Wilson County Schools is required by law to share these notifications with families each year. Please take the time to review them. Should you have any questions, contact the person or department identified in that section. Thank you for your support and for entrusting your student to us.

Wilson County Schools students will be taking several surveys during the 2024-2025 school year. The surveys are listed below. Click the links to view the survey questions. If you would like to opt out your student(s) from taking surveys, you can do so by clicking the link below to the Student Survey Opt Out Form. The deadline to submit the form electronically is September 30, 2024.  Data will be collected on October 1, 2024. If you choose to opt out after October 1, 2024, you will need to write a letter to your student’s principal.

2024-2025 Surveys

Fall (October 7-17 window) and Spring (February 24-March 7 window)

• Panorama Survey for grade 3-5 students (social and emotional learning)

• Panorama Survey for grade 6-12 students (social and emotional learning)

January (January 27-31 window)

• Student Perception Surveys

Opt Out Form
If you would like to opt out of any / all surveys, please complete the form below.

• 2024-25 Student Survey Opt Out Form

For more information, see the link to WCS Board Policy 4720: Surveys of Students 

If you have additional questions, please contact:
Amy Nichols (Panorama Surveys) at 399-7700
Scott Sage (Perception Surveys) at 399-7765

     Students and parents have specific rights under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of handicap in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. A handicap is any physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working.
     Parents have the right to: (1) have the child take part in and receive benefits from public education programs without discrimination based on a disability; (2) have the school district advise them of rights under federal law; (3) receive notice with respect to evaluation, identification or placement of the child; (4) have the child receive a free public education to the maximum extent appropriate and have the school district make reasonable accommodations to allow the child an equal opportunity to participate in school and school-related activities; (5) have the child educated in facilities and receive services comparable to those provided students without disabilities; (6) have evaluation, identification and placement decisions made based upon a variety of information sources, and by individuals who know the student, the evaluation data and placement options; (7) give the child an equal opportunity to participate in nonacademic and extracurricular activities offered by the school district; (8) examine all relevant records relating to decisions regarding the child’s evaluation; (9) obtain copies of educational records at a reasonable cost; (10) receive a response from the school district to reasonable requests for explanations of the child’s records; (11) request amendment of the child’s educational records if there is reasonable cause to believe they are inaccurate; and (12) request mediation or a grievance hearing related to decisions regarding the child’s evaluation, identification, placement or educational plan as described below in which the parent and the child may take part and have an attorney.
     Questions about particular Section 504 issues may be directed to the following individuals: for issues related to a student’s program, contact Assistant Superintendent Robin May at 399.7761; for issues related to facilities, contact Assistant Superintendent Ben Williams at 399.7789 and for questions related to Section 504/ADA student evaluations and accommodation plans, contact Executive Director of Student Services Cheryl Baggett at 399.7700.

 The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students over 18 years of age certain rights with respect to education records. These rights are:
     (1) The right to inspect and review the student’s education records within 45 days of the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the record(s) they wish to inspect. The school official will notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
     (2) The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and advise them of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
     (3) The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information in the student’s education records. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor or support staff member; a person serving on the School Board; a person or company with whom the school has contracted as its agent to provide a service instead of using its own employees or officials; or a parent or student serving on an official committee or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
     Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll. FERPA requires a school district to make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or student of the request unless it states in its annual notification that it intends to forward records on request.
     (4) The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school district to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-5920.

     Wilson County Board of Education Policy 4700, Student Records, defines student directory information as: student’s name; grade level; dates of attendance; most recent previous school or education institution attended by the student; photograph or digital image, including still or video images, of a student engaged in officially recognized school activities and sports; participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams; and diplomas (including endorsements earned), industry credentials/certifications, and awards received. 
     The school system may release this information without parental permission unless the parent notifies the school system that it should not be released. Directory information is most often used in news releases to the media about student activities and achievements. Parents who would like to restrict or prohibit the release of information about their minor student should notify the principal in writing. Students 18 years or older should submit their own notification.  

     The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act entitles children who are homeless to a free and appropriate public education and requires schools to remove barriers to their enrollment, attendance and success in school. Schools must immediately enroll students experiencing homelessness, even if they do not have proof of residency, school and immunization records, birth certificates or other documents and even if they are not accompanied by an adult.  A student in a homeless situation has the right to stay in his/her school of origin even if that school is out of district. Students experiencing homelessness are eligible, based on individual need, for services provided to other students, and they are automatically eligible for Title I services. For more information, contact Homeless Liaison Amy High at 252.235.8029.

Wilson County Schools contracts with Clegg's Termite and Pest Control to provide an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach for controlling insects and rodents on school campuses. From time to time, controlling a pest problem will require the use of chemicals, which will be used only when necessary and not as a routine treatment. When chemicals are used, the least toxic products are applied and notices are posted. Parents can request a list of the pesticides that may be used in schools by contacting WCS Executive Director of Facility Services Greg Woodard at 399-7822. Parents can also request prior notification when pesticide applications are planned for schools. To receive notification, parents should call the school and ask for an IPM Request for Notification form. Those who submit the request will be notified at least 72 hours before a pesticide is applied. Notification does not include disinfectants, pesticides formulated as baits or gels or any EPA-exempt pesticide.

The Asbestos Hazards Emergency Response Act requires that asbestos inspections and management plans be performed every six months in schools. WCS contracts with EEC, Inc. for these requirements, and a copy of the reports are available at each school, Central Office and the WCS Facility Services Department. Only licensed professionals are allowed to correct any asbestos situations. Please direct inquiries to Executive Director of Facility Services Greg Woodard at 399-7822.

North Carolina’s Safe Surrender Law allows a parent to surrender a newborn up to seven days old to a responsible adult without the parent providing his or her name. Safe Surrender is legal and aims to prevent newborns from being hurt or abandoned. To view the law, click HERE. For more information, click HERE.