The school election takes place on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years.  Each school election shall be used to elect citizens to the Board to maintain a five member board and to address other questions that are submitted to the voters.

Citizens of the school district community seeking a seat on the Board must file their nomination papers with the Board secretary or his/her designee in accordance with the timelines established by law.

If a vacancy occurs on the Board, it may be filled by appointment within 30 days of the vacancy. If the Board does not fill the vacancy by appointment, the Board Secretary shall call a special election to fill the vacancy. Candidates for a seat created by a vacancy must file their nomination papers 25 days before the special election.

The county commissioner of elections is responsible for conducting school elections.

Approved:    July 2007
Reviewed:    January 2022
Revised:        April 2018

Board members must be able to make decisions objectively. It is a conflict of interest for a board member to receive direct compensation from the District, unless exempted in this policy, for anything other than reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses, including travel, incurred in the performance of official duties. A board member will not act as an agent for a school textbook or school supply company during the board member's term of office. It will not be a conflict of interest for board members to receive compensation from the District for contracts to purchase goods or services if the benefit to the board member does not exceed $2,500 in a fiscal year or if the contracts are made by the Board upon competitive bid in writing, publicly invited and opened. 

The conflict of interest provisions do not apply to a contract that is a bond, note, or other obligation of a school corporation if the contract is not acquired directly from the school corporation, but is acquired in a transaction with a third party, who may or may not be the original underwriter, purchaser, or obligee of the contract, or to a contract in which a director has an interest solely by reason of employment if the contract was made by competitive bid, in writing, publicly invited and opened, or if the remuneration for employment will not be directly affected as a result of the contract and duties of employment do not involve any of the preparation or procurement of any part of the contract. The competitive bid section of the conflict of interest provision does not apply to a contract for professional services not customarily competitively bid.

It will also be a conflict of interest for a board member to engage in any outside employment or activity which is in conflict with the board member's official duties and responsibilities. In determining whether outside employment or activity of a board member creates a conflict of interest, situations in which an unacceptable conflict of interest is deemed to exist includes, but are not limited to, any of the following:

1. The outside employment or activity involves the use of the District's time, facilities, equipment and supplies or the use of the school district badge, uniform, business card or other evidence of office to give the board member or member of the board member's immediate family an advantage or pecuniary benefit that is not available to other similarly situated members or classes of members of the general public. For purposes of this section, a person is not "similarly situated" merely by being related to a board member.
2. The outside employment or activity involves the receipt of, promise of, or acceptance of more or other consideration by the board member or a member of the board member's immediate family from anyone other than the State or the District for the performance of any act that the board member would be required or expected to perform as part of the board member's regular duties or during the hours in which the board member performs service or work for the District.
3. The outside employment or activity is subject to the official control, inspection, review, audit, or enforcement authority of the board member during the performance of the board member's duties of office or employment.

If the outside employment or activity is employment or activity in (1) or (2) above, the board member must cease the employment of or activity.  If the activity or employment falls under (3), then the board member must:

• Cease the outside employment or activity; or
•  Publicly disclose the existence of the conflict and refrain from taking any official action or performing any official duty that would detrimentally affect or create a benefit for the outside employment or activity.  Official action or official duty includes, but is not limited to, participating in any vote, taking affirmative action to influence any vote, or providing any other official service or thing that is not available generally to members of the public in order to further the interests of the outside employment or activity.

It is the responsibility of each board member to be aware of an actual or potential conflict of interest to take the action necessary to eliminate such a conflict of interest. Should a conflict of interest arise, a board member should not participate in any action relating to the issue from which the conflict arose.

Approved:    July 2007
Reviewed:    January 2022

Board members' actions, verbal and nonverbal, reflect the attitude and the beliefs of the District. Therefore, board members must conduct themselves professionally and in a manner fitting to their position. Each board member shall follow the code of ethics stated in this policy.

As A School Board Member:

1. I will listen.
2. I will respect the opinion of others.
3. I will recognize the integrity of my predecessors and associates and the merit of their work.
4. I will be motivated only by an earnest desire to serve my District and the children of my school district community in the best possible way.
5. I will not use the District or any part of the school district program for my own personal advantage or for the advantage of my friends or supporters.
6. I will vote for a closed session of the Board if the situation requires it, but I will consider "star chamber" or "secret" sessions of board members unethical.
7. I will recognize that to promise in advance of a meeting how I will vote on any proposition which is to be considered is to close my mind and agree not to think through other facts and points of view which may be presented in the meeting.
8. I will expect, in board meetings, to spend more time on education programs and procedures than on business details.
9. I will recognize that authority rests with the Board in legal session and not with individual members of the Board, except as authorized by law.
10.  I will make no disparaging remarks, in or out of the board meeting, about other members of the Board or their opinions.
11.  I will express my honest and most thoughtful opinions frankly in board meetings in an effort to have decisions made for the best interests of the children and the education program.
12. I will insist that the members of the Board participate fully in Board action and recommend that when special committees are appointed, they serve only in an investigative and advisory capacity.
13. I will abide by majority decisions of the Board.
14. I will carefully consider petitions, resolutions and complaints and will act in the best interests of the District.
15. I will not discuss the confidential business of the Board in my home, on the street, or in my office; the place for such discussion is the board meeting.
16. I will endeavor to keep informed on local, state and national educational developments of significance so I may become a better board member.

In Meeting My Responsibility To My School District Community

1. I will consider myself a trustee of public education and will do my best to protect it, conserve it, and advance it, giving to the children of my school district community the educational facilities that are as complete and adequate as it is possible to provide.
2. I will consider it an important responsibility of the Board to interpret the aims, methods and attitudes of the District to the community.
3. I will earnestly try to interpret the needs and attitudes of the school district community and do my best to translate them into the education program of the District.
4. I will attempt to procure adequate financial support for the District.
5. I will represent the entire District rather than individual electors, patrons or groups.
6. I will not regard the District facilities as my own private property but as the property of the people.

In My Relationship With Superintendent And Employees

1. I will function, in meeting the legal responsibility that is mine, as a part of a legislative, policy-forming body, not as an administrative officer.
2. I will recognize that it is my responsibility, together with that of my fellow board members, to see the District is properly run and not to run them myself.
3. I will expect the District to be administered by the best-trained technical and professional people it is possible to procure within the financial resources of the District.
4. I will recognize the Superintendent as executive officer of the Board.
5. I will work through the administrative employees of the Board, not over or around them.
6. I will expect the Superintendent to keep the Board adequately informed through oral and written reports.
7. I will vote to employ employees only after the recommendation of the Superintendent has been received.
8. I will insist that contracts be equally binding on teachers and the Board.
9. I will give the Superintendent power commensurate with his/her responsibility and will not in any way interfere with, or seek to undermine, the Superintendent's authority.
10. I will give the Superintendent friendly counsel and advice.
11. I will present any personal criticism of employees to the Superintendent.
12. I will refer complaints to the proper administrative officer.

To Cooperate With Other School Boards

1. I will not employ a superintendent, principal or teacher who is already under contract with another school district without first securing assurance from the proper authority that the person can be released from contract.
2. I will consider it unethical to pursue any procedure calculated to embarrass a neighboring board or its representatives.
3. I will not recommend an employee for a position in another school district unless I would employ the employee under similar circumstances.
4. I will answer all inquiries about the standing and ability of an employee to the best of my knowledge and judgment, with complete frankness.
5. I will associate myself with board members of other school districts for the purpose of discussing school district issues and cooperating in the improvement of the education program.

Approved:    July 2007
Reviewed:    January 2022

President

The president of the Board is elected by a majority vote at the organizational or annual board meeting each year to serve a one-year term of office.  A member may be elected as president to successive one-year terms.

The President, in addition to presiding at the board meetings, will take an active role in Board decisions by discussing and voting on each motion before the Board in the same manner as other board members. Before making or seconding a motion, however, the President will turn over control of the meeting to either the Vice President or other board member.

The President has the authority to call special meetings of the Board. Prior to board meetings, the President will consult with the Superintendent on the development of the agenda for the meeting. The President, as the chief officer of the District, will sign employment contracts for all employees and other contracts and District warrants approved by the Board. The President will appear on behalf of the school corporation in causes of action involving the District, unless the President must appear individually as a party, in which case, this duty shall be performed by the Board Secretary.

Vice President

The Vice President will be elected by a majority vote at the organizational or annual board meeting each year to serve a one–year term of office. A member may be elected as Vice President to successive one-year terms.

The Vice President will take an active role in board decisions by discussing and voting on matters before the board in the same manner as other board members. The Vice President will accept control of the meeting from the President when the President wishes to make or second a motion. The Vice President shall serve in the absence of the president and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the president or by the Board.

If the President is unable or unwilling to carry out the duties required, the Vice President is responsible to carry out those duties. If the President is unable or unwilling to complete the term of office, the Vice President will serve as President for the balance of the President’s term of office, and a new Vice President will be elected.

Board Secretary-Treasurer

A board secretary-treasurer may be appointed from employees, other than a position requiring a teaching certificate, or from the public. The Board Secretary-Treasurer will take the oath of office during the meeting at which the individual was appointed or no later than ten days thereafter.  

The Board Secretary, as custodian of the District’s records, is responsible for preserving and maintaining the records and documents pertaining to the business of the Board; keeping complete minutes of special and regular board meetings, including closed sessions; keeping record of the results of regular and special elections; keeping accurate accounting of school funds; signing warrants drawn on school funds after Board approval; and collecting data on truant students. The Board Secretary will give bond in an amount set by the Board. The cost of the bond will be paid by the District.

In the event that the Board Secretary-Treasurer cannot fulfill her/his duties, the Superintendent Secretary will assume those duties until the Board Secretary-Treasurer is able to resume responsibility or a new board secretary-treasurer is appointed.

The Superintendent shall evaluate the Board Secretary-Treasurer annually.

Approved:    July 2007
Reviewed:    January 2022
Revised:        January 2022

The Board will annually appoint legal counsel to represent the District and to advise the Board on legal matters. When requested to do so, Counsel will attend regular and special meetings of the Board and will be available for consultation as needed.

Because it is often necessary to consult legal counsel and receive its expert opinion as part of background information to be used by the Board in making decisions, and because at times the District may be involved in litigation or other legal matters, the Superintendent, Board President, and the Board Secretary-Treasurer are authorized to seek Counsel's services as needed.

Individual Board members are expected to consult school legal counsel only when the full Board has given permission for such consultation. Otherwise, the Board member will be expected to pay any legal fees that may result. The Board should be kept informed of legal matters that are other than routine, and of legal services that may involve extraordinary expense to the District.

Approved  July 2007

Reviewed  January 2022

Revised January 2022

Development

The Board shall develop and maintain a policy manual that provides general direction of what it wishes to accomplish. The Superintendent is responsible for implementing board policies. In the absence of board policy, the Superintendent is authorized to act appropriately to address the circumstances in a manner that reflects the educational philosophy and financial condition of the District.

Policies shall be reviewed at least once every five years to ensure relevance to current practices and compliance with the law. Upon review, policies shall include a notation of the date of review. The Superintendent shall keep the Board informed of state and federal legal changes that may impact board policy development. If a policy is revised because of a legal change over which the Board has no control or a minor change, the policy may be approved at one meeting at the Board’s discretion.

The Superintendent is authorized to submit written recommendations for revision of any existing policies as she/he deems necessary for the most efficient operation of the District. However, policy statements may be proposed by a board member, administrator, employee, student or member of the school district community and submitted to the Superintendent to bring to the Board’s attention.

The board policies may be amended or revised at any regular meeting, provided notice of such change shall have been given by placing the item on the agenda of two regular board meetings. Proposed changes will be distributed and public comment will be allowed at both meetings prior to final board action.

Adoption and Suspension

If the Board adopts or suspends a policy in an emergency situation, a statement regarding the need for immediate adoption of the policy shall be included in the minutes. The emergency policy shall expire at the close of the second regular board meeting following the emergency action unless the policy adoption procedure is followed and the policy is reaffirmed. The Board shall have complete discretion to determine what constitutes an emergency situation.

The Board Secretary-Treasurer shall ensure that copies of new and revised policies are posted no later than the first regular board meeting following the policy’s adoption.

The Board Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for ensuring that copies of the policy manual are available in all administrative offices of the District and are also available on the District’s website.

Approved:    July 2007
Reviewed:    January 2022

Revised:  January 2022

The Board recognizes the importance of citizen participation in school district matters.  In order to assure citizens are heard and board meetings are conducted efficiently and in an organized manner, the Board may set time aside for citizen participation, during open comment to the Board or during the discussion of agenda items. If the pressure of business or other circumstances dictate, the President may decide to not set time aside for citizen participation. The Board has the discretion to limit the amount of time set aside for public participation.

Citizens wishing to address the Board on a certain agenda item may do so during Open Comment. In the event that the Board would use electronic meetings, such as Zoom, Citizens may have their concerns shared during Open Comment by emailing their remarks to the Superintendent.

Citizens wishing to present petitions to the Board may do so during Open Comment. However, if a petition is presented, the Board will only receive the petition and not act upon it or its contents.

If the Board has set time aside for citizen participation and citizens wish to address the Board, the President will recognize these individuals to comment at the appropriate time to ensure that the orderly process of the board meeting will not be interfered with or disrupted. Only those speakers recognized by the President will be allowed to speak.

Individuals who have a complaint about an employee may ask the Board to hear their complaint only after they have followed the board policy addressing citizens’ complaints. Students who have a complaint may ask the Board to hear their complaint only after they have followed board policy addressing students’ complaints.

Approved:  July 2007

Reviewed:  January 2022

Revised:  January 2022

The Board recognizes situations may arise in the operation of the District which are of concern to parents and other members of the school district community.

The Board firmly believes concerns should be resolved at the lowest organizational level by those individuals closest to the concern. Whenever a complaint of concern is brought to the attention of the Board, it will be referred to the administration to be resolved. Prior to any Board action the following should be completed:

(a) Matters should first be addressed to the teacher or employee.

(b) Unsettled matters from (a) above or problems and questions about individual attendance centers should be addressed to the employee’s building principal.

(c) Unsettled matters from (b) above or problems and questions concerning the District should be directed to the Superintendent.

(d) If a matter cannot be settled satisfactorily by the Superintendent, it may then be brought to the Board for consideration. To bring a concern, the individual shall notify the Board President or Board Secretary in writing, who may bring it to the attention of the entire Board.

Parents, guardians, and community members of the District who have concerns about the District or the Board may refer to the student handbook for additional guidance from the Iowa Department of Education. https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/parent-guardian-and-community-concerns

It is within the discretion of the Board to address complaints from the members of the school district community, and the Board will only consider whether to address complaints if they are in writing, signed, and the complainant has complied with this policy. The Board is not obligated to address a complaint and may defer to the decision of the Superintendent. If the Board elects not to address a complaint, the decision of the Superintendent shall be final. If the Board does elect to address a complaint, its decision shall be final.

Approved:    February 2022
Reviewed:    January 222

Revised:  January 2022

Members of the Board of Directors serve without pay. Board members shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties as allowed by law. When submitting requests for reimbursement, detailed receipts, including date, purpose, and nature of each claim must be submitted within ten working days from the date of the receipt.

In recognition of the time, energy, and talent that board members provide the District, past and present board members and a guest shall receive activity passes to school-sponsored activities. The Superintendent shall be responsible for ensuring that board members receive activity passes.

Approved:  July 2007

Reviewed:  January 2022

Revised:  January 2022

Board members are always welcome to visit school buildings to observe the operations of the District.  It is recommended that board members notify the building principal when they are in the building for board-related business.

It shall be the responsibility of each board member to check in with the building principal when they are in the school.

Approved:    July 2007
Reviewed:    January 2022

Board members may receive a gift on behalf of the District.  Board members shall not, either directly or indirectly, solicit, accept or receive a gift, series of gifts, or an honorarium unless the donor does not meet the definition of "restricted donor" stated below or the gift or honorarium does not meet the definition of gift or honorarium stated below.

A "restricted donor" is defined as a person or other entity which:

• Is seeking to be or is a party to any one or any combination of sales, purchases, leases or contracts to, from or with the District;
• Will be directly and substantially affected financially by the performance or nonperformance of the board member's official duty in a way that is greater than the effect on the public generally or on a substantial class of persons to which the person belongs as a member of a profession, occupation, industry or region; or
• Is a lobbyist or a client of a lobbyist with respect to matters within the school district jurisdiction.

A "gift" is the giving of anything of value in return for which something of equal or greater value is not given or received.  However, "gift" does not include any of the following:

• Contributions to a candidate or a candidate's committee;
• Information material relevant to a board member's official function, such as books, pamphlets, reports, documents, periodicals or other information that is recorded in a written, audio or visual format;
• Anything received from a person related within the fourth degree by kinship or marriage, unless the donor is acting as an agent or intermediary for another person not so related;
• An inheritance;
• Anything available or distributed to the general public free of charge without regard to the official status of the board recipient;
• Items received from a charitable, professional, educational or business organization to which the board member belongs as a dues-paying member if the items are given to all members of the organization without regard to an individual member's status or positions held outside of the organization and if the dues paid are not inconsequential when compared to the items received;
• Actual expenses of a board member for food, beverages, travel, and lodging for a meeting, which is given in return for participation in a panel or speaking engagement at the meeting when the expenses relate directly to the day or days on which the board member has participation or presentation responsibilities;
• Plaques or items of negligible resale value given as recognition for public service;
• Nonmonetary items with a value of less than three dollars that are received from any one donor during one calendar day;
• Funeral flowers or memorials to a church or nonprofit organization;
• Gifts which are given to a public official for the public official's wedding or 25th or 50th wedding anniversary;
• Items or services solicited or given to a state, national or regional organization in which the state of Iowa or a school district is a member for purposes of a business or educational conference, seminar or other meeting or solicited by or given to state, national or regional government organizations whose memberships and officers are primarily composed of state or local government officials or employees for purposes of a business or educational conference, seminar or other meeting;
• Items or services received by members or representatives of members as part of a regularly scheduled event that is part of a business or educational conference, seminar or other meeting that is sponsored and directed by any state, national or regional government organization in which the state of Iowa or a political subdivision of the state of Iowa is a member or received at such an event by members or representatives of members of state, national or regional government organizations whose memberships and officers are primarily composed of state or local government officials or employees;
• Payment of salary or expenses by a board member's employer or the firm in which the board member is a member for the cost of attending a meeting of a subunit of an agency when the board member whose expenses are being paid serves on a board, commission, committee, council or other subunit of the agency and the board member is not entitled to receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses from the school district;
• Gifts other than food, beverages, travel and lodging received by a board member which are received from a person who is a citizen of a country other than the United States and is given during a ceremonial presentation or as a result of a custom of the other country and is of personal value only to the board member; or
• Actual registration costs for informational meetings or sessions which assist a public official or public employee in the performance of the person's official functions.  The costs of food, drink, lodging and travel are not "registration costs" under this paragraph.  Meetings or sessions which a public official or public employee attends for personal or professional licensing purposes are not "informational meetings or sessions which assist a public official or public employee in the performance of the person's official functions" under this paragraph

An "honorarium" is anything of value that is accepted by, or on behalf of, a board member as consideration for an appearance, speech or article.  An honorarium does not include any of the following:

• Actual expenses of a board member for registration, food, beverages, travel or lodging for a meeting, which is given in return for participation in a panel or speaking engagement at a meeting when the expenses relate directly to the day or days on which the board member has participation or presentation responsibilities;
• A nonmonetary gift or series of nonmonetary gifts donated within thirty days to a public body, an educational or charitable organization or the department of general services; or
• A payment made to a board member for services rendered as part of a private business, trade or profession in which the board member is engaged if the payment is commensurate with the actual services rendered and is not being made because of the person's status as a board member but, rather, because of some special expertise or other qualification.

It shall be the responsibility of each board member to know when it is appropriate to accept or reject gifts or honorariums.

Approved:    July 2007
Reviewed:    January 2022

The Board shall select a chief spokesperson, generally the Superintendent, who shall have the authority to represent the Board in the phases of collective bargaining including, but not limited to, reaching a tentative agreement. Only the Board has the authority to ratify master labor agreements.

Upon appointment of the chief spokesperson, negotiations between the certified bargaining unit and its members shall be directed to the Board's chief spokesperson. Individual board members shall not be contacted directly by members of or representatives for, the bargaining unit concerning issues relating to the negotiation process.

The Board, in conjunction with its chief spokesperson, shall determine the composition of the board's bargaining team.

The Board shall set the parameters and goals for the negotiations.  Periodic strategy sessions shall be considered with the entire Board to maintain open communications between the Board and its chief spokesperson. Strategy sessions are exempt from the open meetings law.

Approved:  July 2007

Reviewed:  January 2022