Handbook & School Policies

• Greenwich Public Schools Mission/Vision
• GHS Mission, Goals and Behavioral Norms
• GPS Non-Discrimination and Equity Statement

By state law, the Board of Education is responsible for the public schools. It generally meets twice a month to review, discuss and/or take action on Board and Administrative reports/proposals and to review/revise Board Policy. Members of the public may address the Board during the public hearings held at the monthly business meetings on an agenda item or a non-agenda item. Meetings dates, times, agendas, policies and documents are available on the GPS eGovernance Website.

The Board is bipartisan and unpaid. Two members from each political party are elected every two years for a four-year term. Listings of current Board members , committees, liaison assignments, etc. may be obtained through the GPS Communications office (203-625-7426) and/or through the GPS Website.

Central Office Administration Contact Information:

The Greenwich Public Schools Havemeyer Building is located at 290 Greenwich Avenue.  It houses the Board of Education, and the offices of the Superintendent of Schools and her staff.  Please see the Administration page and Staff Directory on the GPS site for more information. 

For information about Busing, please contact the Transportation Manager, Elmer Reynoso at (203)625-7449 or refer to the Transportation/Busing page to report a bus issue.  

For school safety and security questions, please contact the Director of School Safety Services, Thomas Bobkowski at (203)625-7478. 

GHS Administration, Faculty and Staff Contact Information:

Please see our GHS Contact Information page for frequently needed numbers and an overview of staff in each house at GHS.  Requests for appointment with House Administrators should be directed to the House Administrative Assistant.  Requests for appointments with a guidance counselor, social worker or psychologist should be directed to the House School Counselor Administrative Assistant.  

To contact individual teachers, email is the best method of communication.  For contact information, see our Staff Directory.

 

For information about Admission and Placement please read: 

• Admission/Placement – Ages of Attendance (5111) 
• Admission/Placement – Ages of Attendance Regulation (5111R)

• Homeless Students (5118.1)

• Migrant Students (6141.312)

The following is a bill defining the rights of Greenwich High School students.

1. Within reasonable limits, freedom of expression should not be denied under any circumstances. Reasonable limits exclude any act that is in violation of the Cardinal Rules or any act that causes harm to any person.
2. Students and faculty shall treat each other with mutual respect.
3. Any student has the right to appeal disciplinary actions to the House Administrator and state his/her case within ten school days. If the appeal decision is in favor of the student, the incident will be removed from the student’s record.
4. All students and faculty members shall be free from discrimination based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.
5. All students and faculty members shall be free from harassment of any kind.
6. All students are free to participate in the decision-making process of the school through student government where representatives voice the views, concerns, and opinions of their homerooms.
7. Any student wishing to be a member of an extra-curricular activity shall be allowed to do so, provided he/she meets the nondiscriminatory criteria necessary for participation.
8. All students should expect to learn in a safe, clean and pleasant environment.

 

The Board of Education’s goals in establishing disciplinary guidelines are to ensure an orderly and safe environment conducive to education, and to encourage students to develop self-discipline, self-control, and voluntary compliance with just rules.

An orderly and safe environment is essential to allow all students to pursue their education and must be maintained to protect the rights of all students.  The school District is committed to the principle that disorderly and disruptive behavior should not be permitted to interfere with the rights of other students to pursue their education.

Self-discipline leads each child to become a mature, responsible citizen.  Discipline in a school setting that relies solely on external enforcement measures without focusing on developing self-discipline is merely crowd-control, leading children to develop low levels of commitment to good behavior.

In order to maintain order and discipline, the administration shall establish regulations governing student conduct.  Each school shall inform students and parents at the beginning of each school year of the administrative regulations and the school rules regarding student conduct.  The administration, through its principals and teachers, and with the help of parents, shall see that such regulations and rules are implemented.  Students shall then be accountable for complying with the standards of conduct.  Any student who fails to comply with the rules and regulations concerning student conduct is liable to a range of disciplinary actions.

Parental support in developing self-discipline in their children at home and in cooperating with school authorities about their children’s behavior at school is essential to an effective approach to discipline and creating safe and orderly school climates.

A student or parent who has a complaint should first bring the matter to the appropriate teacher. If the outcome is not satisfactory, a conference with the Program Administrator and/or the House Administrator should be requested. If the outcome of that conference is not satisfactory, a conference with the Principal or Vice Principal can be requested. If the outcome of this conference is not satisfactory, the student or parent may request a meeting with the Deputy Superintendent of Schools.

A student and/or parent with a complaint regarding possible discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability or a complaint or concern regarding the placement of a student with disabilities concerning special education or programs or services should speak with the student’s House Administrator.

The Greenwich Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age in its programs and activities, including employment.  Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 34 CFR Part 106, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation  Act of 1973, 34 CFR Part 104, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and 34 CFR Part 110. The Greenwich Public Schools do not discriminate in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in any program or activity.

Please see Greenwich Board of Education Title IX Training PowerPoint (presented by Shipman and Goodwin LLP - June 16, 2021)

Please reference Board of Education Policies for information on the Greenwich Board of Education’s grievance process including how to report or file a complaint of sexual discrimination and/or sexual harassment, and how the Greenwich Public Schools will respond:   4000.1, 4118.11/4218.11, 5145.44, and 6121.

Questions concerning compliance with Title VI, Title IX or the Age Discrimination Act should be directed to:

GPS Title VI, Age Act, and Title IX Coordinator

Deputy Superintendent 
290 Greenwich Avenue 
Greenwich, CT 06830

203-625-7446 
TitleIXCoordinator@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Ann_Carabillo@greenwich.k12.ct.us

and/or 

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor
Boston, MA 02109

Questions concerning Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its implementing regulation at 28 CFR Part 35, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its implementing regulation at 34 CFR Part 104 should be directed to:

Program Coordinator for School Counseling
290 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830

203-625-8097
Michele_Iannello@greenwich.k12.ct.us

 

Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681, 1682) prohibit school systems from engaging in employment practices and operating educational programs or activities, which discriminate on the basis of sex. Sexual Harassment is also prohibited based on Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and State Law – Sec. 10-15c. Harassment based on sexual orientation is also protected under State Law – Sec. 10-15c. Sexual Harassment is defined as unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature which interferes with a student’s right to learn study, work, achieve, or participate in school activities in a comfortable and supportive atmosphere.

The Greenwich Board of Education has adopted an internal Grievance Procedure providing for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.  A copy of the Title IX Policy and Grievance Procedure can be obtained at each school in the main office, at the Board of Education, Department of Human Resources or at the GPS eGovernance Website by clicking on Policies and Procedures.

The Chief Human Resources Officer shall serve as the District Title IX Compliance Officer.  In addition each middle school and the high school have a Title IX Coordinator located at the building.

Chief Human Resources Officer
Greenwich Public Schools
290 Greenwich Avenue
Greenwich, CT 06830

Phone Number – 203-625-7405
Fax Number – 203-625-7408
Email jonathan_budd@greenwich.k12.ct.us

The district will provide every student with equal educational opportunities regardless of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, economic status, marital status, or disability. No student will be excluded on such basis from participating in or having access to any course offerings, student athletics, counseling services, employment assistance, extracurricular activities or other school resources.

The Board of Education believes that at all times its schools should be equally as well equipped and maintained as may be possible within existing financial limitations.   It shall be the policy of the Board of Education to insure comparability of services funded by state and local sources in both Title I project schools and non-project schools.  The Board of Education will therefore:

1. Maintain a District wide salary schedule.

2. Provide services with federal, state and local funds in schools serving Title I project areas that are at least comparable to services in non-project areas.

3. Use federal, state and local funds to provide for an equivalence among all schools with the same grade levels in teachers, administrators, auxiliary personnel. 

4. Use federal, state and local funds to provide for an equivalence among all schools with the same grade levels in the provision of curriculum and instructional materials, books and supplies.

5. Nothing in this policy will prohibit the administration from addressing identified problems at individual schools.

*Title I Parent and Family Engagement  

Parents of a child in a Title 1 funded program will receive a copy of the District’s parental involvement policy, including provisions of an annual meeting and involvement of parents in the planning, review and implementation of Title 1 programs.