Nebraska City Public Schools | <font size=5>: 1-1 Organization, Meetings, Audit, etc....

1-1.1    Organization

The Board of Education shall elect from its members annually a President and Vice-President who shall serve one year. The Secretary of the Board and the Treasurer of the School District shall be selected as provided by law and they shall be bonded.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.2    Committees

The Nebraska City Board of Education shall have a minimum of three regular committees made up of three members each, appointed by the President to serve for one year. These committees are to be: Finance, Education, and Building and Grounds.

The committees will study issues presented to them by the Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education, or the President of the Board of Education and report to the Board of Education as directed.

Education Committee
The purpose of the Education Committee of the Nebraska City Board of Education is to provide policy guidance to the Board of Education on issues of curriculum, educational quality, and standards of performance for staff and students.

Finance Committee
The purpose of the Finance Committee of the Nebraska City Board of Education is to do the following: 1) Monitor the monthly and yearly expenditures of the district as they relate to the adopted yearly budget; 2) Review the yearly budget as proposed by the Superintendent and the other   members of the administration and make a recommendation to the entire Board of Education regarding its acceptance; and 3) Develop and maintain a process of long range planning.

Building and Grounds Committee
The purpose of the Building and Grounds Committee is to oversee acquisition, maintenance, and modifications of the major capital assets and facilities of the Nebraska City Public Schools consistent with sound engineering practices and within the established budget

Committees DO NOT have the authority to act for the entire Board of Education

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.3        Board Workshops, Conferences, Official Functions, and Amenities

Board members are expected to maintain effectiveness by being well informed on educational issues. Accordingly, board members are encouraged to attend educational workshops, conferences, training programs, official functions, hearings or meetings which are sponsored by the school district, state and national education organizations.

Board members are specifically authorized to attend such functions   which are sponsored by this school district, the Nebraska Association of School Boards, the National School Boards Association, AASA, and similar organizations without specific action by the Board of Education.   In addition, school board members may attend such functions at district expense sponsored by other organizations upon specific prior approval of the Board of Education.

The school district shall pay the registration costs, tuition costs, fees or charges for functions authorized as previously set forth. In addition, travel expenses, if travel is by commercial or charter means, shall be paid by the district. If a personal automobile is used, mileage shall be allowed at the rate identified via section 1-1.11 of these policies. Meals and lodging shall be reimbursed based upon substantiated costs actually incurred.

The Board of Education also recognizes that it is important to recognize service by board members, appointed officials, employees and volunteers who provide service for the school district. Accordingly, the Board authorizes the President or the Superintendent of Schools to determine when and to whom plaques or certificates of achievement should be granted to board members, appointed officials, employees and volunteers. No such plaque, certificate, or any other item of value to be awarded shall cost more than $100.

The Board of Education may also from time to time make provisions for meals and refreshments to assist employees, Board members, advisory committees, and others engaged in the business of accomplishing the mission and role of the District.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.4        Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board will be held on the second Monday of each month.

Special meetings may be called by the President, or by three board members, with notice to all members.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.5        Order of Business for Meetings

Unless altered by the Board, the order of business of all regular meetings shall be:
        a. Roll Call
        b. Requests from Board Members to be Absent
        c. Welcome to Visitors and Public
        d. Approval of the Meeting Agenda
        e. Citizen Comment Time
        f.   Reading and approval of the minutes of the previous
             meeting and any subsequent special meetings.
        g. Approval for payment of bills.
        h. Reading and approval of the Financial Report.
        i. Presentation of new business for Board consideration.
        j. With approval of the Board, receive reports from school
             personnel, faculty committees, and/or community groups.

Unless altered by the Board, the order of business for special meetings shall be:
        a. Statement of the purpose of the meeting.
        b. Consideration of items for which the meeting was called.

Each patron, organization, or group who wishes to speak should submit, one week in advance of the Board meeting, a written request stating his/her name, address, and the topic about which he/she or the group wishes to speak. The Superintendent of Schools will notify the petitioner of the item on the agenda.
Each patron, organization, or group who has requested the opportunity to speak should be recognized by the President of the Board.
In the event a patron, organization, or group has not submitted the request within the specified time and requests, at the time of the meeting, the opportunity to speak, the President may waive the requirements for notice, unless a majority of the Board objects.
The President of the Board may limit the time for the presentation. If there are numerous requests to address the Board on the same topic, the President of the Board may recognize representatives to speak.
An organized group wishing to speak before the Board should limit its comments to those of its appointed spokesperson. The President of the Board may limit the number of persons permitted to speak for any group.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.7         Closed Sessions

By a majority vote while in open session, The Board of Education may hold closed sessions of the Board during the regular and special meetings.   Provided, that no meeting shall be held in closed session if such closed session would result in a violation of the Public Meetings Law (SS 84-1410). No official action may be taken while the Board is in closed session, and only persons authorized by the Board may attend these sessions.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.8 State Association

The School District will maintain membership in the Nebraska Association of School Boards (NASB).

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.9 Audit

Receipts and disbursements of all school funds will be audited annually, the audit to be paid for by the school district.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.10 Compensation Insurance

The school district will carry worker’s compensation insurance on all regular employees.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.11 Mileage

Mileage, when on official school business, shall be at a rate determined by the Board of Education. The Finance Committee will annually review the reimbursed rate and any changes in that rate will be recommended to the Board of Education for their approval.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.12     Revision of Board Policy

The Board of Education, after a review and subsequent recommendation from the Education   Committee, shall revise the existing Board Policies as deemed necessary. Policy revisions shall be introduced at one Board of Education meeting, but shall not be finally approved until the next regular session.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005


1-1.13     Discrimination

It is the policy of the School District that no person shall be subject to discrimination on the basis of sex, handicap, race, color, religion, marital status, veterans status, or national or ethnic origin, in violation of the federal or Nebraska constitutions or any applicable federal or state law. The Board of Education shall delegate to the Superintendent the administration of Title IX guidelines and the Section 504 activities in the areas of treatment of students and employment of staff. Regular grievance procedures shall be followed for any complaints resulting from alleged acts of discrimination.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.14 Advisory Councils

It shall be the policy of the Board of Education to appoint and utilize citizen advisory councils to encourage more involvement from the community served by the school system. An advisory council’s function will be to advise the Board of Education or its representatives on school policies and procedures. The adequacy and the appropriateness of facilities, equipment, and instructional needs; assisting with organizational activities; or determining community situations and needs. Advisory council’s jurisdiction will be limited to advisory status only and will not include any type of administrative function or responsibility. The advisory council may be appointed or disbanded by majority vote of the Board, and at least one member of the Board shall chair the council.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.15 Exceptions to Board Policies
Any exceptions to these policies may be made only by super-majority vote of the Nebraska City Board of Education.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.16 Student Representation on the Board of Education

The Board of Education may include one nonvoting member who is a public high school student from the district. The student member shall have the privilege of attending all open meetings of the Board of Education, but shall be excluded from closed sessions.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1-1.17 Code of Conduct

Treating others with dignity and respect is the responsibility of students, faculty, staff, administrators, board members, parents and guests involved in or visiting the Nebraska City Public Schools.

Policy Approved May 9, 2005

1 - 1.18     Board Member Conflict of Interest

It shall be the responsibility of each board member to be aware of an actual or potential conflict of interest. It shall also be the responsibility of each board member 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.

No voting member may have an interest in any contract to which the district, or anyone for its benefit, is party. The prohibition applies when the board member or the board member’s immediate family is a partner, director, officer or is a stockholder of closed corporation stock worth one thousand dollars or more at fair market value or which represents more than five per cent equity interest, or is a stockholder of publicly traded stock worth ten thousand dollars or more at fair market value or which represents more than ten percent equity interest. An individual who occupies a confidential professional relationship protected by law is exempt from this policy.   This policy does not apply to publicly traded stock under a trading account.

The above prohibition does not apply if the voting member: