Handbook & Policies

Download Full Document

Book          Policy Manual
Section      200 Pupils
Title            Bullying/Cyberbullying
Code         249
Status       Active
Adopted   August 16, 2021
Revised     June 12, 2025

Purpose
The Board is committed to providing a safe, positive learning environment for school students. The Board recognizes that bullying creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, detracts from the safe environment necessary for student learning, and may lead to more serious violence. Therefore, the Board prohibits bullying by school students.

Definitions

Bullying means an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act or series of acts directed at another student or students, which occurs in a school setting and/or outside a school setting, that is severe, persistent or pervasive and has the effect of doing any of the following:

1. Substantially interfering with a student’s education
2. Creating a threatening environment
3. Substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school

Bullying, as defined in this policy, includes cyberbullying.

School setting shall mean in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school.

Authority
The Board prohibits all forms of bullying by school students.

The Board encourages students who believe they or others have been bullied to promptly report such incidents to the building principal or designee. Charter School employees are required to report incidents of bullying to the building administration.

Students are encouraged to use the school’s report form, available from the building principal, or to put the complaint in writing; however, oral complaints shall be accepted and documented. The person accepting the complaint shall handle the report objectively, neutrally and professionally, setting aside personal biases that might favor or disfavor the student filing the complaint or those accused of a violation of this policy.

No student shall be subject to harassment, intimidation, bullying or cyberbullying within the school community. When bullying and/or cyberbullying are alleged, the full cooperation and assistant of parents and families are expected. Appropriate corrective or preventative action will be taken when allegations are substantiated. The Board directs that any complaint of bullying brought pursuant to this policy shall also be reviewed for conduct which may not be proven to be bullying under this policy but merits review and possible action under other Board policies.

When a student’s behavior indicates a threat to the safety of the student, other students, school employees, school facilities, the community of others, district staff shall report the student to the threat assessment team, in accordance with applicable law and Board policy.

Discrimination/Harassment

Every report of alleged bullying that can be interpreted at the outset to fall within the provisions of policies addressing potential violation of laws against discrimination or harassment shall be handled as a joint, concurrent investigation into all allegations and coordinated with the full participation of the Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator. If, in the course of a bullying investigation, potential issues of discrimination or harassment are identified, the Title IX Coordinator shall be promptly notified, and the investigation shall be conducted jointly and concurrently to address the issues of alleged discrimination or harassment as well as the incidents of alleged bullying.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality of all parties, witnesses, the allegations, the filing of a complaint and the investigation shall be handled in accordance with applicable law, regulations, this policy and the school’s legal and investigative obligations.

Retaliation

Reprisal or retaliation relating to reports of bullying or participation in an investigation of allegations of bullying is prohibited and shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Delegation of Responsibility
Each student shall be responsible to respect the rights of others and to ensure an atmosphere free from bullying.

The CAO or designee shall ensure that this policy and administrative regulations are reviewed annually with the students.

The CAO or designee, in cooperation with other appropriate administrators, shall review this policy every three (3) years and recommend necessary revisions to the Board.

School administration shall annually provide the following information with the Safe School Report:

1. Board’s Bullying Policy
2. Report of bullying incidents
3. Information on the development and implementation of any bullying prevention, intervention or education programs

Guidelines
The Code of Student Conduct, which shall contain this policy, shall be disseminated annually to students.

This policy shall be accessible in every classroom. The policy shall be posted in a prominent location within each school building and on the district website.

Education
The Charter School shall develop, implement and evaluate bullying prevention and intervention programs and activities. Programs and activities shall provide school staff and students with appropriate training for effectively responding to, intervening in and reporting incidents of bullying.

Consequences for Violations

A student who violates this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action consistent with the Code of Student Conduct, which may include:
Counseling within the school

1. Parental conference
2. Loss of school privileges
3. Transfer to another school building, classroom or school bus
4. Exclusion from school-sponsored activities
5. Detention
6. Suspension
7. Expulsion
8. Recommendation that student engages in Counseling/Therapy outside of school
9. Referral to law enforcement officials

Carpool Information 

• Carpool A Map
• Carpool B Map

SAFETY RULES

• Speed Limit is 5 miles per hour in the parking lot
• For the safety of your child, if you are sending an alternative driver, please send a note with your child in the morning. If we are not notified in advance, the driver will have to park and come to the office to pick up your child.
• Please be considerate of our neighbors driveways and yards!
• Please be patient, considerate and safety conscious at all times.
• The carpool attendant is not allowed to buckle your child into their seat. Please pull ahead to complete this task

Car Pool

Schedule:

Morning Drop-off ..... Gates open at 7:30am; Carpool begins at 8:00am
Afternoon Pick-up ... Gates open at 2:30pm; Carpool begins at 3:00pm

Please call the school at 833-7771 if you have any questions or concerns.

For a change of address please complete the Charter School Enrollment Notification Form and attach proof of residency. Instructions are below. Send the documents to:

            Montessori Regional Charter School
            Attention:  Enrollment
            2549 W. 8th Street
            Erie, PA  16505

Or you may scan and email the forms to:  enrollment@mrcserie.org

Whenever a student’s address changes, the Pennsylvania Department of Education and our Chartering School Districts require that a new enrollment form is on file showing  the correct, current address.  Verification (proof) of residency of the current address is also required.  Acceptable proof of residency is a copy of one of the following forms.  

• Rental/Lease Statement that has been fully executed
• Deed/Mortgage Statement

If you are not able to provide proof of residency, please call the school enrollment office at 
814-833-7771, ext. 102.

If you are only making a change for your phone number, the change of address form is not needed. 
Please call the office at 814-833-7771, ext. 102 to report the change in information or send an email to office@mrcserie.org.

Enrollment Notification Form

Winter Recess:

We would like to remind you that during the cold winter months the students will continue to go outside for recess if the temperature is above 28 degrees with the wind chill (“feels like”).  Remember to send warm coats, snow pants, boots, gloves and hats so they can enjoy the fresh air!  As long as students are wearing boots and gloves, they will be allowed on the playground.

**Please make sure all items are labeled with your child’s name!

Parent discretion: Parents may use their discretion in deciding whether to send their child to school. If parents do elect to keep their students out of school regarding weather, a written note must be provided the following day. This will be considered an excused absence, but will not count toward a student's 10 parent excused days.   

Weather Related or Emergency Closing Procedure:

Montessori Regional Charter School services the 14 surrounding districts, and we coordinate with transportation services from 9 of those districts.  On any given day, the weather can vary widely across those districts.  As the only public regional charter school in the area, MRCS must always make our own decision regarding weather related closings.

When there is a SNOW DAY CLOSING:

We will not automatically follow either the Erie School District or the Millcreek Township School District.School closings will be communicated through ParentSquare and on the following TV stations, listed as Montessori Regional Charter School. During inclement weather, please begin checking closings and delays after 5:15am.

• Channel WICU 12
• Channel WJET 24
• Channel WSEE 35
• Channel WQLN 54
• Channel FOX 66

When there is a SNOW 2-HOUR DELAY:

• We coordinate with other district transportation departments in this instance.
• This means that buses, including MRCS students that live in the city of Erie – will pick up students 2 hours later than normal at their regular stops.
• Our regular carpool hours will be 2 hours later:
  • 10:00 – 10:25am
  • Lunch, after school activities and after school care will remain on the regular schedule

When there is a COLD WEATHER 2-HOUR DELAY:

When the temperature (with wind chill) is less than -15 degrees, we will place the school on a 2-hour delay.

• This means that buses, including MRCS students that live in the city of Erie – will pick up students 2 hours later than normal at their regular stops.
• Our regular carpool hours will be 2 hours later:
  • 10:00 – 10:25am
  • Lunch, after school activities and after school care will remain on the regular schedule

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at office@mrcserie.org.

Flexible Instruction Days 

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has approved the use of Flexible Instruction Days for Montessori Regional Charter School through the 2025-2026 school year. The program allows for the use of (5) FIDs in each of the approved school years. The days will be used as an alternative approach to delivering instruction in the event that the customary manner of delivering instruction is not feasible, such as in the case of inclement weather or a building emergency. Not all inclement weather days will result in the use of a Flexible Instruction Day, these will be determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Procedure for the use of a Flexible Instruction Day

Notification

When the school will be utilizing a Flexible Instruction Day, families will be notified through the ParntSquare Portal. If you have not done so already, please be sure you are set up to receive emails and text messages from this application. 

Process

When the possibility of a Flexible Instruction Day occurs, students will take either their Chromebook or assigned packet work home to complete. Students will be given their assignments in advance in a hard copy format, upper level (5th-8th) students may access their assignments through Google Classroom and/or hard copy when applicable. These items will be sent home the day prior to the possibility of inclement weather, when chromebooks and packets are sent home, it does not necessarily mean a Flexible Instruction Day will occur. Families will receive formal notification when an FID is going to occur through the ParentSquare system. If no formal notification is received, school will run on a normal schedule for the day.

Hard copy packets will be made available in the Front Office when a FID is implemented. A PDF of the assignments will also be sent home through the ParentSquare system. 

Depending on the grade level, students will access their assignments in the morning and complete them throughout the day. Students and families will have access to teachers through the use of the Google Classroom platform or through our family communication system, ParentSquare.

Student Responsibilities 

When the possibility of a Flexible Instruction Day occurs, students may take their Chromebooks or assigned packet work home to complete. Students may access their assignments through Google Classroom, or be given their assignments in advance in a hard copy format.

When applicable, students will complete their assignments through the use of Google Applications in the Google Classroom. When technology is available to students, synchronous and asynchronous lessons will occur following an outlined schedule during an FID. Students will complete activities and assignments and submit them to Google Classroom, as well as participate in discussion rooms. 

Students who do not have internet access will have the opportunity to complete the same assignments through the use of hard copy packets which will be made available to students on the day prior to an FID and on the FID day in the front office. Students will be required to participate in all lessons and/or complete all assigned packet work for the day.  

Student Attendance

Students will access their assignments in the morning and complete them throughout the day. Students and families will have access to teachers through the use of the Google Classroom platform or through our family communication system, ParentSquare. Assignments will be checked in and assessed on the day following a Flexible Instruction Day.

Assignments must be submitted immediately upon return to school from a FID in order to be counted for participation and attendance. Students that do not submit assignments as outlined and required for an FID will be either marked excused or unexcused accordingly. 

Although students will be considered absent if they are unable to attend a Flexible Instruction Day, they will still be given the opportunity to complete the assignments that were given and earn credit for those assignments.

First and foremost we want to inform you of the steps we have taken to secure our school over the past several years.

• Each campus has a single point of entry for visitors and families that is locked and is only accessed by being ‘buzzed in” by an employee after being observed on the security camera. We have taken additional steps to ensure that all reception personnel do not allow anyone to breach the classroom hallways.
• The reception area has a security door denying access to the classroom areas.
• Each room in the building is equipped with a deadbolt on the door so that rooms can be locked from the inside.
• There are a series of security cameras throughout (in and out) each building. Those security cameras are viewed continuously at each reception desk. We have the ability to view them on remote technology which can be provided to local authorities in an emergency situation.
• Each classroom has a safe zone established for a lock down situation.
• We have had a security specialist tour the buildings and have taken their recommendations on how to continue to strengthen safety procedures.
• Our teachers have attended two trainings over the past two years in which we have simulated lock down situations.

Download Full Document

Montessori Regional Charter School complies with Civil Rights Laws, including but not limited to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. It is the express policy of the Board of Education to encourage student victims of sexual harassment to come forward with such claims. 

If you have questions or would like to make a claim, please contact our Title IX Coordinator: Caitlin Lovey

Email: clovey@mrcserie.org

Title IX Sexual Harassment Affecting Students and Staff

Support for Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Montessori Regional Charter School has developed procedures and policies to support students who may be experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 2001.

Students who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence may qualify as a protected youth under this Federal Law.

Some reasons that students may qualify as a homeless youth include:

• Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing due to economic hardship.
• Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to a lack of adequate alternative accommodations.
• Living in emergency or transitional shelters.
• Abandoned in hospitals or awaiting foster care.

Children and youth who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designated for regular sleeping accommodations may be considered homeless.

Children and youths living in cars, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations or similar settings are considered homeless.

Students who are determined to be homeless, due to a lack of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence are entitled to:

• Attend the school of origin or school of current residence.
• Remain in chosen school for remainder of year once they are permanently housed.
• Immediate enrollment.
• Transportation.
• Immediate access to educational services for which they are eligible.
• Free meals provided by the district through federal, state, or local food programs.
• Attend the school of choice during enrollment disputes.
• Appeal placement decisions made by the District.

If you or someone you know may qualify as a homeless youth, please see MRCS Homeless Liaison:

Krystal Wright
814-833-7771
kwright@mrcserie.org

MRCS is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of its students and the MRCS community.  This policy supports federal, state and local efforts to provide education on youth suicide awareness and prevention; establish methods of prevention, intervention and response to suicide attempt; and to promote access to suicide awareness and prevention resources.

Youth Suicide Awareness and Prevention Policy