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Parent and Community Information & Resources

 

CSDB Bulldog Mascot

 

School Contact Information:

Main Receptionist:  719-578-2100, (VP) 719-358-2600

School for the Deaf

School for the Blind

Preschool:  

Employability Center/Transition Program: 

Director of Special Education 

Student Life 

Student Health Nurses

  • Main Phone: 719-578-2166

Attendance

The following situations constitute an excused absence:  a student’s temporary illness or injury, an extended absence due to physical or mental disability, any school-sponsored work/study program, or school-sponsored activity or activity of an educational nature with advance approval by the school administrator.  Students with an excused absence will have the number of days absent plus one to make up any work missed during the absence.  School administrators may require suitable proof (i.e. doctor’s note) for any absence.

Unexcused absences constitute all absences that are not defined as excused.  Any unexcused absence or tardy may include disciplinary measures, and all classwork that is made up during an unexcused absence may only count up to 75% credit, at the discretion of the school administrator.  At the secondary level, persistent absenteeism may, in the judgment of the teacher and program administrator, result in a failing grade.

A “habitual truant” is a student who has more than 4 unexcused absences in one month or ten unexcused absences during the school year.

To notify the school of your child’s absence please call the school office the day of the absence.
For more attendance information see policy JE, Student Attendance.

Student Advocates

Each student is assigned to a teacher who acts as the Student Advocate or Case Manager.  This person will be your primary contact with the school.  You should be receiving regular updates from your son/daughter’s Student Advocate regarding academic progress and any behavioral concerns.  If you have any feedback or information to share with the school, you may want to first contact the Student Advocate assigned to your child.  If you don’t have contact information for your child’s assigned Student Advocate, please contact the specific program principal.

Student Conduct

Students are expected to follow the policies and regulations approved by the CSDB Board of Trustees and outlined in the Student Code of Conduct policies (JIC, JICA, JICB, JICC, JICH, JK).  Students who do not follow appropriate rules can be disciplined using in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, or expulsion, depending upon the frequency and severity of the infraction.  If a student earns an out-of-school suspension, parents are required to participate in a reentry meeting prior to the student returning to school.

Student Dress Code

Students are not allowed to wear garments that allow bare or exposed private parts of the body, clothing that promotes gang affiliation, drug use, violence or potential disruption to the school environment.  Also, clothing with explicit sexual suggestions, weapons, tobacco, alcohol or that is obscene, profane, vulgar, or offensive is not permitted.  Sunglasses, hats, caps or bandanas may not be worn inside the school buildings, as per policy JICA.  Pajamas or other type of sleepwear are not permitted during the school day.  Official school clothing (jerseys, cheer leading uniforms) are only allowed when approved by the sponsor or coach.  For more information regarding student dress code please see Policy JICA, Student Dress Code.

School Breakfast and Lunch Program

Students can pay for meals by cash or check within the Administration building by credit card in the Administration building or through our website: www.csdb.org.

If you believe your child qualifies for the Free and Reduced Breakfast/Lunch program, please contact our Accounting Department, at 719-578-2260, for the Free and Reduced Application form.

School lunch menus will be distributed monthly through the school programs and on our website.
If a student forgets his/her lunch money, CSDB will serve the students, on credit temporarily, and parents will be notified.

If your child has food allergies or special dietary needs, you should complete the necessary paperwork upon registration.  Please contact the lead nurse if you have any questions or concerns.

Release of Student Information

CSDB follows all FERPA rules regarding the release of student information.  No person or agency may access student education records without written consent from the student’s parent/guardian or the eligible student, except as outlined in law and school policy.  CSDB may disclose “directory information” (name, photograph, participation in activities and sports, dates of attendance, etc.) without parental consent.  Parents have a right to refuse to permit the release of any or all directory information if provided in writing to the school within 10 days of enrollment.  If you have questions or concerns regarding student records, please contact the Director of Special Education at CSDB.  For more information please see policy JRA/JRC, Student Educational Records/Release of Information on Students.

Custodial Information

Any paperwork or court document regarding divorce, separation, shared custody of children, grandparents or other relatives as guardians, and foster children information should be given to the Director of Special Education or school Registrar.

CSDB will release all student information to parents/guardians who have custodial or joint custody of the student.
CSDB will require appropriate court documentation (restraining order, divorce decree, DHS order, etc.), to limit a parent/guardian’s interaction with their child who attends CSDB.

Security Protocols

All buildings, other than the Administration building, are locked at all times.  If you want to visit your child’s school, you must first check-in at the Administration building and be issued a visitor’s badge.  Photo identification with birthdate will be required at the time of check-in.  After receiving a visitor’s badge, you will be escorted to the appropriate location.  It is always best if you can make prior arrangements with your child’s teacher before visiting.  If you are visiting the dorms after 5 PM, you should check-in with the dorm supervisor assigned to your child.  For more information regarding this see policy ECA/ECAB, Security/Access to Buildings, and policy KI, Visitors to Schools.

When photographing, videotaping or recording a student performance we ask that you not post it to any public site (You Tube, Facebook, etc.), in order to maintain the privacy of students who may be captured in the photograph or video.

Emergency Drills

CSDB conducts at least one drill (fire, shelter-in-place, or lockdown) per month.  Generally, the drills are announced to the staff but not the students.  For more information see policy EBCB, Safety Drills.

Health Issues / Concerns

If you have concerns about your child’s physical health, please contact Shari Mathews, Lead Nurse.  Someone from Student Health Services will call you if your child becomes too ill to remain at school.  We expect parents to make arrangements to pick up their sick child.  Please remember not to send your child to school if they have a fever or are feeling ill.  For more information please see the following policies:  JLC, Student Health Services, JLCC, Communicable/ Infectious Disease, and JLCD, Administration of Medication.

If you have concerns regarding your son/daughter’s mental health, you can contact the appropriate School Psychologist.  School for the Deaf: 719-578-2221 or School for the Blind: 719-578-2201.

Mandatory Reporters

To ensure the safety and protection of children, and as required by the Child Protection Act, any CSDB employee who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect or who has observed a child being subjected to circumstances or conditions which would reasonably result in abuse or neglect shall immediately report or cause a report to be made of such fact to the Department of Human Services (DHS) or like county agency in the county in which the alleged abuse or neglect is purported to have taken place.  If a child is in immediate danger the employee will call 911. Failure to report promptly may result in civil and/or criminal liability.  A person who reports child abuse or neglect in good faith is immune from civil and/or criminal liability.

School Calendar / Weather and School Closure Information

You should receive a copy of the school calendar with your registration materials.  You can also find a copy of the school calendar on the CSDB website: www.csdb.org.

Announcements regarding school closure or delays will be made through the Flash Alert system, on the CSDB website, and through local TV stations as well as the Denver station KUSA.  You may sign up for the Flash Alert system at flashalert.net.

Parent Resources/ Homeless Resources

If your family is going through a difficult time financially, you may qualify for resources available through the CSDB McKinney-Vento program or the Hardship/Transportation Fund.  Please contact the Director of Special Education to complete the necessary confidential paperwork to qualify for support.

Transportation

Transportation to and from CSDB is either the responsibility of the student’s home school district or the parents.  For questions regarding day student transportation, contact us at 719-578-2221, or deafschassistant@csdb.org.  For questions regarding dorm student transportation, contact 719-578-2126.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents certain rights with respect to their minor children's educational records.  They are:

  1. The right to inspect and review the student's educational records.
  2. The right to request the amendment of the student's educational records to ensure that they are not inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student's privacy or other rights.
  3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
  4. The right to file with the U.S. Department of Education a complaint concerning alleged failures by the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind to comply with the requirements of FERPA.
  5. The right to obtain a copy of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind's policy regarding student records.  You can obtain a copy of the policy from the administrator’s office in each school, or go to the website: www.csdb.org 

As per federal law, all educational records can be shared without parental permission for a student who is enrolling into another school or educational program upon written request from the enrolling educational agency, to comply with any judicial order, lawful subpoena, or other allowable situations. 
If you participate in the Student Directory, the information you submit (name, phone number, etc.) becomes public information and can be shared with individuals or agencies that request such information.

All CSDB staff members are mandatory child abuse reporters. Anytime a staff person suspects a CSDB student has experienced abuse or neglect, either through admission by the child, or through behavior or physical evidence, it will be reported to the appropriate child protective agency or the police department. If you have any questions regarding child abuse reporting please contact the Director of Special Education, Ms. Kathy Emter at (719) 578-2177 or by email at kemter@csdb.org.

CSDB is committed to serving students with dual sensory impairments. The CSDB Deafblind Task Force meets one time per quarter to discuss and ensure that appropriate services are being provided for on-campus students with dual sensory impairments.

“In all I do and think, I am conscious of a hand. People dependent upon their eyes and ears seldom understand the wealth of life that is tangible”
-Helen Keller 1951

The Challenging and Unique World Of Deaf-Blindness
By Pam L. Parker

If there is one challenge in this world that exists in life and can be found on the campus of the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB), it’s children who face dual sensory losses. Although these children exhibit communication challenges and delays in using expressive language, it is important to note that they are capable of learning. Deaf-Blindness requires unique early interventions and strategies to stimulate a child’s understanding of language and the world around them. Their needs extend far beyond that of a deaf child or a blind child respectively. For the deafblind individual, the world is a much smaller place and exists only as far as their arms can reach. The child’s concept of life and its existence depends completely upon what and whom they have had direct physical contact with. They rely upon those around them to make language and concepts accessible.

Research indicates that the best communication systems for persons who are deaf-blind include the following: touch cues, object symbols, sign language, gestures, picture symbols, fingerspelling, lip-reading, large print reading and writing, braille reading and writing, and tactile materials.

A variety of trained personnel and support people can ensure that linkages between a child and their environment are achieved. The education of children who are deaf-blind, requires an intensive ongoing collaboration among a “village” of staff including: Teachers of the Deaf (TOD’s), Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI’s), Speech and Language Pathologists (SLP’s), Orientation and Mobility Specialists (O&M), Physical Therapists (PT’s), Occupational Therapists (OT’s), Counselors, Low Vision Specialists, Audiologists, and Family members. Meaningful interactions with routine and structured environments will ensure that all deafblind children learn about things beyond the limited reach of their eyes and fingertips.

 

For the purposes of accreditation CSDB has applied and been granted the status of a district-wide Alternative Education Campus (AEC) by the Colorado Department of Education. If you have any questions regarding CSDB accreditation please contact Kathy Emter at kemter@csdb.org.

In accordance with Environmental Protection Agency regulations, the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) is notifying parents about asbestos at CSDB. This notification supports the school’s philosophy on asbestos awareness and control. Our primary goal is always to ensure the health & safety of our students and staff.

The last asbestos inspection on campus was completed in March 2021. his inspection is required every three years and will be performed again in March 2024. The inspection report is available upon request following CORA procedures. Our buildings are very old and since asbestos was commonly used in construction materials when our buildings were constructed, it is expected to find asbestos in our buildings across campus.

There are two types of asbestos; friable and non-friable with friable presenting the greatest hazard if disturbed.  Most of the asbestos found in our buildings is the non-friable type. The inspection report identifies where the asbestos is located and its condition as of the inspection.

CSDB continues to remove asbestos during renovation projects. Most recently, the Gym renovation, Argo Hall roof replacement, and West Hall roof replacement will have asbestos removal as part of their project scope. CSDB also addresses areas of concern immediately.  Recently we addressed concerns at Stone Hall, Lions Hall, and West Hall. In December 2023, CSDB will be removing asbestos tile, plaster, and window glazing from the Barn Facility. Please contact Mike Nero, Facilities Director, at 719-578-2128, if you have any concerns regarding asbestos at CSDB.