Ligon Magnet Middle School Staff Handbook 2020-2021

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL STAFF

There are no foolish questions! Rely on your grade level colleagues and your administrators to help you!

Gary Duvall Principal x 22169 gduvall@wcpss.net

Alexis Hyatt Assistant Principal – 6 Grade

th
x 22162 awengler2@wcpss.net

Anne Waechter Assistant Principal – 7 Grade

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x 22163 awaechter@wcpss.net

Brandon McRae Assistant Principal – 8 Grade

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x 22161 bmcrae@wcpss.net

Main Office: 919-856-7929 Fax: 919-670-4312

Principal’s Administrative Assistant x 22174 Student Services x 22175

Student Information Data Manager x 22173 Psychologist x 22151

Bookkeeper x 22172 Social Worker x 22153

Arts Office x 22157 Magnet Coordinator x 22150

Athletics Office x 22148 AIG Coordinator x 22152

Media Center x 22144 Cafeteria x 22160

Nurse x 22155

Mailing Address: 706 E Lenoir Street, Raleigh, NC 27601

Vision Statement
We accept responsibility to see that every child receives their best education through rigor, relevance, and
relationships. It is our mission to create competitive and compassionate 21st century learners.

Our Mission
1. Every student is uniquely capable and deserves to be challenged and engaged in relevant, rigorous, and
meaningful learning each day.
2. Every student is expected to learn, grow, and succeed while we will eliminate the ability to predict
achievement based on socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity.
3. Well-supported, highly effective, and dedicated principals, teachers, and staff are essential to success for
all students.
4. The Board of Education, superintendent, and all staff value a diverse school community that is inviting,
respectful, inclusive, flexible, and supportive.

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Table of Contents

Vision Statement ....................................................................................................................................................... 1

Our Mission ............................................................................................................................................................... 1
Building Hours ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
BELL SCHEDULE 2020-2021........................................................................................................................................ 4
Student Arrival/Dismissal ......................................................................................................................................... 5
Staff Hours ................................................................................................................................................................. 5
Teacher Workday Hours............................................................................................................................................ 6
Employee Leave ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Emergency/Non-Emergency Leave ........................................................................................................................... 7
Inclement Weather Employee Absences .................................................................................................................. 8
EXPECTATIONS AND DUTIES ................................................................................................................................... 10
Overview of Ligon Teacher Expectations ........................................................................................................... 10
INSTRUCTIONAL....................................................................................................................................................... 11
Lesson Plans......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Homework ........................................................................................................................................................... 11
Substitute Teacher Binder (From WCPSS Employee Handbook) ....................................................................... 11
Team/Department Communication Plan ............................................................................................................... 12
Team Websites .................................................................................................................................................... 12
Guidelines for Showing Films in the Classroom ..................................................................................................... 12
Media Center ........................................................................................................................................................... 13
Resource Guest Speaker/Programs in Your Classroom ......................................................................................... 14
Pledge of Allegiance To The Flag............................................................................................................................. 14
PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS............................................................................................................................... 14
Internal Communications.................................................................................................................................... 14
Meetings .................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Renewal Credit Guidelines for Teachers ................................................................................................................ 17
EMPLOYEE CONDUCT .............................................................................................................................................. 18
NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES ................................................................................................................................ 19
COMMUNICATION with PARENTS .......................................................................................................................... 20
Scheduled Conferences ........................................................................................................................................... 20
DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES ........................................................................................................................................... 21
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR STUDENT REPORTING AND RECORDS .............................................................. 22
Visitors ..................................................................................................................................................................... 26

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Volunteer Screening Procedures ............................................................................................................................ 26
Parent Teacher Association .................................................................................................................................... 26
Athletics ................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Students Breakfast and Lunch: ............................................................................................................................... 27
Student Dress Code ................................................................................................................................................. 27
Hall Passes ............................................................................................................................................................... 28
Supervision of Students .......................................................................................................................................... 28
FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY......................................................................................................................................... 28
FIELD TRIPS .............................................................................................................................................................. 31
FIRE CODE AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES ................................................................................................... 31
Fire Marshall Requirements ............................................................................................................................ 31
Classroom Care ........................................................................................................................................................ 31
Faculty Lounge ................................................................................................................................................. 33
SAFETY AND SECURITY ............................................................................................................................................ 33
School Health and Safety ........................................................................................................................................ 34
CRISIS INTERVENTION PLAN 2020-2021 ................................................................................................................. 40
First Day Procedures ........................................................................................................................................... 40
Crisis Mode Procedures....................................................................................................................................... 41
Basic Information for Providing Support ........................................................................................................ 41
Building Security .................................................................................................................................................. 42
Lock-down Procedures ............................................................................................................................................ 44
Administrators’ Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................. 46
Instructional Staff .................................................................................................................................................... 49
Team Leaders, Counselors, Department Chairs ..................................................................................................... 51
Support Staff............................................................................................................................................................ 52

Building Hours
The building is open on school days only beginning at 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All exterior doors will remain
locked at all times. Badge readers are located around the exterior of the building for access. If you are having
conferences, remind your parents that they will need to use the front door. Teachers will need to meet
parents at the front door after 3:30 p.m.

School Hours
Our school day for students will be 7:35 a.m. –2:20 p.m. The doors open to students at 7:05 am.

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 BELL SCHEDULE 2020-2021

Period Time Minutes

1st
7:35 – 8:20 45
2nd
8:26 – 9:11 45
3rd
9:17 – 10:02 45
4th
10:08 – 10:53 45
6 grade lunch
th
staggered dismissal for lunch pick up

5th
10:59– 11:44 45
7 grade lunch
th
staggered dismissal for lunch pick up
6th
11:50 – 12:35 45
8 grade lunch
th
staggered dismissal for lunch pick up
7th
12:41 – 1:26 45
8 Bus changes/ announcements
th
1:32 – 2:20 48

Parents are not to go to individual classrooms between the hours of 7:35 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. for unscheduled
conferences with teachers or teacher assistants.

TWO HOUR DELAY SCHEDULE

Period Time Minutes

Subject to Change 9:35 - 10:05 30
Subject to Change 10:10 - 10:40 30
4 th
1 lunch: 10:45 - 11:07 (22 min)
st

6 grade lunch
th
2 lunch: 11:08 - 11:30 (22 min)
nd
45
5 th
1 lunch: 11:35 - 11:57 (22 min)
st
45
7 grade lunch
th
2 lunch: 11:58 - 12:20 (22 min)
nd

6 th
1 lunch: 12:25 - 12:47 (22 min)
st
45
8 grade lunch
th
2 lunch: 12:48 – 1:10 (22 min)
nd

Subject to Change 1:15 - 1:45 30

Subject to Change 1:50 - 2:20 30

THREE HOUR DELAY SCHEDULE

Period Time Minutes

Subject to change 10:35 – 11:16 41
4 th
1 lunch: 11:21 – 11:41
st
41
6 grade lunch
th
2 lunch: 11:42 – 12:02
nd

5 th
1 lunch: 12:07 – 12:27
st
41
7 grade lunch
th
2 lunch: 12:28 – 12:48
nd

6 th
1 lunch: 12:53 – 1:13
st
41
8 grade lunch
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2 lunch: 1:14 – 1:34
nd

Subject to change 1:39 – 2:20 41

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ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE
• All assembly schedules will be e-mailed to staff prior to an assembly.

TESTING SCHEDULE
• NO BELLS
• Testing is finished in time for lunches

Student Arrival/Dismissal
Student arrival will begin promptly at 7:05 a.m. Student dismissal will begin at 2:20 p.m. The following modes
of transportation are utilized at Ligon Middle School:
• WCPSS Bus Transportation: Students riding any WCPSS Bus will arrive and dismiss from the bus loading
area on Haywood Street. Buses arriving to campus will drop students off near the auditorium entrance.
For Afternoon Dismissal, buses pull into one of 5 loading areas and buses are called over the
loudspeaker as well as via digital display by zone. Students are loaded, unloaded and supervised by
school personnel.
• Special Programs Transportation: Students who require special transportation, as a related service,
will be dropped off and picked up in the Special Transportation loading area on Church Street. For the
safety of these students, the designated contracted Transportation providers will be permitted to
move to the front of the line to load and unload these students. Special Programs personnel will be
responsible for assisting in the unloading and loading of these students.
• Homeless Transportation: The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law that provides transportation to and
from school for children whose families are deemed “homeless.” Transportation for these students
CAN ONLY BE set up through our Homeless Liaison, Mr. Steven Sapienza. These students will arrive
and be dismissed depending on their designated mode of transportation.
• Car Riders: Students will arrive and be dropped off in the carpool area on Lenoir Street. All car riders
will be dismissed by the 2:20 pm bell and will report to the front of the building on Lenoir Street.
School personnel will supervise and alert students of their transportation after school.
• Afterschool Program Vehicles: Often Afterschool Programs, such as YMCA, will use Haywood Street to
pick up students and will be included in the announcement of buses in the afternoon
• Transportation Changes: If a student’s dismissal transportation changes, the student should receive
notification no later than 1:50 p.m.

Staff Hours

All staff members are required to jiffy in and out each day in the main office.

Certified Staff
WCPSS School Board policy requires all instructional personnel to be at work 30 minutes prior to the beginning
of the school day. Teachers and TA’s MUST be in the building by 6:55 a.m. and ready to receive students by
7:05 a.m. All teachers are required to be stationed at their doorway, or at their assigned duty station, by 7:05
a.m. to greet students as they arrive. The school office should be notified if an emergency requires late
arrival. Students must be supervised from first arrival until they leave in the afternoon. Any personal
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circumstances that may prevent you from fulfilling these important obligations must be cleared through your
grade level administrator or the principal.

Teachers are permitted to leave in the afternoon after the students are dismissed and their professional
obligations are complete. Instructional Assistants are required to work 7.50 hours per day (37.50 hours a
week) and may leave when duties are completed. Counselors must remain for 30 minutes following
afternoon dismissal.

Please be reminded it is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that all students report to the bus loading area
when called.
Non-exempt Instructional Assistants (Classified- Timesheet) Personnel (Fair Labor Standards)
The school day for non-exempt (classified) personnel (timesheet employee) will be from 7:00 a.m. - 3:00
p.m. According to the Fair Labor and Standards Act, no Classified employees (timesheet employees) are
permitted to work more than 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week without the permission of the
principal.
It is the policy of the Wake County Board of Education to comply with the wage and hour requirements of the
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for all non-exempt (classified) employees. In accordance with FLSA, non-
exempt (classified) employees are required to report on their timesheet the EXACT hour and minute that work
starts and ends at any point during the workday. It is the responsibility of the non-exempt (classified)
employee to maintain accurate daily records of their hours worked. Any employee who falsifies work records
will be subject to termination.
OVERTIME (MORE THAN 40 HOURS) SHOULD NOT BE WORKED BY NON-EXEMPT (classified) PERSONNEL
UNLESS PRIOR APPROVAL IS GIVEN BY AN ADMINISTRATOR!

NON-EXEMPT EMPLOYEES CANNOT DEVIATE FROM THEIR REGULARLY SCHEDULED WORKDAY

HOURS WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM ADMINISTRATION.

It is the responsibility of the supervisor (classroom teacher) to sign the timesheet for hours worked. A teacher
may not request that a non-exempt (classified) staff member take “school work” home with them.
Teacher Workday Hours

The building is open, and staff work hours are from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm. Required workdays and Non-
Required workdays are built into the calendar to provide staff development, time for conferences, workshops
and other opportunities that are aligned with the School Improvement Plan. Reference the WCPSS Employee
Handbook for details regarding leave and deductions. Please note that if you are not planning to work on a
“Non-Required Workday,” you must use one of your personal leave days and submit the appropriate
paperwork.

Employee Leave

• Complete a Request for Leave Form (found on the Intranet) and give it to the Lead Secretary as far in
advance as possible.

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 • Log in to the AESOP system as soon as you are aware of the need for absence or call (1-800-942-3767)
• In the event your absence occurs unexpectedly, it is your responsibility to complete the necessary
Leave Form and submit it to the Lead Secretary upon your return. After an emergency absence only,
you will have two days to complete the Request for Leave Form, otherwise the Lead Secretary will code
the leave as unpaid.

The principal or the principal’s designee must approve late arrival and/or early departure by the staff. Half
days begin and end at 11:05 am.

Emergency/Non-Emergency Leave
Understanding that emergency cases can occasionally arise, the following will be the practice at Ligon Middle
School for certified personnel.
1. If an emergency situation arises during the day that requires you to have to leave campus, you are
expected to let administration know immediately. Administration must grant permission prior to
your departure from campus. You must jiffy out in the office before leaving campus! In the case of
an emergency, a staff member may be asked to cover another’s class for unexpected short leave on a
given day.
2. For non-emergency situations (i.e. 1:30 pm doctor or dental appointment), prior permission (at
least 24 hours notice) must be given by administration via email.
3. For Professional early leave requests, please submit your request on a Request for Professional Leave
(found on the intranet). You must take a copy of your approved Professional Leave Form with you to
the meeting/class that you are attending.
4. Non-exempt (classified) personnel must make up the time during the work week and reflect it on
your timesheet.

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 Certified Staff Non-Certified Staff

• ANNUAL LEAVE • ANNUAL LEAVE

Annual Leave, usually referred to as vacation, may be
used upon the approval of their immediate
supervisor. It may be used on a non-protected
workday or inclement weather day or any days when
students are not scheduled to be in attendance.
• SICK LEAVE
• PERSONAL
Personal Leave is available only to teachers.
Accumulated balance may not exceed five (5) days. All
personal leave days require a deduction for a
substitute. Requests must be received at least five
days in advance. Personal leave is not to be used on
the first day of the school year, on protected
workdays, or on the day before or after holidays and
scheduled vacation days. Personal leave cannot be
advanced.
Annual Leave, usually referred to as
vacation, may be used upon the approval
of their immediate supervisor. It may also
be used on inclement weather days.
Sick Leave may be granted for any period
of temporary disability, illness, or death in
the employee's immediate family.
Medical documentation of illness may be
required and will be required of absences
lasting longer than 3 days.

• SICK
Sick Leave may be granted for any period of temporary
disability, illness, or death in the employee's
immediate family. Medical documentation of illness
may be required and will be required of absences
lasting longer than 3 days.

Inclement Weather Employee Absences

Each year there is the possibility of weather conditions creating unsafe traffic conditions. When such
conditions exist, the schools may be:

1. Closed for one or more days.

2. Opened later than the normal beginning time.
3. Dismissed earlier than the normal closing time.

Decisions on adjusting schedules are made by the Superintendent after consulting the weather service, traffic
agencies, and others. Roads, streets, and highways in various areas of the school district are checked in
addition to the above sources of information. In some situations, action must be based on forecasts by
meteorologists.

If it becomes necessary to close schools for the day or begin later than the normal opening time, major news
media in the area will be notified early enough to carry the news no later than 6 a.m. Principals will also be
notified of the decision through voice mail. Weather conditions may change the decision at a later time in the
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day. When it becomes necessary to dismiss school earlier than the normal closing time, each school will be
called through the internal communication network. In addition, the news media will be notified of the
change in dismissal time as far in advance as it is practical.

Make up days will be rescheduled by the Board of Education. With reference to teachers, school days which
are lost due to inclement weather may be declared teacher vacation days, holidays, or workdays. The
teachers’ calendar may be adjusted by the Board in a manner not to exceed the annual employment
period. The teachers’ calendar will have to be adjusted as/after work is missed. The adjustments will be
announced by the superintendent’s office.

In the case of inclement weather, you will receive an “all call” and email with information from
Administration. It is your responsibility to make sure that current phone numbers are on file with the office.

Procedures for Reporting Make up Hours

When schools are closed for one or more days, employees may take an annual leave day, make up the day on
a whole day or piecemeal basis, or take a non-paid leave day.

Teachers and other exempt professional staff:

Teachers and other exempt professional staff who elect to make up the day on a whole day or piecemeal
basis must make up the day within the annual employment term at the time mutually agreed upon by the
employee and principal or supervisor. The time must be made up when the principal or supervisor is
normally scheduled to be at work.

Non-exempt (classified) staff and teacher assistants who are employed 100%:
Non-exempt (classified) staff and teacher assistants who work 40 hours per week and report hours on a
timesheet may elect to make up the day on a whole or piecemeal basis if time allows. Days missed due to
inclement weather must be made up within the work week (See Board Policy 4100 and 7910). According to
the Fair Labor Standards Act, (See Board Policy 4100 and 7910) any hours worked by non-certified
employees over 40 hours in a work week must be compensated at time and half; therefore, it would be
impossible to make up the time in future weeks without incurring overtime.

Non-exempt (classified) staff and teacher assistants who are employed less than 100%:
Non-exempt (classified) staff and teacher assistants who work less than 40 hours per week may elect to
make up the day on a piecemeal basis not to exceed 40 hours per week as agreed upon by the principal or
supervisor. For example, a teacher assistant working 37 ½ hours per week may make up the 2 ½ hours a
week for three weeks. For non-exempt (classified) employees who report to work at their regular start
time when schools are closed and are subsequently sent home, compensatory time may be given for the
period of time worked.

When school is cancelled, an inclement weather memo will be placed in your mailbox for you to account for
what you did on those days. Your decisions must be made at the time and cannot be changed later.

Work-related injury & illness

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All claims for work-related injury or illness must be reported to administration at the time that they
occur. The Lead Secretary will provide you with the necessary information, forms, and documentation.

EXPECTATIONS AND DUTIES

Overview of Ligon Teacher Expectations

Operational

• Staff members are expected to be on campus by 6:55 am.

• Attendance must be recorded in PowerSchool daily for each period.
• Practice Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) strategies.
• Make one positive parent contact a week. Throughout the first 3 weeks, make it a priority to contact all parents
in your first period.
• Personal and professional leave require prior approval by the principal. Leave Request Forms require an AESOP
number and must be submitted no later than FIVE days before the requested leave date.
• Cell phones should not be used during instructional time, unless for educational purposes.
• If you must miss duties or instructional time for personal reasons, you are responsible for finding coverage.
• Absences must be entered into AESOP in advance of the absence. Alert team leads and grade level administrator
of absence as soon as possible.
• Dress professionally. Fridays are “school spirit” days (Ligon colors and jeans in good condition).
• Report to all assigned duties on time. Supervise students and refrain from clustering with other faculty
members.
• For after school activities, the supervising teacher must remain with students until they leave campus. All
students should depart campus via Haywood St.
• Thoroughly review all IEPs, 504s, and medical plans at the beginning of the year and as new students are
received.
• Return parent contact within twenty-four hours.
• Grades should be updated in PowerSchool by Monday of each week.
• All minor and major discipline incidents should be documented in ECATS. Remember to “close” the minor
incidents managed by the teacher.
• Read staff handbook/ WCPSS Employee Handbook and implement appropriate procedures.
• Monitor students in the hallways during all class changes (including before and after school).
• GREET STUDENTS AT THE DOOR OF YOUR CLASSROOM
• Respect other teachers’ instructional time; dismiss students on time.
• Keep updated split lists taped or in a folder on the back of your door.

Instructional

• Participate in weekly grade level meetings, weekly PLTs, MTSS and monthly department meetings.
• Update class websites weekly with current information regarding due dates and major assignments.
• Provide students with frequent, timely, and effective feedback on assignments.
• As you plan your lessons, incorporate and emphasize academic language and explicitly teach meanings as you
implement your lessons.
• Strive to create a positive inclusive environment of cleanliness, organization, and student success.
• Engage students bell to bell.
• Doing Common Assessments with fidelity and progress monitoring.

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A teacher’s responsibilities include instructional responsibilities, non-instructional duties, professional duties,
and extra duty opportunities.

INSTRUCTIONAL
It is expected that teachers will provide the necessary structure to carry out their duties and responsibilities.

Lesson Plans
Weekly lesson plans must be prepared at least one week in advance. These plans should be available for
review by Administration at all times. Lesson plans must adhere to the following format:
1. Lesson objective(s), how lessons will be taught (lecture, cooperative learning, center, etc.), Guided
Practice, and Independent Practice. The lesson plan must be detailed enough to communicate the
objective(s) and activities planned for the lesson to an observer.
2. Evidence of the Task Analysis and grade level/resource collaboration must be in the plans. Thematic
units must show evidence of curriculum integration.
3. Objectives must be posted on the board for each subject each day. Please remember to write your
objectives so your students will understand what is expected of them.

Homework
The board of education believes that homework is an important part of the educational program for students
in the Wake County Public School System and should be assigned on a regular basis. The purpose of
homework is to:
1. Reinforce and extend skills learned (taught) in class.
2. Supplement and support the school experience through related home activities.
3. Keep parents informed with the school program and involve them with the learning process of their
child.
4. Encourage the student to be responsible and independent as well as to increase motivation.

In most classes, homework assignments are given Monday through Thursday.

The research-based guidelines for minutes of homework per day are:
• Grades 6-8: 90 minutes per day

Substitute Teacher Binder (From WCPSS Employee Handbook)

Remember that a substitute should be able to teach a relevant classroom lesson that will allow them to re-
teach or pre-teach an objective, so they are not just assigning “busy work.” To enable substitute teachers to
provide better services to students during planned and/or emergency teacher absences, all regular teachers
must prepare a substitute teacher binder. This binder must be kept in a visible place in your classroom and
updated accordingly each quarter. As applicable, the binder should include the following information for each
class/period:
• Attendance procedures and an up to date class roster
• Lesson plans along with texts, guides, handouts, equipment, etc.
• Instructions for using electronic equipment
• Daily schedule for students and teacher (pull-out programs, etc.)
• Discipline/management procedures (group and/or individual plans)

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• Medical plans and/or procedures for students with physical disabilities
• Lunch procedures, money, student lunch cards, etc. (mainly for elementary)
• Accident procedures, reports
• Any extra duties that the absent teacher may have (carpool, bus, lunch duty)

Please note: For short term absences, if an effective Substitute Teacher Folder is not available, other school
personnel will need to provide the lesson plans and other information necessary to maintain the integrity of the
instructional curriculum. While employees, but especially teachers, are on medical or other approved long-
term leave they cannot be required to perform work (i.e. lesson plans, interim reports, grades, IEP meetings,
etc.). For long-term situations, if the teacher has not left adequate information for the substitute, the
responsibility falls upon the individual teams/departments and other staff members to provide the necessary
lesson plans.

Team/Department Communication Plan

Team Websites

Each Grade Level, Academic, and Elective Team will create and maintain a team website that describes current
and upcoming classroom activities, events, homework, and accomplishments. Within the team sites, each
teacher should have their own tab for parents to select and find information about your respective class. The
team website is to be created using your teams own creative and personal style. It should be a positive means
of information sharing. This will provide teachers with a sufficient means to ensure continuous
communication between home and school. Websites should be updated at least weekly.

Guidelines for Showing Films in the Classroom

The Wake County Public School System supports the strategic use of media to enhance the instructional
program. Federal legal guidelines have been established to facilitate appropriate selection and utilization of
the medium. Individual faculty/staff members and building administrators have the responsibility for
implementing these guidelines.

By law, when a teacher shows any film that does not include “public performance rights” he or she must comply with
the “Fair Use” provision and Chapter 1, Section 110 of the U.S. Copyright Act. The following is a summary of the
guidelines from those documents. Films shown in school must:

• Be used by teachers in the course of “face to face” instruction with students

• Be directly related to the curriculum and the current instruction
• Be correlated to instructional objectives
• Be shown in the normal instructional setting
• Be “lawfully” made: the teacher has not duplicated a copy in violation of Fair Use, without the
permission of the copyright holder.
• Not be used for extra-curricular, reward, recreation, or before or after school use.
• Not be used for fund-raising. No admission should be charged for a film showing.

Films other than those from the school library media center, grade level/department collections, or Wake County
School System’s central video collection must have prior approval from the principal or designee before broadcast for
student viewing.

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Please see your media specialist if you have questions about fair use.

What does this mean for my classroom?

In regard to films borrowed from the school library media center, grade level/department collections, privately
purchased, or rented by teachers:

• Follow the above Fair Use provisions.

• Use of feature films, not originally intended for educational use, can cause problems even when they
are used appropriately in the school setting. Movies not rated G have some material to which a parent
may object. You should consider the content of the film, the age and maturity of the students, its
importance to the curriculum and the preparation the students have had beforehand. If all students
meet the age requirement but the content is controversial, permission slips are
recommended. Extreme care should be used when you consider showing films rated PG-13 or R.
• Remember to send a parent permission letter prior to showing a film for the following:
• Middle/High: Any film in which all students do not meet the age requirement of the MPAA
rating.
• Permission letters should be kept on file by the teacher.

Regarding off-air taping:

• If you tape a video from a regular, commercial, or “free” network you must apply the Fair Use
guidelines. The video may be shown once within ten consecutive school days and may be repeated
once within the same ten-day period.
• There are no fair use rights for exclusively cable channels (A&E, Disney, History channel, etc.). Taping
of these programs must be researched on the basis of granted rights for each program. (Program rights
may be found at Cable in the Classroom Online http://www.ciconline.org)

Regarding effective instructional use of films and other media:

• Select titles that are aligned with the NCSCOS or school-based curriculum.
• Carefully choose segments of a film that are applicable to the instructional content. It is not
recommended to show a film in its entirety.
• Introduce the film and explain the curricular connection.
• Pause to stop the film to emphasize points and to encourage interaction.
• Provide a culminating or follow-up activity to reinforce the instructional content.

Regarding persons other than WCPSS instructional staff:

• Parents, students, or guest speakers showing a film in the classroom must also complete the Prior Approval form
and co-sign with the teacher and principal or designee.

Media Center
The Media Center is designed to meet the academic and recreational reading needs of students and to
support the educational goals of the school.

Textbooks and Non-Print Resources

Individual teachers should check with their Department Chair at the beginning of the workdays concerning
textbooks to be used in their classes. Textbooks are distributed by Media Center personnel. A schedule
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indicating when books can be picked up will be distributed to all teachers. Teachers should require students
to put their name, their teacher’s name, and class period on the inside cover. Students should also be
required to cover all textbooks.

Lost or Damaged Texts

It is imperative that teachers hold students accountable for lost and damaged texts. Every effort should be
made to ensure that texts are recovered. During the school year, you may need to collect money for lost or
damaged textbooks. When students lose textbooks, the full cost to replace the text will be charged. Please
check with your Department Chair for current prices of textbooks.

Resource Guest Speaker/Programs in Your Classroom

If you want to arrange for someone to visit your classroom to demonstrate and/or speak to your class,
advance approval by the principal is required to avoid scheduling conflicts and to keep the office informed of
visitors on campus. A teacher requesting participation of a guest speaker must complete the Request for Prior
Approval for Guest Speaker form and the Agreement and Guidelines for Guest Speakers form and submit both
to the principal at least 5 days prior to the visit by the guest speaker per WCPSS policy. These forms can be
found on the website or see Linda Link for a copy.

Pledge of Allegiance To The Flag

The WCPSS Board Policy requires that United States and North Carolina flags that are donated or otherwise
available shall be displayed in each classroom. Each school shall include a daily recitation of the Pledge of
Allegiance to the flag. The school shall not compel any person to stand, salute the flag, or recite the Pledge of
Allegiance, but each person shall maintain proper decorum while others participate.

PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS

Methods of Communication with Staff

Internal Communications

Internal communications are critical for a well-run, safe school. Teachers will be notified by e-mail or the
intercom of time sensitive or security information. Teachers are expected to attend all meetings including, but
not limited to, staff meetings, grade-level meetings, PLT meetings, and department meetings.

E-Mail/Outlook
Teachers should check their e-mail messages AT LEAST ONCE per day.

Weekly, you will receive by email a “Weekly Update” containing information on all school events. This will
inform you of the upcoming events and other important information. This update should be read before the
school day begins on the following Monday.
NOTE: Please remember that all emails are subject to Public Review.

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* While still allowing the use of the employee’s name, title, department, telephone number and fax number,
the new Board Policy prohibits the use of any personalized taglines from employee email such as quotations,
photographs, expressions of legal protection, or confidentiality, etc.

Mailboxes
Please check your mailbox before 1 period and after 8 period EVERY day. Mail from the U.S. Postal Service,
st th

the Central Office, phone messages and memos from administration will be placed in boxes
daily. Information that is not time sensitive will be placed in teacher mailboxes. Mailboxes are “off limits” to
students.
Announcements
Any morning announcements will be made after the first period bell. Afternoon announcements will be made
just before afternoon dismissal. You will receive other important information by email, in your mailboxes, or
by intercom into your room.

MEETINGS
Grade Level, Area/Department Meetings
Teachers teaching the same subject level or area should meet together a minimum of two times a week for the
purpose of unit preparation, sharing instructional ideas and resources, planning team approach strategies for
enrichment and corrective instruction, and to ensure that alignment and Order of Instruction are being
implemented in each class. PLT and Planning meetings are held to discuss the future week’s activities as well as
short and long range plans. It is also imperative that all specialist, resource, and special programs teachers be
included in your grade level or area/departmental meetings, as needed.

Professional Learning Teams and Staff Development

According to WCPSS Board Policy 3610, “Every school-based certified staff member should have equal access
to a minimum of one hour for participation in weekly professional learning teams and to the Board-approved
teacher workdays for collaboration and job-embedded professional development. Subject Area teams should
meet for PLT’s either before or after-school to protect each teacher’s instructional planning time. Work in
collaborative teams to: build shared knowledge regarding expectations for student learning. Frequently
monitor each student’s learning. Identify goals that focus on student learning and require evidence of
improved student learning. Share teaching strategies. Create a process for additional time and support in
response to students experiencing difficulty or needing enrichment”.

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 Meeting Dates

STAFF MEETINGS October 26 SIP QUARTERLY MEETINGS - TBA

1st Monday of each Month November 30
August 20 December 14 MENTOR MEETINGS 1st
September 3 January 25 Wednesdays of each Month
October 7 February 22 September 4
November 4 March 29 October 2
December 2 April 26 November 6
January 6 May 24 December 4
February 3 January 8
March 2 DEPARTMENT MEETINGS February 5
May 4 3rd Monday of each Month March 4
June 1 September 23 April 1
October 21 May 6
CORE MEETINGS November 18 June 3
2nd Monday of each Month December 16
September 16 January 27 PTA MEETINGS – 7:30 AM Media
October 14 March 23 Center
December 9 April 27 September 25
January 13 May 18 October 23
February 10 November 20
March 16 PLT’s – This should occur every January 22
April 20 Tuesday either before or February 19
afterschool depending on your March 18
SIP Meeting Dates team’s choice. April 22
September 28 May 20

Workdays
All teachers must work a total of twelve (12) Teacher Workdays in addition to the 180 school days. Each school chooses
to “protect” a certain number of workdays where all teachers are expected to work so that school-wide activities can be
planned. Sign in electronically in the Main Office (jiffy pass) when you first arrive and sign out upon departure. If you have
vacation days, you have the option to request leave on unprotected workdays. Teachers are expected to be at school at
8:00 AM and leave no earlier than 4:00 PM on all workdays.

All teachers and support staff are expected to attend all work days, unless prior arrangements are made with the school
principal. Instructional Assistants do not work teacher workdays.

LIGON MIDDLE 2020-2021 Scheduled Workdays

August 13 - Protected January 19 - Protected

August 14 - Protected February 16
September 28 March 12 - Protected
October 23 – District Protected April 6
November 3 May 13
December 21 June 11 - Protected

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 Renewal Credit Guidelines for Teachers

Credit required to renew a license:

• 15 units of renewal credit must be earned in the five-year licensure renewal cycle.
• All course work must be directly related to an individual’s area(s) of licensure and/or professional
responsibilities as a public school educator (e.g., reading; exceptional children; sign language; drug,
alcohol, or child abuse; first aid; classroom management; stress management; assertiveness training;
effective teacher training; or second languages) and must align with their School Improvement Plan goals
or Professional Growth Plan.
• For a license to remain current, all credit must be earned by the expiration date of the existing license.
To renew an expired license, 15 units of renewal credit must be earned within the most recent five-year
period. Staff development activities may include a combination of both contact hours and lab
hours (e.g., 8 contact hours + 4 lab hours = 1.0 renewal credit). Non-contact hours may not exceed
contact hours.
• Renewal credit is granted on the basis of 100% attendance and/or successful achievement of training
objectives and completion of the on-line evaluation in Wake Connect. The training coordinator or
instructor is responsible for maintaining the attendance roster.

Types of Renewal Credit:

Wake County Public School System recognizes the following types of teacher renewal credits:
1. Reading Credit: As of 2003, some teachers are required to earn 3.0 Reading Credits to renew their
license.
2. Technology Credit: Technology credits are no longer required for teachers in WCPSS; however, staff
are still encouraged to learn about how to use technology in education.
3. Standard Credit: Includes all renewal credit that is neither reading, technology, nor teacher
recruitment & retention credit.

Activities suitable for teacher renewal credit:

• Teaching experience: One renewal credit is awarded for each year of full-time teaching completed
during the 5-year renewal cycle. Part-time experience can be considered for renewal credit if it
amounts to the equivalent of one year of full-time teaching.
• In-service courses or workshops provided by WCPSS: Registration and credits are tracked through
Electronic Registrar Online.
• College or university courses: No prior approval is required to receive teacher renewal credit for
courses offered by accredited universities, colleges or community colleges. Official transcripts are
required as documentation; grade reports are not accepted. Send the official transcript directly to
Pamela Batey-Bright in the Office of Continuous Improvement & Professional Development, Webster
Center, Crossroads II.
• Collaborative studies: Collaborative studies must include two or more teachers and must have PRIOR
APPROVAL from the teachers’ principal. Studies must be planned in advance and identify the skills to

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 be learned and a method of evaluation. Determination of credit is based on the complexity of study.
Principals or their designee must certify the credit and enter it in Electronic Registrar Online.
• Non-WCPSS classes or workshops that receive prior approval by the teacher’s principal or their
designee: PRIOR APPROVAL must be secured from the teacher’s principal or their designee before
taking the class/workshop. Documentation of completion should be provided by the agency
sponsoring the activity and submitted to the teacher’s principal or designee so that it may be entered
into Electronic Registrar Online.
• Completion of the portfolio process for National Board Certification: This process can be used to meet
the entire renewal requirement for an individual’s next renewal cycle even if he or she does not
achieve national certification. Send proof of completion to Carol Ann Wade in the Human Resources
Department, Crossroads II, Cary

Electronic Registration Online (a.k.a. Wakelearns):

The office of Continuous Improvement and Professional Development has a state-of-the art Web-based
program that automates the process of professional development employee registration, attendance tracking
and course management. The product is Wake Learns which will be available in Rapid Identity when you log
in.

Observations/Evaluations
The administrators will visit your classroom frequently, reinforcing effective teaching practices through notes
and feedback/instructional conferences. Teachers on beginning, probationary, continuing and action status will
be evaluated using the formal assessment program mandated by the State Department of Public
Instruction. Non-exempt (classified) staff will be evaluated in the spring of the year with input provided from
classroom teachers or other supervisors.
EMPLOYEE CONDUCT

All school system employees hold positions of public trust; they are responsible for the education of students
and also serve as examples and role models to students. Each employee is responsible for both the integrity
and the consequences of his or her own actions. The highest standards of honesty, integrity, and fairness
must be exhibited by each employee when engaging in any activity concerning the school system, particularly
in relationships with vendors, suppliers, students, parents, the public, and other employees. Employee
conduct should be such as to protect the person’s integrity and/or reputation and that of the school
system. An unwavering commitment to honorable behavior by each and every employee is
expected. Integrity can accommodate the inadvertent error and the honest difference of opinion; it cannot
accommodate deceit or subordination of principle.

Professionalism

Observe professional ethics at all times. Don’t comment about other students even if the subject is introduced
by the parent. Don’t talk about other teachers unless it is to say something positive. Let your attitude reflect
only good. Remember, we are a team.

Please be reminded that when sending home parent notes or having a parent conversation FERPA regulations
do not permit the sharing of other student information with another parent/guardian. A parent/guardian may
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only receive information about his/her child. (i.e. Do not put other student names on a discipline referral
report which is sent to administration as these forms also fall under the FERPA regulations)

Do not leave a classroom unattended for any reason or amount of time. If for some reason you need to take
a break or have an emergency, please call the main office for assistance.

Staff Dress Code

All faculty and employees of the Wake County Public School System serve as role models for the students with
whom they work as leaders in the community. Consistent with these roles, all faculty and employees shall
dress in a manner and have an appearance that is appropriate and professional in light of the environment in
which they work, the duties of their jobs, and the impressionable youth they serve. Supervisors and school
level administrators are authorized to interpret this policy and their interpretations shall be given
deference. At Ligon Middle School, the staff is expected to adhere to standards of dress and appearance that
are compatible with an effective learning environment. Therefore, excessively short or tight garments
(Leggings); bare midriff shirts; strapless shirts; shorts; see-through clothing and attire that expose cleavage are
prohibited. Jeans/denim items can only be worn on Friday’s paired with an appropriate Ligon Shirt.

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES
Duty
The rosters for duties should be followed and each person listed will be expected to meet their duties on time
and with the necessary supervision. All staff will be assigned a morning or afternoon duty. During transitions,
teachers should stand outside their classrooms until the bell to greet students as they arrive to class monitor
the hallway. This not only makes the students feel welcome, but also assists with monitoring student safety.
FOR THE SAKE AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND TO PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST NEGLECT OF DUTY, YOU
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING YOUR POST COVERED. It is also the responsibility of every staff member to
make sure that all visitors are wearing a visitor’s tag.

Cafeteria Duty
Assigned Staff will be responsible for monitoring the cafeteria. Problems reported to the teacher should be
handled immediately. Remember that if behavior problems are consistent with a particular class/student then
that grade level’s administrator will need to be contacted for student follow up. Therefore, it is imperative
that teachers/admin handle any misconduct in a timely fashion. This is critical to the smooth flow of the
cafeteria.
Extra Duty
Extra duty positions are available for classroom teachers and specialist teachers. It is expected that
administrators and counselors be involved in support activities as a part of their basic job responsibilities. (Note:
Extra duty payments will be paid in May along with the regular payroll).

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 COMMUNICATION with PARENTS

The Parent-Teacher partnership is essential to academic success. Therefore, it is imperative that we strive to
remain proactive and that we keep parents well-informed.

• Teachers should communicate with parents if a student is doing unsatisfactory work or is misbehaving,
and that communication should include team conferences designated to identify and discuss the
problem as well as strategies to eliminate or minimize the issues. Methods of acceptable
communication shall include e-mail, phone calls, and Powerschool. Teachers shall modify
communication methodology to account for and serve the needs of students and parents who do not
have access to electronic media. Please do not rely solely on report cards, interim reports, or email
messages. Contact parents when there is a significant deterioration in student performance or
behavior.

• Whenever you suspect a problem with a student, call the parent or send a note home with the child to
be signed and returned to school. Lack of communication on your part will not help the situation. When
a parent calls administration with a concern, we will first ask them if they have spoken with you. In
the event that you don’t have a working number for a parent/guardian please reach out to that student’s
counselor to help with additional follow up.
• For each call of concern you make to parents, please make two calls of praise. It is important that we
communicate the positive things to parents as well as inform them when we need their reinforcement
(behavior or academic) at home. Phone calls and emails can be an important tool in keeping open
communication between the home and school.

Email Communication with Parents

When using email as a form of communication with parents and community members, WCPSS employees
are required to use their WCPSS Email Address. Staff is prohibited from using personal email accounts for
professional communication. Parent Communication should be answered in a timely manner and a
response should be returned within two days.

Scheduled Conferences

• Teachers are expected to attend conferences scheduled by their team, counselor, or administrator. It
is essential that during conferences, all staff members consistently conduct themselves in a
professional manner in adherence to all standards required by employees of the Wake County Public
School System. If a teacher cannot attend the scheduled conference, the counselors or administrator
must be notified in writing. The rationale for each decision not to meet with parents must always be
articulated in as much detail as possible and contain the day, date, reason, and future meeting plans.
• Conferences should be limited during the school day to help protect your instructional planning. But we
understand that in the case of an extenuating circumstance that some conferences may need to occur
during a planning period. Conferences should typically be held before school or after school. To protect
instructional time and allow for supervision of children, parents are not allowed to go to the classrooms
to conference with teachers, unless an appointment has been scheduled ahead of time.
• It is important to note that telephone calls, emails, or sending notes home to parents do not
constitute a parent conference. If a parent refuses to attend, document your attempts on the
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 SCHEDULE OF TEACHER-PARENT CONFERENCES. Also, be sure to reach out to the school social
worker who can assist you with arranging transportation for the parent (s). In addition, the school
counselor is another resource that can assist you with arranging a home visit (and accompany you) if
necessary.
Documentation of Conferences
Keep documentation of all conferences and telephone conversations with parents. While time consuming; this
practice will benefit you in the long run. Keep administration abreast of any parental concerns in your classroom
in case the parent contacts them. Documentation of general conferences and telephone conversations should
be kept.

DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES

In an effort to promote a fair, caring, and consistent policy for discipline procedures at Ligon Middle School,
administration has devised the following set of teacher responsibilities. They include: (1) each student
maintains the “right to learn,” (2) each teacher maintains the “right to teach”, and (3) a safe and orderly
climate is satisfactorily maintained throughout all areas of the school.
We will be successful in providing a quality education for all students only if we can successfully manage the
behavior of all students in every activity.

Disciplinary action to be taken by teachers and staff

Behavior is a matter between the teacher and student first. As an initial action, in the event misbehavior
occurs, the teacher will handle the problem. A student will be referred to the office only when several
interventions by the teacher have failed to be productive. No student should be dropped off in the office or
brought to the office without consulting administration. If needed, call the main office and administration
will visit your classroom to ascertain the situation. Each teacher must fill out a discipline referral form in ECATS
to document a major or minor behavior while also following the Ligon Continuum of Consequences. Please be
specific in filling out referrals as students often tell you part of the story. Please be sure to thoroughly
investigate each incident and leave out any emotion in your write up. Also make sure your write up is not
written in first person. When a student is referred to the office for continued disruptive behavior, the
administration then imposes disciplinary action as is deemed appropriate and/or in conjunction with board
policy and due process.

NOTE: In accordance with Wake County Board Policy (JDA), corporal punishment is not an option. Please
do not discipline using physical means at all.

Preventative Actions
• Plan engaging instruction for all students so they are an active participant in each lesson
• Work to build relationships with your students and families
• Maintain a sense of humor/calm that aids in providing a relaxed environment.
• Always be friendly without taking the role of buddy to your students.
• Be consistent and fair in handling your class situations.
• Avoid sarcasm and ridicule as tools for management.
• Avoid cliques from forming within your class.

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 • Anticipate situations that may result in misbehavior and neutralize possible causes.
• Plan/scaffold manageable tasks for your students; praise them for completing them. If the work seems
too hard, break it into shorter, easier tasks that the students can manage successfully.
• Keep unstructured time to a minimum.
• Teacher expectations should be set high. Remember students will give you what you expect of them.
• Classroom rules and consequences should be posted in the classroom.
• Exude enthusiasm for the school and its programs and show confidence in setting and meeting
reasonable goals for your class.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR STUDENT REPORTING AND RECORDS

Student Attendance

School staff must take student attendance each class period. To ensure that every child receives a whole day
of instruction, it is important that he/she gets to school on time each day. The instructional school day begins
at 7:35 am and ends at 2:20 pm. Students should be in their designated area when the tardy bell rings. If
students arrive after 7:35 am, a parent/guardian must come into the building and sign their child in at Student
Services to receive a tardy slip. The student should have a pass to enter class. Please note: If a student does not
have a pass, please admit the student, and enter the unexcused tardy in Powerschool, so that the student can
be accounted for. Excessive absences or tardies are grounds for terminating magnet or transfer status.

Valid conditions for excused absences include:

1. Illness or injuries that make the student physically unable to attend school.
2. Isolation ordered by the State Board of Health or the Wake County Health Department.
3. Death in the immediate family.
4. Medical or Dental appointment.
5. Participation as a party under subpoena as witness in a court proceeding.
6. Observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parents.
7. Participation in a valid educational opportunity (such as travel). Five days prior approval is required from
the principal. A parent should complete a Request for Excused Absence for Educational Reasons (form
1710). Please note for an absence to be excused for educational reasons the intent of the experience
should have been educational from the outset and comparable to that which the student would have
experienced in school.
8. Catastrophic event or natural disaster.

Teachers need to be cognizant of repeated excuses and discuss concerns with parents when necessary.

Wake County has an automated system to notify parents when a student is marked absent. Each day a student
is out the system will call home after 4:00 pm., even if the parent has contacted the office.

If you have a student who has been out for more than 2 consecutive days and you have not been notified by
the parent with the reason for the absence, you will need to contact his/her grade level
administrator/counselor.

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Absences not classified as excused will be coded as unexcused. According to board policy the student is
responsible for submitting a note signed by the parent or physicians within 2 day of the students return to
school. Failure to comply with the above will result in the absence being unexcused. Pursuant to G. S. 115C-391
an absence of a student that results from a suspension due to misconduct shall be considered an unexcused
absence for purposes of the Compulsory Attendance Law.

Students attending a school-sponsored field trip are considered present in school and are not marked
absent from school.

Student Records

In compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act the Wake County Board of Education requires
its staff and administrators to protect the confidentiality of student records. All student records shall be up-to-
date and maintained with appropriate measures of security and confidentiality. Student records protected by
this policy include those records, files, videos, photos, documents, and other materials in physical or electronic
formats that contain information directly related to a student.

Who May Inspect and Review Student Records?

A parent shall be allowed to inspect and review the student’s records upon proper request. Access shall be
allowed only for the requested records. If information within a student’s record includes information on any
other student, the parent or eligible student shall have the right to inspect and review only the part of the record
that pertains to their student or to be informed of the specific information related to their student.

Review Student Records

Requests to review a student’s records, including records that are electronically maintained, should be made in
writing to the school principal or guidance counselor. The review shall be scheduled within a reasonable period
of time, no later than 45 calendar days following the written request to the principal or guidance counselor. A
formal review of a student’s complete records shall be conducted only in the presence of the principal or a
school official designated by the principal.
Special Education Records

Additional rights of parents and eligible students concerning a student’s special education records are explained
in the Handbook on Parents’ Rights and in the North Carolina Procedures Governing Programs and Services for
Children with Disabilities.
Cumulative Records

Cumulative folders and confidential folders will be filed in the locked filing cabinets. Cumulative Records MUST
be returned prior to 3:30 p.m. unless they are being used in a meeting that runs past this time. Cumulative
and confidential records may not be left in your classroom overnight or taken home. Students should not have
access to these folders. In the event you are unable to return the cumulative file folder prior to 3:30 p.m., it will
be your responsibility to have one of the administrators to open the file room for you.

The order the materials are filed in the cumulative folder must stay this way, there is a checklist in the records
room. Please do everything possible to maintain the order of the folder and place the folder back where it
belongs in the drawer.
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The student’s confidential file contains information regarding the referral, identification and service for special
needs, disabled, ESL, and academically gifted. Copies of some special education records may also be kept at the
Wake County Public School System Central Office.

Health Records

The North Carolina School Health Record Card is to be the first item in the Cumulative Folder. The records
should be checked carefully for shot information and kept up to date for each child. This is also true of any
student with academic concerns needing updated vision/hearing screenings. Classroom teachers should review
ALL health records for compliance issues by September 8, 2020. Be mindful of food allergies that you become
aware of throughout the year. (Parents should send you some type of form from a medical professional.) This
information needs to be added to the health card as well as informing the main office.

Transfers/Moves

When a student transfers or moves during the school year, the data manager will put a withdrawal/transfer
form in your mailbox. Please let the data manager know as soon as possible so she can request a change in
residence form from the parent. It is your responsibility to pull the latest report card data along with including
any recent assessment information to attach with this form. This form is to be completed by the teacher and
must be turned to the office within 3 days upon the withdrawal/transfer from Ligon Middle School. If during
the school year you become aware of any address change, contact information change or guardianship
change, etc. It is the teacher’s responsibility to IMMEDIATELY inform the data manager.

NOTE: THE PARENT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL FOR
STUDENTS ON APPROVED TRANSFERS.

Photograph/Video Permission

At various times during the year, representatives from the Wake County Public School System, the news media,
and others request to visit our school to observe various programs. Occasionally, these groups request
permission to film, photograph, or videotape school activities. We would not want to allow any depiction of any
child without parental consent. A Photography/Video Parental Permission Form needs to be on file for each
student.

Reporting Grades

• Teachers are required to maintain, update, and keep a hard copy of all assigned grades that are used to
determine report card grades.
• Quizzes, tests, projects, and grades must be consistently posted onto Power School by Monday of each
week.
• Grade submission timelines are distributed by the Student Information Data Manager via email prior to the
end of each quarter/grading period.
• Students are given their report cards to take home at the end of each nine-week grading period except for
the fourth quarter.
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• All fourth quarter report cards are mailed home following the close of school.
• See Ms. Pittman with any questions regarding how to enter grades in PowerTeacher.

Interim Reports

• All core and elective teachers distribute reports that indicate the progress of students approximately 4-5
weeks into each 9-week grading period.
• If a parent does not receive an interim report for a class, parents have been instructed to call and leave a
message for the teacher who did not provide the interim.

Reporting Periods Interim Reports Report Cards

1st
Quarter ends – October 19 Week of September 21 October 26
2nd
Quarter ends – January 15 Week of November 30 January 22
3rd
Quarter ends – March 25 Week of February 22 April 9
4th
Quarter ends – June 10 Week of May 10 June 10

Grading Scale/Report Cards

Grade Key Conduct Key Homework Grade Note Taking Grade
A 90-100 1 Excellent Homework is always complete Notes are always effective
B 80-89 2 Above Average Homework is often complete Notes are often effective
C 70-79 3 Average Homework is sometimes complete Notes are sometimes effective
D 60-69 4 Below Average Homework is rarely complete Notes are rarely effective
F Below 60 5 Unacceptable Homework is never complete Notes are never effective
The WCPSS grading scale is used for all core and elective classes. End of Course scores will count as twenty-five (25) percent of a
student’s final grade.

Confidentiality
Never repeat any matter of a personal nature about a child or family to other teachers or staff members, except
when professionally necessary.
Child Abuse/Welfare of Students

By law, anyone who has reasonable suspicion of child abuse MUST REPORT IT TO CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICES. It is not necessary to get the principal’s permission to report suspected or known child abuse, but it
is vital that the administration be informed in case questions arise. Teachers need to keep a written record of
the dates and details, which led to the referral, the person to whom the incident was reported, and what was
said. Please notify the school counselor of suspected abuse.
Teachers should report to the school social worker and counselor the names of any students in the following
categories:
• Students without shoes or wearing unusually poor footwear.
• Students who consistently wear uncommonly dirty or badly worn clothing.
• Students who have a high rate of absences and/or tardies.
• Students who consistently come to school hungry.
• Evidence of physical or psychological abuse.

With your help, we will try to remedy these situations through interventions by the school social worker.

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Visitors

• When possible, visitors should be encouraged to conduct business online, by telephone or virtual meeting.
• All parents and visitors will be screened per WCPSS guidelines, prior to admittance to the building. They
will then be required to register in the main office and wear the Ident-a-Kid Visitor Sticker printed upon
sign-in. All visitors will be required to have a valid driver’s license or state issued ID to be scanned upon
each visit. Visitors without a valid visitor’s pass are considered trespassing.
• Parents who wish to observe a classroom or school activity during school hours must request permission
from the classroom teacher at least 48 hours in advance.
• Students from schools other than Ligon are not allowed to attend school at Ligon for the day.
• Former students and students from other schools are not allowed on campus during the school day.

Volunteer Screening Procedures

Ligon Middle School supports the concept of volunteer service by parents and patrons.

• All volunteers working at Ligon GT Magnet Middle School in ANY capacity (classroom assistance, field trips,
chaperones) are required to register electronically and be verified Approved prior to volunteering. This
MUST be done through the schools network. The link to complete the electronic registration process is
http://volunteer.wcpss.net Ms. Link or Ms. Clarke can verify the status of a volunteer’s clearance.
• There will be a media center staff member who will assist a prospective volunteer during the registration
process. Volunteers have the option to apply with driving privileges which means they could be approved
to drive students for events.
• When a volunteer reports for an assignment, they must sign in as a “Visitor” on the computer in the front
office. A nametag with their picture will be generated. Volunteers must wear the nametag for the
duration of their time in the building. All volunteers are required to check out on the computer before
leaving campus.

Parent Teacher Association

The PTA is an important part of Ligon Middle School. All staff members are strongly encouraged to join the PTA,
and certified staff will be expected to support the programs and projects of the PTA by being in attendance at
PTA functions. The PTA provides a service to our school; please let the PTA know that you appreciate their
efforts.

Athletics
Athletics are only available to seventh and eighth grade students. Seventh and eighth grade students
interested in participating in athletics in the 2020-2021 school year should familiarize themselves with the
eligibility requirements and athletic policies which can be found on the Wake County website. Listed below
are the sports seasons and the athletic programs during that season.

Fall Winter Spring

Cheerleading Cheerleading Soccer- Boys
Football Basketball Track
Soccer- Girls Softball- Girls
Volleyball- Girls Baseball- Club

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Students Breakfast and Lunch:

Each student will receive an application for free or reduced priced meals through the mail prior to the
beginning of school. If they did not receive an application by mail they may obtain one from the school
cafeteria (applications are available throughout the school year). Students applying for Free/Reduced meals in
2020-2021 are eligible to eat at their same status as the previous year until early October.

Breakfast is available each morning from 7:05-7:35 a.m. No food from outside vendors will be allowed due to
the high number of students with food allergies.

We encourage parents to prepay for lunch on Monday of each week. Parents have an option of paying for
student meals in advance through the automatic payment system.

The breakfast and lunch program will begin on the first day of school and will operate every day. All lunches
purchased at school or brought from home will be eaten in the cafeteria or in a supervised setting. Breakfast
will be from 7:05-7:35 am. Students who are eating breakfast are expected to report to the cafeteria prior to
going to their first period class. Meals cannot be charged. Students must pay for meals on a daily or weekly
basis according to the price list. Students without lunch money according to Wake County Cafeteria Policy will
be provided a fruit and vegetable with water (breakfast is NOT provided without payment). The cafeteria
manager will ensure that children will receive unlimited vegetables and fruit as well as water. The office will
not be able to provide funds for meals. If this should be a recurring problem then the policy dictates that the
cafeteria manager take action through the guidance counselor or Administration.

Student lunches cannot be refrigerated or microwaved. NO GLASS BOTTLE SOFT DRINKS ARE ALLOWED IN
THE CAFETERIA.

Student Dress Code

All students will follow the Wake County Public School dress code policy: Students are expected to adhere to
standards of dress and appearance that are compatible with an effective learning environment. Presenting a
bodily appearance or wearing clothing which is disruptive, provocative, revealing, vulgar, profane, offensive or
obscene or which endangers the health and safety of the student or others is prohibited. Examples of
prohibited dress or appearance include, but are not limited to the following: exposed undergarments, bare
midriff shirts, strapless shirts, attire with messages or illustrations that are lewd, indecent, or vulgar or that
advertise any product or service not permitted by law to minors, head covering of any kind, see through
clothing, attire that exposes cleavage, any adornment such as chains or spikes that reasonably can be
perceived as or used as a weapon, any symbols styles or attire frequently associated with intimidation
violence, or violent groups about which students at a particular school have been notified. If a student’s dress
or lack of cleanliness is detrimental to his or her health or safety, the administration may require the student
and the student’s parents or guardians to take appropriate action to remedy this situation. In addition, if a
student’s dress or appearance is so unusual, inappropriate, or lacking in cleanliness that it clearly and
substantially disrupts class or learning activities, the student may be required to change his or her dress or
appearance.

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Hall Passes

Students are expected to have a yellow SCHOOL ISSUED HALL PASS when moving from one area of the
campus to another while classes are in session. Hall passes are located in Ms. Link’s office. Do not send
students to retrieve additional passes. We will only issue them to staff members.
Supervision of Students

Students should never be left unattended by their teacher either in the classroom or on school grounds. The
teacher is responsible for the behavior and safety of all students directly under his/her supervision. Under no
circumstances should a student be forced out of a classroom unattended. Teachers are expected to be in
their classroom doorways between classes monitoring ALL student behavior. Any disorderly conduct should
be addressed even if a student is not on your grade level.

*Teachers, coaches, and advisors who conduct after-school activities are responsible for each student until
his/her parent accounts for the student. The teacher remains responsible for the student and the student is
required to remain with that teacher until a responsible adult arrives. If a student(s) expects to ride in a
carpool, the teacher who grants that student permission to remain on campus after dismissal is responsible
for supervising that student's safety and to be present with the student until their transportation arrives or
the student exits the campus. The supervising teacher is responsible for students who fail to make
arrangements and must wait for parents. The supervising teacher will not leave campus until all students
have departed.

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Money Collection
All money paid by students or families (i.e. field trips, purchases, fees, fines, etc.) are to be collected by a staff
member and recorded and receipted according to the following procedures:

FOR AMOUNTS COLLECTED - $20.00 or less

• $20.00 or less – use Form 1823 (Receipt Records: $20 and Under) to record each student paying, method
of payment, and amount paid.
• You will not issue a receipt to the students.
• Use Form 1814 (Collector’s Daily Report) to record the total amount of funds received for the day. The
total amounts on form 1823 and 1814 must match.
• Turn in completed and signed Form 1814 and Form 1823 along with the money to the Bookkeeper by
1:30 pm every day you collect.
• Never send a student with money to the Main Office.

FOR AMOUNTS COLLECTED OVER $20.00

• $20.00 or more – Request a receipt book from the Bookkeeper. These are numbered and issued in the
teacher’s name and should be signed out by the teacher. Only the teacher assigned a receipt book may
write in that receipt book. The teacher is responsible for the accuracy of their receipt book.
• ALL receipts must be written in INK.
• Only write on the white page and you must include:
o Student Name
o The date
o Purpose of payment
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 o Type of payment, check # if applicable
o Total amount paid
o Your signature
• Keep both pages of receipt together until the Lead Secretary has processed it then the white copy can
be sent home with the student.
• The student is given the white portion of the receipt and the yellow copy stays in the book.
• If you need to void a receipt, you MUST staple the white portion to the yellow page and mark it void.
• Every day you receipt money, you must complete a Collector’s Daily Report ( Form 1814).
• Your receipt book, Form 1814, and the money received should be turned in to the Bookkeeper by 1:30
pm each day you collect money.
• The Bookkeeper will verify the money and receipts, complete online receipts and return the receipt book
to your mailbox along with necessary forms.
• Never send a student with money to the Main Office.
• Receipt books will be returned to the Bookkeeper when no longer needed by the teacher or by the end
of the school year.
Remember:
• The collection and accounting of any money is the responsibility of the teacher or a WCPSS employee.
• Checks must be made payable to Ligon Middle School. The student’s name should appear on the memo
line of the check.
• You will turn in your money and receipt book and Form 1814 (collector’s Daily Report) OR your money
and Form 1823 ($20 or less) to the office by 1:30 pm each day.
• DO NOT send a student to the office with money or receipts.
• Do not keep any money in your classroom overnight!!!
• The backup Bookkeeper in the event the Bookkeeper is absent is the Lead Secretary.
• Report any loss to the Administration or bookkeeper immediately.

Online School Payments (OSP):

• OSP is an easy and convenient way to collect funds for field trips, fines, donations, and purchases like t-
shirts or agendas. This allows parents to pay via credit card online and makes for easy tracking of
payments for record keeping.
• Teachers will complete the OSP set up form that will include:
o The purpose of the collection
o the date of the event, such as the date of a field trip, if applicable.
o the sponsoring teacher
o the amount due
o the date the OSP should go live and the date the OSP should be offline
• The sponsoring teacher will receive an email each time an OSP purchase has been made.
Note: Any dues, sales, or collections for a club must be cleared with the Principal by submitting the proposal
for each club. A budget must accompany the request.
THE OFFICE IS NOT ALLOWED TO CASH CHECKS. If you are asking parents for money for class parties or book
orders, etc. make sure they know who to write their check to. We cannot cash these, or any others and we
cannot give cash back for checks.

All monies will be collected, disbursed and refunded as outlined in the Wake County Public School Finance
Manual.

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FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES
Per WCPSS Board Policies: “A middle school shall be permitted one schoolwide fund-raising activity per school
year. The proceeds of the schoolwide event shall be allocated by the principal to support school activities.”

Currently, the schoolwide fundraiser for Ligon is our student carnival, Ligonfest, which is typically held at the
end of the school year. No other fundraising may occur at Ligon with the exception of PTA, Arts Boosters, and
Sports Boosters, PIE club Boosters, or FCCLA Boosters.

Any fund-raising for the benefit of a charity (eg. Student Council fund-raisers), must have prior approval of the
Principal and Area Superintendent. All fund-raising activities must be submitted in writing on Form 1736 as
early as possible in the school year so appropriate approvals may be obtained prior to the event.

Students are not allowed to sell candy and/or any other items at school for individual profit at any time.

Items sold at Ligon must be within $1.00 of the actual cost of each item, including tax and shipping. For
example, a t-shirt that costs Ligon $5.92, may be sold to a student for up to $6.92 but no more. Otherwise, it
is considered a fund-raiser and a violation of school board policy.

Concessions sold at Ligon are to benefit Athletics only with the exception of PTA, Arts Boosters, and Sports
Boosters, PIE club Boosters, or FCCLA Boosters.

Contracts:
Per the Finance Manual, the principal is the only one permitted to sign contracts.

Purchases and Reimbursements:

• Direct Pay Requests are now capped at $2,499.99. It takes 10-14 days to process direct pay requests.
Any request for purchases over $2,500.00 will now have to be processed through the purchasing
department which can take up to 30 days. Be sure to plan accordingly when requesting purchase
requests.
• The Purchasing cards (pcards), which function much like credit cards, may be used for purchases that
are below $2,500. Please check with the bookkeeper to determine if a purchase card may be used for
your request and for procedures on how to use the pcard.
• Ligon’s checking account is limited in funds so any requests for checks should be given to the
bookkeeper with a 10-14 day or more advance notice for processing.
• A “Prior Approval” Request form must be submitted to the principal before any purchase can be
made.
• Employee reimbursements require prior approval from the principal and original itemized receipts. If
ordering items online, you must provide proof of online payment and all packing
slips. Reimbursements cannot be processed until all items bought are on Ligon school
property. Remember, online orders must be shipped to Ligon, not to a home address. If no sales tax
was paid on the order, then reimbursement requests must be sent to the Accounting Dept. for
processing. No money may be reimbursed without an original receipt and prior written approval from
the principal.
• Money for field trips MUST be collected at least one month before the expenses for said field trips are
due to the vendor(s). Please check with the bookkeeper if you have any questions.
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 FIELD TRIPS

For the upcoming school year, in-person field trips have been suspended to ensure the safety of our students
and our employees.

FIRE CODE AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Fire Marshall Requirements

The Fire Marshall has a lot of rules and regulations when it comes to fire protection. Please remember to do
the following:
1. Do not hang anything from the ceilings
2. Do not cover classroom doors. Only individual items that do not cover doors can be used. Do not cover
any window (in door or classroom window).
3. Do not block doorways with desks, chairs, displays, etc.
4. Do not string electrical cords across doorways or floors or overload electrical outlets and cords. i.e piggy
backing. (see Extension Cords below)
5. Use only 3-prong, heavy-duty cords and power strips with surge protection.
6. Do not stack items within 24 inches of the ceiling.
7. Keep all cords away from “wet areas” of the classroom.
8. Make sure your fire escape route is posted and that children know what to do in a fire drill. This is your
responsibility. If you do not have a recent escape route posted, let the assistant principal know.
9. All fabric used in the classroom to cover windows should be treated with a flame-retardant chemical. This
can be ordered through the warehouse. You will need to show proof that curtains have been treated.
10. Combustible and/or flammable materials are not allowed in the classroom.

This item is unrelated to fire safety but is related to keeping our building looking nice. Please do not use tape
on the carpet, doors, or walls. It leaves a residue that cannot be easily cleaned. Use carpet squares to
designate spaces for children or use other cues to direct children (e.g. Meet me at the rocker).

Classroom Care

• It is the responsibility of teachers, teacher assistants and students to maintain a clean classroom
environment. Keep your classrooms as free of clutter as possible. Please always keep in mind the safety
of the students when placing items in the classroom.
• In the event of a spill the classroom teacher or teacher assistant is responsible for making sure that the
needed cleaning is carried out. If spills are taken care of immediately, it will eliminate the need for
extensive mopping.
• Sinks in the classrooms should be cleaned by the teacher, assistant, or students when glue, paint, etc. is
spilled. Keep your sink area clear for proper cleaning. It will be your responsibility to clean the sinks and
cabinet areas if they are cluttered with materials.
• Do not use any tape or glue on the walls and/or doors that will pull off the paint. Change items placed
on the walls and/or doors frequently. All items placed on the walls and doors must be removed at the
end of the school year.
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 • Keep windows free of tape. Please do not place items on the blinds. Keep your classrooms as free of
clutter as possible.
• Cleaning products kept in the classrooms must be labeled and kept out of reach of students. A Material
Safety and Data Sheet for each product are required to be placed in a notebook in the classroom. In
addition, the office must have a copy of all Material Safety and Data Sheets for each classroom.
• Any chemical products used in the classroom must be a specified brand across the grade level. This is for
the safety and auditing purposes.

Please place all trash cans at the exit door of the classroom facing the hallway at the end of each day. This will
help our custodians in collecting trash in a timely manner.

Classroom and exit doorways may not be covered or surrounded with background paper, posters or
substantially covered with other combustible products. No decorations are allowed in any exit path.

Walls may not be covered with greater than 20% coverage of paper or other combustible materials. Typically,
wall coverage can be greatly reduced by eliminating the background paper or cloth behind the
display. Combustible materials should not be hung on windows and blinds.

Extension Cords
Extension cords may serve only one portable device, unless utilizing an approved multi-outlet strip with a
circuit breaker. Light duty cords (2 prong brown or white typically) are not acceptable. Extension cords and
multi-strips must plug directly into a receptacle and not another extension device. Extension cords may not be
utilized in place of permanent wiring, such as for refrigerators, computer tables, or other non-portable
appliances. Cords may not be attached to or pass through walls, floors, ceilings, and doorways. Three-to-one
and other types of multi-plugs, without overcorrect protection, may not be utilized.

Classroom teachers should encourage students to:

• Clean their feet before entering the building.
• Pick up all paper and trash off the floor before leaving for lunch and at the end of the day.
• Not to bring gum or candy to school. Any gum or candy placed in the trashcan should be wrapped in
paper.
• Place chairs on top of desks before leaving each day.
• Clean up all messes.

Teachers should use discretion when sending students to move chairs or to perform other tasks. Students are
not allowed to push carts with televisions or other AV equipment on them. Students should never miss class
time to perform tasks of this nature. A limited number of students will usually work better. Students should be
cautioned to be careful when moving items. Students may not be assigned to work detail with the custodians
during school hours.

Teachers needing minor maintenance requests (i.e. desk adjustment, replacement of broken items, etc.) must
email the assistant principal. Please allow 48 hours for your request to be processed and completed. In the
event the head custodian is unable to fulfill your requests, it will be reported to the WCPSS Maintenance and
Operation Department. The head custodian and/or the assistant principal will be responsible for entering the

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request into the WCPSS MAXIMO System. Special events and programs that require setup MUST be requested
at least 1 week in advance.

Mailroom/Copy Room
• No supplies should be left in the work area.
• Everything should be cleaned and put in place before leaving the area.

Faculty Lounge
We have refrigerators and microwaves for staff use in the teachers’ lounge and the copy/mail room near the
main office.

The Staff Lounge is established for the comfort and convenience of employees. Therefore, good housekeeping
is essential!

• Empty soda cans should be placed in the recycling bin.

• The refrigerator should be emptied every Friday of perishables.
• The refrigerator freezer can be used to store staff lunches or special items for the classroom. The freezer
must be emptied on a weekly basis.
• Faculty Lounge microwaves, coffee pots, etc. must be thoroughly cleaned after each use.

NO STUDENTS are permitted in the kitchen before, during, or after school hours.

Please remember that visitors may visit the faculty kitchen and the cleanliness of this facility represents our
faculty as a whole.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

ID Badges
Every Wake County Public School employee will be issued an authorized ID badge. These will be worn at all
times while in Wake County Public School buildings. They will also serve as your athletic pass. In the event of a
lost badge, please tell Ms. Link immediately. Replacement cost will be $5.00. (Badges are free if you do not
change the picture.)]

Room Keys
All certified staff will be issued a key to their classroom and hallway staff bathroom. It is your responsibility to
safeguard your keys. Do not, under any circumstance, give your keys to a student, parent, or any unauthorized
person. If you lose your key during the school year, you will be charged the replacement cost. These will need
to be turned in at the close of the school year to the Lead Secretary.

Telephone
Staff members should be called at school only in the case of emergencies. Office personnel will always ask to
take a message for you. Messages will be placed in your mailbox or sent to you via email unless it is of an
urgent nature.
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Teachers are encouraged to use the phone to communicate with parents. Remember, for each “call of
concern” you need to make at least two “calls of praise”.

Employees are not allowed to charge long distance calls of a personal nature to the school. Long distance calls
related to official school business should be made from the conference room, nurses’ room, teacher’s lounge
or main office.

Cell Phones
During the day cell phones should not be used in the presence of students. If at all possible, they should be
silent during the instructional day, during Staff Development sessions, or at Staff Meetings. If cell phones
become a problem within our facility, the administration will hold an Administrative Conference with those
individuals who are not in compliance with this policy and if repeated issues persist then a letter will be placed
within the individuals personnel file.

Room Phones
Teachers may make room to room calls and local outside calls. Phone calls from the Main Office cannot be
transferred to your room. To make a local call from the phone in your classroom, you must dial 9*9 and then
the local phone number including the 919 area code. Work-related long-distance calls can be made on the
phone in the main office, teacher’s lounge, conference room, or nurse’s room.

Delivered Packages
Packages from parcel companies such as UPS and Federal Express are delivered to the main office. The following
will be the practice at Ligon Middle School:
• Office personnel will sign and log in all delivered packages. Packages will be kept in the main office for
pick-up. Due to the numerous packages delivered daily, staff members are expected to pick up their
packages within 24 hours.
• A notification slip will be placed in your mailbox.
• Bring the notification slip to the main office. Students and/or colleagues are not allowed to sign for
packages addressed to you.
• Packages that are purchased using instructional money will be delivered to the main office or receiving
room. We will follow the same procedure as above to notify you about your delivery. In addition, the
classroom teacher MUST confirm that all items on the packing slip are received. The teacher will sign
and date the packing slip and return it to the lead secretary the same day. This is an audit requirement.

School Health and Safety

School Nurse
The school nurse is only on campus 3 days a week.

Medication
School officials may administer medication to students if the “Parent Request and Physician Order for
Medication” (Form 1702) is completed and in the possession of school officials. No medication will be given by
a school official unless it is in a container dispensed by a pharmacy with the student’s name, name of
medication, the date the prescription was filled, and directions clearly marked. At all school levels students
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may self-medicate with prescription medication if they have permission to do so documented on Form 1702. At
the Middle School level self-medication including over-the-counter medication is permitted. Non-prescription
medication should be in the original container and labeled with the student’s name. The student should carry
no more than a daily dose in the appropriate container. Parents are responsible for transporting all medications
to school unless special arrangements are made with the principal or it is an emergency medicine that the child
has permission to keep with him/her.

Diabetes Awareness, Training, and Action

Once a student with diabetes enters the school system, the school staff automatically becomes part of the
student’s health care team. A student with diabetes can have special challenges for which teachers and staff
must be prepared. The DATA program is designed to train school personnel who are available every day at
school in basic and emergency diabetes care. Other personnel need to know some basic diabetes care to
allow the student to have a successful day at school.

If you have a student in your class who has diabetes, you will be contacted by the Diabetes Care Manager, to
ensure that you are prepared to care for your student.

Student and Visitor Accidents and Injuries

A student’s accident or illness, which occurs at school during school hours or at school sponsored events,
should be reported to an administrator, an athletic director, a teacher or coach in charge of the event, and to
the parents/guardians of the pupil involved as soon as possible. When it is impossible to locate or report to
parents/guardians, the person in charge must use his/her best judgment as to the proper handling of the
situation. The staff member in charge should take first aid measures if necessary, until help arrives and make
sure the remaining students are in the care of a responsible person. In case of an emergency, please contact
the main office who can contact the First Aid Response team. Use your best discretion when contacting
911. After contacting 911, please inform the main office. If they are unavailable, the teacher in charge should
make the request.

The teacher in whose room the accident occurs is responsible for completing an Accident Report (which is
found on-line) and submitted electronically to the Receptionist in the front office. The Receptionist is
responsible for forwarding the Accident Report to Risk Management within 24 hours of the accident. The
teacher is responsible for contacting a parent the day the accident occurs, as well as sending home a copy of
the completed Accident Report with the student. If the accident occurs at the end of the day, the teacher is
still required to contact a parent, however, a copy of the Accident Report must be sent home with the student
the following day.

Any accident in which a student requires medical assistance must be reported to the office and an Accident
Report filled out immediately. All Student/Visitor Accident Reports are found on the Rapid Id home screen.
The completed form should be e-mailed directly to the email addresses listed on the bottom of the form as an
attached document and copied to Ms. Baker, the main office receptionist, and the parent.
Body Fluids

Body fluids contain a variety of germs (bacteria and viruses) that may cause infection and diseases. Body fluids
we are concerned with are: blood, vomit, feces, urine, saliva, nasal and respiratory fluids. School personnel
should follow proper hygiene procedures:
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 • Use disposable gloves.
• Remove body fluids with disposable paper towels; large amounts-use absorbent agents.
• Dispose in a plastic bag.
• Disinfect hard surface area and non-disposable items.
• Dispose of body fluids, paper towels and disposable gloves in a sealed plastic bag.
• Wash hands with soap and running water-10 seconds.

(Custodians will assist with the clean-up of bodily fluids. It is the teachers’ responsibility to handle this situation
in the event a custodian is unavailable or not on campus.)
First Aid /Red Bags
Each class should have first aid supplies in your classroom (gloves and band-aids) in your Red Bags. Minor cuts
and scratches can be taken care of in the classroom.

Bloodborne Pathogens
As a professional educator, you need to be aware of the potential danger of bloodborne pathogens. OSHA has
created standards that cover anyone who can reasonably anticipate contact with blood or potentially
infectious body fluids on the job. For more detailed information, refer to the Bloodborne Pathogens Manual
that is located in the front office behind the receptionist.

Precautions:
1. All staff members MUST wear disposable, single-use, non-latex gloves when handling any blood,
potentially infectious materials, mucous membranes, or non-intact skin.
2. Soiled clothing should be removed from a student (latex gloves should be worn) and placed in a plastic
bag.
3. The bag should be placed in a designated receptacle in the office area.
4. All materials used to clean up bodily fluids (blood, urine, feces, vomit, etc.) must be sealed in a plastic bag
and placed in the designated receptacle in the office.
5. Sharp objects such as broken glass, razor blades, etc. should not be picked up by hand, but rather a brush
and dustpan or tongs/forceps should be used. “Sharps” should be placed in a puncture resistant
receptacle and disposed of in the designated receptacle in the office.
6. When attending to sick or injured students, employees and/or volunteers should wear disposable gloves.
7. Following any potential exposure, the staff member should wash hands thoroughly with soap and running
water.
8. At the present time the following job classifications have been issued protective equipment: Coaches, P. E.
Trainers, Athletic Trainers, Custodians, Special Programs Teachers, and School Administrators.

Education - All staff members at Ligon:

• Will view the video “Blood Borne Pathogens: Protection in Educational Environments” yearly.
• In positions of potential occupational exposure will be referred to Human Resources for further training.
• Should observe universal precautions. All body fluids should be treated as potentially infectious materials.

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Communicable Diseases
The Wake County Health Services Handbook states that arrangements should be made for students to go home
when they have the following symptoms:

• Fever of 100 or higher

• Nausea, vomiting
• Severe headache
• Diarrhea
• Red, watery eyes with yellow drainage
• Undiagnosed rash; and/or
• Head lice.

If a child becomes sick at school, we will take his/her temperature. Wake County School’s policy requires that
a child with a fever of 100 degrees or more must go home until fever free for twenty-four hours. If a child has
vomited or has diarrhea the parent will automatically be called to pick up the child from school. The child
should remain at home until free of symptoms for 12 hours.

Beyond these stated symptoms of communicable disease, you should send students to Student Services anytime
you feel a child might be ill or injured. Please be sure to complete a Health Referral Form (found on
WakeConnect Health Services page) when sending a student to Student Services. After parents/guardians are
notified, students may be left under the supervision of the Student Services staff until a parent or guardian
arrives.

In addition, school personnel will notify parents and arrange for children to go home when they have the
following symptoms:

• Inability to attend to learning activities

• Change in student’s usual medical status

Principals will refer, immediately, any suspected cases of highly infectious reportable diseases to the Wake
County Human Services Communicable Diseases Program.

Head Lice & Ticks

Lice:
• The teacher will examine the child to confirm suspected cases. Don’t overreact. If you need
confirmation, please send the child to the office.
• Students should only be sent home if staff sees live lice.
• If there are live lice present, the parent should be notified, and the child should be sent home.
• The parent should be contacted about the need for treatment before the child returns to
school. Please see the main office for a letter that will explain about the treatment and necessary
environmental measures to prevent re-infestation.

Ticks:
Do not attempt to remove a tick at school. Call the parents.
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Social Media Guidelines

TO: WCPSS Principals, Senior Directors, Superintendent’s Leadership Team

FROM: Anthony J. Muttillo, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources

RE: Social Media Guidelines

DATE: June 25, 2019

As we reach the close of this school year and the opening of schools for 2019-2020, I want to remind everyone about
important issues related to social media and electronic communication such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, text
messaging, etc. See Board Policy 4040/7310 Student-Staff Relations (New Manual) for guidance.

No doubt many of you are aware of some of the risks that activity on social media may pose to our students. Incidents
of cyber-bullying, threats of violence, and Internet sexual predators have become all too common in recent years, and
schools nationwide have witnessed a sharp increase in disciplinary actions based on information posted by students on
websites or transmitted through other electronic media. I encourage all of you to familiarize yourself with how these
technologies work and the dangers they may pose to our students. Please see Board Policy 3226/4205 Internet Safety
(New Manual). Please share any particular concerns you may have about an individual student’s Internet activities with
the appropriate school-based administrators.

Less obvious, perhaps, is the public nature of electronic postings and comments by school employees on social media
and the likelihood that students, parents, and other members of the community may be aware of this
activity. Information posted electronically is neither “personal” nor “private.” To the contrary, unless the user takes
active steps to keep such postings private, the information is potentially available to billions of people. Moreover, even
information posted “privately” on password-protected social media sites can be hacked or voluntarily disseminated by
those with access, and thus may indirectly come to the attention of students, parents, and other school employees.

Social media can be a great tool for teachers. It can be used to communicate classroom expectations, homework,
announcements, and celebrations. However, it should not be used as the only communication tool for students and
parents. Please continue using other methods (websites, newsletters, etc.) to distribute appropriate and relevant
information to ensure equitable access. Social media can also be used to engage students in learning, but students
should not be required to create accounts on social media sites. Teachers may provide links to sites or embed social
feeds within websites, wikis, blogs, and other media tools.

Social Media tools can serve a purpose in educating our students and can be useful in the educational
environment. However, we must use caution and adhere to the guidelines listed below. If you wish to utilize such sites,
take the time to research appropriate methods for their use in school, consult with your school principal or the staff in
Technology Services, and establish ways to maintain the safety and security of the information you post.

Although it is impossible for a brief letter to establish a comprehensive set of guidelines for acceptable use of social
media, here is some basic guidance:

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 • Do not access personal social networking sites from school computers, on school networks, or during work
hours. Reference Board Policy 3225/4312/7320 Technology Responsible Use (New Manual) and Policy
2313/3013/4013 R & P Employee Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources (Old Manual), and the associated
Regulations & Procedures for more details about the appropriate use of school system electronic resources.

• Do not “friend” or connect with students on your personal accounts. Unlike traditional forms of communication,
postings on social networking sites are transmitted simultaneously to large numbers of people. Reference Board
Policy 4040/7310 Student Staff Relations (New Manual), which prohibits employees from using non-school-
controlled electronic communication to interact with students unless approved by a supervisor and a
parent/guardian or as described in policy. Employees are also prohibited from communicating electronically
with students on platforms using content that disappears. In addition, all employees are expected to maintain a
high degree of professionalism in their interactions with students and their parents. Treating students as
“friends” is unprofessional and may interfere with WCPSS’ educational mission. If you plan to use social media
platforms as a communication method, accounts should be for a specific purpose and separate from your
personal accounts.

• Think before you post. Remember that anything you post electronically can be shared with others and may be
seen by students, parents, and other members of the community. Remember also that posts or comments may
be archived instantly or disseminated by others before you have the chance to “take it back.”

• Do not post any material that would be inappropriate for school-aged children and do not allow any such
material to be posted by others who have access to your site. Remember also that you are ultimately
responsible for anything that appears on websites you control or maintain.

• Do not use school system-owned technologies to bully, harass, or sexually harass coworkers or students. These
duties apply in cyberspace no less than in the classroom or work environment. Reference Board Policies
1710/4021/7230 Prohibition Against Discrimination, Harassment, And Bullying and 1720/4015/7225
Discrimination, Harassment, and Bullying Complaint Process for details (New Manual).

• Take steps to ensure that your social networking site is as private as possible, including the use of secure
passwords, and do not allow students or their parents to gain access to your site. Do not assume, however, that
anything you post on the Internet will always remain “private.”

• Do not post comments of any kind on the websites of students or any minor, either within or outside of the
school system.

• Do not post confidential information about yourself, your coworkers, or students on any Internet site. The
disclosure of information about students, in particular, may violate state and federal confidentiality laws, even if
the intent is to praise or encourage the students.

• Do not post anything that could lead others to believe that your personal website, or anything on it, is
sponsored or endorsed by the school system.

• Do not make any comments to others in cyberspace that you would not make face-to-face. In particular, do not
demean, harass, insult, or intimidate others.

Remember that under Board Policy 2305/3005/4005 Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (Old Manual) and the
associated Regulations & Procedures, you are expected to serve as an example and role model to students, and conduct
yourself in a manner that protects your integrity and/or reputation, and that of the school system at all times.

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Please find additional valuable information about this topic on the Internet Safety site on WakeConnect.

In closing, please understand that this list of precautions is not exhaustive and that ultimately it is the responsibility of
each individual employee to ensure his or her compliance with the law and school board policy. I hope that this letter is
useful as we all confront the challenges posed by new technologies such as social networking websites. If you have any
additional questions or concerns regarding staff-related issues in relation to this topic, please contact a member of the
Employee Relations team.

CRISIS INTERVENTION PLAN 2020-2021

Ligon Crisis Team Members:

Principal 6 Grade Counselor

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Assistant Principals Lead Secretary

Administrative Interns School Psychologist
8 Grade Counselor
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School Social Worker
7 Grade Counselor
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Notification Process
1. Staff members are instructed to alert the principal or grade level administrator if they become aware of
any crisis situation. An email will be sent out OR a phone messenger call to staff will be activated
depending on the severity of the crisis. Any information regarding the need for a full staff meeting will be
given at that time. The principal will notify the area assistant superintendent, if needed.
2. The principal will notify Rachel Wolf if there needs to be a crisis team meeting. Ms. Wolf will notify the
Ligon Crisis Team of this meeting.
3. If the crisis occurs during non-school hours, every attempt will be made to alert each faculty member by
way of email or the phone messenger. The Ligon Crisis Team will meet in the Student Services Conference
Room at 7:05 AM to determine which intervention strategies are necessary. When necessary, a faculty
meeting will follow at 7:20 AM in the Media Center.
4. If the crisis occurs during the school day, the Principal and Ligon Crisis Team will meet to determine
appropriate notices and/or procedures to follow and disseminate to staff. A faculty meeting will be called
at 2:30 PM if deemed necessary.

First Day Procedures

1. Principal receives/verifies information.
2. Staff's email or phone messenger is activated.
3. Psychological Services is notified for the need of the Psychological Services Crisis Team.
4. Ligon Crisis Team meets at 7:05 AM in the Student Services Conference Room.
5. Faculty meeting is held at 7:20 AM and faculty members are given prepared statements/information.
6. Faculty gives input for students most at risk.
7. Principal meets with the media, if necessary.
8. Counseling areas are established in the school and faculty is informed of times and locations.
9. Refer to the following “Crisis Mode Procedures.”
10. Teachers notify the Crisis Team of students who are very upset.
11. Ligon Crisis Team provides information concerning any activities (e.g., funeral) for the following day or
week.
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Crisis Mode Procedures
Once staff receives an email or phone call, Student Services personnel may go into “crisis mode.” Currently, please be
aware of the following:
1. Counselors, the school psychologist, the school social worker and the nurse must address ONLY issues
dealing with the current crisis. All other tasks will become secondary.
2. Crisis services must be provided wherever possible. Therefore, all offices and conference rooms may be
used to serve the crisis at hand.
3. The crisis team in Student Services will provide services for all students grade 6-8.
4. Staff members who know the identity of the student(s) involved need to keep that information
confidential.
5. Any situation deemed a “crisis” must be dealt with as a primary concern with appreciation for the severity
of the many crises our students may face.
6. Student Services TA's report to the main office or media center for duties.
7. Please direct students needing to make phone calls to the main office (not Student Services).

Follow-Up Needs
The Ligon Crisis Team will meet at 2:45 PM of the first day and one-week following the crisis to assess present
progress and future needs. The faculty will be updated after these meetings.

Basic Information for Providing Support

Though you should use your own style in providing support, the following may provide a helpful
framework. These elements are pertinent to providing individual or group support.

Basic Elements in a Generic Situation (Assume a Death)

1. FACTS - Give the facts and dispel all rumors. Tell the truth as you know it. If you are not honest your
help may be nullified. Seek the balance between honesty and telling the “gory details.”
2. TEACH - Teach about normal grief processes in terms of feelings (often guilt and anger). Students may
be experiencing these feelings now; others may in the near or distant future. Teach about our
individual differences in grieving. It must be emphasized that some will cry, some will go on and look
as if nothing is wrong, some will be upset even though they didn’t know the person(s) involved (it may
make them think of another loss). Be supportive of these differences. Encourage students to be
tolerant and not to judge others.
3. PROCESS - Process any emotions that need to be addressed (particularly anger). Recognize if there is
likely to be a scapegoat. Help kids to see the “other side” without preaching (e.g., perspective of driver
of a vehicle involving a fatality). Remember to be sensitive to faculty emotions as well as students.
4. PRODUCTIVE ACTION - Discuss things that can help the grieving process and, if a death, offer a positive
remembrance of the deceased (e.g., flowers from the class, letters of remembrance); things that
encourage a positive outcome for the future.
5. FUTURE HELP - Communicate what support will be in place over the next few days. Encourage
students to speak with the guidance counselors. Also, be aware of students who appear particularly
upset, angry or quiet. Make counselors aware of these students so appropriate action can be
taken. Alert counselors to any students who discuss suicide or violent acts or seem preoccupied with
death.

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Awareness
The safety of students should always be of paramount importance . If you notice a condition that warrants
attention due to safety, notify an administrator verbally and in writing. Examples include physical hazards
such as dead tree limbs, spills in the halls as well as supervision issues such as unsupervised students or a
stranger on campus. The situation will be investigated to ensure safety on our campus. Do not allow
students to be involved in any dangerous activities, use of dangerous equipment such as ladders, electricity, or
toxic materials, or allow students into dangerous areas of the building.

Building Security
The security alarm is activated each evening after the building is cleaned and deactivated by a custodian at
6:30 AM each morning. On Teacher Workdays, the building will be opened at 8:00 AM. If you need to be in
the building at other times you will need to make arrangements with an administrator.

In an effort to reduce unidentified visitors on campus, everyone visiting, except during an open house
program, should sign in at the office and wear a visitor’s sticker. If you see visitors without a sticker, please
ask them to check in at the office.

All classroom and office doors should be locked when no one is present. This will deter petty theft among
students. Likewise, closing and locking windows should be done with care each afternoon. Be sure outside
classroom doors are locked when you leave the room. If you or your students see strangers on campus,
please report it to the office immediately. Be sure you are familiar with the Crisis Plan and the procedures for
a dangerous situation on campus.

Emergency Relocation Procedures

In the event of an incident that results in the relocation of students from their assigned school to the sister school, please
adhere to the following guidelines: Our sister school is Enloe High School.
1. All students should be located in an area that is isolated from the checkout area.
2. The checkout area should be located at the entrance to the building or outside if appropriate.
3. A sign-out sheet will be maintained at the checkout area.
4. A parent or guardian is required to check out a student.
5. Parent/guardian permission is required for checkout if they want someone else to pick up their child.
6. Picture identification (preferably a NCDL) is required for all checkouts with prior approval.

Evacuation
Upon notification of any fire or hazardous situation in a school building, the first available student or staff
member will activate the fire alarm system. All occupants shall immediately evacuate. Upon any fire alarm
activation or other possible hazardous emergency, the fire department shall be immediately notified by calling
9-911. No one is to be allowed to re-enter the building until authorized by the responding fire department.

Exits
Every exit in classrooms, corridors, and other areas must remain completely free of obstructions at least the
width of the doorway. Aisles to exits must remain unobstructed and an operable window must be accessible
for emergency egress. Windows designated as exists must not be blocked. A four-foot radius around these
designated windows must always be maintained.

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Bomb Threat Plan
• If possible, immediately record the phone number located on the Caller Identification screen.
• The person receiving the call should obtain as much information as possible from the caller (bomb
location, detonation time, group taking responsibility, reason, etc.) Record this information on the Bomb
Threat Information sheet.
• The person receiving the call should immediately notify the principal or designee.
• The principal or designee should immediately call the applicable law enforcement officials (9-911) and the
WCPSS Security Department.
• DO NOT UTILIZE ANY OF THE MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO EACH
SCHOOL.
• If there is any indication of imminent danger, evacuate immediately.
• If a decision is made to evacuate, standard fire drill procedures will be followed. Be sure occupants are
evacuated to a safe distance away from the building.
• If a suspicious parcel is observed, DO NOT TOUCH, evacuate immediately, and notify appropriate law
enforcement personnel.
• If the building is evacuated, WCPSS Security, school personnel, law enforcement officials, and school
administrators will then search it.
• Occupants should return to the building only when directed by WCPSS Security staff.
• WCPSS Security staff will notify the appropriate cabinet members of the situation.

Bus Evacuation
If it is necessary to evacuate a bus, follow these steps:
• Activate hazard flashers.
• Turn ignition off and secure the bus, removing the key.
• Identify which exit should be used.
• Stand, face the students, and give clear directions in a calm voice.
• Explain that an evacuation is necessary and which exit will be used, while moving toward the exit.
• Ask helpers to move to the exit and help with evacuation.
• Begin evacuating the other students, releasing one seat at a time beginning with the students nearest
the exit.
• Remind students to leave everything on the bus and move quickly.
• Clearly show students where they are to go once they are off the bus. The waiting area should be a
safe place about 100 feet (3 bus lengths) away from the bus.
• Be sure to take emergency equipment (fire extinguisher and first aid kit) off the bus, as well as the
student roster.
• Be sure all passengers are accounted for once off the bus.
• Do not move injured students unless absolutely necessary.
• Call for help with detailed information of the bus number, location, nature of the emergency, number
of students, and injury information.
• Once police and emergency personnel arrive, they are in charge of the scene.
• Cooperate with the investigation by:
• Do not argue with anyone about what happened.
• Speak with no one about the event except law enforcement and a school system supervisor or
designee.
• Do not speak with the media about the event. Politely state that a school system representative will
provide information to the media.
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 • Be honest with your operations manager about details of the event.
• Make good, clear notes about everything you remember concerning the event and keep them in your
records.
• Fire - use front door, back door, or both if necessary.
• Threat of fire - use exit farthest from the danger.
• Bus stopped in an unsafe place - use the front door.
• Bus stopped on railroad tracks - use the front door if no train is approaching and use both front and
back doors if a train is approaching.
• Bus turned over - use the back door, roof hatches (if equipped).

In each situation, move all students to a safe location away from the bus upon evacuation.

Fire Drills
When a siren blasts and lights flash from the zone indicators in the main halls, all students and adults in the
building must evacuate. The route for evacuation must be posted in each classroom by the door. On the
map of the school building, a red line indicates the path that students must travel from their room to the
outdoor area. Teachers will be responsible for assuring that all students are out of the building and are 150
feet away from the building perimeter. Students in the cafeteria should leave and walk towards Church
Street. Any missing students should be reported immediately to the closest administrator. Verbal
communication (or a manual motion) will be given for people to return to the building. School policy states
that there will be one fire drill each month.

Fire/Smoke Doors
Doors to corridors and between building sections, designed to be closed, must not be blocked or held open
utilizing a door wedge or other device.

Items Hanging From Ceilings, Lights, or Appliances

No items should be hung from classroom ceilings, pipes, strings, lights, or other electrical appliances. Non-
combustible materials may be allowed in other areas with the approval of the Fire Official. No items should
be stored within two feet or three cinderblocks of the ceiling per orders of the North Carolina State Fire
Marshall.

Lock-down Procedures
In the event of a hostage situation or dangerous intruder, the teachers will be instructed to check their email and an
explanation of the situation will be sent to all staff. If this is not possible, the following announcement will be made:
1. CODE RED - Students and staff, we are in a code red. Please lock down now.
• This means that there is an immediate threat to the school. Teachers should close all window blinds;
have all children move to the center of the room. All students should be SILENT, crouching/sitting
under desks for protection. Students should be away from windows or other potential flying
debris. Everyone should remain in this position until notified that the threat is no longer imminent.
Outer doors to the school should not be locked in a Code Red only when we are in Code Yellow.

2. CODE YELLOW – Student and staff, we have a code yellow, community lockdown.

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 • This means there is something in the community that poses a possible threat to the school, i.e., bank
robbery, shots fired, police chase, etc. All outer doors must be locked and lockdown signs hung on
entrance doors. Students can move within a building if needed. They cannot leave a building to go to
another.

3. CODE GREEN - Students and staff, we are now back to code green, please return to your normal
activities.
• The threat or potential threat no longer exists and school can resume as normal.

RED CARDS: In the event of a Code Red Lockdown, the classroom teacher should display a RED colored card in
the door window and an exterior window to alert emergency responders that emergency services are needed
ASAP. For example: Injured/ill students in the classroom or an unknown suspicious device has been
found. ONLY USE RED CARD IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY IN YOUR ROOM, OTHERWISE, NO CARD SHOULD
BE DISPLAYED.

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 Administrators’ Responsibilities

Gary Duvall - Principal Alexis Hyatt - 6 Grade AP

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• AG/Magnet Program Coordinator/IRT Liaison • 6 Grade Administrator – oversight/discipline

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• Arts Department • 6 Grade Lunch Supervision

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• Business Alliance • AM/PM Duty Supervision

• Budget • CORE Team/SIP
• Clerical Supervision • Custodial Supervision
• CORE Team/SIP • Data
• CTE Department • Employee Excellence Awards
• Data • Facilities/Community Use of Schools
• Faculty Handbook • Fire Drills
• Field Trips • First Aid Response Team
• Grant Liaison • BT and New Teacher Orientation
• BT and New Teacher Orientation • Into the Blue
• Late Day – Mondays • Late Day - Fridays
• Ligon Arts Boosters (LAB) • Master Schedule
• Magnet Dept. Fair and All Open Houses • Math Department
• Media • Math Tutoring
• NCVPS • New Teacher Orientation Program
• News and Media • PBIS Support
• Parent Engagement • Parking
• Phone master Message • Personnel/Hiring
• Personnel Hiring • Professional Learning Team (PLT)
• Professional Learning Team (PLT) • School Dance
• PTA • Student Incentives
• Recruitment (magnet students) • Student Scheduling
• School Dance • Student Services Department
• Staff Development • Student Teachers
• Teacher Observations • Teacher Observations
• Testing Admin Support • Textbooks
• Volunteers • Virtual Academy Contact
• WCPSS Board Advisory • Walkthroughs – all grade levels
• Walkthroughs – all grade levels • World Languages Department

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 Anne Waechter - 7 Grade AP
th Brandon McRae – 8 Grade AP
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• 7th Grade Administrator – oversight/discipline • 8th Grade Administrator – oversight/discipline

• 7th Grade Lunch Supervision • 8th Grade Lunch Supervision
• AM/PM Duty Supervision • 8th Grade Dance
• CIS Representative • 8th Grade Picnic
• CORE Team/SIP • ALC Coordinator
• Data • AM/PM Duty Supervision
• Duty Schedule • Awards Day
• Employee Excellence Awards • Bloodborne Pathogen
• Language Arts Department • Cafeteria/CNA Liaison
• Late Day – Tuesday • CIS Representative
• Ligonfest Liaison • CORE Team/SIP
• Lockers • Data
• MSEN • Emergency Response Team/Risk Management
• Media Department/Technology • Employee Excellence Awards
• Personnel Hiring • Fundraising
• Professional Learning Team (PLT) • Late Day – Wednesday
• School Dance • Ligon Sports Boosters
• Staff Development • Lockers
• MTSS • MTSS
• Special Education Department/Teacher Assistants • Personnel Hiring
• Student Scheduling • Physical Education Department
• Student Handbook • Professional Learning Team (PLT)
• Teacher Observations • Science Department
• Teacher Observation Coordination • School Dance/Athletic Sign-up
• Walkthroughs – all grade levels • Social Studies
• Student Scheduling
• Teacher Observations
• Transportation
• Walkthroughs – all grade levels

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 Counselors’ Responsibilities

Pamela Douglas – 6 Grade

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• Provides individual counseling, small groups, and classroom lessons to grade level caseload.
• Coordinates school-wide programs and activities related to academic achievement, college-career readiness,
and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Coordinates grade level SEL classroom lessons per district’s requirement.
• Develops and implements Staff Professional Development aligned with the school’s SIP goals.
• Coordinates and/or attends Parent/Teacher conferences.
• Makes referrals to outside agencies including after school programs and community mental health agencies.
• Coordinates Into The Blue for rising 6 grade students.
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• Coordinates rising 6 grade registration.

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• Manages scheduling for grade level caseload.

• Organizes grade level Honor Roll Ceremony.
• Organizes grade level Awards Day Ceremony.
• Crisis Management Plan team member.
• Member of SIP, PBIS, CORE, Attendance, and Intervention Teams.
• Quad A Advisor.
• 504 Coordinator.
• Student Services PTA liaison.

Rachel Wolf – 7 Grade

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• Provides individual counseling, small groups, and classroom lessons to grade level caseload.
• Coordinates school-wide programs and activities related to academic achievement, college-career readiness, and
Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Coordinates grade level Human Trafficking classroom lessons per district’s requirement.
• Signs of Suicide Coordinator.
• Develops and implements Staff Professional Development aligned with the school’s SIP goals.
• Coordinates and/or attends Parent/Teacher conferences.
• Makes referrals to outside agencies including after school programs and community mental health agencies.
• Coordinates 7 grade transfer student orientation.
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• Coordinates rising 7 grade registration.

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• Manages scheduling for grade level caseload.

• Organizes grade level Honor Roll Ceremony.
• Organizes grade level Awards Day Ceremony.
• Crisis Management Plan Chairperson & updates Crisis Plan.
• Member of SIP, PBIS, CORE, Attendance, and Intervention Teams.
• NCVPS Contact.
• LAMP Mentoring Program liaison.

Rossy Garcia – 8 Grade

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• Provides individual counseling, small groups, and classroom lessons to grade level caseload.
• Coordinates school-wide programs and activities related to academic achievement, college-career readiness, and
Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
• Coordinates grade level Human Trafficking classroom lessons per district’s requirement.
• Develops and implements Staff Professional Development aligned with the school’s SIP goals.
• Coordinates and/or attends Parent/Teacher Conferences.
• Makes referrals to outside agencies including after school programs and community mental health agencies.
• Coordinates 8 grade transfer student orientation
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• Coordinates rising 9 grade registration including working with all WCPSS high schools.
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 • Manages scheduling for grade level caseload.
• Organizes grade level Honor Roll Ceremony.
• Organizes grade level Promotion & Awards Day Ceremony.
• Crisis Management Plan team member.
• Member of SIP, PBIS, CORE, Attendance, and Intervention Teams.
• Homebound Contact.
• Coordinates Spotlight on Student.

Instructional Staff

AIG Teacher – Amy Rogers/Jeffrey Holland (50%)

• Works with all students to improve differentiation instruction
• Acts as liaison between Division of Curriculum and Instruction and assigned school
• Attends AIG resource meetings
• Host quarterly parent education sessions
• Keeps up with current AIG curriculum initiatives and instructional methodologies
• Assists all teachers in the implementation of differentiated curriculum and instructional techniques
• Coordinates and conducts school-level staff development activities involving differentiated instruction and shares
the latest trends in gifted education
• Gathers, analyzes, interprets, and assists staff in using test data
• Helps implement strategies for AIG students with IEPs/IDEPs
• Coordinated credit by Demonstrated Mastery
• Works with AIG students who are having problems and help implement an instructional support plan if one is
needed
• Communicates with teachers, staff, and parents on a regular basis
• Maintains and monitors AIG student records
• Coordinates School Based Committee for Gifted Education meetings and maintains their records
• Coordinates identification procedures and administers testing
• Ensures DEPs are signed by Language Arts and Math teachers each fall and spring and copies of the Differentiated
Course Plans are sent to parents
• Verifies AIG School Printout for AG Office.
• Maintains all the paperwork required by WCPSS AIG program coordinators
• Serves as resource/liaison for students, parents, faculty, and administration regarding AG issues
• Align Avery with 6 grade ELA and Holland with Math 7 to assist staff with implementation of EL (Expeditionary
th

Learning)

Athletic Director – Scott Rouse

• Administers all interscholastic policies and procedures working within the confines of the rules and regulations of
the State Board of Education
• Works with the Principal on all athletic assemblies
• Maintains a file on all middle school examination and insurance waiver forms
• Checks scholastic eligibility of all athletes
• Maintains an inventory of all athletic equipment and provides for its storage
• Arranges for ticket sellers at all contests where admission is charged
• Assists the County Athletic Director in the scheduling of contests and the hiring of game officials
• Advises the Principal and County Athletic Director of middle school coaches’ concerns about schedules and
conference matters
• Authorizes and assists in preparing contest sites for scheduled events
• Assists coaches in arranging transportation
• Provides training rules and other unique regulations of the sport of middle school coaches
• Makes recommendations to the Principal for the improvement of adequate facilities

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• Performs other duties as assigned by the school Principal in keeping with the Wake County Board of Education Policy
and the North Carolina Administrative Code and Statues.
• Advises the Ligon Sports Boosters

Instructional Resource Teacher – Telea Munn

• Assists in the implementation of the middle school curriculum
• Provides support and resources for understanding and implementing the NC Standard Course of Study
• Assists with interpreting, analyzing, and using test data
• Models effective instructional strategies in classrooms
• Assists teachers in the development of common assessment to encourage student achievement
• Conducts school level staff development
• Works with Instructional Leadership Team and teachers to complete referrals for level 1 and level 2 students
• Completes PEP with all core and strategy teachers for each level 1 and level 2 students; reviews and updates PEPs
quarterly; shares findings
• Available for emergency class coverage
• Help staff develop common assessments
• Develop and facilitate walk through protocol
• Attend Admin Meetings and share curriculum updates and staff instructional needs

Intervention Coordinator – Telea Munn

• Compile data; analyze test scores for Level I, II and III students.
• Identify students by compiling a list of students who experience difficulty in one or more specific academic areas
(Reading and/or Mathematics).
• Pretest all Intervention students to target specific areas of weakness.
• Conference/communicate with all Intervention parents
• Request parent permission forms/waivers
• Previous year/current year’s teacher creates Student Personalized Education Program (PEP)
• Review PEP with student/parent
• Coordinates after school Intervention program in math and reading
• Tracks Level I, Level II, and at-risk students to monitor academic progress.
• Maintains ongoing contact with teachers/parents regarding potential intervention students.
• Completes required paperwork for Intervention program and attends any county training sessions
• Organize and moderate monthly MTSS meetings
• Coordinate with teachers and student support services the interventions used on students recommended for MTSS
(Teachers should use the interventions from the handout)
• Maintain the records of interventions administered by teachers and report those to the MTSS team
• As interventions are monitored, the MTSS team will determine whether to move the students to the next level or if
they can be removed
• Work with Student Support Services on facilitating Kid Talk

Magnet Program Director – Alexandra Laffey

• Organizes and implements magnet elective registration
• Works with teachers to create balanced menu of electives
• Develops the school elective catalog
• Carries out elective registration
• Supports teachers of electives by gathering and supplying elective resources and ensuring that the electives are
aligned with the NC Standard Course of study
• Educates new magnet staff regarding the magnet program and the roles of magnet schools within our district
• Markets the magnet program at the individual schools including attending Magnet Fairs, developing school
brochures, assisting with visitors to the school, and presenting information at recruiting sessions
• Attends regular meetings with Sr. Administrator of Magnet Programs Curriculum
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• Develops and updates magnet curriculum in conjunction with the Sr. Administrator of Magnet Programs curriculum
• Magnet Fidelity Assessments
• Leads grant writing for Magnet Schools of America Grants
• Ensures that Ligon has a representative for Magnet Teacher of the Year

Technology Coordinator – Donna Laiosa

• Monitor deadlines for supplies and textbook recycling windows
• Troubleshoot and fix technology related issues around the school
• Serve as the technology contact for the school
• Website Coordinator
• Complete any duties associated with being the school contact (inventory, re-imaging computers, installing
applications, etc.)
• Serve as the Novell network administrator; serve as the Lotus Notes, Blackboard, School Notes, eSchools, School
Messenger, etc. contact
• Determine technology needs and procurements for the school (by recommendation from the Media/Technology
Committee with input from the entire teaching staff)
• Train the staff on instructional technologies
• Serve on the Media/Technology Committee
• Serve as a liaison (along with the media department chair) between the CORE team and the Media/Technology
Committee
• Organize Battle of the Books Team
• Active Member of BYOD

Team Leaders, Counselors, Department Chairs

Rachel Elkins Team Leader - 6th Grade Renee Todd Dept. Chair - Arts
Dept. Chair – CTE
Jennifer Grove Team Leader – 6 Grade
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Tia Newkirk
Career Development Coordinator
Brianna Avery Team Leader – 7 Grade
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Rachel Wolf Dept. Chair - Guidance
Susan Hittner Team Leader - 7th Grade Betsy Burke Dept. Chair - Language Arts
Meredith Bradfield Team Leader - 8th Grade Meredith Bradfield Dept. Chair - Mathematics
Allyson Snider Team Leader – 8th Grade Todd Nolan Dept. Chair - Physical Education
Pamela Douglas Counselor – 6th Grade Nicole Lanza Dept. Chair – Science
Rachel Wolf Counselor – 7th Grade Sandra Shipp Dept. Chair - Social Studies
Rossy Garcia Counselor – 8th Grade Kathy Barnes Dept. Chair - Special Programs
Telea Munn IRT Kayley Bartlett Dept. Chair - World Languages
Edris Ryan Digital Portfolio Donna Laiosa Media Specialist

Department Chairperson Duties and Responsibilities 2020-2021

• Attend CORE meetings led by school administration

• Communicate the needs and instructions of the school administration to the department teachers
• Communicate the needs and concerns from the department teachers to the appropriate persons; including other
department teachers, school administration, and county level administration
• Hold meetings once a month with an agenda that includes analysis of benchmark data, other assessment results,
spiraling of curriculum, instructional strategies, and concerns of the department. These meetings also include
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 highlighting best practices, updates on content related topics (textbook adoptions, state curriculum, pacing guides,
budget, etc.)
• Prepare a proposed departmental budget
• Attend county, district, and state meetings that are required and/or determined to enhance the ability of the
department to better meet the needs of their students
• Maintain minutes of Department Meeting including attendance
• Submit minutes from meetings to Google drive folder

Team Lead Duties and Responsibilities 2020-2021

• Monitor the duties and responsibilities for supervision for grade level peers
• Work with grade level to support school-wide positive behavior management plan
• Attend CORE meetings led by school administration
• Organize and facilitate bi-monthly meetings
• Communicate the needs and concerns from grade level teachers to your grade level administrator
• Coordinate the completion of quarterly split lists to be used during a teacher’s absence in which no substitute can
be found. Submit lists to grade level administrator and lead secretary
• Oversee the completion of Emergency Sub Plans to be kept in the green binder in teacher’s individual classroom
• Encourage and support grade level teachers
• Organize and/or delegate grade level activities and trips
• Participate in walk through protocol
• Update Power Schools/Websites
• Celebrations
• Keep front office staff abreast of grade level communications
• Prepare annual supply list for students
• Maintain grade level communication with parents
• Submit minutes from meetings to Google drive folder

CORE Team

CORE is comprised of the chairperson for each department, grade level team leads, as well as the Administrators. CORE
meets once a month from 2:45 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. A meeting schedule will be provided to all staff members at the
beginning of the school year. Staff members are invited to attend CORE team meetings. Minutes from each meeting are
distributed to all staff members electronically and suggestions and ideas always solicited and welcome.

Support Staff

Lead Secretary - Linda Link

• Serves as administrative assistant to the principal
• Serves as lead support person for all support staff
• Directs parents, students, and faculty concerns to the appropriate person(s) when the principal is not available
• Processes and maintains records of monthly payrolls for all school personnel
• Maintains files for all school personnel
• Submits job postings to Human Resources
• Coordinates substitutes; AESOP manager
• Processes Employee Statement of Injury and workers compensation forms
• Acts as a liaison between the Human Resources and Payroll Departments and the school

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• Maintains and updates master on-line school calendar
• Acts as a liaison between Central Office and the school
• Maintains and coordinates usage of in-house school facilities
• Community Use in Schools Facilitator
• Publishes Daily Bulletin
• Submits work orders through Maximo
• Submits heat tickets through Help Desk
• Generates honor roll letters quarterly
• Back up for dispensing medication
• Serves on the CORE team
• Performs other duties as needed

Bookkeeper – Jane Clarke

• Coordinates budget with principal and department chairs including keeping accounting files on all departments,
processing expenditures and budget transfers for all school accounts, and keeping a record of all Purchasing Card
Expenditures.
• Administers Fund 6; receives and deposits all monies collected by the school, writes and processes checks, direct
pays and purchase orders; maintains daily, monthly, and yearly records of all Fund 6 financial transactions; submits
monthly reports to Central Office.
• Directs parents, students, and faculty concerns to the appropriate person(s)
• Collects and reports approved field trips; submits field trip report to Central Office as required
• Maintains contract for copiers; requests service for copiers, as needed
• Volunteer Registration Clearance
• Performs Notary functions
• Helps teachers with the operation of the fax and copier machines; request service and supplies for office machines
• Back up for dispensing medication
• Performs other duties as needed

Receptionist – TBD
• Greets visitors, including staff, students and parents
• Answers the telephone, responds to questions and requests for information, forwards calls, takes messages and
distributes messages in a timely/efficient manner
• Directs parents, students, and faculty concerns to the appropriate person(s)
• Receives and distributes US Mail, courier deliveries and faxes
• Dispenses medication to children who have proper documentation on file in the office; maintains accurate records
on the medication that is dispensed.
• Provides vision screening for students when necessary
• Supports AESOP manager
• Bloodborne Pathogen Support
• Maintains contact with the school administrators through the two–way radio
• Updates the announcement box as needed
• Maintains the main office conference room, as well as the two work rooms by providing supplies when needed (i.e.,
paper, pens, paperclips, etc.)
• Submits accident reports to Risk Management and maintains a file on their desktop
• Support for Assistant Principals
• Performs other duties as needed

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Student Information Data Manager – Betsy Pittman
• Monitors entry of all student data including address changes, immunization records and student schedules.
• Crosschecks Ligon’s PowerSchool data with student assignment data
• Ensures that teachers enter grades within prescribed time limits and prints student report cards
• Ensures all data is updated accurately
• Prints and processes reports as requested including the Principal’s Monthly Report, WCPSS Membership Report,
student schedules, teacher class lists
• Withdraws and enrolls new students as necessary
• Assists special programs with head count
• Oversees daily absence and tardy entries and corrections
• Monitors student headcount
• Trains teachers in PowerSchool
• Records student dropout information, and reports information to the principal and then to WCPSS
• Prints attendance letters weekly (Fridays) and honor roll student lists each quarter
• Orders student locators weekly
• Coordinates the distribution and collection of the Magnet Intent letters for Ligon’s magnet students.
• Processes and keeps record of all pre-approved excused absences requests and bus changes requests
• School messenger contact

Student Services Assistant – Tonderleir Baker

• Distributes late bus passes
• Performs clerical duties for Student Services personnel
• Serves as a receptionist to Student Services Department
• Checks students in and out of school
• Responsible for organizing and maintaining the records room.
• Assists Student Information Data Manager as necessary
• Handles all student-related services
• Processes student records request
• Performs other duties as needed

Sheriff – SRO – Deputy Pero

• Monitor and investigate any criminal activity in and around school grounds.
• Monitor school cameras for students engaged in criminal behavior and violations of School Board policy in
accordance with the student code of conduct.
• Maintain visibility at all times and communicate whereabouts effectively when not being visible. Be visible, punctual
and proactive during student arrival and dismissal to and from school. (Bus Lot or Front of School)
• Continually circulate all areas of the building and grounds as a mechanism to deter criminal activity and promote
positive student behavior.
• Attend all lunches daily and monitor and interact with students at all times.
• Provide traffic control duty when the school security is absent.
• Work with students, as appropriate and requested by the principal or principal designee, to advise them of the
consequences of misbehavior and the need to make good life choices. Assist in conflict resolution as appropriate.
• Build a positive and professional relationship with all teachers and staff.
• Develop and share crime prevention programs and conduct inspections to deter criminal behavior.
• Students caught in violation of School Board policy should be brought to their grade level administrator or ANY
available administrator. If an administrator is not available, students should be taken to ISS until an administrator is
available. The SRO will advise the front desk or administrators when a situation requires immediate attention.
• Provide security for school functions and extra-curricular activities (dances, performances, meetings etc.)
• Do not function as a school disciplinarian unless infractions constitute a violation of the law.
• Assist administrators in attaining student compliance as necessary. Be present during searches and when an
administrator may be at risk.
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