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, 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.
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.
Qualified
applicants for the Board may file for office beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the
Superintendent's office commencing on the sixteenth (16th) Tuesday prior to the
election and ending at 5:00 p.m. on the eleventh (11th) 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 his/her state 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.