MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
Charter School or District: Pioneer Valley Regional School District
Corrective Action Plan Forms
Program Area: Civil Rights
Prepared by: Sharon Murphy Jones/Pioneer Valley Regional School District
CAP Form will expand to as many lines as necessary. Before completing and emailing to
pqacap@doe.mass.edu, please see separate Instructions for Completing Corrective Action Plans.
All corrective action must be fully implemented and all noncompliance corrected as soon as
possible and no later than one year from the issuance of the Coordinated Program Review Final
Report to the school or district.
Mandatory One-Year Compliance Date: October 13, 2011
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: CR 6 Availability of in-school
Rating: Partially Implemented
programs for pregnant students
Department CPR Finding: The district did not provide evidence that pregnant students are able to
participate in all programs and services available to all other students.
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: The Pregnancy Policy committee met on 9/16/10.
Following this meeting, the Civil Rights Coordinator (Sharon Murphy Jones) wrote a proposed
policy regarding the non-discrimination of pregnant teenagers. This proposal for a Pregnancy
Policy was sent to administrators, guidance, and the nurse leaders in the district on 10/27/10 for
their review and response. The proposed policy was discussed, reviewed and approved by the
Superintendent of Schools; Dayle Doiron, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools; Gail Healy,
PVRS Principal and School Nurse; Bill Wehrli and Vickie Rowe, as well as the nurse leader for
the school district; Kristen Whittle. The final proposed policy will go before the School
Committee for approval on November 18, 2010. Once it is approved, implementation will be
immediate. The Pregnancy Policy will be added to the district’s Policy Manual upon approval of
next time the Policy Subcommittee of the School Committee meets (between 11/16 and 12/16/10)
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Sharon Murphy Jones, Civil
Corrective Action Activity: Final approval
Rights Coordinator/Special Education Director
by school committee is scheduled for
November 18, 2010.
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Final Policy, as added to the District’s Policy
Handbook.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: The building principal/PVRS school nurse and
PVRS guidance counselors, with the support of the Civil Rights Coordinator will consult the
policy if/when a student pregnancy is reported. Insurance +
of nondiscrimination will be the responsibility of the individual’s guidance counselor.
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CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: CR 6 Availability of inschool programs for pregnant students
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval: District submitted a draft of its new policy, however it
needs slight rewording.
Department Order of Corrective Action: Submit a policy which states: 1) pregnant students are
permitted to remain in regular classes and participate in extracurricular activities with non-pregnant
students throughout their pregnancy and after giving birth are permitted to return to the same academic
and extracurricular program as before the leave. 2) the district does not require a pregnant student to
obtain the certification of a physician that the student is physically and emotionally able to continue in
school.
Required Elements of Progress Report(s): A copy of the new policy
Progress Report Due Date(s): March 1, 2011
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: CR 9 Hiring and employment
practices of prospective employers of students
Rating: Partially Implemented
Department CPR Finding: The district did not submit evidence that it requires employers recruiting
in the district, including prospective employers participating in career days and work study and
apprenticeship training programs, as well as those offering cooperative work experiences, to sign a
statement that the employer complies with applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination
in hiring or employment practices
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: The Pioneer Valley Regional School District will
write a statement that all prospective employers, work experience agents and apprenticeship
recruiters will be required to sign prior to their activities within the schools. Currently, the only
agencies which recruit within the Pioneer Valley Regional School District are the Armed Forces.
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Dayle Doiron, Superintendent
Corrective Action Activity: The statement
of Schools, Bill Wehrli, Principal of Pioneer
has been developed and is attached for
Valley Regional and Sharon Murphy Jones,
review. Once approval from the DESE is
Special Education Director/Civil Rights
given for this statement, implementation will
Coordinator will be responsible for the
begin immediately.
implementation of CR 9.
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Required statement will be submitted to the
DESE for their review.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: : Bill Wehrli and Sharon Murphy Jones will
monitor implementation of the required statements.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: CR 9 Hiring and
employment practices of prospective
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
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Disapproved
employers of students
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval: The district submitted a draft of its new policy, however
it needs slight rewording.
Department Order of Corrective Action: Submit a copy of a statement that the district requires an
employer recruiting at the school to sign that the employer complies with applicable federal and state
laws prohibiting discrimination in hiring or employment practices. (The statement signed by employers
should not list specific laws or specific types of discrimination, only that the employer complies with
all applicable federal and state laws.)
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
By March 1, 2011, submit a copy of the statement of assurance that the district will require
employers to sign.
By June 1, 2011, submit copies of all statements of assurance from prospective employers since
the new statement was developed.
Progress Report Due Date(s): March 1, 2011 and June 1, 2011
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COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: CR 10A Student handbooks and
codes of conduct
Rating: Partially Implemented
Department CPR Finding: The district submitted student codes of conduct for all five schools, but
none referenced M.G. L. c. 76, s.5.
For Northfield and Warwick, the district did not submit:



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procedures assuring due process in disciplinary proceedings;
a nondiscrimination policy that is consistent with M.G.L. c. 76, s. 5, and affirms the school’s
non-tolerance for harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or sexual
orientation, or discrimination on those same bases;
the school’s procedure for accepting, investigating and resolving complaints alleging
discrimination or harassment; and
the disciplinary measures that the school may impose if it determines that harassment or
discrimination has occurred.
For Bernardston and Pearl Rhodes, the district did not submit:


procedures assuring due process in disciplinary proceedings;
a nondiscrimination policy that is consistent with M.G.L. c. 76, s. 5, and affirms the school’s
non-tolerance for harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or sexual
orientation;
 the school’s procedure for accepting, investigating and resolving complaints alleging
discrimination or harassment; and
the disciplinary measures that the school may impose if it determines that harassment or
discrimination has occurred
Narrative Description of Corrective Action: Copies of the required Corrective Action Plan were
distributed to the elementary building principals on 10/27/10 by Sharon Jones. An initial
planning meeting to determine the required corrective action was held 11/2/10. This meeting
included: Superintendent of Schools; Dayle Doiron, Bernardston Elementary School Principal;
Stacey Jenkins, Pearl Rhodes Elementary School Principal; Eric Glazier, Northfield Elementary
School Principal; Tom King, Warwick Community School Principal; Ellen Edson, Special
Education Administrator/Civil Rights Coordinator; Sharon Murphy Jones. At this meeting,
each targeted area required in the handbooks was examined and discussed. The District Wide
Policy Book was used as a reference for much of the required information. Principals will now
each rewrite their Parent Handbooks. The Parent Handbooks will go before the School
Committee for approval on March 24, 2011. Once the Handbooks are approved by the School
Committee, they will be reprinted.
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Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Superintendent of Schools;
Corrective Action Activity: The revised
Dayle Doiron, Bernardston Elementary School
handbooks will go before the Pioneer Valley
Principal; Stacey Jenkins, Pearl Rhodes
Regional School Committee for approval on
Elementary School Principal; Eric Glazier,
March 24, 2011.
Northfield Elementary School Principal; Tom
King, Warwick Community School Principal;
Ellen Edson, Special Education
Administrator/Civil Rights Coordinator; Sharon
Murphy Jones, School Committee Chairperson,
Patricia Shearer
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Copies of the revised Parent Handbooks will
be submitted to the DESE
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: Sharon Murphy Jones, Special Education
Administrator/Civil Rights Coordinator will oversee the process.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: CR 10A Student handbooks
and codes of conduct
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval: The district submitted a plan to revise its student
handbooks and codes of conduct.
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
By June 1, 2011, submit copies of the revised handbooks with the new language highlighted.
Progress Report Due Date(s): June 1, 2011
COORDINATED PROGRAM REVIEW
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
(To be completed by school district/charter school)
Criterion & Topic: CR 16 Notice to students 16 or
over leaving school without a high school diploma,
certificate of attainment, or certificate of completion
Rating: Partially Implemented
Department CPR Finding: According to interviews and a review of documents, the district did not
submit copies of the standard notice that it is required to send to students age 16 or over and their
parents or guardians within ten days from the student’s fifteenth consecutive unexcused absence.
The district did not submit copies of the annual standard notice that it sends to former students who
have not yet earned their competency determination and who have not transferred to another school
informing them of the availability of publicly funded post-high school academic support programs
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Narrative Description of Corrective Action: Copies of the required documents pertaining to CR
16 were distributed on 10/27/10 to the Superintendent of Schools; Dayle Doiron, Assistant to the
Superintendent; Gail Healy and PVRS Principal; Bill Wehrli. An initial planning meeting was
held with myself and Mr. Wehrli on 11/4/10. Mr. Wehrli had already taken steps to create the
standard notice that is required to be sent to students age 16 or over and their parents or
guardians within ten days from the student’s fifteenth consecutive unexcused absence prior to
the findings of the CPR. The second required annual standard notice will be written by Mr.
Wehrli and implemented. Both forms will be fully implemented by March 24, 2011.
Title/Role of Person(s) Responsible for
Expected Date of Completion for Each
Implementation: Bill Wehrli, Principal PVRS
Corrective Action Activity: Both standard
notices will be fully implemented by March
24, 2010.
Evidence of Completion of the Corrective Action: Both Standard Notices, as required, are
attached for DESE review.
Description of Internal Monitoring Procedures: Bill Wehrli, Principal PVRS and Sharon
Murphy Jones, Special Education Director/Civil Rights Coordinator, will monitor that these
notices are sent as required. Copies of sent notices will be added to the student’s file at the
Pioneer Valley Regional High School.
CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN APPROVAL SECTION
(To be completed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education)
Criterion: CR 16 Notice to students
16 or over leaving school without a
high school diploma, certificate of
attainment, or certificate of
completion
Status of Corrective Action:
Approved
Partially Approved
Disapproved
Basis for Partial Approval or Disapproval: The district submitted a plan to create the standard
notices
Department Order of Corrective Action:
Required Elements of Progress Report(s):
By March 1, 2011, submit drafts of the two standard notices
By June 1, submit copies of all letters that were sent to: 1) students age 16 or over and their parents or
guardians within ten days from the student’s fifteenth consecutive unexcused absence and 2) former
students who have not yet earned their competency determination and who have not transferred to
another school informing them of the availability of publicly funded post-high school academic support
programs
Progress Report Due Date(s): March 1, 2011 and June 1, 2011
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