ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0110
Legal Status
District Name and
Identification Codes
The School District is organized under the authority of the State
Legislature and exercises powers delegated directly and indirectly by the Missouri
State Legislature.
The official, corporate name of the School District shall be Adair
Co R-II School District
Adair Co R-II
District Name
205 West
Dewey
District Address
Brashear, MO 63533
660-323-5272
Phone
Identification
Codes
001-092
County/District Code
436000381
Federal Identification Number
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0200*
School District
Philosophy
In
carrying out its responsibilities, the Board of Education is guided by the
desire to use the resources of its community, its staff and its students to
provide the highest quality education permitted by its financial resources. In reaching decisions the Board will attempt
in every case to act in the best interests of its students.
A philosophy of education is the foundation on which a school district
is built, and upon which the product of the school program is evaluated. The philosophy herein subscribed to by the
Board of Education shall be a guide in determining the policies, rules and
regulations of the school district.
Recognizing each student as a unique individual, we
believe that education should provide an opportunity for the maximum
development of each individual within the limitations of his or her
capacities. Through education, it is
possible for the individual to discover and endeavor to achieve to the limits
of his or her capacities.
We believe that in a democratic society, education
must help the student realize their worth as individuals and should lead them
toward becoming productive members of society.
Strong emphasis must be placed upon democratic values that are important
for an effective and satisfying life.
We believe that the role of the teacher in the
educational process is to provide opportunities for the individual to achieve
at the maximum level of capacity, to create a learning situation in which
individual motivation for learning is the stimulus for achievement, and to
promote through teaching and example the principles of the democratic way of
life.
We believe that parents/guardians have definite
responsibilities in education. They need
to have a basic confidence in the school, and they need to impart this
confidence of the students. The
parents/guardians may do this by cooperating to the fullest with the schools,
by encouraging the student to give his or her best efforts to the daily school
responsibilities, and by participating in school activities.
We believe that the student must have
responsibilities in the educational program of the community. The most important of these is attitude. The student is obliged to come with an open
mind, equipped with all the necessary materials, ready to fulfill the
responsibilities in the learning process.
The basic attitude should be that the school is an institution of
opportunity, staffed with trained personnel to help the student become a
contributing member of society.
We believe that the foundation of the district’s
educational program is based on the development of competencies in the basic
fundamentals of reading, oral and written communication and mathematics. Students will gather, analyze and apply
information and ideas; communicate effectively within and beyond the classroom;
recognize and solve problems; and will acquire skills necessary to make
decisions and act as responsible members of society.
It is, therefore, the responsibility of the Adair Co R-II School District
to provide an educational environment for children of the district, which will
foster and accelerate their intellectual, physical, artistic, social and career
development.
Aug 04
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0200a
School District Goals & Objectives
The Board of Education is charged on behalf of
the public with the responsibility of determining the goals of the Adair County
R-II School District. In discharging
that responsibility the Board has addressed four
primary areas: education, professional
personnel, school environment and district operations.
It is the commitment of the Board to develop
policies to implement the goals within each area. Furthermore, it is the commitment of the
Board to review annually and restate as necessary the goals within each area so
that the programs will at all times speak directly to the stated goals.
Education
To structure the overall instructional program to promote sufficient
alternatives to meet the variety of individual needs, capacities and
aspirations through both individualized class offerings and offerings that
extend the learning environment into the community.
To promote a plan for the organized improvement of school curriculum
including the articulation of instruction between elementary and secondary
schools.
To provide offerings which explore wide range of career and service
opportunities.
To provide an integration of the intellectual, physical, social and
career developmental experiences for each student.
To maintain a comprehensive and articulated program for handicapped
students involving maximum inclusion of handicapped students in regular school
programs.
To help students gain an understanding of themselves as well as skills
and techniques involved in living and working with others.
To promote a relevant and challenging secondary school curriculum which
will adequately prepare the student for his vocational goals or postsecondary
education.
To promote participation and recognition of achievement in all
endeavors (academic, athletic, fine arts, performing arts, practical arts,
etc.).
To provide opportunities to assist students in forming attitudes and
acquiring habits needed for responsible citizenship.
Professional Personnel
To improve district-wide performance in the teaching of reading,
writing and mathematical skills.
To establish minimum acceptable competency-based performance standards
for all professional personnel.
To provide in-service training and professional growth experiences for
the professional staff.
To continue disciplinary procedures that promote a positive school
environment.
To maintain and review an accountability system for the improvement of
the instructional program.
School Environment
To assure each individual a physically and emotionally safe teaching
and learning environment.
To assure that each individual is treated fairly, respectfully and
without bias by all members of the school community.
To assure accessibility of all facilities and educational programs for all
students and staff members.
To have each individual in the school community know and fulfill his
responsibility with regard to safety and respect to others.
District Operations
To make every effort to secure adequate funding for the district’s
educational program.
To operate within a balanced budget during the school year.
To maintain an up-to-date inventory of the supplies and equipment in
the district.
To maintain adequate transportation, food service, clerical, and custodial,, and maintenance services
for the efficient operation of the district’s schools.
To continually strive for more efficient use of all professional and
support staff.
To maintain and review long-range plans for the efficient use of school
facilities.
To assure immediate communication between the superintendent or his
designee and the Board on critical occurrences within the district.
In establishing these
goals for the district, the Board does not attempt to diminish the importance
of other issues facing the district in the years ahead.
Jan 98
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0310
School Board
Organization
School Board
Purpose and Roles
The
School Board of Education performs three basic functions in the management of
the School District:
Legislative
The
School Board shall exercise full legislative rule and management authority for
the District by adopting policy and directing all procedures necessary for the
governance of District educational and administrative responsibilities.
Executive
The
School Board shall delegate to the Superintendent the responsibility of
implementing all Board policy.
Appraisal
The
School Board shall determine the effectiveness of policy implementation through
evaluation of school operations, practices and program outcomes. The achievement level of students shall be
the guiding standard through which all success shall be measured.
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0311
School Board
Organization
Statement of
Practices
Attendance
Members shall attend all regularly scheduled Board of Education
meetings insofar as possible. Any member failing to attend the meeting of the
Board for three (3) consecutive regular meetings, unless excused by a majority
of the Board for reasons satisfactory to the Board, shall be deemed to have
vacated the seat; and the secretary of the Board shall certify that fact to the
Board. The vacancy shall be filled as other vacancies occurring in the Board.
Attendance for purposes of
this provision shall be defined as actual, physical attendance at
the Board meeting until all of the business of the Board has been completed
unless a member is excused by a majority of the Board.
Knowledge
Members shall come to Board of Education meetings informed concerning
the issues to be considered.
Abstentions
Members shall avoid abstaining except when required by statute or Board
policy. The members of the Board have been elected to make difficult decisions
on behalf of the students, parents, patrons and employees of the district. The
concept of trusteeship requires each member to review the issues under the
Board's consideration and to take a stand regarding those issues. A member who
has conformed to the above‑described tenets of knowledge, open
discussion, independent judgment, and independent and civility should be
prepared to cast a vote on each of the issues before that member.
Cooperation/Delegation
Members shall work with other Board members to establish effective
Board policies and to delegate authority for the administration of the schools
to the Superintendent. Members shall not attempt to by‑pass, undermine,
or usurp the Superintendent's authority and responsibility for the daily
operation of the schools.
Conflict of Interest
Members shall avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest,
and shall not use the Board position for personal or partisan gain. Members
shall conduct themselves in accordance with the conflict of interest policy and
disclosure requirements prescribed by statute and Board policy.
Confidentiality
Members shall not disclose confidential information. Information is
confidential if it is (a) communicated during executive session; or (b)
otherwise communicated with a mutual understanding of confidentiality.
Acceptance of Gifts
Members shall not solicit or accept gifts, payments, or anything
greater than a nominal value item or holiday gifts of nominal value from any
person, organization, group, or entity doing business or desiring to do
business with the School District.
Contact with Vendors
Members, if contacted by a vendor requesting information about the
District's bidding procedures, whether of a general nature or with regard to
specific goods or services to be bid, shall provide the vendor with the name
and business telephone number of the administrator responsible for purchasing
such goods or services. The member shall request that the vendor contact the
relevant administrator and direct all questions and concerns to that
administrator.
Board Communications to Staff
All official communications, policies, and directives of staff interest
and concern will be communicated to staff members through the Superintendent,
and the Superintendent will employ such media as are appropriate to keep the
staff fully informed of the Board's concerns and actions.
Visits to Schools
Individual Board members who, in their parental capacity, wish to visit
the school(s) or classroom(s) of their child(ren) will follow the regular
procedures for visitors. Board members who wish to visit other schools or
classrooms as an informal expression of interest in school affairs will inform
the Superintendent who will arrange such visit(s) through appropriate
principal(s). Official visits by Board members will be conducted only with the
full knowledge of the Superintendent and principal(s) involved.
Educational Welfare
Members shall remember always that the first and greatest concern must
be the educational welfare of the students attending the School District.
The qualified voters of the School
District shall annually on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of April,
elect two directors for terms of three years, except, effective for Board
elections beginning in April of 1993, and each three years thereafter, when
three directors shall be elected in compliance with regulations specified in
state law.
An election shall not be held if the
number of candidates who have filed for the Board is equal to the number of
positions available. However, regardless
of the number of Board vacancies and Board candidates, if a ballot proposition
(i.e., tax levy, bond issue) is on the ballot, an election of Board members must
be held. If no election would be held
due to the number of candidates equaling the number of vacancies, the District
will publish a notice containing the names of the candidates who will assume a
Board directorship absent an election.
This notice will be published in a newspaper of general circulation in
the District on or by March 1 prior to the scheduled election.
a.Qualified
Voters in the School District
An individual must be a registered voter
in order to vote in a school election. In order to vote, a person must be
eighteen (18) years of age or older, must be a citizen of the United States,
and must reside in the School District thirty (30) days.
b.Candidate
Qualification - Method of Filing
Qualified applicants for the Board may
file for office beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Superintendent's office
commencing on the seventeenth (17th) Tuesday prior to the election and ending
at 5:00 p.m. on the fourteenth (14th) Tuesday before the election. The
candidate shall declare his/her intent to become a candidate, in person and in
writing to the secretary of the Board of Education. The names of qualified
candidates shall be placed on the ballot in the order of filing. The notice of
election and certification of candidates must be submitted to the county clerk
by the tenth Tuesday prior to the election. Candidates must comply with all of
the prevailing laws concerning eligibility and campaign financing.
A candidate who files for one vacancy and
later decides to run for another shall be positioned on the ballot according to
the time when his/her change of declaration is received by the secretary of the
Board, not on the basis of when the first petition was filed.
Candidates must be citizens of the United
States and resident taxpayers of the District, reside in the District for one
year next preceding their election or appointment, and be at least twenty-four
(24) years of age. Candidates will be disqualified from participation in a
Board election if, the candidate is delinquent in the payment of any state
income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes, real property taxes on the
residence of the candidate. Candidates
must also complete a notarized copy of Form 0320 - Candidate’s Place of
Residence attesting that the candidate is not currently aware of any
delinquency in the filing or payment of state income taxes, personal property
taxes, municipal taxes or real property taxes on the candidate’s place of
residence. The candidate must further attest that they are not a past or present
corporate officer of the office that owes any taxes to the state, which are not
in dispute. Said affidavit (MCE Form
0320) must include a copy of the affidavit with the declaration of candidacy
(MCE Form 0320.1). Failure to accurately
complete and file Form 5120 with the Department of Revenue may disqualify a
candidate from the ballot. Each newly
elected or appointed director shall qualify and take his/her oath of office in
the manner prescribed by law and according to Policy 0330 - Oath of Office.
No person
may be a candidate for a position on the Board if such person is registered as
a sex offender or is required to be registered as a sex offender under state
law. Any Board member who is likewise
required to register, or who is registered as a sex offender under state law
will immediately be requested by the Board to resign from the Board. Should such Board member refuse to resign,
the member will be ineligible to serve as a Board member at the end of his/her
term.
In
addition, no person shall qualify as a candidate for the Board of Education,
who has been found guilty of, or has pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor
under federal law, or to a felony under Missouri law, or has been found guilty
of an offense in another state, which would be considered to be a felony in the
State of Missouri.
It is not
the District’s responsibility to investigate and determine a candidate’s
eligibility. That responsibility rests
with the Department of Revenue and/or the County Election Authority.
Expenditure
of District Funds
No contribution
or expenditure of District funds will be made directly by any officer,
employee, or agent of the District to advocate, support, or oppose the passage
or defeat of any ballot measure, or the nomination or election of any candidate
for public office, or to direct any public funds to, or pay any debts, or
obligations of any committee supporting or opposing such ballot measure or
candidates. This policy shall not be
construed to prohibit any district official from making public appearances or from
issuing press releases concerning such ballot issue.
Creation
of Voting Sub-Districts
If the
Board wishes to consider division of the District, the Board must first vote on
the question of dividing the District.
If the question receives four affirmative votes, the Board will develop a
proposed plan for voting sub-districts. The plan will comply with the
provisions of RSMo. §162.563. In addition, if 10% of the registered voters
in the last school board election will submit a petition to subdivide the
District into voting sub-districts, election of officials will be notified and
an election held.
*****
August 2022, Copyright © 2022 Missouri
Consultants for Education, LLC
School Board
Organization
School Board
Officers
Within fourteen (14) days after the annual Board election in April, the
Board will meet to administer the oath of office to new Board members and to
elect a president and vice-president.
Thereafter, on or before the 15th day of July of each year, the
Board shall elect a secretary and a treasurer, who shall enter upon their
respective duties on the 15th day of July. The secretary and treasurer may or may not be
members of the Board (RSMo. Section 162.301(2)).
Oct 03
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0323
School Board
Organization
Resignation
Any School Board member who wishes to resign from office shall inform
the School Board secretary in writing. The School Board secretary shall certify
to the Board that the office is vacant. The Board will then appoint a
replacement to serve until the next School Board election, at which time the
position shall be filled by election to complete the unexpired term.
Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Board of
Education, the remaining members of the Board will, by majority vote, select an
individual to fill the vacant position until the next annual school election.
Persons who are delinquent in the payment of state income tax, personal
property tax, municipal tax, or real property tax on the person’s place of
residence are not eligible to be appointed to a Board vacancy. A candidate to
fill a Board vacancy must provide the District with a signed and notarized
affidavit stating that all state income taxes and property taxes, both person
and real, have been paid or attest to the fact that no taxes were owed for the
two fiscal years immediately prior to their appointment.
In filling the vacancy, the Board will
inform the community and solicit applications.
In addition, the Board may affirmatively solicit qualified community
members to apply for the vacant position.
The Board, or a committee designated by the Board will screen the
applicants and will select no more than three applicants for Board
interview. Candidate interviews and the
vote taken to fill the vacancy will occur in an open session meeting of the
Board.
If there
are more than two vacancies and if the District is located in a county without
a county commission, the county executive will fill the vacancies with the
advice and consent of the county council.
*****
August 2021, Copyright © 2021
Missouri Consultants for Education, LLC
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0330
School Board
Organization
Oath of Office
Within fourteen (14) days after their election, the newly elected
members of the Board shall take the oath of office proscribed by Article VII,
Section II, of the Constitution of Missouri, RSMo.
Section 162.301(1).
OATH OF OFFICE
I, ,
do solemnly swear that I am
Board
Member
at least twenty-four (24) years of age, that I am a citizen of the
United States and a resident taxpayer
of the , in
School
District County
in the State of Missouri, and that I will support the Constitutions of
the United States and of the
State of Missouri, and that I will abide by and uphold the
School District
Board Member Code of Ethics, and will faithfully demean myself in
office.
Oct 03
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0340
School Board Organization
Code of Ethics
The purpose of the Board of Education is:
1. To
govern and control the affairs of the District as provided by law.
2. To discover
and interpret the educational needs, attitudes and interests throughout the
District as a guide to developing and setting priorities for an educational
program.
3. To
exercise judgment in reviewing, considering and voting on district wide
policies
affecting
the operation of the schools.
4. To
oversee the management and fiscal control of the schools as provided by law and
to
review,
evaluate and judge the effectiveness of the educational program.
The roles of members of the Board
of Education are:
1. To
recognize that it is the responsibility of the Board to see that the schools
are properly
administered,
not to administer them.
2. To hold
the Superintendent responsible for the implementation of Board policies and the
administration
of the District.
3. To give
the Superintendent authority commensurate with his/her responsibility.
4. To vote
on Board matters only after considering the recommendation of the
Superintendent
and any
interested citizens.
5. To
maintain a working rapport with other members of the Board and the
Superintendent.
6. To respect and
encourage the right of others to hold and express opinions.
7. To
support the Board once a legal decision has been made by a majority vote.
8. To avoid
inappropriate or disparaging remarks, in or out of Board meetings, about other
Board
members or their opinions.
9. To
realize that the responsibilities are district-wide.
10. To
recognize that authority rests with the School Board in legal session and no
individual
Board
member has legal authority to request action from the staff
11. To avoid
any comments which may be interpreted as undermining the administration of the
District.
12. To assure
that special committees, when appointed, have a well defined objective and that
there
is understanding that the committee serves in an advisory capacity.
In addition, members of the
Board of Education will:
1. Work
through the Superintendent and his/her staff.
2. Support
the Superintendent's efforts to appoint the most qualified persons as employees
of the
District.
3. Reinforce
the efforts of the Superintendent and the staff so that they may perform their
assigned
responsibilities in the most effective manner.
4. Provide
the Superintendent counsel as requested or required.
5. Make every effort to
keep all citizens informed about the quality and condition of
public
school education in the District.
6. Initiate
and implement all efforts to secure adequate financial support for the
District.
7. Assure
that all transactions of the District are ethical, open and aboveboard.
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy 0342 (Regulation 0342)
School Board
Organization (Form
0342)
Nepotism, Conflict
of Interest and Financial Disclosure
The Board may employ a person related within the fourth degree to a
Board member, provided the related Board member does not debate or vote upon
the employment issue. However, the Board
may not under any circumstances employ one of its own members.
In order to consider employment of a Board member’s spouse, the
position must have been advertised as required in Policy 4120 – Employment
Procedures. In addition, the Superintendent must consider and submit a written
affirmative recommendation to the Board. The names of all applicants for that
position, as well as the name of the applicant hired, are to be included in the
Board minutes.
Members
of the Board of Education will conduct themselves in a manner that complies not
only with the letter of conflict of interest laws, but also in the spirit of
those provisions. Board members will at
all times make good faith efforts to avoid the appearance of a conflict of
interest. If a situation arises which involves the potential for a conflict of
interest, the individual Board member will declare his interest and will
refrain from debating or voting upon the question of engaging or using the
business entity in question.
Oct 03
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0350
School Board
Organization
School Board
Compensation
No member of the Board shall accept a salary from, or be employed by
the Board, or profit financially in any manner by reason of any dealings with
the Board.
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0351
School Board
Organization
School Board Travel
Travel and accompanying expenses may be authorized by a majority of the
Board of Education for any of its members to attend conferences, meetings,
seminars, conventions, etc., at the state, regional and national levels. Travel
expenses may include transportation, lodging, meals and registration fees.
Each Board member who has been approved for travel shall file with the
Business and Finance Office an itemized account of anticipated expenses and may
request and receive an advance for these expenses. Upon completion of travel,
an actual expense account report, with appropriate receipts, shall be filed
with the Business and Finance Office within the next two weeks.
Travel requests will not normally be approved in the three months prior
to the completion of a Board member's term.
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy 0360
School Board
Organization
Board Committees
The
Board may appoint committees to assist it in carrying out the Board’s
responsibilities. However, the Board may
not delegate those functions which, by law, must be exercised by the Board of
Education.
Committee
Guidelines
1.
Committees
created by the Board of Education will be assigned specific tasks to be
performed and will be assigned a specific time frame within which to accomplish
assigned tasks.
2.
Upon
completion of these tasks or upon expiration of the time allotted, the
committee will be dissolved unless extended by the Board.
3. Reports
of Board committees may be made in written form or be presented verbally at a Board meeting at the
discretion of the Board.
Committee Meetings
Meetings of committees appointed by the
Board or at the Board’s direction including advisory committees appointed for
the specific purpose of recommending policy, policy revisions, expenditures of
public funds to the Board or to the Superintendent will comply with the notice
and open meeting provision applicable to Board of Education meetings. The District’s custodian of records will
maintain a
current list of such advisory committees.
Board
members initially elected or appointed after August 28, 1993, shall
successfully complete orientation and training requirements within one year of
the date of election or appointment. The
orientation and training will consist of at least eighteen hours and thirty
minutes. The District will pay the costs
of the training.
This
mandatory training will include two hours and thirty minutes of current
reliable information concerning identifying signs of sexual abuse in children
and the danger signals of potentially abusive relationships between children
and adults. In addition, this segment of
the training will emphasize methods to establish an atmosphere of trust in
order that students feel comfortable discussing abuse with school staff. District administrators will conduct
investigations following abuse hotline calls, and advise the Board of the facts
and recommendations.
Any
Board member serving a term as of August 28, 2019 or elected or appointed after
August 28, 2019, will complete at least one hour of refresher training each
year of their term of office. However,
the refresher training is not required in the year the member completes the
initial orientation and training.
The
annual refresher training will address concepts covered in the initial
training, including the prevention of sexual abuse of children.
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy
0410*
Meetings
Regular
The regular meeting of the Board shall be held on the third Wednesday
in each month, at the hour of 6:00 p.m., except when a majority of the Board
agrees in advance and public notice is given.
Public meetings may be conducted in person or by conference call, video
chats, Internet conferences, e-mails and Internet message board.
Special
Special meetings may be held at the time set by the Board or on the
call of the Board president or a majority of the Board. (Not less than twenty-four (24) hours written
notice, stating the time and place of the meeting and the business to be
considered will be given to each member.)
Simultaneously with the giving of notice of such meeting to the members
of the Board, a written notice of the meeting and the matters to be considered
will be posted in the same manner as postings for regular Board meetings.
Quorum and Majority Vote
The presence of a majority of the Board constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of business. However, the letting of contracts, employment of
personnel, approval of bills for payment, and the ordering of warrants require
an affirmative vote of a majority of the full Board.
Voting Method
The president shall have a vote on all
questions. When a member abstains from voting,
such abstention shall not be counted as a vote either for or against the
proposal, but shall be entered in the minutes as an abstention.
Any closed vote shall be taken by roll
call. A roll call vote may also be taken
on any motion in an open public meeting, provided that a majority has voted to
do so. When an open public vote is not
to be taken by roll call, any member may request that the Board be polled on
any issue requiring a vote. The number
of “yea” and “nay” votes on any question shall be recorded in the minutes. Any member, if he or she so desires, shall
have the privilege of having his or her vote and reasons therefore recorded on
any question. Any member may also
request that his or her vote be changed if such request is made prior to
consideration of the next order of business.
Members of the Board may vote and otherwise
participate in meetings by means of contemporaneous telephonic or other
electronic participation. If a Board
member so participates, the member is entitled to have the actual physical
presence of the member excused in circumstances where the Board member would
normally and reasonably have such absence excused. A member so participating shall be counted present
for purposes of convening a quorum. The
Board secretary shall ensure that the minutes reflect any electronic
participation.
Any Board member wishing to participate in
this manner should advise the Board president and superintendent as early as
possible to facilitate arrangements and avoid delays of the Board’s
business. If the Board initiates contact
after an item of business has been opened, the remotely located member shall
not participate until the next item of business is opened.
The superintendent shall ensure that
adequate facilities and equipment for telephonic or other electronic
participation are furnished for Board meetings, when necessary, and shall take
measures to ensure the authentic identity of any remotely-located
participants. The telephonic or other means
of electronic participation shall be made audible and/or visible, as
appropriate, to all those entitled to be present at any meeting where a member
participates in this manner.
Closed Meetings
The Board may vote to conduct closed executive sessions
as provided for in Policy 0430 – Executive Sessions. In order to enter
into executive session, such motion must be approved by a roll call majority
vote. The motion to enter executive session must reference the specific
statutory matters to be discussed.
Any
Board member may object to the closing of a meeting, record or vote if the
member believes the motion to close violates the Sunshine Law; such member(s)
must object at or before the motion to close is voted upon and must vote
against closing. The member(s) shall be
allowed to fully participate in any subsequent meeting or vote. The objecting member(s) shall be immune from
any liability for improper closure of a meeting.
Recording
of Board Meetings
The
open sessions of Board meetings may be audio or video taped. The Board has adopted guidelines set forth in
Regulation 0410 to minimize the potential disruptive effect of such recordings.
Firearms and Weapons
Possession of firearms and weapons are prohibited from all school
premises and school activities. This prohibition specifically applies to
meetings and activities of the Board of Education and applies to all attendees,
including members of the Board. The firearm prohibition includes permitted
weapons. (See also Policy 1432 – Prohibition Against Firearms and Weapons.)
Aug 04
ORGANIZATION, PHILOSOPHY
AND GOALS Policy 0411 (Regulation 0411)
Meetings (Form
0411)
Meeting Agenda
A tentative agenda for each regular, special or proposed closed meeting
of the Board shall be prepared by the Superintendent, in consultation with the
Board president, and shall be included in any public notice of such meetings.
Any member of the Board may request items to be placed on the agenda. The
tentative agenda, related materials and minutes of the previous meeting shall
be mailed to each member of the Board at least four days prior to the stated
meeting unless a special emergency meeting is called at a time which makes the four day prior notice impossible.
The agenda for each meeting of the Board shall be adopted or modified
by a motion by a majority of those Board members present. Once the agenda is
approved, it shall require a vote of majority of the Board members present to
make additional modifications.
The agenda for closed sessions shall be on a separate document;
however, the motion to close a meeting must be voted on during a public meeting
and must also include the reasons for closing the meeting with references to
the specific topics under the provision of Section 610.021, RSMo.
as valid grounds for a closed meeting session.
Citizen Complaints
A designated period of time may be
provided for public comments at all regular Board meetings. The Board is very interested in citizen
viewpoints and problems; however, citizens are encouraged to work through
problems at the building and/or administrative levels before coming to the
Board. Remarks may be limited to three minutes and to one appearance, thus
allowing a maximum number of participants in the allotted time period in which
citizens are to speak to issues. Questions directed to the Board may not always
be answered immediately. All questions will be responded to by an appropriate
person as soon as possible. Persons who wish to suggest items for the agenda
should contact the Superintendent.
Agenda Items
Beginning July 1, 2023, and after citizen
comment, residents of the District may submit an agenda item which is related
to governance or operation of the District.
Prior to submission of an agenda item, the submitting resident must meet
with the Superintendent/designee in an effort to resolve the concern related to
the agenda item. The
Superintendent/designee will hold the resolution meeting within twenty (20) business
days of the request. Following the
resolution meeting or if a resolution meeting is not timely scheduled the agenda
request will be submitted to the Board Secretary by the requesting
resident. The agenda item will be included
in the Board agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting if item received
at least five (5) school days prior to the meeting. If not timely received, the
item will be placed on the agenda of the following regularly scheduled
meeting. However, the agenda may be
moved to a later meeting with the resident’s agreement.
Placement of a resident’s requesting
agenda item is subject to the following rules:
However, if a resident-initiated agenda
item is delayed under this paragraph the resident will be advised of this
option to submit their presentation to the Board in writing.
*****
August 2022, Copyright © 2022
Missouri Consultants for Education, LLC
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy 0420 (Form 0420)
Meetings
Minutes
Open Session Minutes
Minutes of the Board of Education meetings shall be available to
District residents for inspection at the Superintendent of Schools office, at
reasonable hours. The minutes will
include the date, time, place, members present, members absent, and a record of
any votes taken.
Closed Session Minutes
A separate minute book used solely for the purpose of executive
sessions shall be used to record the minutes.
Under such circumstances, the Board members and others in attendance are
honor-bound not to disclose the details or discussions or minutes of the
executive session. Any vote taken during
a closed session will be taken and recorded by a roll call vote.
The Board reserves the right, as provided
by law, to close meetings, records and votes as they relate to the matters
below. All discussion and action by the Board in executive session must be
related to the reasons set forth in the motion to enter executive session. The minutes of the executive session shall be
recorded and maintained in a separate, confidential minute book. (See Policy 0420 – Minutes.)
Litigation including privileged
communications between the Board, its representatives, and its attorneys. Upon completion of the litigation or upon the
execution of a settlement agreement, the vote, minutes, and settlement
agreement will be made public unless subject to a court order closing the
record.
The lease, purchase or sale of real estate
where public knowledge of the details of the proposed acquisition might adversely
affect the District's interests. Any vote or public record approving such a
contract shall become available to the public upon execution of the contract.
Actions related to the hiring, firing,
disciplining or promotion of a District employee when the performance or
individual merits of this employee is considered. Any vote on a final decision
to hire, fire, promote or discipline will be available to the public within
seventy-two (72) hours of the close of the meeting, except that good faith
efforts will be made to notify the affected employee prior to the information
becoming publicly available. Disclosure
of Board action on such personnel matters will include notice of how each Board
member voted on the proposition.
Scholastic probation, expulsion,
discipline, or graduation of identifiable persons, including records of
individual test or examination scores subject to the provisions of the Board's
student records policy and regulations.
Preparations for negotiations with
employees and employee representatives, including any work
product of the Board.
Testing and examination materials before
the test or examination is given and until use of the test is discontinued.
Competitive bidding specifications, until
officially approved or published for bids.
Sealed bids, until the earlier of the time all are opened or all are
accepted or rejected.
Individually identifiable personnel
records, performance ratings or records related to employees or applicants for
employment. However, the public will
have access to the names, positions, salaries, and length of service of
employees of the District.
Confidential and privileged communication
between the Board and its auditor, including all auditor's work product.
However, final audit reports issued by the auditor will be open.
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy 0440 (Form 0440)
Meetings
Notification of
Board Meetings
Notice of meetings
of the Board of Education including committees of the Board as provided in
Policy 0360 will be given in a manner to reasonably inform the public of the
matters to be considered by the Board.
Notice of the
time, date, and place of the meeting as well as the tentative agenda will be
provided at least twenty-four hours, exclusive of holidays and weekends, prior
to the meeting unless for good cause it is impossible or impractical to provide
such notice. In such instances, the
nature of the impossibility or impracticality will be stated in the
minutes. In order to maximize public
participation, notice of Board meetings will be posted in each District school
and at the District’s administrative offices.
Upon request, members of the media will be provided with notice of the
meeting at the same time notice is provided to members of the Board. Meetings will be scheduled at a location
reasonably accessible to the public in a room of sufficient size to accommodate
the anticipated attendance by the public.
Where meetings are conducted by telephone or other electronic means, written notice of such meetings will include the specific mode by which the meetings will be conducted and the location where the public may attend such electronic meetings. If a meeting is conducted through the Internet or other computer link, notice of such meeting will be posted on an existing District web site.
Jan. 2003
ORGANIZATION,
PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS Policy 0510
Policy Development
and Review
Policy
Development, Adoption and Review
The
development and adoption of policies to govern operation of the School District
are the responsibility of the Board of Education. In developing policy, the Board may solicit
input from the community, staff and other professionals.
At any meeting of the Board, policies governing the schools may be
enacted, amended or repealed by a majority vote. The formal adoption of
policies shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board. Only those written
statements so adopted and so recorded shall be regarded as official Board
policy.
Implementation
The Superintendent of Schools is assigned the responsibility for
insuring that all Board policies, rules and regulations are implemented. The
Board authorizes the Superintendent to develop administrative guidelines in
order to implement Board policy. The Superintendent shall notify all employees
and students of their need to abide by Board policies and regulations.
Administrators shall prepare staff, student and parent handbooks that interpret
Board policies and state rules and regulations which affect each population
set. The handbooks shall be revised annually and distributed within the first
month of the school term.
Review
The Board shall review written policies on a continuing basis to ensure
consistency and legality of Board action and administrative decisions. Policies
shall be reviewed and revised as a result of newly enacted state and/or federal
legislation, court decisions, as a result of research and/or policy development
as presented by state and/or national organizations and agencies, or for other
reasons as determined by the Board.
Posting Board
Policies and Student Handbooks
During
periods of time in which the District maintains a District web site, the
Board's policies and regulations along with student handbooks will be posted on
the web site.