Burgettstown Area School District

Welcome to another school year. Our aim is to make the 2025-2026 school year the best one yet. To help set the foundation for the year, this page contains a variety of information to help you plan, as well as to advise you of your rights as a parent/guardian/student. We value our families and want to make sure your experiences with us are positive ones. Please feel free to reach out to the principals at each school or the Superintendent of Schools when you have a question or concern.

• August 20: Kindergarten Orientation. 5:00 PM-6:30 PM BAEC
• August 21: BAEC New Student Orientation 9:00 AM-10:30 AM (new students in grades 1-5 only)
• August 21: BAEC Open Building Tours 4:30 PM-5:30 PM
• August 21 6th Grade Orientation. MS/HS. 4:00 PM
• August 21 BMHS "Walk your Schedule" Event 5:00 PM-6:00 PM
• August 25: First Student Day (early dismissal: 12:32 PM MS/HS, 1:30 PM BAEC)
• August 29: No School
• September 1: Labor Day- No School/District Closed
• September 5: MS/HS Picture Day
• Date TBA: BAEC Picture Day

Please see the various letters below for more information on each of the items listed

The state budget included an item that provides free breakfast for all students, every day. Those students who qualify for free lunch will continue to receive them, however the state budget also contained a provision that enables all students who qualify for reduced price lunch to receive free lunch. While most families qualify through direct certification of their financial situation, families may also complete the necessary forms to determine eligibility. More information on the process can be found on the links on the District website.

Though all students will receive a free breakfast and many will receive a free lunch, we still set student meal prices. For the 2025-2026 school year, the meal prices are as follows:

BEAC Breakfast: Free

BAEC Lunch: $2.80

BMHS Breakfast: Free

BMHS Lunch: $2.90

What is 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/school districts that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

Who is protected under FERPA?

Students who are currently or formerly enrolled, regardless of their age or status in regard to parental dependency, are protected. Parents of students termed as "dependent" for income tax purposes may have access to the student's education records.

What rights does FERPA afford students with respect to their education records?

• The right to inspect and review their education records within 45 days of the day the school/school district receives a request for access.
• The right to request an amendment to the student's education records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school/school district to comply with the requirements of FERPA

The Burgettstown Area School District does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities or employment practices based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, ancestry, genetic information or any other legally-protected category. Announcement of this policy is in accordance with State Law including the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act and with Federal law, including Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The Board declares it to be the policy of this District to comply with federal law and regulations under Title IX prohibiting sexual harassment, which is a form of unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as to prohibit retaliation for protected conduct related to Title IX. Such discrimination and retaliation may be referred to collectively throughout this Policy and the Attachments as "Title IX sexual harassment." Inquiries regarding the application of Title IX to the District may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education, or both.

The District's Title IX Coordinator is:

Name: Melissa Ferencuha

Position: Assistant to the Superintendent

Address: 100 Bavington Road Burgettstown, PA 15021

Email: mferencuha@burgettstown.k12.pa.us

Phone: (724) 947-8136

Reports are to be made to the Building Level Title IX Coordinator who most closely has jurisdiction over the alleged events. If the Building Level Title IX Coordinator who meets that description is also the respondent/subject of the report or has a conflict of interest or bias against complainants or respondents in general or the specific complainant and/or respondent involved in the matter, the report shall be made to the other Building Level Title IX Coordinator.

The District's Building Level Title IX Coordinators are:

Elementary School Level Title IX Coordinator

Name: Melissa M. Mankey

Position: Principal, Burgettstown Area Elementary Center

Address: 100 Bavington Road Burgettstown, PA 15021

Email: mmankey@burgettstown.k12.pa.us

Phone: (724) 947-8150

Middle/High School Level Title IX Coordinator:

Name: Dr. Shaun Cooke

Position: Middle/High School Principal

Address: 104 Bavington Road Burgettstown, PA 15021 Email: scooke@burgettstown.k12.pa.us

Phone: (724) 947-3325

The District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, and that it is required by Title IX not to discriminate in such a manner. This requirement extends to admission and employment.

The Board also declares it to be the policy of this District to comply with federal and state laws prohibiting other unlawful harassment, discrimination and retaliation against employees, students and others who may be protected by law, as stated in this Policy.

The District is committed to the maintenance of a safe, positive learning environment for all students that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation, by providing all students course offerings, counseling, assistance, services, athletics and extracurricular activities without any form of unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, including but not limited to Title IX sexual harassment and retaliation. Such unlawful conduct is inconsistent with the rights of students and the educational and programmatic goals of the District.

In accordance with Title IX, the District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, and is required by Title IX not to discriminate in such a manner. The District's legal obligation not to discriminate in its education program or activity extends to admissions and employment.

Military Opt Out
The No Child Left Behind Act includes a provision mandating the release of student information (names, addresses, and telephone numbers) to military recruiters and institutions of higher learning, upon their request. Additionally, the district must also notify parents/guardians of their right and the right of their child to request that the district not release such information without prior written consent.

If you do not want the school to release the above information to military recruiters and/or institutions of higher learning, please contact the high school office asap.