Welcome to Southwestern!
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Our MissionThe mission of the Southwestern School District is to develop students' potential for positive contributions to society as self-sustaining individuals. To accomplish this mission, the administration and staff will be models in the pursuit of excellence and will provide appropriate learning environments which encourage respect for self, others, school and community.
The District
The Southwestern Central School District serves approximately 1,350 students. Our district comprises three buildings. Southwestern Elementary School, which opened in September 2002, serves grades Pre-K-5; the Middle School which serves grades 6-8, and the High School which serves grades 9-12.
Employment in the district comprises 149 faculty members and 88 non-instructional personnel. There are principals in each of the three schools with an assistant principal in the elementary school and a secondary principal in the high school.
The Southwestern Central School District is distinguished by a well-educated faculty that is committed to excellence. Parent and community participation and support is acknowledged as essential to maintaining an environment for effective learning.
The CommunityThe Southwestern Central School District is located on the west end of the city of Jamestown, New York. Included in the district are the villages of Lakewood and Celoron, the Town of Busti, rural areas and the suburban area of West Ellicott. Jamestown and the surrounding area comprise a population of approximately 67,000 people located 40 miles east of Erie, Pa. and 70 miles southwest of Buffalo.
People who work in professional, business, industrial and agricultural occupations reside in the district. Transportation and housing facilities in the area are good, with a shuttle air service connecting Jamestown to Cleveland. A hospital and several clinics are in the area. There are many residential areas to fit the needs of the owners, and all are located near shopping and business districts, including a mall in Lakewood. There are approximately 50 houses of worship that include 19 denominations and provide a local abundance of churches for the population.
Year-round outdoor recreation abounds throughout the Chautauqua Lake area. Excellent hunting and fishing plus many areas suitable for hiking and horseback riding add to the fine golf courses, ski resorts, state parks and the famous Chautauqua Institution, which attracts world leaders in the fields of music, medicine, politics, the press, and religion.
The National Comedy Center, Reg Lenna Civic Center and Little Theatre provide entertainment year-long and there are several museums in the area. Service clubs and fraternal organizations are active in the community and the area is served by Jamestown Community College and Jamestown Business College. Several four-year institutions of higher education are within a 70-mile radius.
The Southwestern Central School District community is one that is excellent for both individual and family living.
Elementary School Middle School High School
Access to Public Records
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Please use this form for Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.
Contact: Pamela SaGurney, Records Access Officer,
Southwestern Central School, 600 Hunt Rd., W.E.,
Jamestown, NY 14701, or call (716)484-1137 or email.
Hours
The District shall accept requests for public access to records and produce records during normal business hours on Mondays to Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., except holidays.
Review of Records
The Board of Education designates the Central Office as the location where records shall be available for public inspection and copying. Individuals have the right to appeal a denial of access to records. Appeals should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools, Southwestern Central School District, 600 Hunt Rd., W.E., Jamestown, NY 14701.
NYS Sex Offender Registry
Search The Official New York State Sex Offender Registry - NY DCJS
Registered sex offenders are assigned a risk by judge after a court hearing: Level 1 (low risk of re-offense); Level 2 (medium risk of re-offense), and Level 3 (high risk of re-offense). The Sex Offender Registry contains a variety of information about registered sex offenders, including but not limited to: multiple photos, names (aliases), home and/or work addresses, and convictions that required registration, if applicable.
FERPA
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Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”
- Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school. Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records. Schools may charge a fee for copies.
- Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correct records which they believe to be inaccurate or misleading. If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.
- Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record. However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR § 99.31):
- School officials with legitimate educational interest;
- Other schools to which a student is transferring;
- Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;
- Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;
- Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;
- Accrediting organizations;
- To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;
- Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and
- State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law.
Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, honors and awards, and dates of attendance. However, schools must tell parents and eligible students about directory information and allow parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them. Schools must notify parents and eligible students annually of their rights under FERPA. The actual means of notification (special letter, inclusion in a PTA bulletin, student handbook, or newspaper article) is left to the discretion of each school.
For additional information, you may call 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327) (voice). Individuals who use TDD may call 1-800-437-0833.
Or you may contact us at the following address:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-8520Relevant Board of Education Policies and Regulations:
Policy 7240 Student Records: Access and Challenge
Regulation 7240R Access to Student Records
Form 7240F.5 Notification of Rights Under FERPA and Designation of Directory Information
Form 7240F.6 Parental Electronic Consent for Release of Student Records
Policy 7242 Student Directory Information