SAFETY

SAFETY RULES

In many cases what you wear in school is dictated by safety rules. Your instructor will explain 
these rules and regulations, some of which require hard hats, goggles, hair nets, safety shoes, etc. 
Modest, sensible dress is encouraged, as established in the "Student Rights and 
Responsibility Act of 1974, Section 12.11." Sloppy, untidy dress is not recommended because of 
safety. (See Student Dress/Grooming Guidelines)
Any act or behavior deemed unsafe to the extent where the safety and well-being of the 
individual or others is placed in jeopardy, may be cause for immediate dismissal from the Berks 
Career and Technology Center.

SAFETY GLASSES

It is Pennsylvania law that students pursuing certain activities in a vocational-technical school 
wear safety glasses at all times. For the protection of our students the Berks Career and Technology 
Center will provide safety glasses and cleaning stations in areas requiring their use. Students will be 
required to wear safety glasses at all times in these areas. They will be assigned their own pair, which 
must be kept in their possession at all times. If glasses are lost or damaged 
beyond usability, students will be required to purchase a replacement. Safety glasses are not to be 
removed from the school at any time.

FIRE DRILL REGULATIONS

Students will move quickly and quietly when leaving the building and moving to their 
designated area. They should leave all personal belongings behind, except for their purses or wallets.
Instructors will designate individual students to ensure that all area doors are closed and the 
POWER turned off. Instructors will also accompany their classes, maintain order and check 
attendance, using class rosters.
If students are working outside their assigned shop, they should follow the flow of traffic that 
is leaving the building. Once outside, they are to report to their instructor. When outdoor stations 
are reached, students will remain quiet and orderly until signaled to re-enter the building.

ACCIDENTS

All accidents must be reported to our instructors immediately, regardless of how minor they 
may seem. Instructors will send students to the nurse or person responsible for first aid. An accident 
report form must be completed and returned to the nurse.

CHILD/STUDENT ABUSE

School employees who suspect child abuse shall immediately notify the school principal or the 
principal's designated agent. Upon notification, the principal or the designated agent shall report the 
suspected child abuse. A person or official required to report a case of suspected child abuse, who 
willfully fails to do so, commits a summary offense for the first violation and a misdemeanor of the 
third degree for all subsequent violations. Any person required to report child abuse, and does so in 
good faith, shall have immunity from civil and criminal liability related to such reporting.

STUDENT ABUSE BY A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE

A school employee shall immediately contact the administrator when the school employee has 
reasonable cause to suspect, on the basis of his/her professional or other training and experience, that 
a student is a victim of serious bodily injury or sexual abuse or sexual exploitation by a school 
employee. If the accused school employee is the administrator, then the school employee shall 
immediately report to law enforcement officials and the district attorney.
The administrator shall exercise no discretion but has an absolute duty to report when s/he 
receives notice from a school employee. A school employee or administrator who refers a student 
abuse report shall be immune from civil and criminal liability arising out of the report. The school 
employee making a report of student abuse or injury by another employee shall not reveal the 
existence or content of the report to any person other than those to whom the reporting is required 
under this policy.

SPECIAL EVENTS

PARENTS' NIGHT

A Parents' night is held annually at each Career and Technology Center Campus. Students 
and their parents are invited to visit the campuses and individual instructors. Students' progress or 
concerns may be discussed at the time.

SENIOR RECOGNITION NIGHT

Awards and certificates of competency are presented to the senior class at an evening 
ceremony, held at each campus in May. Graduating seniors are provided an opportunity to invite two 
guests.


MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

INSURANCE

School insurance can be purchased through the sending school district. It is highly 
recommended that students have some kind of accident insurance, that covers then while in 
attendance at the Berks Career and Technology Center. School insurance is not available at the 
Berks Career and Technology Center.

STUDENT CHARGES/DEBTS

If a required job or sequence of required jobs is assigned to our students, they will not be held 
responsible for the cost of materials consumed. Students must purchase required clothing (uniforms) 
or tools, such as safety shoes or cosmetology kits, which become their personal property.
If an instructor provides the opportunity to a student to build, repair, or have repaired a 
personal project, which will be taken from the school upon completion, the student must supply or 
pay for all the materials used. Any work that is brought from outside must be approved by the 
instructor and supervisor. The instructor may reject an outside project on the following basis:
    - job is routine and has no learning value
    - job does not fit into the course of study at the time it is requested
    - job interferes with normal class function
Any outstanding debt will result in withholding of grades, and/or credit for the school year, 
and/or prosecution. All financial obligations must be cleared before a student leaves for withdrawal, 
cooperative education, summer vacation or graduation.

LOST AND FOUND

Articles found should be taken to the office. Articles not claimed will be disposed of at the 
end of the school year. If a student loses anything, the loss should be reported to the instructor and 
the main office.

TEXTBOOKS

Depending on the area of instruction, students may be assigned a numbered textbook for their 
personal use. All textbooks issued to students at no cost remain the property of the Berks Career and 
Technology Center. They must be returned at the end of the school year and be in good condition, 
less reasonable wear, or students will pay for damaged books.
There are also those programs in which students may be asked to purchase books. Students 
will be able to write or take notes in their own books and use them in their chosen career field as a 
resource after graduation.

EMERGENCY USE OF THE TELEPHONE

Students will not be called from class to the telephone. If the message is urgent, it will be 
delivered to the student immediately. Students are urged to make their parents and friends aware of 
this regulation. 
The phone in the office is a business phone, and you should not ask permission to use it.

LOCKER POLICY

The Berks Career and Technology Center acknowledges the need for safe in-school storage of 
books, clothing, school materials and other personal property, and may provide lockers for such 
storage. All lockers are and shall remain the property of the school. As such, students shall have no 
expectation of privacy in their lockers.

Students are encouraged to keep their lockers closed and locked, as the school is not 
responsible for the loss or theft of valuables. Lockers may not be used as a depository for a substance 
or object which is prohibited by law or school regulations or which threatens the health, safety or 
welfare of the school building or its occupants.

The Joint Operation Committee reserves the right to authorize school authorities to inspect a 
student's locker at any time for the purpose of determining whether the locker is being improperly 
used for the storage of contraband, a substance or object the possession of which is illegal, or any 
material which poses a threat or hazard to the safety and good order of the school. Random, periodic 
or sweeping searches may be conducted by school officials. Searches may also be conducted with 
police and police dogs.

If the school official conducting the search finds any illegal substance, material, or object, or 
evidence that the student has violated or is violating the law, the rules and regulations of the school, 
or the policy of the Joint Operating Committee, such substance, material, object or evidence may be 
seized and used against the student in school disciplinary, juvenile or criminal proceedings.

Prior to a locker being opened, students shall be notified and given an opportunity to be 
present; however, where school authorities have a reasonable suspicion that the locker contains 
materials, which pose a threat to the health, welfare and safety of students in the school, student 
lockers may be searched without prior warning and without the student being present.

RADIOS-WALKMANS

No radios/walkmans of any size or shape are allowed to be operated in the campus. If they are 
observed, they will be confiscated, only to be released to a parent or guardian and the student will be 
subject to disciplinary action.

CAFETERIA

The school is served by a full-service offer vs. served cafeteria, offering the "Class A" lunch 
and a variety of a la carte items. Weekly lunch tickets may be purchased in advance.
Not all students are scheduled to eat lunch at the Career and Technology Center; some 
students eat at the sending school district.
"The Child Nutrition Program (specified) is open to all eligible persons, regardless of race, 
color, national origin, sex, age, or special needs. If you believe that you have been treated unfairly in 
receiving food services for any of the stated reasons, write immediately to the Secretary of 
Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 20250."

STUDENT HONORS

Student of the Quarter honors are presented each marking period in all instructional areas, 
both A.M. and P.M. Students are invited to an honorary breakfast or luncheon.  Through
competition in the three student youth club organizations, students are eligible for 
recognition at local, state, national and international levels.   Each year the outstanding senior 
student in each subject area is chosen. Many shops also have specific competitions
throughout the state relating to their vocational area.

STUDENT DRESS/GROOMING GUIDELINES

The ultimate goal of vocational education is to prepare students for the world of work. Along 
with the requirements that skills be learned, proper work attitudes must also be acquired. In that 
spirit it is the philosophy of the Berks Career and Technology Center that guidelines for proper attire 
and grooming will be integrated into the vocational program. The principal reason for these 
guidelines is safety. However, it is never too early for a vocational student to become accustomed to 
the generally acceptable standards of dress and grooming prevalent in business and industry.
Therefore, students need to familiarize themselves with the following guidelines for student 
dress at the Berks Career and Technology Center:

SHOPS

Each course has a dress code and students assigned to that area will abide by that code. 
Any such code will be governed by safety requirements, exposure to trade practice, and 
uniformity/identity.. The adopted policy will, for the reasons listed above, also apply to length of hair, 
grooming and cleanliness.

GENERAL SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS

1. Hats, undershirts, cut-off clothing, or shoes with cleats will not be worn in the school.
2. Any clothing or jewelry which contains words or symbols that are profane or sexually 
explicit, or which by its nature distracts attention from the educational purposes of the 
school, is not considered appropriate for school attire.
3. Footwear must be worn at all times.
4. Tank tops, halters and tube tops are not permitted.
5. Shorts may be worn if part of the individual vocational dress code. The guidelines 
listed below will be strictly followed:
- Shorts designed for athletic wear are not appropriate
- Shorts, which focus undue attention on the wearer, or which is disruptive or 
indecent, should be avoided.
- Shorts should be selected that are appropriate for school/business and activities 
performed at school
- If, in the opinion of the school official, the shorts are found to be inappropriate, 
the matter will be handled under the progressive disciplinary policy.
6. Students have a responsibility to keep themselves, their clothes, and their hair clean. 
School officials may impose limitations on student participation in the instructional 
program, where lack of cleanliness constitutes a health hazard.

Failure to abide by the above provisions will be considered a violation of the insubordination 
section of the discipline code. Students may be sent home at the discretion of the administrator in 
charge of discipline for failure to heed the guidelines listed above.