Parents & Students

The 2020 Census counts the population and provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for our community.  A fair and accurate census count is essential to numerous aspects of civic life, from allocation of billions of dollars in federal funds in Kansas City, MO alone, to political representation at all levels of government. Please take the time to fill out the Census so you are counted.

https://www.kcmo.gov/programs-initiatives/census

Yellowjacket Early Learning Center (pdf)
Boone Elementary (pdf)
Center Elementary (pdf)
Indian Creek (pdf)
Red Bridge Elementary (pdf)
Center Middle School (pdf)
Center Alternative School (pdf)
Center High School (pdf)

2019-2020 Parent & Student Manuals

Early Childhood Family Procedural Manual

Elementary Procedural Manual

Center High School Manual

• JG (Code of Conduct)

• JG-R1 (Code of Conduct)

It is important that we provide a safe and welcoming learning environment for students and staff.  The Hall Pass system was implemented in March, 2020.  Hall Pass tracks visitors, including parents, guardians, volunteers, contractors and community members at our schools.

Therefore, the following expectations have been developed specific to school visitations during regular office hours.

Check In and Check Out Procedure

·         During regular office hours, all visitors are required to check in at the front office of each building

·         All visitors are required to provide a current government-issued ID to front office or security desk, to be entered in to HALL PASS School Visitor Management system

·         Once approved, visitors will receive a name and photo visitor badge, indicating that your presence in the building is authorized. When leaving, return the badge to the front office/building security to record the time of departure.

Guidelines for Center Employees:

·         All CSD employees visiting other schools, will need to check in the front office, show their employee ID and sign in to the visitor book located in the front office of each building

Guidelines for Volunteers

•         Volunteers must always sign in at the office and wear a name and photo visitor badge

•         The principal reserves the right to direct volunteers to designated areas or activities where a need exists            

•         For the safety of our students, school district volunteers will be asked to complete a form authorizing a criminal background check before volunteering.  (This form will be processed through the Human Resources Department of the Center School District. )

Watch a video to learn more about how the system works.

Please see Board Policy KK: Vistors to District Property/Events.   

Please click here for Center Elementary's uniform attire.

Please click here for Indian Creek Elementary's uniform attire.

Free and Reduced Lunch Information (PDF)
Free and Reduced Lunch Application- Translated

Click on the link above to go to the menu.

Center School District students benefit from a nutritious morning meal throughout the school year thanks to a grant awarded by the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom. Center School District was selected based on the number of students that qualify for free or reduced priced meals, average daily participation in the school breakfast program, and district and school-level support. More than 2,600 Center School District students can now participate in the free breakfast program.

Center School District was selected to participate in the fourth phase of the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom program, which is a joint initiative from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), National Association of Elementary School Principals Foundation (NAESPF), the School Nutrition Foundation (SNF), and The NEA Foundation National Education Association– collectively known as the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom.

Skipping breakfast, which is a common habit among tweens and teens, has been linked with a number of detrimental effects on health, wellness, and behavior. The program reworks how school breakfast is delivered by offering it to all students at no charge in an effort to improve participation in the federally-funded School Breakfast Program and boost learning and health.

"Studies show that students who eat breakfast at school have a better attendance rate and tend to have the capacity to focus and be engaged learners," said Dr. Sharon Nibbelink, Superintendent of Center School District. "At Center School District, our goal is to take care of our students and families. We're excited to work with the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom to make a morning meal available to all students. Hunger can be an obstacle for some of our students. With this program, our district hopes we can start to address this overwhelming need."

While most U.S. schools offer meal programs, many students do not participate in cafeteria-based school breakfast programs because of bus schedules, late arrivals to school, pressure to go directly to class or reluctance to be labeled as "low income." In fact, before the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom initiative launched in Center School District data showed 87.5 % of students were qualified for free and reduced-price meals, yet only 30 percent were eating the breakfast available to them.

The Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom selected districts from ten states to participate in the program based on need and potential for success. The other states participating in the program are: Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. As more schools adopt the Breakfast in the Classroom approach, the Partners for Breakfast in the Classroom anticipate participation in the federally-funded School Breakfast Program will increase, helping reduce hunger and improve educational achievement nationwide.

In addition to the Breakfast in the Classroom program, Center Middle School is also participating in a one-of-a-kind study being conducted by researchers from Purdue University and supported by the Egg Nutrition Center. This study, Egg-cellent Breakfast in the Classroom, will take a closer look at how a protein-rich breakfast can impact students' health and well-being. The purpose of this study is to specifically test whether a protein-rich breakfast increases school breakfast participation and breakfast consumption; improves appetite control, mood, and cognitive performance; decreases unhealthy snacking behavior; and/or decreases breakfast waste.

For questions about Breakfast in the Classroom please contact Center's Wellness Coordinator:

Michelle Kruse, RDN, LD

816.349.3339 (office)

District Approved Snack List

So Happy App ( PDF)

THE APP IS NOW AVAILABLE AS A FREE DOWNLOAD ON THE APP STORE & GOOGLE PLAY. JUST SEARCH “SO HAPPY SODEXO”.

Instructions:

Syncing accounts will allow students and parents to share meal choices and a daily activity recap:

1. If your student downloaded the app, they’ll have a QR code under the “Profile” tab on their app.

2. Choose “Scan QR” to link the accounts.

3. Choose “My child hasn’t created an account” to skip this syncing step.
Note: If you choose not to sync to your child’s account, you’ll need to setup a basic profile for them on your app after the “Select Your Allergens” step

4. Select your child’s school. You can use the search bar to search by the name of the school.

Each school has a parent -teacher unit. Parents are encouraged to support the organization in their building in the realization of its objectives:

• To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, and community.
• To raise the standard of home life.
• To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth.
• To bring into closer relation the home and the school that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the training of the child.
• To develop between educators and the general public such as united efforts as will secure for every child the highest advantages in physical, mental social and spiritual education.

Trauma-Informed Initiative Publication:
Senate Bill 638 (2016) required the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to create a website about the trauma-informed schools initiative that includes information for schools and parents regarding the trauma-informed approach and a guide for schools on how to become trauma-informed schools. Click here for the web site.

The District’s vision statement details, “The Center School District strives for excellence in our schools where all students are expected to learn and grow.” Therefore, parents, guardians, and students who have feedback, questions, concerns, or a complaint are always welcome to contact a school official. 

If you have a concern and wish to communicate with school administration, you will be asked to follow the steps below:
1.       The parent/guardian should first make contact with the teacher to seek a resolution.              
2.       The parent/guardian should then make contact with the principal to seek a resolution. If the principal and parent/guardian cannot resolve the issue, the parent/guardian should contact the Director of Family and Student Services at (816) 349-3311 to seek a resolution.  The Director of Family and Students Services will work with the appropriate district level departments to seek a resolution. 
3.      If the Director of Family and Students Services cannot facilitate the resolution of the issue, the parent will be referred to the Superintendent’s office to seek a resolution. 
4.      If the parent/guardian and Superintendent cannot resolve the issue the parent/guardian can reach out to a member of the Board of Education, primarily the Board President.  The Superintendent will refer the parent/guardian to the contact person for the Center School District Board of Education.

Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA)
COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

Notice of Nondiscrimination

The Center School District #58 Board of Education is committed to maintaining a workplace and educational environment that is free from discrimination and harassment in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, services, activities and facilities. In accordance with law, the district strictly prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, students or others on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. The Center School District #58 is an equal opportunity employer.

(See policy AC.)

https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/ePolicy/policy.aspx?PC=AC&Sch=229&S=229&C=&RevNo=1.01&T=A&Z=P

Center School District is proud to announce that Student Transportation of America (STA) will continue to serve as our bus company. Their offices are located at 8701 Holmes Rd in the bus barn on Troost Ave. side of the property line.

STA is a subsidiary of Student Transportation Inc. (STI), an industry leader in safety and North America’s largest independent provider of student transportation services. STI operates the youngest fleet in the business with more than 13,500 vehicles, providing customers with the highest level of safe and reliable student transportation, management, logistics and technology solutions possible. STI’s services are delivered by drivers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, terminal managers, information technology professionals and others who are caring members of their local communities. For more information, please visit www.RideSTBus.com.

The district will also continue to offer the “Safe Stop App” for parents to track the location of the buses for pick up and drop off. This feature will be ready after school starts when the routes are firmly in place.

Annual bus registration is required for all students (PK-12) who plan to ride the bus.

Free transportation is currently provided to:

• K-12 students who live one mile or more from school.
• All preschool students attending Center Early Childhood
• Eligible students with disabilities who require transportation as a related service (must be documented in the student’s IEP)
• K-5 English Language Learners (ELLs) who attend an ELL program outside their home school boundary

Information regarding district boundaries is located on the school district’s website: https://www.center.k12.mo.us

Annual bus registration is required for all students (PK-12) who plan to ride the bus.

Beginning of the School Year

Parents will register for bus transportation while completing the Online Registration (OLR) process. Parents/guardians may access bus information via the Infinite Campus Parent Portal a week prior to the start of school. After the start of the school year, every effort will be made to have bus information available within 24 hours. You may check the Infinite Campus Parent Portal after 24 hours. Depending on the number of submitted requests at any given time, 72 hours may be necessary. If you have any questions, feel free to contact STA at (816) 349-3327.

Instructions for accessing your student’s bus information via Infinite Campus Parent Portal

1) Go to the district website under Parent and Students and select Parent Portal. 

2) Enter your username and password.  New users please refer to your approval email for instructions on establishing a parent portal or email portal@center58.org for next steps. 

3) Scroll to the bottom of the screen on the left hand side and select More.

4) Scroll and select Transportation.

5) Select Student. 

6) Review bus information.  

Short-term and Permanent Change Requests
Parents/Guardians may request changes to their student’s transportation arrangements after the beginning of the school year by contacting the school personnel directly. The building administrator or designee will consider the request, and if approved, communicate the information to STA via email. However, please note that if your family moves to a new address within the school district during the school year, residency at the new address must be verified by following district residency procedures before transportation to the new address can be arranged.

One-Day Change Requests
If parents/guardians would like for their student to ride a different bus home with another student during the school year, they may make a one-day change requests via written communication with the school directly (not STA). Two (2) notes must be received in the front office no later than 10:00 am.

1)One note from the parent of the student who is riding a different bus.
2)One note from the parent of the student who will be receiving the student.

The notes should include the following information: names of both students, date of requested change, bus number, and parent name/signature.

The building administrator or designee will consider the request. If approved, the student who is riding a different bus will receive a pass to give to the bus driver.

SAFE STOP APP NOW AVAILABLE FOR CENTER SCHOOL DISTRICT 58

• Search “SafeStop” on your Apple or Android device to download the free app.
• You can also access SafeStop on the web at www.SafeStopApp.com.
• Select “Create Account”, enter your information, and search for your school or district using your ZIP/Postal Code.
• Locate and select Center School District 58 from the list provided.
• Enter in at least one valid Student ID to complete your secure registration.
• Don’t know your Student ID? Please reach out to your school administrators.

• Once you log in to your account, select “Add A Bus Stop” and search using your home address.
• A list of routes with nearby bus stops will appear.
• Select the desired route and bus stop for your child’s morning and afternoon bus stop.
• If you have multiple children, repeat this process for each of their bus stops.
• Tap the check mark in the top-right corner to return to your Account home screen.
• NOTE: SafeStop relies on information provided by the transportation department.
• Use the Report An App Issue feature to report inaccurate route information.

• Each bus stop features a Bus Locator button and a Scheduled Arrival Time.
• In most cases, an Estimated Time of Arrival will appear once we confirm the route is being performed as planned.
• The Alerts & Messaging Center is located in the top right corner of the app, which contains messages and updates from your transportation department.

Special Education

Free transportation is available to eligible students with disabilities whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) team determined that they require transportation as a related service. This related service, as well as any necessary accommodations (e.g., wheelchair lift, safety restraint, bus aid, cub-to-curb service, etc.), must be documented in the student’s IEP.

Please review the following IMPORTANT information:

• Special education transportation is only available to eligible students, as determined by the IEP team and documented in the IEP.
• Special education transportation is available to and from addresses located within the Center School District boundaries.
• Center School District procedures require that someone over the age of 18 is to be at the home to receive the students after school. The district will consider written requests for exceptions to this procedural requirement.
  • If someone is not home to receive your student after school, attempts will be made to contact you or your designated emergency contacts at the numbers you have provided to the bus company and the school.
  • If someone cannot be reached to receive your student from the bus, your child will be returned to school to wait for someone to pick them up.
  • If someone cannot be reached to pick him/her up within 30 minutes of the scheduled drop-off time, school staff may contact the Kansas City Missouri Police Department or Department of Social Services to report the situation.While we fully understand that emergencies may occur, please note that school staff is not available or responsible for child care and supervision after regular school hours.
• ALL special education transportation arrangements must be made by the Parent/Guardian during the OLR process.
• Special education transportation arrangements can be made:
  • After residency has been verified at the beginning of the school year for new and returning students who were previously found eligible for special transportation. Be sure to check the box to indicate that your student’s IEP indicates the need for specialized transportation.Note: Requests must be received by August 3rd to ensure that transportation will be available by the first day of school. Requests received after the deadline may result in a delayed transportation start date.
  • When students become eligible for special education transportation during the school year. Special Education Process Coordinators will facilitate this process.
  • When parents/guardians request changes to their student’s existing transportation arrangements during the school year. To request changes to your students existing transportation arrangements, please contact Special Education Process Coordinator assigned to your student’s grade level.

Note: If your family moves to a new address within the school district during the school year, residency at the new address must be verified by following district residency procedures before transportation to the new address can be arranged.

Questions about transportation of students within the special education program should be directed to the Special Education Process Coordinator for your child’s school.

PK- Michelle Wheeland- mwheeland@center.k12.mo.us or (816)349-3713

Kg– 5^th grade: Maggie Voss - mvoss@center.k12.mo.us or (816) 612-4076   

6th-8th grade: Laura Newell- lnewell@center.k12.mo.us or (816) 612-4011

9-12^th grade: Leah Moege – lmoege@center.k12.mo.us or (816) 349-3624  

Outside placements- Kila Sommer- ksmommer@center.k12.mo.us or (816) 349-3415

English Language Learners (ELL)

Free transportation is available to English Language Learner (ELL) students in grades K-5 who attend an ELL program outside their home school boundary. When registering, parents should be sure to check the box to indicate that their student attends an ELL program outside of their home school boundary.

ELL students who attend their home school should register for transportation based on the mileage from their home to school.

Questions about transportation of students within the ELL program should be directed to (816) 349-3300.

Early Childhood

Free transportation is provided to all preschool students who attend Center Early Childhood.

Questions about transportation of students within the Early Childhood program should be directed to the Early Childhood Center at (816) 349-3700.

Contact Us

• Questions about student conduct, disciplinary action and/or student guidelines: School Principal
• Questions about driver conduct, bus safety, student injury, bus routes, rider eligibility: Student Transportation of America (816) 349-3327
• Questions about transportation for early childhood programs: Angela Castro (816) 349-3700
• Questions about transportation for ELL programs:  (816) 349-3300
• Questions about transportation for special education programs:
  Special Education Process Coordinators
  • PK- Michelle Wheeland- mwheeland@center.k12.mo.us or (816)349-3713
  • Kg– 5^th grade: Maggie Voss - mvoss@center.k12.mo.us or (816) 612-4076   
  • 6th-8th grade: Laura Newell- lnewell@center.k12.mo.us or (816) 612-4011
  • 9-12^th grade: Leah Moege – lmoege@center.k12.mo.us or (816) 349-3624  
  • Outside placements- Kila Sommer- ksmommer@center.k12.mo.us or (816) 349-341

• For more information: Dr. Weishaar (816) 349-3302

Child care services are available at all elementary schools for before and after school care for the convenience of the parents. Please contact Linc for specific information about the LINC program.

For Boone call 349-3695
For Center call 349-3469
For Indian Creek call 349-3469

 For more information you may visit: https://kclinc.org/center

Child care services are available at all elementary schools for before and after school care for the convenience of the parents. Please contact YMCA for specific information about the program.

Contact YMCA at 913-345-9622

For more information you may visit: https://kansascityymca.org/programs/before-and-after-school/y-club-locations/center

Alert is your first notification of danger.

ALERT is when you first become aware of a threat. The sooner you understand that you’re in danger, the sooner you can save yourself. A speedy response is critical. Seconds count.

Alert is overcoming denial, recognizing the signs of danger and receiving notifications about the danger from others. Alerts should be accepted, taken seriously, and should help you make survival decisions based on your circumstances.

Barricade the room. Prepare to EVACUATE or COUNTER if needed.

If EVACUATION is not a safe option, barricade entry points into your room in an effort to create a semi-secure starting point.

Our training explains scenarios where Lockdown may be the preferable option and dispels myths about passive, traditional ‘lockdown only’ procedures that create readily identifiable targets and makes a shooter’s mission easier. ALICE trainers instruct on practical techniques for how to better barricade a room, what to do with mobile and electronic devices, how and when to communicate with police, and how to use your time in lockdown to prepare to use other strategies (i.e. Counter or Evacuate) that might come into play should the active shooter gain entry.

Communicate the violent intruder’s location and direction in real time.

The purpose of INFORM is to continue to communicate information in as real time as possible, if it is safe to do so. Armed intruder situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly, which means that ongoing, real time information is key to making effective survival decisions. Information should always be clear, direct and in plain language, not using codes. If the shooter is known to be in an isolated section of a building, occupants in other wards can safely evacuate while those in direct danger can perform enhanced lockdown and prepare to counter.

Video surveillance, 911 calls and PA announcements are just a few of the channels that may be used by employees, safety officers, and other personnel to inform others. An emergency response plan should have clear methods outlined for informing school employees, hospital workers, or any other employees of the location of a violent intruder.

Create Noise, Movement, Distance and Distraction with the intent of reducing the shooter’s ability to shoot accurately. Counter is NOT fighting.

ALICE Training does not believe that actively confronting a violent intruder is the best method for ensuring the safety of those involved. Counter is a strategy of last resort. Counter focuses on actions that create noise, movement, distance and distraction with the intent of reducing the shooter’s ability to shoot accurately. Creating a dynamic environment decreases the shooter’s chance of hitting a target and can provide the precious seconds needed in order to evacuate.

When safe to do so, remove yourself from the danger zone.

ATI provides techniques for safer and more strategic evacuations. Evacuating to a safe area takes people out of harm’s way and hopefully prevents civilians from having to come into any contact with the shooter.

Did you know that you should break a window from the top corner as opposed to the center? Many useful techniques that civilians do not know exist and can save your life. ALICE trainers teach strategies for evacuating through windows, from higher floors and under extreme duress.