, property, and environment. District 68 incorporates Integrated Pest Management (IPM) procedures for control of pests to ensure the health and safety of children, staff, and all others using district buildings and grounds. IPM is a method of pest management that addresses the prevention of pest problems through natural, nontoxic measures. These measures include improved sanitation, the addition of physical barriers, and the modification of habitats that attract or harbor pests. IPM relies primarily on nontoxic cultural and natural control agents in managing pests and only uses chemical pesticides when necessary. When it is determined that a pesticide must be used, the least hazardous material and method of application will be chosen. Parents who wish to be notified of the application of pesticides in the schools or on school grounds should register with the District Office at 9440 Kenton, Skokie 60076.

Open Enrollment

Under certain conditions, parents may enroll elementary students at a District 68 school outside their designated attendance area. Reassignments may be approved which are in the best interest of the child and have no adverse effect on staffing. Parents are responsible for transportation to and from school and there is no option for open enrollment students to ride a District 68 bus.   Enrollments outside the student's attendance area for the next school year must be requested by May 15th of the current school year by sending a letter to the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction at the Educational Service Center.  The letter should state the reason(s) for the request.  All written requests received by May 15th will be answered by June 10th.  All written requests received after May 15th will be included on a waiting list which will be reviewed in August with a decision made no later than August 15th.

Pre-school, Pre-K and Child Care Programs

District 68 operates fee-supported pre-school and pre-kindergarten programs for for three and four year olds and child care for three year olds through fifth graders. Before-school child care begins at 7:00 a.m. for age three-grade 5. After-school child care extends to 6:00 p.m. Child care is available on school days and selected school holidays.

The programs are located in the Early Childhood Center in the Old Orchard Junior High School building. Children who are three by September 1 are eligible for the pre-school program. For additional information contact Jac McBride, Director, at 847-677-4560.

Recess

Students will be outdoors for daily recess except in inclement weather and/or if the wind chill falls before 15 degrees. A doctor's note must be provided to excuse a student from outdoor recess.

Student Health Insurance

Optional private health insurance may be purchased each year to provide students with basic coverage against medical expenses for accidents that occur while attending regular school sessions. Contact the Educational Service Center for additional information.

Summer School

The District offers a four-week, tuition-based summer school program of basic skill and enrichment classes for pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Bus service is available. Summer School information is mailed to parents during the winter.

Use of Electronic Information Services

Students' use of computer-accessed electronic information services, including the Internet, is governed by the Board of Education policies and school regulations.  The intent of these rules is that the services be used to access appropriate material to supplement the instructional program and to protect the District from incurring unauthorized expenses.  Parent permission is required for students to use these services.  The applicable rules are available in the school offices.

Use of Student Information in Publicity

Information about individual children, including photographs, may be used, provided that the information no way reflects adversely upon a child or reveals information privileged in school records.  Parents may, upon written request to the school office, restrict the use of the names and photographs of their children in school-published publicity.

Visitors

Adult visitors are welcome.  In the interest of security and to keep interruptions to a minimum, visitors are required to report to the main office when they arrive at school.  Visitors must enter through the front main entrance.  They must present a current Illinois driver's license or State ID for admittance. After registration in the office, visitors are required to display a visitor's badge at all times.  Student visitations from other schools are prohibited because of the disruptions that may occur.  They are granted only under extraordinary circumstances and with the advance approval of the principal.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

Equal educational and extracurricular opportunities, including programs, activities, services or benefits, shall be available for all students without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religious beliefs, physical and mental handicap or disability. Inquiries or complaints concerning claims of discrimination or the implementation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Illinois Human Rights Act, should be directed to Dr. Frances McTague, Superintendent, at the District 68 Educational Service Center, 847-676-9000.
Any person or student requiring accommodation to attend a school activity or function, including parent conferences, board meetings and school programs, should contact the building principal or the District Office Manager.