Section A: School Board Governance and Operation

SECTION A: SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATION

AA Board Operational Goals AB School Board Powers, Duties and Authorities ABA Qualifications of the President ABAA Board Member Qualifications ABB School Board Member Conflict of Interest AC School Board Meetings ACA Calling a Meeting and Preparing the Agenda / Agenda Format ACB Public Participation at Board Meetings ACBA Welcome to Maple Heights City Schools Board of Education Meeting ACC Order of Business ACCA Executive Sessions ACD Organizational Meeting of the Board ACE Notice of Meeting Procedure (Sunshine Law) AD Minutes ADA Board-Staff Communications AE Board Policy Development AEA Proposed Policies AFA News Media Services at Board Meetings AG Code of Ethics as Proposed by the Ohio School Boards Association AH Conduct of Meetings AI Public Complaints AIA Public Complaints about the Curriculum or Instructional Material AIB Public Complaints about School Personnel AJ Voting Method (5-Member Board of Education) AK Job Description – Board of Education Maple Heights Board of Education Employee Respiratory Protection Policy and Standard AL Operating Procedures Involving Asbestos Contact AM Board Travel Policy AMA Superintendent & Treasurer Travel Policy AN School District Legal Status ANA School Board Legal Status AA BOARD OPERATIONAL GOALS

The Board is responsible to the people, all of the people, for whose benefit the school district has been established. Further, the Board’s current decisions will influence the course of education in the district’s schools for years to come. By virtue of this responsibility, the Board and each of its members must look to the future and to the needs of all people more than the average citizen finds necessary. This requires a comprehensive perspective and long-range planning in addition to attention to immediate problems.

The Board’s primary responsibility is to establish those purposes, programs, and procedures that will best produce the educational achievement needed by district students. It is charged with accomplishing this while also being responsible for wise management of resources available to the district. The Board must fulfill these responsibilities by functioning primarily as a legislative body to formulate and adopt policy, by selecting an executive officer to implement policy, and by evaluating the results. Further, it must carry out its functions openly, while seeking the involvement and contributions of public, students, and staff in its decision-making processes.

In accordance with these principles, the Board through its mode of operating, shall seek to achieve the following goals:

1. To concentrate the Board’s collective effort on its policymaking and planning responsibilities.

2. To formulate Board policies that best serve the educational interests of each student.

3. To provide the Superintendent with sufficient and adequate guidelines for implementing Board policies.

4. To maintain effective communication with the public the Board serves and with staff and students in order to maintain awareness of attitudes, opinions, desires, and ideas.

5. To conduct Board business openly, soliciting and encouraging broad based involvement in the Board’s decision making processes by public, students, and staff.

Adopted: 2/22/79 AB SCHOOL BOARD POWERS, DUTIES, AND AUTHORITY

Under the laws of the state of Ohio, the Board acts as the governing body of the public schools. Within the extent of its legal powers, the Board has responsibilities for operating the District in accordance with the desires of local citizens who elect its members.

The Board’s major responsibilities are to:

1. select and employ a Superintendent;

2. select and employ a Treasurer;

3. determine and approve the annual budget and appropriations;

4. provide needed facilities;

5. provide for the funds necessary to finance the operation of the District;

6. consider and approve or reject the recommendations of the Superintendent in all matters of policy, appointment or dismissal of employees, salary schedules, courses of study, selection of textbooks and other matters pertaining to the operation of the District;

7. require reports of the Superintendent concerning the conditions, efficiency and needs of the District;

8. evaluate the effectiveness with which the District is achieving the educational purposes of the Board;

9. inform the public about the progress and needs of the District and to solicit and weigh public opinion as it affects the District and

10. adopt policies for its governance and the governance of its employees and the students of the District.

Because all powers for the Board of Education lie in its action as a group, individual Board members exercise their authority over district affairs only as they vote to take action at a legal meeting of the Board.

In other instances, an individual Board member, including the President shall have power only when the Board, by vote, has delegated authority to him or her.

It shall be the policy of the Board to make its members, the district staff, and the public aware that only the Board has authority to take official action.

LEGAL REFS.: ORC 3313.17; 3313.18; 3313.20; 3313.22; 3313.37; 3313.375; 3313.39; 3313.47, 3315.07, 3319.01, 5705.01(A); 5705.03; 5705.28

Adopted: 2/22/79 Revised: 8/24/09 ABA QUALIFICATIONS OF THE PRESIDENT

To qualify, each member shall have served at least nine months on the Board at the time he/she takes office.

DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

The President of the Board shall preside over Board meetings, appoint committees and chairmen for these committees, sign documents, warrants, contracts, and records as prescribed by law or action of the Board of Education, shall have custody of the Treasurer’s bond, and shall have other powers and duties usually appertaining to this office. The President may participate in discussion and shall have a vote on all motions.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT

The Board of Education believes that each member should have experience in formulating policies and conducting other Board business. The office of the Vice-President shall in most cases be offered to the Board member who, it is anticipated, shall be the next President. There shall be no restrictions for the election to the Vice-Presidency.

DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT

The Vice-President of the Board of Education shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of or at the request of the President.

Adopted: 2/22/79 Revised: 8/20/98 Amended: 1/5/04, in accordance with Resolution No. 04-12 (attached) ABAA BOARD MEMBER QUALIFICATIONS

Under State law, a board member must be an elector residing in the District. To qualify as an elector, a person must be a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, a resident of the state for at least 30 days prior to the election and a resident of the county and precinct in which he/she offers to vote for at least 30 days prior to the election.

A variety of other public positions, elected and appointed, have been determined by the General Assembly or the courts to be incompatible with board membership. Generally, offices are considered incompatible when one is subordinate to, or in any way provides a check upon, the other, or when it is physically impossible for one person to discharge the duties of both positions.

Before taking office, each person elected or appointed to the Board is required by law to take an oath of office.

Legal Refs.: ORC 3311.19; 3313.02; 3313.10; 3313.13; 3313.70; 3503.01; Chapter 3517

Adopted: 8/18/14 ABB SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The Board and individual members follow the letter and spirit of the law regarding conflicts of interest.

A Board member will not have any direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a contract with the District; will not furnish for remuneration any labor, equipment or supplies to the District; nor be employed by the Board in any capacity for compensation.

A Board member may have a private interest in a contract with the Board if all of the following apply:

1. the subject of the public contract is necessary supplies or services for the District;

2. the supplies or services are unobtainable elsewhere for the same or lower cost, or are being furnished to the District as part of a continuing course of dealing established prior to the Board member’s becoming associated with the school district;

3. the treatment accorded the District is either preferential to or the same as that accorded other customers or clients in similar transactions; and

4. the entire transaction is conducted at arm’s length, with full knowledge by the Board of the interest of the Board member, member of his/her family, or his/her business associate, and the Board member takes no part in the deliberations or decision with respect to the public contract.

The law specifically forbids:

1. the prosecuting attorney or a city attorney from serving on a board;

2. a member from serving as the school dentist, physician or nurse;

3. a member from being employed for compensation by a board;

4. a member from having, directly or indirectly, any pecuniary interest in any contract with a board;

5. a member from voting on a contract to employ a person as a teacher or instructor if he/she is related to that person as father, mother, brother or sister;

6. a member from authorizing, or employing the authority or influence of his/her office to secure authorization of, any public contract in which he/she, a member of his/her family or his/her business associates have an interest;

7. a member from having an interest in the profits or benefits of a public contract entered into by, or for the use of, the District and

8. a member from occupying any position of profit during his/her term of office or within one year thereafter in the prosecution of a public contract authorized by him/her or a board of which he/she was a member at the time of authorization of that contract.

LEGAL REFS.: ORC 102.03, 2921.02(B); 2921.42; 2921.43, 3313.13; 3313.33; 3313.70,3319.21, 4117.20

Adopted: 8/24/09 AC SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS

The Board of Education shall determine the regular monthly meetings including the time and place each year at the organizational meeting of the Board.

The public is encouraged and invited to attend these meetings.

Regular and special meetings of the Board of Education are open to the public and the news media except specified executive sessions. The Board of Education can act officially only at a public meeting when there are a majority of the members present. No member of the Board has the authority to act in the name of the Board outside of a legally constituted meeting.

A member of the Board may participate in a Board meeting by means of a telephone or video conference or by any means of communication by which all persons participating in the meeting are able to communicate with one another. A member of the Board who participates in this manner may not vote at the meeting and will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

Prior to each regular meeting of the Board, the Superintendent and his or her staff prepare a report for each Board member. This report consists of the meeting agenda, a financial statement for the previous month, and background material concerning the agenda and financial items. This procedure permits Board members to study these materials several days and to move efficiently through the agenda.

Legal Refs.: ORC 121.22(B), 121.22(C); 3313.14; 3313.15; 3313.16 Cross Refs.: ACD, Organizational Meeting of the Board ACCA, Executive Sessions AJ, Voting Method (BOE) ACB, Public Participation at Board Meetings

Adopted: 2/22/79 Revised: 1/23/86 8/19/13 ACA CALLING A MEETING AND PREPARING THE AGENDA/AGENDA FORMAT

Calling a Meeting

The President May Call a Meeting

By statute the President may call a meeting and will inform all other Board members and the Treasurer and the Superintendent of the meeting as well as all persons who have envelopes in the Treasurer’s office for notification and the news media.

The Treasurer May Call a Meeting

By statute the Treasurer may call a meeting and will inform all Board members and the Superintendent of the meeting as well as all persons who have envelopes in the Treasurer’s office for notification and the news media.

Two Board Members May Call a Meeting

By statute any two Board members may call a meeting of the Maple Heights Board of Education by informing all other Board members and the Treasurer and the Superintendent. In this case the Treasurer will inform all other Board members and the Superintendent of Schools, the news media, and those persons who have envelopes in the Treasurer’s office, according to our policy under the Sunshine Law of notification of the meeting. The Board President will call a special meeting and will be the second vote for any Board member who wants to call a special meeting.

Preparing the Agenda

The following policy procedure is used in preparing the agenda for regular and special meetings of the Board of Education:

1. Board members who want particular items on the agenda, before the Board meeting will call the Board President or the Superintendent of Schools. If the Superintendent is unavailable, the Treasurer shall be called.

2. The Superintendent of Schools will talk with the Treasurer, the Director of Business-Business Manager, and the Directors regarding items for the agenda or they can take the initiative and tell the Superintendent of Schools of items that need to be on the agenda.

3. The Board President and the Superintendent of Schools either by phone or conference will get the agenda for the regular meeting organized.

4. This agenda will then be published by the Superintendent with a notification letter and sent by the Superintendent’s office to the Treasurer’s office which will circulate the agenda and the notification letter to the Board members, the news media, and those persons requesting notification with adequate time in advance of the meeting.

5. When the regular meeting is held on Monday, our procedure will attempt to get the complete packet out by Wednesday of the week before. However, as the number of meetings increase, it is understood that it becomes more difficult to meet such a deadline in its entirety. However, as much material as possible will be circulated in an organized way on the Wednesday before the regular meeting, followed by a concise, organized booklet for the meeting. ACA-2

6. The telephone agenda conference usually occurs between the President and the Superintendent on the Monday before the Wednesday intended for distribution of the packet. Therefore, any calls regarding items for the agenda should come at or before that time.

7. Naturally, an agenda can be amended before a regular Board meeting with the proper length of lead time and the proper notification procedures. However, it is our intent to have the above described regularity of the procedures to bring stability to this procedure.

8. After the agenda meeting or telephone conference of the Board President and the Superintendent – Executive Officer of the Board, it then becomes the job of the Superintendent – Executive Officer to give leadership to getting the packet together and the notification and agenda sent to the Treasurer for distribution to the media.

9. The Chief Executive Officer takes the leadership to get the packet together which involves a responsibility on the part of the Treasurer, the Director of Business-Business Manager, and Directors to communicate to the Superintendent as well as the Superintendent seeking the information from those people.

10. It is also important if there is to be an amendment to the agenda of a regular or special meeting that the Executive Officer with the responsibility for giving leadership to the preparation of the packet for this meeting have the amendment item whenever feasible.

11. Board members who need an amendment item will talk with the Board President and/or the Superintendent and the Superintendent and Board President will then agree how the amendment will be placed on the agenda and a revised agenda with proper type of notification will then be sent to the Treasurer for distribution to the media and other requesting notification.

12. Information for the public in regard to agenda items is necessary for special and regular meetings.

Consent Agenda

In order to use time within the Board meetings more efficiently, the Board may use a consent agenda, whenever appropriate. Items placed on the consent agenda are routine in nature and typically appear on the Board’s agenda every month. Board minutes and monthly expenses are two examples of what may be considered consent agenda items.

When the consent agenda is presented to the Board for action, the Board President provides the opportunity for any member of the Board or the Superintendent to request a discussion or removal of any items on the agenda. Items removed are placed on the regular agenda or tabled. Remaining items on the consent agenda are then voted on by a single motion.

LEGAL REF.: ORC 3313.20

Adopted: 2/22/79 Revised: 8/22/02 1/12/04 8/24/09 ACB PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT BOARD MEETINGS

All meetings of the Board will be open to the public.

All official meetings of the Board are open to the public; all participation by the public shall occur during the part of the agenda set aside for that purpose. No more than thirty (30) minutes in any meeting is allotted to public participation, unless the Board by majority roll call shall agree to extend such allotment to an amount set in the motion to extend. No person shall be allotted more than three (3) minutes of the public participation time, unless the Board shall by majority vote to allow more time. Each person who wishes to address the Board shall give his/her name and address prior to addressing the Board and; may not speak twice until all those who desire to speak have done so. If a speaker’s intent is to represent a group of persons, such group is to be identified. The Board reserves the right to require that there be only one speaker for each group. The Board vests in its presiding officer the authority to terminate the remarks of any individual when such remarks are deemed disruptive of the Board meeting or constitute personal attack on school personnel, students, or others. All questions should be addressed to the presiding officer, who may refer them to another person for response or for further consideration and response at a subsequent date.

Agendas will be distributed to all those who attend Board meetings. The section on the agenda for public participation will be marked with an asterisk. Noted at the bottom of each agenda will be a short paragraph outlining the Board’s policy on public participation at a Board meeting.

Legal Refs.: ORC 121.22; 3313.20

Adopted: 8/24/95 Revised: 3/20/97 8/20/98 1/12/04 ACC ORDER OF BUSINESS

The Order of Business customarily followed at the REGULAR and COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Board of Education meetings is:

1. Call to order – Statement of purpose of meeting

2. Roll call of members

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Reading, approval, and signing the records from previous meetings

5. Financial Report

6. Communications

7. Report from the Superintendent of Schools

8. Committee Reports

9. Unfinished Business

10. New Business

11. Visitor participation relative to any item

12. Adjournment

The Order of Business for SPECIAL Board of Education meetings will be structured in accord with the purposes for the special meeting and usually will not provide opportunities for public participation.

The Board of Education may change this Order of Business by a majority vote.

Adopted: 2/22/79 Revised: 3/20/97 8/22/02 1/12/04 ACCA EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

Educational matters should be discussed and decisions made at public meetings of the Board, Some matters are more properly discussed by the Board in executive session. As permitted by law, such matters may involve the following:

1. the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee, official, or student, or the investigation of charges or complaints against such an individual, unless an employee, official, or student requests a public hearing (the Board will not hold an executive session for the discipline of one of its members for conduct related to the performance of his/her official duties or for his/her removal from office);

2. the purchase of property for public purposes, or for the sale of property at competitive bidding, if premature disclosure or information would give an unfair advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest;

3. Specialized details for security arrangements where disclosure of the matters discussed might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing, or avoiding prosecution for, a violation of the law;

4. Matters required to be kept confidential by Federal law or rules or State statutes;

5. Preparing for, conducting or reviewing negotiations with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment;

6. In-person conferences with an attorney for the Board concerning disputes involving the Board that are the subject of pending or imminent court action, or

7. Consideration of confidential information related to the marketing plans, specific business strategy, production techniques, trade secrets or personal financial statements of an applicant for economic development assistance, or negotiations with other political subdivisions respecting requests for economic development assistance provided that:

A. the information is directly related to a request for economic development assistance that is to be provided or administered under provisions of State law authorized in Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22(G)(8)(1), or involves public infrastructure improvements or the extension of utility services that are directly related to an economic development project and

B. a unanimous quorum of the Board has determined by a roll call vote the executive session is necessary to protect the interests of the applicant or possible investment or expenditure of public funds to be made in connection with the economic development project.

Conferences with a member of the office of the State Auditor or an appointed certified public accountant for the purpose of an audit are not considered meetings subject to the Open Meetings Act (Sunshine Law).

The Board meets in executive session only to discuss legally authorized matters. Executive sessions are held only as part of a regular or special meeting and only after a majority of the Board “quorum” determines, by a role-call vote, to hold such a session.

When the Board holds an executive session for any of the reasons stated above, the motion and vote to hold the executive session shall state one or more of the purposes listed under such paragraph for which the executive session is to be held, but need not include the name of any person to be considered the executive session. The minutes shall reflect the information described above. ACCA - 2

In compliance with law, no official action may be taken in executive session. To take final action on any matter discussed, the Board will reconvene into public session. The Board may invite staff members, in addition to the Superintendent, or others to attend executive sessions at its discretion.

Board members, staff members, Superintendent, or Treasurer, shall not disclose or use, without appropriate authorization, any information acquired in the course of official duties (which is confidential because of statutory provisions) or which has been clearly designated as confidential because of the status of proceedings or the circumstances under which the information was received.

Legal Ref.: ORC 121.22

Adopted: 9/22/94 Revised: 8/18/14 ACD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE BOARD

An Organizational Meeting of the Maple Heights Board of Education shall be held annually on a day occurring during the first fifteen days of January each year. Following the Call to Order and the Statement of Purpose of the Meeting, the Roll Call of Members, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, the following order of business shall be considered:

A. The Oath of Office

B. Certification of Election of Board Members in Election Years

C. Election of Officers

1. Election of the President

2. Election of the Vice-President

D. Fixing Time, Dates, and Place(s) for Regular Meetings of the Board for the Current Year

D. Establishing Legal Counsel for the Current Year

F. Affirming Compensation for the Board Members for the Current Year

G. Setting the Salary of the Treasurer

H. Establishing a Service Fund for Board Members

I. Appointing Committees

J. Such Other Matters as Shall be Presented

The Board of Education may change this Order of Business by a majority vote.

Ref: Resolution No. 04-10, adopted 1/5/04

Adopted: 2/22/79 Revised: 2/9/04 ACE NOTICE OF MEETING PROCEDURE (“SUNSHINE LAW”)

The following method shall be established whereby any person may determine the time and place of all regularly scheduled meetings and the time and place and purpose of all special meetings in compliance with Ohio Revised Code 121.22.

Any person, upon request and upon advance payment of a reasonable fee, not to exceed 40 cents per page plus first class postage, or presenting a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Treasurer shall obtain reasonable advance notification of all meetings at which any specific type of public business is to be discussed. The Treasurer’s Office is authorized to receive these payments to be held in escrow until depleted, and these stamped, addressed envelopes for the mailing of notices.

At least 24 hours advance notice shall be given to the news media that have requested notification except in the event of an emergency, wherein immediate notification will be given. The Treasurer is delegated to act on behalf of the member or members calling the meeting and shall notify the news media that have requested notification of the time, place and purpose of the meeting.

These rules are in addition to any applicable legal requirements as to notices to members of the Board or to others in connection with specific meetings or specific subject matters.

Adopted: 2/22/79 Revised: 3/27/97 AD MINUTES

The minutes of the meetings of the Board constitute the written record of Board actions. The Treasurer will record in the minutes of each meeting all actions taken by the Board. Minutes of Executive Sessions need only reflect the general subject matter of discussion.

Minutes will specify the nature of the meeting (regular or special), time, place, members present, complete record of official actions taken by the Board relative to the Superintendent’s recommendations, communications and all business transacted; items of significant information bearing on action and record of adjournment.

The Treasurer will include the motion, the name of the member making the motion and the name of the member seconding the motion and record the vote of each member present.

A complete and accurate set of minutes will be prepared and become a regular part of the monthly agenda. Copies of the minutes shall be made available to all Board members and the Superintendent before the meeting at which the minutes are to be approved. The minutes will be signed by the President and attested to by the Treasurer following approval of the minutes by the Board.

The official minutes will be bound and kept in the office of the Treasurer, who will, after they have been approved by the Board, make them available to interested citizens upon request at cost, during normal office hours.

Legal Refs.: ORC 121.22; 3313.26

Adopted: 2/22/79 Revised: 8/20/98 ADA BOARD-STAFF COMMUNICATIONS

The Board recognizes that there is a mutual benefit to maintain open channels of official and informal communication with staff. The basic line of official communication will be through the Superintendent. Effective means of facilitating communication between the Board and staff will be explored to promote cooperative action for continuing improvement of the educational program and mutual benefit of the school system and the community.

Staff Communications to the Board

Communications to the Board or any of its subcommittees from staff members will be submitted through the Superintendent. Staff members are also reminded that Board meetings are public meetings and that they provide an excellent opportunity to observe, firsthand, the Board’s deliberations. The Board will be willing to facilitate a Board-staff discussion should a need arise.

Board Communications to Staff

All official communications, policies and directives of staff interest and concerns will be communicated to staff members through the Superintendent. The Superintendent will develop appropriate methods to keep staff members fully informed of the Board’s problems, concerns, and actions.

Communication Guidelines

A two-way system of communication will be implemented by the Superintendent to facilitate orderly and constructive communication among employees. Information obtained from these strategies will be reported to the Board on a regular basis and, when applicable, to employees. Further, the Superintendent will develop a means for assessing and refining communication within the school district (i.e. e-mail). This system is based on the belief that all of us, working together as a team, need to focus on the continuous improvement of the school system towards excellence. The purposes of this two-way system are:

1. To advance student learning; 2. To focus on continuous improvement of the school district; 3. To provide employees an opportunity to identify concerns, to offer solutions to issues, and to receive responses; 4. To improve work environment throughout the school district; and 5. To enhance conditions for cooperative resolutions to issues.

Visit to Schools

Board members must recognize that their presence in the schools could be subject to a variety of interpretations by school employees; therefore, individual Board members interested in visiting schools or classrooms will make arrangements for visitations through the principals of the various schools. Visits shall be regarded as informal expressions of interest in school affairs and not for supervisory or administrative purposes. Official visits by Board members shall be carried on only under Board authorization and with the full knowledge of staff, including the Superintendent or designee and the Principal.

Adopted: 9/22/94 Revised: 5/3/04 AE BOARD POLICY DEVELOPMENT

Definition of Board Policy Policies are written rules, principles, guidelines, and /or directives through which the Board governs the school district.

The Board establishes policies to guide the action of those to whom it delegates authority.

Policies are established by the Board to fulfill the legal requirement imposed upon the Board by the Ohio Revised Code to prescribe and enforce rules not inconsistent with law or with the rules prescribed by the State Board of Education for its own government and the government of the schools under its jurisdiction.

Formulation, Adoption, Revision, and Rescission of Board Policies

Policies are adopted, revised, or rescinded only by action of the Board.

New and revised policies will be recorded in the Handbook of Board of Education Policies and Bylaws immediately upon adoption; rescinded policies will be removed immediately. This handbook will be available for reference purposes in all schools and departments to all employees and the public.

Administrative Regulations The Board delegates to the Superintendent the power to issue regulations to implement Board policy. These regulations will constitute the administrative regulations governing the district and will be recorded in the Handbook of Administrative Regulations. Such regulations do not require Board approval but may be reviewed by the Board. Regulations may be issued directly by the Superintendent without the adoption of a policy. Where Board policies apply, regulations will conform with policies.

Review of Policies It will be the duty of the Superintendent and Board committee to review policies to determine if any need revision.

Adopted: 2/22/79 AEA PROPOSED POLICIES

Proposed policies of the Board of Education shall be read at two consecutive Board meetings before being recommended for adoption by the Board, unless the Board, by unanimous vote, declares that the two reading rule be dispensed with for a particular proposed policy. Such action shall only be taken when the Board determines immediate adoption of a proposed policy is required.

Adopted: 10/22/81 Suspended: 1/5/04 in accordance with Resolution No. 04-11 Reinstated: 1/26/04 in accordance with Resolution No. 04-26 Revised: 3/8/04 AFA NEWS MEDIA SERVICES AT BOARD MEETINGS

The Board believes that one of the paramount responsibilities of a Board of Education is to keep the public informed of its problems, deliberations, policies, and actions. Therefore, the Board encourages the attendance of press representatives at all meetings except executive sessions.

1. In order that the Board may transact its business with dispatch, questions from the press will not be entertained while meetings are in progress. However, a representative of the Board will be available after each meeting to answer reporters’ questions and to clarify points of discussion and action.

2. The President of the Board shall be the official spokesperson for the Board in all contacts with the news media relative to the outcome of Board meetings. Other members, when speaking with the media, shall be constrained to say they are speaking as members and not for the Board.

In the event that representatives of the news media are unable to attend a meeting, they shall be provided, upon request, with a summary of important Board actions.

Adopted: 10/25/79 Revised: 8/24/95 AG CODE OF ETHICS AS PROPOSED BY THE OHIO SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION

I. Preamble and Purpose

Whereas, the welfare of our community, state, and nation is directly affected by the quality of public education focused to the greatest possible degree on individual abilities and potentialities; and

Whereas, the ideals, attitudes and motives of the school board members substantially influence their decisions concerning the quality of education in the schools; therefore be it

Resolved, in order to encourage all boards of education in Ohio to act in accordance with high professional and moral standards, the Ohio School Boards Association does hereby establish a code of basic principles and ethical standards for school board members acting individually and collectively as boards of education in the management of the public schools of Ohio.

II. Basic Principles and Procedures

Boards of education in Ohio accept the obligation to operate the public schools in accordance with the fundamental principles and standards of school management, which principles include but are not limited to the following:

1. Boards of education formulate written policy for the administration of schools, to be reviewed regularly and revised as necessary.

2. Boards of education exercise legislative, policy-making, planning and appraising functions, and delegate administrative functions in the operation of schools.

3. Boards of education recognize their especially critical responsibility for selecting the Superintendent, defining the responsibilities, helping formulate goals and evaluating the performance regularly, without directly engaging in administrative processes.

4. Boards of education accept and encourage a variety of opinions from and communication with all parts of the community.

5. Boards of education make public relevant institutional information in order to promote communication and understanding between the school system and the community.

6. Boards of education act on legislative and policy-making matters only after examining all pertinent facts and considering the Superintendent’s recommendations.

7. Boards of education conduct their meetings with planned and published agendas.

8. Boards of education encourage and promote professional growth of school staff so that quality of instruction and support services may continually be improved.

9. Boards of education establish and maintain procedural steps for resolving complaints and criticism of school affairs.

10. Boards of education act only through public meetings and individual board members have no authority to bind the board.

III. Ethical Standards

Maximum results as members of boards of education will be achieved only if high ethical standards of conduct are maintained in all personal, business, and public activities. Beginning with the universally-accepted precept of treating others, individually or in groups, as everyone would like to be treated, more specific ethical standards include but are not limited to the following: AG-2 1. Ethical Standards for All Individual Members of Boards of Education

A. Accept responsibility for leadership by encouraging community and staff to improve the public school system in all appropriate ways, including the greatest efficiency in the use of money, promoting increase in funding as needed, and improvement in training and performance of staff, administrators, and board.

B. Make sincere efforts to respect divergent points of view by seeking to understand those who advance such diverse opinions.

C. Recognize the principle of compromise as an acceptable solution to diversity and cooperation as productive to the common good.

D. Recognize both the positive and negative aspects of dissent and, upon arriving at a decision, that board members have an obligation to abide by the decision while retaining the right to attempt to alter the decision ethically.

E. Avoid conflicts of interest and the use of board membership for personal gain or even the appearance of impropriety which can result from that position.

F. Accept primary objective of maintaining and improving schools, not personal advancement or prestige.

G. Devote time, thought, and study to the duties and responsibilities of school board membership.

H. Attempt to interpret the needs and attitudes of all parts of the school district and endeavor to translate them into the improvement of the school program.

I. Respect the limited intent and scope of executive sessions and respect privileged communications from executive sessions and other administrative sources.

2. Group Ethics for Boards of Education and Other Organizations

A. Seek assurances of the availability of administrative and teaching personnel prior to offering them contracts.

B. Initiate inquiries for prospective, specific certified and non-certified employees through channels that are available to everyone qualified.

C. Evaluate personnel objectively for own purposes and for other school districts when requested.

D. Encourage meetings and association with other school boards nearby, regionally, state, and nationally to discuss and advance the cause of maintaining and improving public education.

E. Recognize, although the primary obligation is to maintain and improve the quality of education in the local district, a substantial duty in a broad sense to be concerned for the improvement of the quality of education at all levels of society and refrain from actions locally that would substantially interfere or injure the program of education elsewhere.

Adopted: 2/22/79 AH CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised by General Henry M. Robert and Sarah Corbin Robert, Scott Foresman, 1970, shall govern meeting procedure except as may be provided in other Board rules or by the Ohio Revised Code.

Adopted: 2/22/79 Suspended: 1/5/04 – in accordance with Resolution No. 04-13 Reinstated: 1/26/04 – in accordance with Resolution No. 04-23 AI PUBLIC COMPLAINTS

Constructive criticism of the schools will be welcomed by the Board when it is motivated by a sincere desire to improve the quality of the educational program or equip the schools to do their tasks more effectively.

Although no member of the community will be denied the right to bring his complaints to the Board, he/she will be referred to the proper administrative channels for solution before investigation or action by the Board. Exceptions may be made when the complaints concern Board actions or Board operations.

The Board of Education believes that complaints and grievances are best handled and resolved as close to their origin as possible. The staff should be given the opportunity to consider the issues and attempt to resolve the problems prior to involvement by the Board; therefore, the proper channeling of complaints involving instruction, discipline or learning materials will be as follows:

1. employee 2. principal 3. Superintendent 4. Board of Education

If a complaint, which was presented to the Board and referred through the proper channels, is resolved before it comes back to the Board, a report of the disposition of the matter will be made to the Board and then placed in the official files.

The Board expects the staff to receive complaints courteously and to make a proper reply to the complainant.

Matters referred to the Superintendent and/or Board must be in writing and are expected to be specific in terms of the action desired.

Adopted: 8/24/95 AIA PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CURRICULUM OR INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The Board recognizes the need and right of students to free access to many different types of books and materials. It also recognizes the right of the professional staff to select books and other materials supportive of the school District’s educational philosophy and goals.

Criticism of a book or other materials used in the school may be expected from time to time. In such instances:

1. If a parent requests that his own child not read a given book, the teacher and/or school administrator should resolve the issue, perhaps by arranging for use of alternative material meeting essentially the same instructional purpose.

2. The Board will not permit any individual or group to exercise censorship over instructional materials and library collections, but it recognizes that, at times, a re-evaluation of certain material may be desirable. Should an individual or group ask to have any book or other material withdrawn from school use:

A. The person who objects to the book or other material will be asked to sign a complaint on a standard form documenting his criticism.

B. Following receipt of the formal complaint, the Superintendent will provide for a re- evaluation of the material in question. He will arrange for the appointment of a review committee from among the faculty and community to consider the complaint.

C. The Superintendent will review the complaint and the committee’s re-evaluation and will render a decision in the matter. Should the decision be unsatisfactory to the complainant, it may be appealed to the Board.

The Board assumes final responsibility for all books and instructional materials which it makes available to students, and it holds its professional staff accountable for their proper selections. The Board also recognizes rights of individual parents with respect to controversial materials used by their own children and will provide for the re-evaluation of materials in library collections upon formal request.

Legal Refs.: ORC 3329.07; 3329.08; 3329.09

Adopted: 8/24/95 Revised: 8/24/00 AIA-2 CITIZEN’S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY/CURRICULUM MATERIALS

Type of material (book, film, pamphlet, etc.) Author Title Publisher (if known) Request initiated by Address Telephone Complainant represents: Self Organization Other

1. To what do you object? (Be specific, cite pages, frames)

2. What do you believe might be the result of reading or seeing this material?

3. For what age group to you recommend this material?

4. Is there anything good about this material?

5. Did you read or see the entire material? What parts?

6. Are you aware of the judgment of this material by professional critics?

7. What do you believe is the theme of this material?

8. What would you like your school to do about this material? [ ] Do not assign it to my child [ ] Withdraw it from all students as well as my child [ ] Restrict it to more mature students [ ] Send it back for re-evaluation

Signature of Complainant AIB PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ABOUT SCHOOL PERSONNEL

Complaints about school personnel will be investigated fully and fairly; however, before any such complaint is investigated, it must be submitted in writing and signed. Anonymous complaints will be disregarded.

Whenever a complaint is made directly to the Board as a whole or to a Board member as an individual, it will be referred to the school administration for study and possible solution.

The Superintendent will develop, for approval by the Board, procedures that assure prompt and fair attention to complaints against school personnel. The procedure will require that an employee who is the object of a complaint be informed promptly and be afforded the opportunity to present the facts as he sees them.

If it appears necessary, the administration, the person who made the complaint, or the employee involved may request an executive session of the Board for a formal hearing and decision. Statutory restrictions on executive sessions will be observed.

Adopted: 8/24/95 AJ VOTING METHOD (5-Member Board)

ITEM # NEEDED REFERENCE (ORC)

Declare it necessary to issue bonds 3 (a) 133.18 133.01(U)

Declare, by remaining members, that reasons for a member's absence for 90 days are insufficient to continue membership 3 (e) 3313.11

Fill a vacant Board seat (majority of remaining members) 3 (f) 3313.11

Purchase or sell real estate 3 (a) 3313.18

Employ any employee 3 (a) 3313.18

Elect or appoint an officer 3 (a) 3313.18

Pay any debt or claim 3 (a) 3313.18

Adopt textbook 3 (a) 3313.18

Dispense with resolution authorizing purchase or sale of personal property, appointment of employees, etc., if annual appropriation resolution has been adopted by a majority of full 3 (a) 3313.18 membership

Termination of Treasurer for cause 3 (a) 3313.22

Appoint Treasurer Pro Tempore 3 (a) 3313.23

Determine that Treasurer’s incapacity is removed 3 (a) 3313.23

Remove Treasurer Pro Tempore at any time for cause 4 (b) 3313.23

Affirm, reverse, vacate or modify an order of student expulsion; reinstate a student 3 (a) 3313.66 (E)

Employ or re-employ a superintendent 3 (a) 3319.01

Appoint Superintendent Pro Tempore 3 (a) 3319.011

Remove Superintendent Pro Tempore at any time for cause 4 (b) 3319.011

Terminate Business Manager for cause 3 (a) 3319.06

Re-employ any teacher who the Superintendent refuses to recommend for re-employment 4 (c) 3319.07

Re-employ a teacher not nominated by the Superintendent 4 (c) 3319.07 AJ – PAGE 2

ITEM # NEEDED REFERENCE (ORC) Reject the recommendation of the Superintendent that a teacher eligible for continuing contract be granted a continuing 4 (c) 3319.11 contract

Determine, at a regular meeting, which textbooks shall be used in the schools under its control 3 (a) 3329.08

Transfer funds in certain cases 4 (b) 5705.14

Declare the necessity for certain transfers of funds 3 (a) 5705.16

Levy a tax outside 10-mill limitation (not emergency) 4 (b) 5705.21

Reject findings and recommendations of fact-finding panel by Board or employee organization under statutory impasse resolution procedure 3 (g) 4117.14(C)(6)

KEY (a) Majority of full membership (b) 2/3 of full membership (c) 3/4 of full membership (d) 4/5 of full membership (e) 2/3 of remaining members of the Board (f) Majority of remaining members of the Board (g) 3/5 of full membership (h) Unanimous vote of full membership

Adopted: 8/6/12 Revised: 8/19/13 AK JOB DESCRIPTION – BOARD OF EDUCATION

A Board of Education’s prime responsibility is that of setting policy which the Superintendent and staff use in administering the public schools.

It is important that a job description be understood by each and every Board member so that action by individuals does not infringe upon the administration of the district. Boards following this description should have a good basis for an evaluation of their operation.

Title: Board of Education

Responsibility: The Board of Education is directly accountable to the electorate and is responsible for providing a quality educational program as economically and efficiently as possible.

General Duties: The Board of Education shall advise, counsel, and establish policy for the entire school system.

Duties: The Board of Education shall: 1. Be solely responsible for the employment and evaluation of the Superintendent. 2. Be solely responsible for the employment and evaluation of the Treasurer and the Business Manager if not assigned to the Superintendent. 3. Recognize the Superintendent’s responsibility for all administrative functions. 4. Support the Superintendent in all decisions that conform to professional education standards and existing Board policy. 5. Recognize the Treasurer’s responsibility for all fiscal functions except those specifically delegated to the Superintendent by law. 6. Support the Treasurer in all decisions that conform to sound fiscal practices and Board policy. 7. Refer applications, complaints, communications, and other matters directly to the Superintendent unless such is brought before the Board in a meeting or is an appeal from a decision of the Superintendent. 8. Require evaluation procedure of staff by the Superintendent or designee in accordance with Board policy. 9. Recognize the importance of having the Superintendent present at meetings of the Board including executive sessions. 10. Expect the Superintendent to make recommendations on all issues that concern the school system on which the Board may take action. 11. Develop a procedure for ongoing communications between the Board and Superintendent. 12. Establish policy as needed consistent with good management practices. 13. Assist the Superintendent in a manner which will provide for a well managed, fiscally responsible system by providing sufficient help, guidance, and direction. 14. Appoint a legislative liaison to OSBA and keep alert to federal and state legislation directly affecting education.

These descriptions are general and minimal. Each district is encouraged to formulate additional specific descriptions to enhance the total operation.

Adopted: 11/21/85 AL MAPLE HEIGHTS BOARD OF EDUCATION EMPLOYEE RESPIRATORY PROTECTION POLICY AND STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES INVOLVING ASBESTOS CONTACT

I. Policy Statement

The Maple Heights Board of Education, intending to comply with OSHA Standard 29CFR 1910.1001 and 1926.58 and including 29CFR 1910.134, has established this Respiratory Protection Policy.

In order to fully protect employees, any employee assigned duties related to the AHERA Program, must meet all of the requirement listed below:

1. Employee must have completed the initial medical questionnaire including a positive recommendation from an authorized physician, as well as any updates.

2. Employee must have completed the appropriate training program including the proper use of respirators.

3. Employee must be properly fit-tested for a respirator, with updates every six (6) months.

Any qualified employee assigned work duties under the AHERA regulations is required to wear a respirator while performing such work, or while in the work area, until such time as the employee leaves the work area and all members of the work party have been decontaminated.

II. Administration

The designated person shall administer the Respiratory Protection Program, and the program shall be enforced at the job site by the job site foreman. The foreman shall be responsible for the filing of the worker checklist, assuring compliance of this policy, with the program administrator.

The Maple Heights Board of Education shall assume the cost of equipment, training, and medical examinations for identified employees.

Only equipment that is NIOSH approved shall be used and each employee shall be issued an individual half mask respirator with a spare for themselves or for emergency purposes. Employee shall be assigned half mask units and/or P.A.P.R. units only.

III. Care and Inspection

Employees shall be responsible for the routine care and disinfection of their respiratory equipment, as outlined below:

 Wash with a detergent or a combination detergent and disinfectant, in warm water using a brush.

 Rinse in clean water, or rinse once with a disinfectant and once with clean water. The clean water rinse is particularly important because traces of detergent or disinfectant left on the mask can cause skin irritation and/or damage respirator components.

 Air dry on a rack or hang; position the respirator so that the facepiece rubber will not dry misshapened.

Routine inspection of respirators shall be the responsibility of the employee and shall be done before and after each use, as outlined below:

A. Air-purifying respirators (half mask and full facepiece) 1. Rubber facepieces should be checked for: AL-2  Excessive dirt  Cracks, tears, or holes  Distortion from improper storage  Cracked, scratched, or loose fitting lens  Broken or missing mounting clips

2. Headstraps should be checked for:  Breaks or tears  Loss of elasticity  Broken or malfunctioning buckles or attachments  Excessively worn serrations of the head harness which might allow the facepiece to slip

3. Inhalation valve and exhalation valve, should be checked for:  Detergent residue, dust particles, or dirt on valve seat  Cracks, tears, or distortion in the valve material or valve seat  Missing or defective valve cover

4. Filter elements should be checked for:  Proper filter for the hazard  Approval designation (TC . . . ID# . . .)  Missing or worn gaskets  Worn threads  Cracks or dents in filter housing

B. Powered Air-Purifying Respirators

1. Check facepiece, headstrap, valve, and breathing tube, as for regular air-purifying respirators

2. Hood or helmet, if applicable, should be checked for:  Headgear suspension (adjust properly for wearer)  Cracks or breaks in faceshield (replace faceshield)

The Maple Heights Board of Education recognizes that repairs and replacement parts must be from a trained and qualified individual. Manufacturers instructions and OEM parts and repair service will be utilized on all respiratory protection equipment.

The employee shall be responsible for the proper storage of respiratory protection equipment. The Maple Heights Board of Education shall provide a clean, convenient, sanitary location for such equipment, free from dust, sunlight, excessive heat or cold, excessive moisture, or other contaminants. Employee shall store his/her equipment, after cleaning and disinfecting, in a sanitary, sealed plastic bag and place it in storage so no defects will be formed.

IV. Record Keeping and Evaluation

Employees shall have access to all records regarding this policy and shall have input regarding the evaluation of this policy and equipment. All records shall be maintained in the AHERA file.

This program shall be evaluated at least annually by the Program Administrator in conjunction with the job site foreman. Each employee shall be required to attend the two (2) hour awareness training session and shall be furnished with the initial policy and any updated policy. Adopted: 3/22/90 AM BOARD TRAVEL POLICY

Subject to the procedures and restrictions set forth herein, Board of Education members shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties. This includes necessary expenses incurred from traveling outside of the District to attend school-related conferences or conduct school-related business. Said reimbursement payments shall be made from the District’s service fund.

The Board recognizes that the expenditure of its funds must fall within the scope of serving a public purpose. Accordingly, Board funds will not be used to reimburse Board members for personal expenses, expenses not reasonably necessary to the performance of their statutory duties, or expenses not actually incurred in the performance of their duties. Board members are expected to exercise the same care in incurring expenses that a prudent person would exercise in traveling on personal business. Excessive costs, such as those incurred from luxury services, meals, and accommodations, and staying over additional nights when traveling on Board business when not necessary for Board business are not considered prudent an thus will not be reimbursed.

The following shall apply to each member of the Board when traveling on business on behalf of the district or for conferences and training.

 All modes of travel shall be by the most direct route by plane, train, bus or automobile.

 Only coach fare rates will be reimbursed. Any additional costs for first class or other travel upgrades above the coach fare rate will be paid for by the individual and will not be reimbursed.

 The maximum daily reimbursement for meals shall be no more than $65.00 per day upon submission of receipts.

 Reimbursements shall be made for actual parking costs and road tolls.

 No reimbursements will be made for phone calls unless to the District for official school business.

 For attendance at any conference less than 120 miles, the district hotel accommodations will begin the night of the first day of the conference and end the last day of the conference.

 For attendance at any conference exceeding 120 miles, Board paid hotel accommodations will begin the night before the first day of the conference and end the last day of the conference.

 Mileage will be reimbursed at the current rate as established by the Internal Revenue Service.

Board members seeking reimbursement of expenses permitted by policy shall submit a reimbursement application to the Treasurer who will distribute to the Board at the next regular Board meeting. Said application shall itemize all expenses incurred and be accompanied with detailed receipts and invoices. Expenses shall be reimbursed only upon specific approval by the Board.

Any additional expenses for lodging, meals, mileage or incidentals not permitted by policy will be paid for by the individual(s) and will be submitted to the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee for review if reimbursement is being sought. A written justification must accompany the request for reimbursement. The Citizen’s Financial Advisory Committee will review all Board member requests for travel reimbursement not permitted by policy and make recommendations to the Board as to the whether the request falls within the definition of “reasonably necessary in the performance of their statutory duties or expenses not actually incurred in the performance of their duties” as emphasized by the Ohio Attorney General opinion #2003-029.

Under no circumstances will the District credit card be utilized for payment of incidental, personal or individual expenses of Board members. The District credit card will only be utilized for payment of the most direct route of travel, hotel accommodations as outlined in this policy and meals provided during working sessions.

Adopted: 8/26/99 Revised: 3/7/06, 2/8/10

AMA SUPERINTENDENT AND TREASURER TRAVEL POLICY Subject to the procedures and restrictions set forth herein, The Superintendent and the Treasurer shall be reimbursed for all necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties. This includes necessary expenses incurred from traveling outside of the District to attend school-related conferences or conduct school-related business. Said reimbursement payments shall be made from the District’s general fund.

The Board recognizes that the expenditure of its funds must fall within the scope of serving a public purpose. Accordingly, Board funds will not be used to reimburse the Superintendent or Treasurer for personal expenses, expenses not reasonably necessary to the performance of their statutory duties, or expenses not actually incurred in the performance of their duties. The Superintendent and Treasurer are expected to exercise the same care in incurring expenses that a prudent person would exercise in traveling on personal business. Excessive costs, such as those incurred from luxury services, meals, and accommodations, and staying over additional nights when traveling on Board business when not necessary for Board business are not considered prudent an thus will not be reimbursed.

The following shall apply to the Superintendent and Treasurer when travelling on business on behalf of the district or for conferences and training.