WSSB ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

A. Purpose of this Manual

This Administrative Handbook contains official policy and procedures for the Washington State School for the Blind. It is intended to serve as an up-to-date, authoritative reference for each administrator and administrative office. Any new policies/procedures or revisions of existing ones contained in this Administrative Handbook will be placed herein within 48 hours of their official adoption.

Additional resources are listed under Item IV of the Table of Contents and can be found in that section of this Handbook. For information regarding Washington Personnel Merit System Rules, the WSSB Employee Handbook, Student/Parent Handbook, and Personnel Policy Manual, consult these Tables of Contents for references to the issue in question. All of these resources should be available in their entirety in the main office of the school, the WSSB administrative office, and the personnel office.

Where appropriate, refer also to the Operating Principles of the Board of Trustees, the Washington Administrative Codes (WAC's), the Revised Codes of Washington (RCW's), Special Education Policies and Procedures, and the Washington Management Service Rules.

B. Introduction by Superintendent

This handbook contains statements of personnel principles, policies, and procedures. It is designed to be a reference for administrative and supervisory staff to assist in the day-to-day operations of the school.

These written policies and procedures should increase understanding, eliminate the need for personal decisions on matters of written school and state policies/procedures and practices, and help to assure uniformity and fairness throughout the school. It is the responsibility of all school supervisory personnel to apply these policies in a consistent and impartial manner. Each employee can assist in helping keep our personnel programs and administrative procedures up-to-date by notifying the Personnel Department whenever problems are encountered or improvements can be made in administrative policies or procedures.

Washington State School for the Blind

A. Brief History

The history of services for children with disabilities began in 1886 with the establishment of a residential school to provide for the needs of blind, deaf, and mentally disabled. This school was established by an act of the territorial government under the direction of Governor Watson C. Squire on the third of February, 1886. Citizens in the Vancouver area contributed to the funds that allowed for the purchase of the school site. In 1913, the School for the Deaf and Blind became two separate schools in order to better provide programs for both disability groups. In 1986, the School for the Blind became a separate state agency directly responsible to the Governor's office.