GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1110
(Regulation 1110)
Religion (Form 1110)
Religious Expression
The District is committed to provide educational services and to maintain a learning environment, which does not limit or deny participation in constitutionally protected prayer or other protected religious expression. Consistent with the provisions of the First Amendment, the District and its employees, who are engaged in official duties, will not sponsor any religious activity or expression. Conversely, the District and its employees, who are engaged in official duties, will not discourage or preclude religious expression that is privately initiated, consistent with this policy and regulation. (For Board policy regarding instruction and religious or controversial issues, refer to Policy 6242 – Religious or Controversial Issues.)
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1210
Calendar Requirements
School Year and School Day
The Board will annually adopt a school calendar that will provide for a minimum of 174 days and 1,044 hours of pupil attendance. The beginning of the school year will not generally be set more than ten (10) days prior to Labor Day. Should the Board decide to set an earlier start date, the Board will:
Give public notice of the meeting to discuss an earlier start date
Conduct a public meeting
Vote at that meeting to allow an earlier start date
The length of the school day will meet State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education requirements for six (6) clock hours of instruction. A school year and school day in excess of the state required minimum may be recommended by the Superintendent and approved by the Board.
If the District's schools are dismissed due to inclement weather after school has been in session for three or more hours, that day shall count as a full day, including kindergarten. When the total hours lost due to inclement weather exceed twelve (12) hours, the time must be made up in half- or full-day additions to the school term.
The District shall be required to make up the first six (6) school days lost or canceled due to inclement weather and half the number of days lost or canceled in excess of six days. For purposes of this Policy, “inclement weather” shall mean ice, snow, extreme cold, flooding or a tornado, but not excessive heat.
Dec 07
The District is committed to providing equal opportunity in all areas of education, recruiting, hiring, retention, promotion and contracted service. The District further commits itself to the policy that there shall be no unlawful discrimination against any person because of race, color, religion, disability, age, gender or national origin.
The District's equal opportunity policy extends to prohibitions against unlawful harassment of students or employees because of the individual's race, color, religion, disability, age, gender or national origin
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1310
(Regulation 1310)
Equal Opportunity (Form 1310)
Civil Rights, Title IX, Section 504
The District assures that it will comply with:
1. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq., which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
2. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), as amended, 29 U.S.C. 794, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
3. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), as amended, 20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq., which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance. The provisions of Title IX apply to students with regard to educational opportunities and freedom from harassment, employees with regard to employment opportunities and freedom from harassment, and to individuals with whom the Board does business.
4. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended 42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq., which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.
5. All regulations, guidelines, and standards lawfully adopted under the above statutes by the United States Department of Education.
The District shall appoint an administrator(s) to assure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments
of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975. A District may designate only one employee to serve as both the Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator. In that case, the individual must assume the responsibilities of both coordinators. Those responsibilities are outlined in Regulation 1310.
It is the policy of the District to process all grievances in a fair and expeditious manner, with the
intent of resolving them in a mutually agreeable manner. Regulation 1310 provides mechanisms for
the resolution of grievances/complaints by employees, patrons and/or students relating to
discrimination under Section 504 and Title IX.
This policy and the corresponding regulation do not pertain to the identification, evaluation or placement of students under Section 504. The topics of the identification, evaluation and placement of students under Section 504 are addressed in the following separate District policies and regulations: Policy and Regulation 2110 – Equal Education Opportunity, and Policy and Regulation 6250 – Instruction for Students with Disabilities.
For issues pertaining to freedom from harassment, refer to Policy and Regulation 2130 – Harassment, and Policy and Regulation 4810 – Sexual Harassment.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1405
(Regulation 1405)
School/Community Relations
Parent/Family Involvement in Education
The Board of Education recognizes the positive effects of parents/families’ involvement in the education of their children. The Board is committed to strong parent/family involvement in working collaboratively with district staff as knowledgeable partners in educating district students. In order to implement the Board’s commitment to parent/family involvement in education, the Superintendent will appoint a committee of parents, staff, and community representatives to serve as the district’s Parent Involvement Committee. The Committee’s responsibilities will include recommendations for program development, parent/staff training and program evaluation. Program evaluation reports will be prepared and submitted to the Superintendent annually by June 1.
Nov 05
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1410
School/Community Relations
Relations with Law Enforcement Authorities
It is the District policy to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies in promoting the welfare of District’s students, staff and the community. As provided in Policy and Regulation 2673, District officials will satisfy the reporting requirements of the Safe Schools Act. (See also
Policy 2150 – Searches by School Personnel, and Policy 2160 – Interviews, Interrogations and Removal from School.)
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1420
(Regulation 1420)
School/Community Relations
Community Use of School Facilities
School District facilities are available for community use when facilities are not required for instructional or administration purposes. Use of District facilities is subject to approval of the community group’s application and is subject to conditions established by the Board of Education as set forth in administrative regulations.
To the extent that school facilities are available for community use, such facilities will be open, under the same terms and conditions, to youth groups including but not limited to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Little League Baseball and similar groups. When outside groups are permitted to use school facilities under this policy, the District will not unlawfully discriminate against groups based upon a group’s religious, political or philosophical content of the speech at such meetings.
The District encourages participation of parents and citizens of the community to volunteer in the schools in order to serve as additional resources to the teachers and students. Prior to serving as a volunteer, each individual who may have unsupervised contact with a child must complete an application for the position, have a satisfactory criminal records check, and have a satisfactory check of the child abuse/neglect records maintained by the Missouri Department of Social Services.
Principals and teachers shall welcome and encourage visits by parents/guardians, Board members, volunteers and patrons of the schools. All visitors shall report to the principal's office on entering the building so that the office will be aware of their presence. When a patron of the school has a need for a conference with a teacher or counselor, an appointment should be made so the staff member may proceed with his/her assigned duties without undue interruption.
Groups of visitors wishing to visit the school or facilities shall notify the Superintendent as far in advance as possible.
Students dismissed earlier in one school than others are not permitted to be on the grounds of any other school in the District.
All persons who do not obtain permission from the principal's office to visit the school, or visitors who create serious distractions to the learning environment in the building or on the premises, shall be considered trespassers and subject to arrest and prosecution.
In order to minimize the potential harm to staff and students, persons listed on the sex offenders list may not be present in any school building, or on district property, in any district vehicle utilized to transport students, or be present at school activities without the written permission of the Superintendent. If permission is granted for a specific event or events, the Superintendent will notify the principal, where the sex offender will be present.
Aug 07
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1431
(Regulation 1431)
School/Community Relations
Code of Conduct - Adults
The Board of Education believes in and fosters a safe and orderly environment for all students, staff, and visitors.
Therefore, the Board of Education has established a code of conduct for parents, patrons, and visitors on school premises and at school activities. All parents, patrons, and visitors will be expected to conduct themselves in a manner reflective of a positive role model for children. Public displays contrary to this expectation as provided in Regulation 1431 will result in sanctions which will limit a person's access to school activities and school premises.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1432
The presence of firearms and weapons poses a substantial risk of serious harm to District students, staff and community members. Therefore, possession of firearms and weapons is prohibited on school premises at all times except for law enforcement officials. As used in this policy, the phrase school premises includes all District buildings, grounds, vehicles and parking areas. This prohibition also extends to the sites of school activities, whether or not those school activities are conducted on School District property.
Individuals found to be in violation of this policy will be dealt with severely. Students will be disciplined up to and including expulsion as provided in Policy and Regulation 2620 – Firearms and Weapons in School. Law enforcement officials will be notified and the individual violating this policy will be directed to leave school premises. Non-students violating this policy will be barred from all school premises and school activities for a period of one (1) year. Subsequent violations by the same individual will result in a permanent bar from school premises and school activities.
Student participation in school sanctioned gun safety courses, student military or ROTC courses, or other school sponsored firearm related events does not constitute a violation of this policy, provided the student does not carry a firearm or other weapon into any school, school bus, or onto the premises of any other activity sponsored or sanctioned by school officials. In addition, persons passing through school district property for purposes of dropping off or picking up a student do not violate this policy if they possess a lawful permitted weapon in the vehicle during this time.
Oct 03
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1440
(Regulation 1440)
School/Community Relations (Form 1440)
Research Requests
Requests for research studies involving students and/or staff of the School District must be submitted to the Superintendent of Schools or the Superintendent's designee for approval. Any research utilizing human subjects must be authenticated by the sponsoring university. Written permission from parents of the students to be involved must also be obtained as well as approval of each principal whose school is to be involved.
The District provides public access for the inspection and copying of the District's public records. As a general practice, the District requires advance payment of a copy fee that does not exceed ten (10) cents per page for pages not larger than nine by fourteen inches and a search and duplication fee that does not exceed the average hourly rate of pay for District clerical staff. However, copies of the District's public records may be provided without a fee or at a reduced fee when the Board determines that a reduction is in the public interest. In assessing fee reductions, the Board will consider the potential that the reduction will significantly contribute to public understanding of the District's operations and will consider the degree of commercial value to be gained by the person requesting a fee reduction. In accordance with state law, search time that would require more than clerical duplication of documents may be charged at the actual cost of research time.
Similarly the District will provide public access for inspection and duplication of the District's public records maintained on audio, video or similar media. Public access includes but is not limited to computer facilities, recording tapes, disks, videotapes, films, pictures, slides, graphics, and illustrations. The District requires advance payment not to exceed the cost of copies, staff time (not to exceed the average hourly rate of pay for clerical staff), and the cost of the disk or tape used for duplication.
In order to facilitate public access to the District's public records, the Board will appoint a custodian of records. The custodian will be responsible for maintaining the District's public records as well as for assuring access to the District's public records. The identity, business address, and office telephone number of the custodian of records will be published annually and will be available at the District's administrative office. The procedures for implementing public access provided in this policy are set forth in Regulation 1450.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1460
(Regulation 1460)
School/Community Relations
Community Involvement in Decision Making
The Board of Education recognizes that many residents of the District may be especially qualified to take an active part in school affairs because of their training, experience, or personal characteristics and encourages them to take an active part in school affairs.
The Board shall give substantial weight to the advice it receives from individuals and community groups interested in the District's schools, but shall use its own judgment in arriving at decisions.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1470
School/Community Relations
Public Gifts to Schools
The Board of Education recognizes the educational value of appropriate gifts to schools from Parent Teacher Organizations (PTO), other civic groups, corporations, or individuals, and encourages their use to enrich the instructional program. Therefore, gifts which may serve to enhance and extend the work of the schools may be received by the District as approved by the Board.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1480
School/Community Relations
Public Complaints
Although no member of the community shall be denied the right to petition the Board of Education for redress of a grievance, the complaints will be referred through the proper administrative channels for solution before investigation or action by the Board. Exceptions are complaints that concern Board actions or Board operations only.
The Board advises the public that the proper channeling of complaints involving instruction, discipline, or learning materials is as follows:
1. Teacher
2. Principal
3. Appropriate Central Office Administrator
4. Superintendent
5. Board of Education
Any complaint about school personnel will be investigated by the Administration before consideration and action by the Board.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1510
Office Methods and Data Management
Records
Custodian of District Records
The Board of Education will designate the custodian of District records who shall maintain, protect, and make such records accessible to authorized persons.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1520
(Regulation 1520)
Office Methods and Data Management
School District Annual Report
School District officials will submit to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education all data and reports as required by law and/or by regulations of the Missouri State Board of Education. The Annual Report will be completed and submitted in accordance with department regulations.
The Annual Report will be distributed to all media outlets serving the District, and will be made available to all District patrons, and to each member of the General Assembly representing a legislative District that contains a portion of the School District.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1600
Private, State and Federal Programs Administration
Where appropriate the District will seek to participate in private, state and federal grant programs as recommended by the Administration and approved by the Board of Education. Procedures for development of grant proposals are set forth in Regulation 1620 – Private, State and Federal Funding.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1610
Private, State and Federal Programs Administration
Protection of Student Rights
All instructional materials, including teachers' manuals, films, tapes or other supplementary material which will be used in connection with any student survey, analysis or evaluation shall be available for inspection by parents/guardians of the students. This requirement also applies to the collection, disclosure or use of student information for marketing surveys.
No student shall be required to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation as part of a school program or marketing survey that requires students to reveal personal information concerning:
1. Political affiliations of the student or student’s family;
2. Mental and psychological problems of the student or his/her family;
3. Sexual behavior and attitudes;
4. Illegal, antisocial or self incriminating behavior;
5. Critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. Religious practices and affiliations;
7. Legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers; or
8. Income, other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance.
The District will give parents notice of their right to inspect surveys and instructional materials used in educating their children, and of the right to opt their child out of participating in activities that concern any of the above eight areas.
Oct 03
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1620
(Regulation 1620)
Private, State and Federal Programs Administration
Private, State, and Federal Funding
Grants from outside agencies are to be related to the needs and priorities of the District in the form of program improvement. Outside funds are to be regarded as supplemental in nature, intended to enhance or augment the usual efforts toward desired goals, quality of learning, inservice education, or capital improvement. Grants may lead to research and development that will be of value to the District. All such funds will be deposited, accounted, and reported through the District's accounting office. The Board directs that the Administration keep financial and program records to document the compliance with all state and federal requirements and to corroborate program success.
All employees of the School District who plan to apply to an outside agency (private, corporate, or governmental) for grants or other types of funds for District use must clear the request with the Superintendent of Schools or designee before preparing an application. The application must then be approved by the Board of Education before submission to the source of funding.
Grants cannot be requested that would require District expenditures not budgeted in the current fiscal year. District funds may not be obligated in advance for future years by the terms of a grant without prior Board approval.
If a grant requires participation by children in experimental types of instruction, written permission of parents must be secured.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1621
(Regulation 1621)
Private, State and Federal Programs Administration
Title I
The Board recognizes the importance of parental involvement with the Title I program and will provide a variety of opportunities for parents to be involved in policy design and in the planning, implementation and review of Title I programs.
Title I teachers and paraprofessionals must meet the qualifications outlined in Regulation 1621.
Pursuant to the provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the District will submit its Federal Title I LEA Plan, describing the District’s Title I services.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1710
Administrative Organization and Roles
Administrative Reports
The Board of Education may require reports from the Superintendent and other administrative officials concerning the status of District programs, educational needs and long-term District planning. The Board will take steps to monitor the success of District schools in achieving their educational objectives.
The Superintendent is the chief administrative officer of the School District. The Superintendent, under the direction of the Board, is responsible for the general supervision of the schools and all District personnel. The Superintendent is the chief executive officer of the Board and shall be responsible to the Board for the execution of the policies, rules and regulations and directives given by the Board, and for the functions listed in Regulation 1720.
The Superintendent is the authorized representative and signatory for all official matters pertaining to the School District.
The Superintendent shall hold Missouri Teacher's and Superintendent's Certificates and have prior teaching experience. Prior experience as a school administrator is desirable.
The Superintendent’s contract will be based on a twelve-month year, with salary and work year to be established by the Board.
The Superintendent of Schools may be employed by the Board of Education for a term of from one (1) to three (3) years. The terms of the Superintendent's employment will be contained in a written contract signed by the Superintendent, the Board President and the Board Secretary. During the term of the Superintendent's contract, the amount of compensation and benefits provided in the contract may not be changed.
The Board of Education will evaluate the performance of the Superintendent in or by February in each contract year. The Superintendent's evaluation will be based, in part, upon the Superintendent's annual goals provided to the Board of Education.
The employment of the Superintendent terminates upon expiration of the Superintendent’s contract. The decision to extend the Superintendent’s contract or to deny such extension lies in the total discretion of the Board.
In addition, and as provided in the Superintendent’s employment contract, the Superintendent’s contract may be terminated by mutual consent, termination for cause, or death or incapacity.
The Superintendent of Schools may be employed by the Board of Education for a term of from one (1) to three (3) years. The terms of the Superintendent's employment will be contained in a written contract signed by the Superintendent, the Board President and the Board Secretary. During the term of the Superintendent's contract, the amount of compensation and benefits provided in the contract may not be changed.
The employment of the Superintendent terminates upon expiration of the Superintendent’s contract. The decision to extend the Superintendent’s contract or to deny such extension lies in the total discretion of the Board.
In addition, and as provided in the Superintendent’s employment contract, the Superintendent’s contract may be terminated by mutual consent, termination for cause, or death or incapacity.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1723
(Form 1723)
Administrative Organization and Roles
Evaluation of the Superintendent
The Board of Education will evaluate the performance of the Superintendent in or by February in each contract year. The Superintendent’s evaluation will be based, in part, upon the Superintendent’s annual goals provided to the Board of Education.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Policy 1730
Administrative Organization and Roles
Building Administration
Under the supervision of the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee, the building principals serve as the instructional leaders of their assigned buildings. In that capacity, building administrators are responsible for the implementation of Board policies and regulations. Each building administrator will be evaluated on his/her instructional leadership and the success of his/her students.