Section A of School Board Administrative Policies for Chillicothe Schools Pop-Ups

SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICIES

SECTION A: FOUNDATIONS AND BASIC COMMITMENTS

For Office Use Only: A_INDEX.CHL (5/04)
AA School District Legal Status
AC Nondiscrimination
AC-R Nondiscrimination Compliance Grievance Procedure
AD School District Mission
AF Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment
AH Tobacco-Free Buildings

FILE: AA
Critical

SCHOOL DISTRICT LEGAL STATUS
The State of Missouri must establish and maintain free public schools in accordance with the Missouri Constitution and state law. The State has delegated certain responsibilities to local school districts. This school district is governed by a seven-director School Board. Directors are elected or appointed in accordance with law.

The official name of the school district shall be Chillicothe R-II School District. In accordance with state law, the Board of Education shall keep a common seal with which to attest its official acts relative to district operations.

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Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for related information.
Adopted: 08/18/1998
Revised: 07/20/2004
Cross Refs: BBA, School Board Powers and Duties
BBB, School Board Elections
BBBA, Board Member Qualifications
BBE, Unexpired Term Fulfillment/Vacancies
Legal Refs: §§ 162.261, .311, .459, RSMo.
Mo. Const., Art. IX, § 1 (a)
Chillicothe R-II School District, Chillicothe, Missouri

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FILE: AC
Critical

NONDISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT
A. Anti-Discrimination Law Compliance
As a political subdivision, employer, recipient of federal funds and educational institution, the Board of Education is prohibited from, and hereby declares a policy against, engaging in unlawful discrimination, including harassment creating a hostile environment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age or use of leave protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act, in its programs, activities and with regard to employment. The Board is an equal opportunity employer.

Marital, maternal or paternal status shall not affect the rights and privileges of district students to receive an education. Those students are eligible to participate in all activities and receive all honors the same as any other students enrolled in the school district.

B. Collateral Prohibitions
As part of this obligation, the Board is also prohibited from, and declares a policy against: (1) Retaliatory actions based on making complaints of prohibited discrimination or participation in an investigation, formal proceeding or informal resolution concerning prohibited discrimination; (2) Aiding, abetting, inciting, compelling or coercing discrimination; and (3) Discrimination against any person because of such person’s association with a person protected from discrimination due to one or more of the above-stated characteristics.

C. Compliance Officer Appointment
To ensure that these obligations are met, the Board designates the following individual to act as the district’s nondiscrimination laws compliance coordinator, who shall also be the appointee for all laws specifically mandating such an appointment, and who shall have the duty of keeping the superintendent informed of the state of compliance with this policy districtwide:
Superintendent’s Office
1020 Old Hwy 36 West, P O Box 530
Chillicothe, MO 64601

D. Reporting and Complaint
Complaints and reports regarding discharge of the duties summarized in this policy should be addressed to the compliance coordinator. Any employee of the district or member of the Board of Education who becomes apprised of a possible violation of this policy must report the matter to the coordinator. In the event the compliance coordinator is the subject of a report that would otherwise be made to the compliance coordinator, reports should instead be directed to:
President of the Board of Education, 1020 Old Hwy 63 West, P.O.
Box 530, Chillicothe, MO 64601; phone 660-646-4566; fax - 660-646-6508
who will then immediately turn it over to the district’s legal counsel for investigation.

E. Grievance Procedure and Resolution of Complaints
The administration will establish an effective grievance procedure and take any other actions necessary to carry out this policy, with due regard for the substantive and procedural rights of all parties concerned.

F. Confidentiality and Records
To the extent permitted by law, any public record held by this school district that is generated or received pursuant to this policy shall be closed and available only to the Board acting as a quorum, a committee appointed by the Board to carry out this policy on a permanent or ad hoc basis, the compliance coordinator and other administrators whose duties require access to the record in order to carry out this policy. Such persons may share access, on an individual basis, to such records with complainants or participants in a grievance or other resolution, only to the extent such disclosure promotes the purposes of this policy and is not prohibited by FERPA or any other law. Certain other limited disclosures may be required when material in the records is integral to an action affecting a constitutionally recognized property or liberty interest.

G. Public Notice and Dissemination
A copy of this policy will be posted in a public area of each building used for instruction and/or administrative offices. A copy of this policy will also be distributed annually to employees, parents or guardians, and students. The administration is directed to further publicize this policy and provide for such training or instruction as necessary to ensure districtwide compliance with anti-discrimination laws, including instruction in recognizing
behavior indicative of a violation of this policy.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed as creating a cause of action. Neither the proscriptions of, nor actions taken under, this policy shall on that basis estop the Board from fully arguing for or against the existence of any fact and the scope or meaning of any law in any forum.
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Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms
for related information.
Adopted: 08/18/1998
Revised: 12/16/2003
Cross Refs: EHB, Technology Usage
GBCB, Staff Conduct
GBEBB, Employee Alcohol and Drug Testing
GBH, Staff/Student Relations
GBM, Staff Complaints and Grievances
GCD, Professional Staff Recruiting and Hiring
GDC, Support Staff Recruiting and Hiring
IGBA, Programs for Students with Disabilities
IGBCB, Programs for Migrant Students
IGBH, Programs for Limited English Proficient/Language Minority Students
IGD, District-Sponsored Extracurricular Activities and Organizations
IGDJ, Interscholastic Athletics
JFCF, Hazing and Bullying
JFH, Student Complaints and Grievances
KL, Public Complaints
Legal Refs: P.L. 92-318, Education Amendments of 1972, Title IX 45 CFR, Parts 81, 86
(Federal Register, June 4, 1975; August 11, 1975)
"Notice of Nondiscrimination," Office of Civil Rights, U.S. Dept. of Ed.,
September 1996
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d et seq.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 - 12213
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794
Family and Medical Leave Act, Prohibited Acts, 29 U.S.C. § 2615
Fair Labor Standards Act, Equal Pay Provisions, 29 U.S.C. § 206(d)
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 - 1487
Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 621 et seq.
Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6101 et seq.
Missouri Human Rights Act, §§ 213.010 et seq., RSMo.
Female Employees' Wages, §§ 290.400 et seq., RSMo.
Gebser et al. v. Lago Vista Ind. School Dist., 118 S.Ct. 1989 (1998)
Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 118 S.Ct. 2275 (1998)
Burlington Industries v. Ellerth, 118 S.Ct. 2257 (1998)
Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore, 118 S.Ct. 998 (1998)
Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17 (1993)
Davis v. Monroe County Bd. of Ed., 120 F.3d (11th Cir. 1997), Cert. granted,
S.Ct. (1998)
Chillicothe R-II School District, Chillicothe, Missouri

Portions © 2000 Missouri School Boards’ Association
For Office Use Only: AC-C.CHL (10/00)

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FILE: AC-R
Critical

NONDISCRIMINATION AND ANTI-HARASSMENT COMPLIANCE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

I. Overview of Discrimination/Harassment

A. Hostile Environment - "Harassment": Harassment, including sexual harassment and racial harassment, is one theory of establishing that a person has been illegally discriminated against. Behavior, based upon the protected classifications listed in policy AC, whereby the school or work environment becomes permeated with intimidation, ridicule and insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of a student’s participation in the district’s programs and activities, or of an employee’s employment, can amount to prohibited discrimination and is therefore within the prohibitions of policy AC. Any intimidation, ridicule or insult that is based on a reason listed in policy AC, including sex or race, is to be reported to the nondiscrimination compliance coordinator ("compliance coordinator"). In addition, unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors and other unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature can contribute to rendering an environment hostile, and thereby discriminatory, on the basis of sex. A person’s age and the relationship between the parties are factors which can make conduct unwelcome even in the absence of an obvious negative reaction by the victim. The harasser and the victim need not be of a different sex, race, etc.

B. "Quid pro Quo": This is another form of behavior that can amount to discrimination on the basis of sex. This occurs when an employee’s supervisor makes job benefits or refraining from adverse action conditional upon submission to unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors and other unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Similarly, “quid pro quo” harassment also occurs when an employee of the district, in real or apparent authority over a student, conditions the student’s participation in the district’s programs or bases educational decisions upon submission to unwelcome sexual advances, unwelcome requests for sexual favors and other unwelcome verbal, nonverbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. It is extremely important that any person who knows of or experiences such “quid pro quo” behavior, whether or not the threatened action or promised favor was carried out, immediately notify the district’s nondiscrimination compliance coordinator.

C. If harassment is occurring, there may be a variety of witnesses to discrete actions that may not of themselves seem of particular gravity. Also, victims may be unwilling to report or, because of their youth, may not understand the prohibited nature of some conduct. Only a central repository of all such reports from the entire district community can allow the compliance coordinator to effectively detect and remedy potentially illegal discriminatory harassment before its severity or pervasiveness causes the district to fail in its compliance obligations. What constitutes discrimination by harassment depends on the facts of each situation, and therefore doubt as to whether to report to the compliance coordinator should be resolved in favor of reporting, so that the compliance coordinator has more, rather than less, information about a situation.

II. Overview of Procedural Components

A. General
1. This grievance procedure exists to provide formal resolution of complaints that policy AC has been violated. It does not prohibit the informal adjustment of any complaint. Pursuit of informal adjustment is not a valid reason for missing a filing deadline, but a timely filed complaint may be continued by consent of the parties in order to allow pursuit of informal adjustment.
2. The compliance coordinator should be informed of the progress of all informal adjustments and grievances at each step by the district employee responsible for each step of a grievance, so that the compliance coordinator may keep abreast of all matters concerning policy AC and be ready at any time to report on the same to the superintendent, Board or an outside agency.
3. Where a statute, administrative rule, or Board policy provides a scheme for resolutions of complaints arising under that statute, rule or policy, this grievance procedure shall not be applicable.
4. When, based upon reported information and/or investigation, the compliance coordinator finds a likely violation of policy AC, the compliance coordinator shall so inform the superintendent, regardless of whether a complaint has been filed. Lack of a complaint will not preclude appropriate remedial action by the district upon a finding by the superintendent of a violation of policy AC, nor will the existence of a complaint or its outcome hinder the superintendent in enforcing policy AC. Lack of a remedial action does not preclude a disciplinary action, and vice versa.
5. In addition to keeping the superintendent informed of likely violations of policy AC throughout the district, the compliance coordinator should also confidentially contact putative victims of likely violations of policy AC to investigate, further explain policy AC if necessary, and make sure the putative victim is aware of the grievance procedure.
6. Actions involving employees or students implemented as remedial action for a violation of policy AC are not exempt from such constitutional due process requirements as apply case-by-case to such an individual and/or the nature of the action taken. However, this regulation is not meant to provide any additional substantive or procedural rights to employees or students who must be involved in remedial actions.
7. If a person designated to hear a complaint or appeal is the subject of the complaint, the next highest step in the grievance process will be used. 8. Deadlines herein are directory only, and not mandatory, upon the district. If more than twice the allotted time has expired without a response, appeal may be taken to the next step.
9. Persons alleged to have violated policy AC, and/or persons necessarily involved in resolution of complaints, will have access to written grievance materials only in the event that remedial or disciplinary action is actually implemented, and then only on a need-to-know basis or as required by the constitution. Participants must understand that FERPA may prevent the disclosure of some records or actions to complainants, including in the written responses called for in these regulations.
10. Failure to prosecute an appeal within the timelines given will be deemed as acceptance of the findings and any remedial action of the last level used.
11. All documents, communications and records pertaining to this grievance procedure will be kept separate from personnel records of employees.*
12. The district will not be relieved of its responsibility to respond to a complaint filed under this grievance procedure by the fact that an outside enforcing agency has received a complaint arising from the same circumstances.
13. The compliance coordinator will make follow-up inquiries on completed grievances and informal adjustments to assure that remedial actions have been effective, and to assure that no violation of policy AC persists or has been caused by the grievance or adjustment itself.

B. Definitions Used in This Procedure
1. Complaint - Submission to the responsible district official of a written and signed allegation that there has been a violation of policy AC, which states: date of filing, discrimination category at issue (e.g., sex, national origin, etc.), names of persons involved including possible witnesses, facts alleged to have happened, a statement of why the facts constitute a violation of policy AC, a suggestion of the remedy desired, and a statement of any informal adjustment attempts or progress within the complainant’s knowledge as of the date of the complaint. Exhibits may be attached.
2. Complainant - A person who, by the filing of a complaint under this procedure, claims to be the victim, or the parent or guardian of a student who claims the student was a victim of discrimination in violation of policy AC.
3. Appeal - An appeal requires the filing of the original complaint and exhibits, all decisions rendered by district officials at any lower levels in the grievance process, a statement of why the decision being appealed from is inadequate or incorrect, and a statement of the progress of any informal adjustment known to the complainant.

III. Procedure
A. Level I -- A complaint should be filed with the district's compliance coordinator. If a complaint is filed with any other administrator, the administrator will immediately forward any complaint received to the compliance coordinator. The compliance coordinator may, in his or her discretion, assign the principal of the building concerned to investigate the matter, unless the principal is a subject of the complaint. Likewise, the principal may delegate an assistant principal to investigate the matter unless the assistant principal is a subject of the complaint. If the compliance coordinator does not assign a principal to investigate the matter, then the compliance coordinator will conduct the investigation. Regardless of who investigates the complaint, an investigation will be conducted within a normal limit of five (5) working days after submission of a complete complaint, including such hearings or ex parte interviews as are reasonably necessary, including contacting witnesses identified by the complaint. The investigator will then issue a written response to the complaint: (1) Summarizing the facts, (2) Making conclusions on whether they constitute a violation of policy AC and (3) if a violation of policy AC is found, stating what remedial action will be implemented at the school level or sought from the central administration.
B. Level II -- Within five (5) working days after receiving the Level I decision, appeal may be taken to the nondiscrimination compliance coordinator. If the compliance coordinator conducts the initial investigation, an appeal may be taken to the superintendent, as outlined in Level III. The compliance coordinator will meet with the complainant as soon as workably possible to review the appellate materials, further discuss the complaint and take any additional evidence the complainant has to offer. Within a normal limit of five (5) working days, the compliance coordinator will issue a written response to the appeal summarizing his or her findings and stating what, if any, remedial actions will be recommended to the superintendent and/or the building-level administration for implementation.
C. Level III -- Within five (5) working days after receiving the Level II decision, appeal may be taken to the superintendent. If the compliance coordinator conducts the initial investigation, an appeal may be taken to the superintendent within five (5) working days after receiving the Level I decision. If the superintendent is the compliance coordinator, an appeal of the superintendent’s decision may be made to the Board of Education as outlined in Level IV. If the superintendent is the subject of the complaint, an appeal of the compliance coordinator’s decision may be made to the Board of Education as outlined in Level IV. The superintendent may refer the matter to an assistant or associate superintendent, general counsel, or outside counsel, to act as designee and prepare a final decision for signature and implementation. The superintendent or designee will review the appeal materials, conduct further investigations or hearings at the superintendent's or designee’s discretion, and seek counsel if necessary. Within a normal limit of ten (10) working days, the superintendent will issue a written decision upon the appeal stating whether a violation of policy AC is found and, if so, stating what remedial actions will be implemented. A copy of the appeal and decision will be sent to the compliance coordinator by the superintendent.
D. Level IV-- Within five (5) working days after receiving the Level III decision, appeal may be taken to the Board of Education by filing the appeal with the superintendent. If the superintendent is the subject of the complaint, an appeal may be taken to the Board of Education by filing the appeal with the compliance coordinator or the president of the Board. The matter will be placed on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting of the Board, for closed session unless law requires otherwise. The complainant will be allowed to address the Board, and the Board may call for the presence of such other persons as the Board deems necessary to advise it on the matter and the maintenance of its compliance obligations. The Board may conduct its procedure upon the appeal as it sees fit, and shall normally render a written decision upon the appeal within 30 working days, for implementation by the administration. For district purposes, and without waiving the right to take any actions later deemed necessary for nondiscrimination mandate compliance, the Board’s decision and any actions taken are final. A copy of the appeal and decision will be sent to the compliance coordinator by the Board secretary.
* This paragraph does not include the records of a collateral disciplinary action. Records
of disciplinary actions for violations of policy AC are kept in the same manner as any other
discipline record.
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Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms
for related information.
Adopted: 01/18/2000
Revised: 12/16/2003
Chillicothe R-II School District, Chillicothe, Missouri

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FILE: AD
Basic

SCHOOL DISTRICT MISSION
(Comprehensive School Improvement Plan)
The mission of Chillicothe R-II School District is for our students to have the opportunity to reach their maximum potential and be life-long learners. The district has a Board-approved Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) guided by the mission statement and based on the district's fundamental beliefs about teaching and learning. This plan serves as the district's foundation for allocating resources, developing policies and procedures, and selecting and implementing instructional programs designed to raise student achievement.

The CSIP was developed through the combined efforts of Board members, staff, administrators, students, parents/guardians and community members and is ongoing. Goals, outcomes or objectives are provided in sufficient detail to direct the improvement efforts of the district for at least a five-year period. The CSIP is evaluated and updated as necessary. A copy of the district's CSIP is available in the superintendent's office.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms
for related information.
Adopted: 08/18/1998
Revised: 07/20/2004
Cross Refs: GBB, Staff Involvement in Decision Making
IA, Instructional Goals/Priority Objectives
IF, Curriculum Development
IGA, Basic Instructional Program
KC, Community Involvement in Decision Making
Chillicothe R-II School District, Chillicothe, Missouri

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FILE: AF
Critical

ACCOUNTABILITY/COMMITMENT TO ACCOMPLISHMENT
The Board accepts ultimate responsibility for all facets of the operations of the school district.
Because it is accountable to the patrons of the district, the Board will maintain a program of accountability that will help to accomplish the following objectives:

Clearly state expectations and purposes as these relate to district operations, programs, departments and positions.
Provide necessary resources and support to enable the professional and support staff to achieve stated expectations and purposes subject to the financial resources of the district.
Evaluate district operations, programs, services, and instructional activities to determine
how well expectations and purposes are being met.
Evaluate the efforts of the employees of the Board and of the Board itself in accordance with stated objectives. The first purpose of personnel evaluation will be to help each individual make a maximum contribution to the goals and objectives of the school district. The superintendent shall implement procedures to ensure continued progress and improvement of the district operations through a program of meaningful evaluations and assessments, including compliance with annual districtwide reporting requirements set forth by law.

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FILE: AH
Critical

TOBACCO-FREE BUILDINGS
In accordance with law and to promote the health and safety of all students and staff, the district prohibits all employees, students and patrons from smoking or using tobacco or tobacco products in all school facilities, buildings and school transportation. This prohibition extends to all facilities the district owns, contracts for or leases to provide educational services, routine health care, daycare or early childhood development services to children, as well as facilities in which services are not provided to children.

This prohibition does not apply to any private residence or any portion of a facility that is used for inpatient hospital treatment of individuals dependent on, or addicted to, drugs or alcohol in which the district provides services. Further, smoking is permitted outside district facilities, buildings, and school transportation in designated areas. The superintendent or designee is authorized to make necessary rules or procedures to clarify and enact this policy.
* * * * * * *
Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section
for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms
for related information.
Adopted: 08/18/1998
Revised: 12/16/2003
Legal Refs: §§ 191.765 - .777, 290.145, RSMo.
Pro-Children Act of 2001, P.L. 107-110
Chillicothe R-II School District, Chillicothe, Missouri

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SECTION A: FOUNDATIONS AND BASIC COMMITMENTS | SECTION B: SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS

SECTION C: GENERAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION | SECTION D: FISCAL MANAGEMENT | SECTION E: SUPPORT SERVICES

SECTION F: FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT | SECTION G: PERSONNEL | SECTION I: INSTRUCTIONS | SECTION J: STUDENTS

SECTION K: SCHOOL-COMMUNITY RELATIONS | SECTION L: EDUCATION AGENCY RELATIONS

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