Powerpoint Templates Page 1 Powerpoint Templates School Board Policy Handbook Analysis Leigh Gilworth EDFA 59100 Fall 2012 Dr. Sperling

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School Board Policy Handbook Analysis

Leigh GilworthEDFA 59100Fall 2012Dr. Sperling


• The School Town of Munster district handbook is managed by NEOLA, Inc.

• NEOLA provides school districts with a complete service for developing and updating Board Bylaws and Policies, Administrative Guidelines/Procedures, Forms, Staff Handbooks and Student/Parent Handbooks in electronic and printed format.

• The company ensures that the policies are legally up to date by notifying the district about changes and subsequently changing them online. NEOLA provides the minimum that the Board should be doing and the Board has the ability to modify the policies suggested by NEOLA if they want to do more, as long as it is legally sound.

Board Policy Handbook


• The School Board’s Policy handbook used to only be accessible to the general public by going to the Munster Library and looking through huge binders.

• It is now available online at: http://www.neola.com/munster-in/

• This link is posted on the STM homepage for all who are interested. It is also mentioned several times in the student handbook.

• The easily accessible format is great for staff, parents or community members who have general questions about policies and procedures.

Board Policy Handbook Availability


• Given the easy access to the handbook, teachers and community members can examine it at will.

• When teachers are first hired they are told about the handbook although they don’t spend a great deal of time acquainting new teachers with the policies.

• While it is not a tool that is utilized on a daily basis, as the need arises, staff can examine the policies and procedures contained within it.

• The layout of the contents online make it easy to find the information one is looking for quickly.

Board Policy Handbook Availability


• The District Handbook is very thorough and does not appear to omit any important issues. The handbook is broken into 10 different sections including:– Bylaws– Administration– Program– Professional Staff– Classified Staff– Students– Finances– Property– Operations – Relations

Board Policy Handbook Contents


• The bylaws section of the district policy handbook revolves around the School Board. It examines topics such as:– The official description of the School Board.– The Powers and Philosophy of the School Board.– The official functions of the School Board.– Membership, including election process, filling vacancies,

ethics, compensations, conflicts of interest and defense and indemnification of Board Members.

– The organization of the Board.– Meetings.– Official duties of the various offices on the School Board.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Bylaws


• This section of the handbook is of vital legal importance. It expels in black and white exactly what the powers and functions of the Board are. It highlights the responsibilities and ways that they must behave while serving in this important position. It also identifies the Indiana state statutes that support the policy.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Bylaws


• The Administration section of the district handbook contains many important topics for school leaders including:

– Corporation organization.

– Assessment of corporation goals.

– School directory.

– Conflict of interest- private practice.

– Administrator ethics.

– Board- superintendent relationship.

– Staff gifts.

– Employment, responsibilities and evaluation of the Superintendent.

– Job descriptions.

– Required reports and protection of whistleblowers.

– Leaves of absence.

– Employment of administrators besides the superintendent.

– Personal background checks.

– Evaluation of administrators.

– Student supervision and welfare.

– Non-renewal of administrative contracts.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Administration


• The administrative section of the handbook is very beneficial for the Superintendent, as well as other school administrators. It outlines their job duties and responsibilities, as well as detailing how evaluation of their jobs will be conducted.

• This is of legal importance to the superintendent and school administrators so that they know what is expected of them by state law in their leadership positions for the schools. Violations of the policies contained in this section could result in law suits against the district or possible termination of employment.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Administration


• The section on the district’s educational program contains many different subsections. A few of them include matters such as:

– Educational goals and outcomes of students.– Curriculum development and adoption of new courses or textbooks.– Controversial issues.– Nondiscrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity, Section 504/ADA

Prohibition against Discrimination based on Disability, Least Restrictive Environment and Title I services.

– Religion in curriculum.– Homework, field trips and educational options.– Guidance and counseling.– Student privacy.– Homebound and Vocational education programs.– Suspension and expulsion of disabled students.– Interscholastic athletics.– High ability programs.– School and program accountability.– Student assessment and annual performance report.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Program


• The Program section of the district handbook contains invaluable information for administrators, teachers and parents. It outlines the federal laws under which the school program must function, particularly when dealing with students who have disabilities.

• This section also highlights the procedures and policies relating to curriculum and assessment.

• It stresses that in matters of controversial issues or teaching of world religions, teachers will be supported by the Board if it is of educational importance.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Program


• The section on Professional Staff and the section on Support Staff outline the rights, responsibilities and expectations of the being employed by the district including:

– Employment, personal background check and employment contract.– Transfer, termination and resignation.– Leaves of absence.– Nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity.– Anti-harassment.– Staff discipline.– Staff ethics.– Staff dress and grooming.– Student supervision and welfare.– Freedom of speech.– Issues related to healthcare insurance.– Professional associations, growth requirements and meetings.– Work stoppage.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Professional Staff & Support Staff


• This section is of tremendous legal importance for professional and support staff. Much of these sections are supported by either state or federal statutes and to be ignorant of the duties and responsibilities that one has as a professional in the school could impact either the district or the staff member in a negative way.

• It is also important that staff know what their rights are so that they can seek redress if a right has been violated.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Professional & Support Staff


• This section outlines students rights and the expectations the school has for them. Much of this is contained in the student handbook.

• Topics include but are not limited to issues such as:– Eligibility of resident/nonresident students.– Attendance and absences for religious instruction.– Promotion, placement and retention.– Graduation requirements.– Student conduct expectations and disorderly conduct.– Care of school property.– Student discipline.– Suspension, expulsion and due process rights.– Search and seizure.– Corporal punishment.– School-sponsored publications and productions.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Students


• This section of the handbook is very beneficial for all stakeholders involved in the STM’s program. It specifically delineates the rights that students have, which may be slightly different if they were not within the walls of the school. Because schools have to protect the interest of all students in getting a sound education, some of the rights students have outside of the school may be lessened within the school, particularly if they disrupt the learning process.

• This section also outlines the rights that students have to due process and shows the steps that students must follow when lodging complaints against the school.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Students


• The Finances section of the district handbook concerns all areas relating to money within the school including:

– Federal funds.– Investment income.– Short-term indebtedness.– Tuition income.– Bad checks.– Student fees and charges.– Budget preparation, hearing and implementation.– Purchasing.– Use of credit cards and petty cash.– Conflicts of interest and vendor relations.– Payment of claims.– Payroll authorization.– Travel payment and reimbursement.– Extra-curricular and school technology funds.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Finances


• The Finances section of the district handbook has many ties to legal issues. All money must be accounted for so that audits will not raise legal concerns of unethical behavior.

• The School Board must work within the given budget from the state. This section provides for the steps necessary to plan, approve and implement the budget.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Finances


• The section of Property in the district handbook provides for the following items relating to school grounds:– Facilities planning and site acquisition.

– Maintenance and safety standards.

– Use of school facilities.

– Technology privacy, student and staff network and internet acceptable use and safety

– Gifts, grants, and bequests.

– Site acquisition.

– Disposition of real or surplus property.

– Use of tobacco or weapons on school premises.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Property


• This section is of legal importance as it outlines how schools may acquire new property, the steps necessary to maintain it so that safety codes can be satisfied and the rights that one has when using school property.

• Schools need to assure the safety of all stakeholders while on school grounds and this section outlines the requirements they must follow by state and federal law to avoid law suits.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Property


• The Operations section of the handbook examines the following topics to ensure the smooth operation of schools:– School calendar and day.

– Personnel files, student records and letters of reference.

– Confidentiality, school safety, and crisis intervention.

– Chemical management, pest control and use of pesticides.

– Reporting accidents.

– Food services, transportation issues, and wellness.

– Control of diseases and pathogens.

– Religious/patriotic ceremonies and observances.

– Child abuse and neglect.

– Emergency evacuation of schools.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Operations


• In order to maintain the safety and security of all students during the course of the school day, it is important that schools are ready to deal with any crisis. This section outlines steps to protect children from all sorts of dangers.

• Schools are essentially entrusted to protect children and thus it is necessary to have a plan for any issue to safeguard against claims of negligence.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Operations


• The section on Relations includes:– Public information program.– Public complaints and concerns.– Citizens’ advisory committees.– School visitors.– Public attendance at school events.– Parent organizations.– Corporation-support organizations.– Relations with parents.– Equivalent education outside the schools (home schooling).– Relations with educational institutions and organizations.– Relations with special interest groups.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Relations


• The hallmark of any good district is its ability to effectively and openly communicate with the various stakeholders in the community. It takes a team to educate children.

• This section outlines how the relations with various stakeholders will be conducted as well as the rights of administrators ask these individuals to leave if they are causing issues on school property, per Indiana state law.

Board Policy Handbook Contents: Relations


• Although the legal importance of each section were highlighted, it is vital to understand that the district handbook is an excellent tool for administrators and staff in knowing the expectations and responsibilities they have in working children.

• It is also important for all stakeholders in knowing what rights they are entitled to.

• The handbook clearly outlines the procedures and policies of the school and supports many of the sections with the various state and federal statutes that prohibit or entitle the policy.

Board Policy Handbook Legal Importance

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Powerpoint Templates Page 1 Powerpoint Templates School Board Policy Handbook Analysis Leigh Gilworth EDFA 59100 Fall 2012 Dr. Sperling