Decorative Long logo of Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School in four colors two shades of blue and two shades of grey

Office Time

Mon – Fri  7:30am – 4:00pm

Address

3300 Chester Ave Bethlehem, PA 18020

Call Now

610-866-8013

Email

info@bavts.org

Logo and title of Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School. Logo depicts a "b" for "Bethlehem" in counter space while a two tone blue "a" represents "area." The compass and pointers depict the motto, Navigating your future with a dark navy compass surrounding the letters and two toned grey pointers.

Privacy Policy

Plain-Language Summary (“What This Means”)

This section explains the policy in simple terms. The full legal version begins below.

  • We don’t sell your information.

  • We don’t share your information except when required by law.

  • We don’t collect student education records through this website.

  • Anything involving students is protected under FERPA.

  • If you fill out a form (contact form, job posting form, etc.), we use the info only to respond or process your request.

  • Our website collects basic technical information (like IP addresses and pages visited) so the site works properly and remains secure.

  • Cookies are only used for site functionality, not tracking or advertising.

  • You can always contact us if you have privacy concerns.

This website is simply a school information and communication tool. Nothing here is used for marketing or commercial purposes.

Full Legal Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) governs the collection, use, disclosure, and protection of information obtained through the website staging.bethlehemavts.org (“Website”), operated by Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School (“BAVTS,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

By accessing or using this Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Policy.
If you disagree with any portion of this Policy, you must discontinue use of the Website.

BAVTS is an educational institution governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”), applicable state laws, and federal regulations. Educational record information is strictly protected and is not collected, stored, or transmitted via this Website, unless explicitly noted.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information Voluntarily Provided

We may collect information you voluntarily submit, including but not limited to:

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Contact or inquiry form submissions

  • Job posting submissions

  • Event or program registration information

  • Any additional information supplied in free-form text fields

All voluntarily provided information is collected solely for the purpose for which you submitted it.

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you access the Website, our systems may automatically collect:

  • IP address

  • Device type

  • Browser type and version

  • Operating system

  • Date and time of access

  • Pages viewed

  • Referring URL or domain

  • Error logs and security-related metadata

This data is used exclusively for:

  • System administration

  • Security monitoring

  • Diagnostic purposes

  • Analytics to improve site performance (non-identifying)

2.3 Student Information

We do not collect, store, or process student educational records or personally identifiable information (PII) through this Website.
Any educational record maintained by BAVTS is governed exclusively by FERPA and internal district systems, not this Website.

3. Use of Information

Information collected through the Website is used solely for:

  • Responding to inquiries

  • Facilitating communication with students, parents/guardians, job applicants, or community members

  • Processing requests or submissions

  • Maintaining Website security, integrity, and functionality

  • Meeting legal or regulatory obligations

We do not use collected information for:

  • Targeted advertising

  • Commercial solicitation

  • Sale, rental, or exchange with third parties

4. Disclosure of Information

BAVTS does not sell, rent, trade, or otherwise commercially disclose any information collected through this Website.

Information may only be disclosed:

  1. As required by federal, state, or local law

  2. In response to valid legal processes (e.g., subpoena, court order)

  3. To protect the security or integrity of school systems

  4. To authorized school officials, only where permitted under FERPA (not applicable to Website submissions unless expressly indicated)

BAVTS does not disclose student educational records or PII through this Website under any circumstances.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

The Website may use cookies solely for:

  • Authentication

  • Session management

  • Load balancing

  • Functionality improvements

We do not use:

  • Advertising cookies

  • Behavioral tracking cookies

  • Cross-site tracking technologies

Users may disable cookies through their browser settings; however, certain Website features may not function as intended.

6. Third-Party Tools and Embedded Content

The Website may include:

  • Embedded videos

  • Embedded maps

  • Accessibility widgets

  • Translation tools

  • Calendar integrations

These third-party services may collect minimal technical data as required for normal operation.
BAVTS does not provide these vendors with any personal information.

Users should review the privacy policies of third-party providers when interacting with embedded content.

7. FERPA Compliance

BAVTS complies fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Under FERPA:

  • Parents and eligible students have rights to inspect and review educational records.

  • PII from educational records cannot be disclosed without written consent, except where expressly permitted by law.

  • The Website is not used to store or transmit FERPA-protected records.

Any FERPA-regulated data is managed exclusively through authorized, secure internal school systems.

8. Data Security

We employ administrative, technical, and physical safeguards reasonably designed to:

  • Protect information from unauthorized access

  • Ensure the integrity and confidentiality of data

  • Mitigate cybersecurity risks

These include, but are not limited to:

  • Encrypted transmission (HTTPS)

  • Access controls

  • Firewalls

  • Security patching

  • Monitoring of server logs

Despite these safeguards, no internet-based system can provide an absolute guarantee of security.

9. Children’s Privacy

The Website is intended for general informational use and is accessible to students.
However:

  • We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13.

  • Any information relating to students is governed exclusively by FERPA, not this Website.

Parents who believe their child has submitted personal information may contact us to request its deletion.

10. External Links

The Website may contain links to external websites.
BAVTS is not responsible for:

  • The content of external websites

  • Their privacy practices

  • Their data collection methods

Users are encouraged to review the privacy policies of any linked websites before providing personal information.

11. Retention of Information

Information voluntarily submitted through Website forms may be retained only as long as necessary to:

  • Fulfill the purpose for which it was provided

  • Comply with legal obligations

  • Maintain appropriate records of communication

Automatically collected technical data may be retained for security and diagnostic purposes in accordance with standard IT policies.

12. Policy Updates

We may revise this Policy at any time to reflect:

  • Changes in law

  • Updates to school practices

  • Improvements to the Website

Revisions become effective upon posting.
Your continued use of the Website constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

13. Contact Information

For questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy, FERPA rights, or data security, you may contact:

Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School
3300 Chester Avenue
Bethlehem, PA 18020
Phone: (610) 866-8013
Email: info@bavts.org