Policies and Procedures Submitted by Arlene H.

Dawson
FRIT-7132

Evaluation of Chamblee Faculty and Student Policies and Procedures Handbooks

POLICY or PROCEDURE STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES AND SUGGESTIONS
Materials and The media specialist solicits The policy does not include an in-depth
Selection suggestions from staff, faculty, description of the Dekalb County Schools
GADOE RULE 160-4- and students for suggestions selection responsibility policy
4-.01 for materials and books. A requirements. The policy does not give
and Dekalb BOE Code: Consideration file is compiled the criteria to be used in the
IFA~E(3) and maintained for consideration of print and nonprint
Local school last revision recommended print and non materials. The policy does not state that
date 2/26/09 print materials. The Library the final responsibility for selection of
Media Center/Technology instructional media and equipment is the
Committee meets twice a year responsibility of the library media
to review selections and make specialist and the principal.
recommendations. As funds
availability dictates, faculty Selection assistance at
requests receive first priority http://plibrary.dekalb.k12.ga.us
http://lms.mysdhc.org/handbook/materi
al%20selections

Gifts No local school policy available The policy concerning gifts is available in
Dekalb BOE Code: IFA for review. the teacher or student handbook of
policies and procedures. The county
procedures concerning gifts or donated
materials should be added to the local
school policies and procedures. The
following website (Gifts #7) is a good
source for developing a good gift
 acceptance and discarding policy:
http://lms.mysdhc.org/handbook/materi
al%20selections
http://schoolmediacenter.com/FinalWebP
ages/YearlyProcedures/GiftsandDonation
s/librarygiftpolicy.pdf

Media Center No local school policy available Dekalb County has a policy prohibiting
Fundraising for review. fund-raising activities by the Dekalb
Book Fairs county School System and local school
units to ensure time on task.
DCSS Fundraising activities to benefit the
Last revision date 8/6/08 media center must be conducted by only
PTAs, booster clubs and local school
groups. The following website has a good
fundraising policy outlined by the
school’s PTA designating where funds will
be provided and describing the types of
fundraising for the school.

http://pages.cms.k12.nc.us/gems/eastov
erpta/PTAFundraisingPolicyfinal.pdf.

Acceptable Use for The acceptable use policies for Although the acceptable use policies are
Computer and Internet computers and the Internet are clearly stated in the media center faculty
Resources clearly stated in the local and student handbook, yearly staff
school policies handbooks. development and student orientation
DCSS Students have e-mail accounts should address the proper use email
Last revision date and access to Destiny On-line access School e-mail accounts are newly
10/7/08 Manager. There are filtering
devices employed on a system-
wide basis that restrict access
to inappropriate sites.
Overdue/Lost The policy clearly states that it
Materials and Fines is the responsibility of the
GADOE IFA-R(1) faculty and students to keep up
GADOE Rule 160-5-1-.14 with and to return books and
Georgia code 20-2-1013 materials on time. The policy
also states that all lost and
damaged books and materials
DCSS must be paid for by the patron.
Last Revision date Students are accessed $.05 per
11/30/04 day for each overdue book or
item.
available to students for their use.
Orientation programs and the student
handbook should be updated to include
specific instances and examples of
appropriate and inappropriate use of
computer and Internet resources. A
Model Acceptable Use Policy is available
at the following:
http://www.justice.gov/criminal/cybercri
me/rules/acceptableUsePolicy.htm
Since this is a high school, and some
students fail to take care of damaged
and lost book costs until senior year, the
policy information needs to be expanded
to include the policies for when a student
fails to make payment for a lost or
damaged textbook, library book, or
media material at the replacement cost.
The Dekalb County policy is in
compliance. The practice is to refuse to
issue additional books and withhold
report cards (or any document given to
the student or parent) until restitution is
made. However, the system does send
transcripts within ten (10) days when
requested by another receiving school
system.
http://www.doek12.ga.us/documents/do
e/legalservices/160-5-1.14.pdf
 Student Records and There is no local school policy
Fines Notification located in the students and
faculty handbook.
Collaboration The local school policy for
GADOE 10-4-4-.01 collaboration and class visits
Updated submitted to all are explicitly stated in the
media specialists 1/7/10 faculty handbook. A library
collaboration form is included
in the faculty handbook and is
completed by the faculty
member and media specialists
during collaborative planning
and serve as documentation of
collaboration.
A 1974 federal law, the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA), protects the privacy interests of
students in elementary and secondary
schools (and their parents) with regard
to certain types of education records.
Dekalb county Schools is in compliance
with the law but there is no mention of
the confidentiality of student records in
the faculty and student media center
handbooks. This information should be
added so that students are aware of their
rights.
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/
aaslproftools/positionstatements/aaslposi
tionstatementconfidentiality.cfm
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/e
nvrnmnt/css/cs300.htm
This policy is spelled out expansively
within the faculty handbook. I would
suggest the reason for collaborative
teaching experience and reference the
Georgia Department of Education policy
160-4-4-.01, so that teachers can truly
understand the premise of the flexibly
scheduled instructional day of the media
specialists.