ELEMENT VI:
HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Governing Law:  The procedures that the school will follow to ensure the health and safety of pupils and staff. These procedures shall include the requirement that each employee of the school furnish the school record summary as described in Section 44237. -- California Education Code Section 47605(b)(5)(F)

La Vida Charter School has adopted and implemented a plan that addresses health, safety, and risk management policies for its site at Ridgewood Ranch.

Procedures for Background Checks

The Charter School will comply with the provisions of Education Code Section 44237 and 45125.1 regarding the fingerprinting and background clearance of employees, contractors and volunteers prior to employment, volunteering, or contract services or any unsupervised contact with pupils of the Charter School. The Director of the Charter School shall review Department of Justice reports on prospective employees/ contractors; volunteers to determine whether an employee may be employed in accordance with Education Code Section 44237 or 45125.1, except with respect to her or himself, in which case the President of the Charter Board will review.  The Director shall monitor compliance with this policy and report to the Charter Board on a quarterly basis.

Role of Staff as Mandated Child Abuse Reporters

All classified and certificated staff will be mandated child abuse reporters and will follow all applicable reporting laws, the same policies and procedures used by the District.

TB Testing

The Charter School will follow the requirement of Education Code Section 49406 in requiring tuberculosis testing of all employees.

Immunizations

The Charter School will adhere to all laws related to legally required immunizations for entering students pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 120325-120375, and Title 17, California Code of Regulations, Sections 6000-6075. This requirement is applied to the same extent as it would be at a non-charter public school.

Medication in School

The Charter School will adhere to Education Code Section 49423 regarding administration of medication in school. Medication is kept in a locked cabinet and is available to the student only if written instructions and approval from the physician and guardian are on file.

Vision/Hearing/Scoliosis

The Charter School shall adhere to Education Code Section 49450 et. seq. as applicable to the grade levels served by the Charter School. This provision is to be applied to the same extent as it would be at non-charter public school.

Emergency Preparedness

The Charter School shall adhere to an Emergency Preparedness Handbook drafted specifically to the needs of the school site. The Charter Board is currently working with the school’s insurance carrier to draft an expanded site-specific plan. This handbook shall include, but not be limited to, the following responses: OSHA policy compliance, fire, flood, and earthquake, terrorist threats and hostage situations and shall be submitted for District receipt and review by June 30, 2006.  This handbook also shall include an evacuation plan, and general school safety, injury and illness prevention.  In addition, the school offers CPR training for its staff every two years. 

Bloodborne Pathogens

The Charter School shall meet state and federal standards for dealing with bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious materials in the workplace.  The Board has established a written “Exposure Control Plan” designed to protect employees from possible infection due to contact with bloodborne viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). 

Whenever exposed to blood or other body fluids through injury or accident, students and staff should follow the latest medical protocol for disinfecting procedures. 

Drug Free/Smoke Free Environment

The Charter School shall maintain a drug and alcohol and smoke free environment.

Procedures

The Charter School shall adopt procedures to implement the policy statements listed above prior to operation, no later than August 30, 2006.

ELEMENT VII:
RACIAL AND ETHNIC BALANCE

Governing Law:  The means by which the school will achieve racial and ethnic balance among its pupils that is reflective of the general population residing within the territorial jurisdiction of the school district to which the charter petition is submitted. -- California Education Code Section 47605 (b)(5)(G)

The La Vida Charter School recognizes it legal and social responsibility to take all feasible and legal steps to attract a student population that is reflective of the racial and ethnic and socioeconomic diversity in the Willits Unified School District.  La Vida Charter School will implement a student recruitment strategy that includes, but is not limited to, the following elements or strategies to ensure a racial and ethnic and socioeconomic balance of students, which reflects the diversity of the District it serves:

1. The development of promotional and informational material that appeals to the varied racial, ethnic and socioeconomic populations represented in the community.  LVCS has a beautiful brochure that is widely distributed throughout our county and contiguous counties.  The name "La Vida" is Spanish for "life" and invites the Latino community due to the fact that the name is in Spanish.  We always have an ad in the local family journal, a monthly, and run radio promotions at certain times throughout the year as recruitment for the LVCS program.

1. The organization of, and participation in, outreach meetings that will include prospective students and parents of varied racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.  LVCS gets out and participates in community events with booths, children's activities and promotional materials several times throughout the year in order to maintain a significant community presence.  The Good Ol' Time Harvest Faire, LVCS’s own event, is an inexpensive yet exciting day in the country full of old fashioned fun activities.  This is attended by a cross section of the community.  The Charter School also participates in Cinco de Mayo, Cherishing Youth Day (International celebration), Pastels on the Plaza, the Celtic Faire, Science Faire & Family Expo, and Scarecrow City.  La Vida Charter School students also have a booth in the Holiday Faire at the Willits Community Center.  LVCS exhibits student art work annually at the Willits and Ukiah Libraries, local cafes and health food store, and in the Art Under 20 exhibit at the Willits Community Center and more.  This community presence activates interest in the Charter School from a diverse range of families that typically reflects the area.  LVCS has fluent Spanish speaking teachers on staff who offer tours and informational sessions with the Spanish speaking community members. 

1. The distribution of promotional and informational packages to a broad variety of community groups and agencies that serve various racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups within the community.   Translated promotional and informational documents will be made available.  LVCS has a quality translation of its brochure in Spanish and has had other promotional materials in Spanish in the past.  LVCS has an information exchange relationship with Nuestra Casa which is the cultural/educational focal point for the Latino community.  The Charter School shares flyers and information about classes and events back and forth.  Brochures are displayed at the district office, other charter schools, libraries, public health center, regional center, hospital, numerous business and places where families and home schoolers may visit.

1. Translation will be provided at school meetings as needed or requested.