No.

003

SECTION:

LOCAL BOARD PROCEDURES FUNCTIONS March 18, 1996 March 17, 1997 November 21, 2011

OCTORARA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

TITLE: ADOPTED: REVISED:

003. FUNCTIONS Section 1. SC 301, 407, 510, 511 Legislative

The Board shall exercise its rule-making power by adopting procedures and policies for the organization and operation of the school district. Those procedures and policies which are not dictated by the statutes, or rules of the State Board, or ordered by a court of competent authority, shall be adopted, amended or repealed at any open meeting of the Board. The Board is committed to the education of all students appropriate to the best of their individual abilities; to a constant awareness of the concerns and desires of the whole community regarding the quality and performance of the school system, with the Board assuming an educational leadership role; to the employment of a Superintendent who will see that the Octorara Area maintains a position as an outstanding school system and under whose leadership the school personnel will carry out the policies of the Board with imagination and dedication; and to the continued involvement of the Octorara Area Schools for the benefit of our young people. Additionally, the Boards specific policy and direction goals are: a. to interpret the educational needs and aspirations of the community through the formulation of policies which stimulate the learner and the learning process. b. to manage the school system in accordance with Board policy and State laws. c. to provide leadership which will assure that the goals and objectives of the school system are effectively carried out.

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d. to maintain two-way communication with the various publics served by the schools in order to interpret public attitudes, to identify policies and procedures of the schools and to encourage public involvement with and understanding of the schools. e. to develop and provide the data appropriate for the management functions of planning, organizing, controlling, staffing, and evaluating. The adoption of written policies is the primary manner in which the Board exerts leadership in the operation of the school system. To inform the public concerning new or revised Board policy, all policy adoption or revisions will be accomplished over the span of two (2) public meetings. Policies will be read initially at a public meeting of the Board. Final adoption may occur as per Board vote at the next public meeting. The Board shall reserve to itself the function of providing guides for the discretionary action of those to whom it delegates authority. These guides for discretionary action shall constitute the policies governing the operation of the school system. They shall be recorded in writing. The formulation and adoption of these written policies shall constitute the basic method by which the Board shall exercise its leadership in the operation of the school system. The study and evaluation of reports concerning the execution of its written policies shall constitute the basic method by which the Board shall exercise its control over the operation of the school system. The formal adoption of policies shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board. Only those written statements so adopted and so recorded shall be regarded as official Board policy. In formulating policies, the Board should consult individuals and groups affected by the policies and, since changing conditions bring changing needs, the Board should periodically review policies. The Board recognizes that while it is a policy-making body, it properly delegates the execution of policy to employed professional administrators. Before any policy is officially adopted by the Board, it shall may be evaluated by the district Solicitor to determine its legality in the context of current statutes. The adoption of new policies or changing existing policies is the responsibility of the Board. Proposals for new or revised policies may be initiated by any Board member or the Superintendent. Policies introduced and recommended by the Board for adoption shall be approved in public meeting. Whenever situations arise in the operations of the affairs of the district in which a decision by the Board is desirable or required and for which no

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written approved policy currently exists, the Board may take such action as is legal and which it considers proper under the circumstances. The Board reserves the right to deviate from such policy when, in its judgment, exigencies of a specific situation prompt deviation from policy. The operation of any section or sections of Board policies determined to be contrary to law or statutes shall be suspended or rescinded by policy revision by the Board at a regular or special meeting. Attorney Involvement In Policy Development - The Superintendent, as the policy draft writer for the Board, shall seek the opinion of the district Solicitor in each question of legality or proper legal procedure in a proposed Board policy. Staff Involvement In Policy Development - In the development of policies affecting personnel, the Board may seek the judgment and counsel of appropriate personnel before adopting such policies. Members or organizations of the staff may initiate consideration of policies which will be processed through regular administrative channels, and, whenever the Board considers it appropriate, may be considered and/or acted upon by the Board. The intent and spirit of these provisions are to gain the most complete and reliable information on which to base decisions and to provide for the maximum interaction by way of regular administrative channels. Community Involvement In Policy Development - Whenever the Board considers it advisable, it may seek the advice and/or reaction of members of the community or community groups in the formulation of prospective policy. It is understood that such community involvement is advisory only. Student Involvement In Policy Development - The Board recognizes that students desire a voice in consideration of decisions which will affect them and that students can be an important resource to the improvement of schools. The Board views student participation in school affairs as an extension of the educational process and encourages students to participate through planned programs and procedures in the government of each school as set up by the building principal. The Board recognizes that students, as citizens, should have the privilege of participation and should assume the responsibility of assisting in devising regulations for student conduct which provide for all students an educational climate free from interference and interruption. In cases where action must be taken within the school system where the Board has provided no guidelines for administrative action, the Superintendent shall have the power to act. His/Her decisions, however, shall be subject to review by action of the Board at its regular meeting. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to inform the Board promptly of such action and the need for policy.

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Section 2. SC 1001

Executive

The Board shall exercise its executive power by the appointment of a district Superintendent who shall enforce the statutes of the Commonwealth, the rules of the State Board of Education and the policies of the Board of School Directors. The Board believes that the legislation of policies is the most important function of a school board, and that the execution of the policies should be the function of the Superintendent. Delegation by the Board of its executive powers to the Superintendent provides freedom for the Superintendent to manage the schools within the Boards policies, and frees the Board to devote its time to policymaking and appraisal functions. The Board holds the Superintendent responsible for carrying out its policies within established guidelines and for keeping the Board informed about school operations. In his/her efforts to keep the Board informed, the Superintendent will notify Board members as promptly as possible of any happenings of an emergency nature which occur in schools. The Superintendent shall have a seat on the Board of the district, and the right to speak on all matters before the Board, but not to vote. In the development of rules and procedures for the operation of the school systems, the Superintendent shall involve at the planning stage those administrators who would be affected by such provisions. The same principle shall be followed by other administrators in their involvement in drafting rules. The Board itself shall formulate and adopt administrative regulations only when specific laws, strong community attitudes, or probable staff reactions requires the Board to do so. The Superintendent is directed to establish and maintain an orderly plan for preserving and making accessible the policies adopted by the Board and the administrative rules and regulations needed to put them into effect. Accessibility shall be extended to all employees and pupils of the district, to the members of the Board, and to interested citizens. The Board reserves the right to review and veto administrative rules and regulations should they, in the Boards judgment, be inconsistent with the policies adopted by the Board. Annual Reports - The Superintendent shall be charged with the preparation and submission of all annual reports required by State or Federal agencies.

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Section 3. SC 510, 1126 et seq

Review

The Board of School Directors may assume jurisdiction over controversies or disputes arising within this school district and concerning any matter over which the Board has authority granted by statute or where the Board has retained jurisdiction in contract or policies. In furtherance of its adjudicatory function, the Board may hold hearings in accordance with law which shall offer the parties to a dispute, on notice duly given, a fair and impartial forum for the resolution of the matter. Interested or affected persons shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard informally before the Superintendent or his/her delegated administrative official. If necessary, a hearing before the Board may be granted. The following procedures shall be followed by the Board whenever large delegations come before it requesting a hearing regarding a critical issue being decided by the Board:may be modified as recommended by the Board President. a. Position of the Board stated: After the meeting has been officially opened, the President of the Board shall briefly state the position of the Board and give reasons therefore. If official action on the issue has not as yet been taken, the President may so state and may summarize briefly the arguments for and against the issue to be decided. Other members of the Board may also be heard at this time. b. Speakers for and against the issue: The Secretary of the Board shall secure the names of all those persons wishing to be heard before the Board. Those desiring to speak shall indicate whether they are for or against the issue involved. Persons not responding to the Secretarys request shall not be heard. The President may set a reasonable time limit for each speaker as well as a limit upon the number of speakers. c. Board may answer questions: After the speakers for and against the issue have been heard, the President may indicate that questions pertaining directly to the issue involved may be directed to the Board. d. Action by the Board: Upon a ruling by the President closing the public discussion the Board may proceed with its deliberations and take whatever action it deems advisable.

2 PA C.S. Sec. 551 et seq

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The Board may at any hearing by a majority vote of Board members present continue the hearing to another time. Section 4. Consultants

The Board may use professional consultants from the State Departments of Education, colleges, universities, and other sources, when the Board believes such consultative services will be helpful to it in the operation of the school district. Remuneration, if any, for such consultant service shall be determined and approved in advance by the Board. The function of such consultant shall be solely to make studies and present recommendations to the Board. No consultant shall be charged with the implementation of his/her report. Any action stemming from any report shall rest with the Board. Any public announcements concerning the selection, employment, operations, findings, recommendations or termination of employment of such consultants shall be made at such time and in such manner as the Board may choose, and not at the discretion of the consultant.

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