Code
of Ethics
We
believe in the inherent desire of people to live at peace with one another and
the need for today’s children to live in a generation of mature adults
dedicated to peace and human dignity is the highest aim we can possibly
achieve, and that school board members fill a position of inescapable
responsibility; therefore, this Code of Ethics is recommended by the Tennessee
School Boards Association as a guide to its members as they seek to provide,
insofar as possible, educational leadership which seeks to educate and develop
the youth of our state.
ARTICLE I. MY
RELATIONS TO THE CHILDREN
SECTION 1. I
will always think in terms “children first” always
determining other
important things in the light of how they affect the child, his/her education
and training.
SECTION 2. I
will seek to provide equal educational opportunities
for all children
regardless of race, creed, or location of residence.
ARTICLE II. MY
RELATIONS TO MY COMMUNITY
SECTION 1. I
will endeavor to appraise fairly both the present and
future educational needs of the
community.
SECTION 2. I
will represent at all times the entire school
community.
SECTION 3. I
will endeavor to keep the community informed
about the progress and needs of the
schools.
ARTICLE III. MY
RELATIONS TO TEACHERS & PERSONNEL
SECTION 1. I
will not criticize employees publicly, but will make
such criticisms to
the director for investigation and the appropriate action.
ARTICLE IV. MY
RELATIONS WITH OTHER BOARD MEMBERS
SECTION 1. I
will recognize that authority rests only with the
board in official meetings.
SECTION 2. I
will avoid being placed in a position of conflict of
Interest, and I
will refrain from using my board position for personal or partisan gain.
Duties of the School Board
A.
To manage and
control all schools in the Special School District of Wilson County.
B.
To employ
all personnel on the recommendation of the director.
C.
To
formulate and approve all policies for the school system consistent with the
school law of Tennessee and the Rules and Regulations of the State Board of
Education.
D.
To submit
operating budgets and other required reports to the State Department of
Education.
E.
To
authorize and supervise all major projects of repairing, remodeling, or
constructing school physical facilities.
F.
To hear and
adjudge all charges against all school personnel on the basis of state laws,
rules, and regulations.
G.
To suspend
or dismiss pupils when the progress, efficiency, or general well being of the
school makes it necessary.
H.
To approve
all leaves granted to teachers except the two-day personal and/or professional
leave.
School Board Authority
Because
all powers of the Board of Education lie in its action as a group, individual
board members exercise their authority over district affairs only as a vote to
take action at a regular meeting of the board.
In other interests, individual board members, including the
chairman, shall have power only when the board has delegated authority to
him/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.
Regular
Board Meetings
Unless otherwise altered, the Lebanon Special School
District Board of Education shall meet the second Monday of each month. The meetings
shall be held in the Office of the director located at 701 Coles Ferry Pike.
All meetings shall be open to the public and the press.
Notice of meetings shall be publicized as required by law.
All changes of regular meetings from normal dates shall be
advertised in the press at least three days prior to the date of the meeting,
unless otherwise prescribed by law.
Due notice of all official meetings of the board shall be
given widest possible dissemination through the available media. All board
members are to be notified as early as possible for special meetings.
Special
Board Meetings
Special meetings may be called for either of the following
purposes:
1.
To enable
the board to concentrate and take action on a single problem
or a set of
problems, or,
2.
To enable
the board to take emergency action between regular meetings
Special meetings may be called by the board as a whole, or
by the chairman of the board upon request of two other board members. When
possible, they shall be announced in advance at a regular meeting of the board.
When special meetings are called in the interim between
board meetings, all board members and the public shall receive adequate notice
of the time, place, and purpose of such meetings, as required by law.
All special meetings shall be open to the public and to the press, but no public discussion shall be heard on items other than those related to the call of the meeting.
Agenda
Preparation and Dissemination
The director shall prepare an agenda for all meetings of the
board.
Business item suggestions may be introduced by any member of
the board, any staff member, or any citizen of the district. The inclusion of
items suggested by staff members or citizens shall be at the discretion of the
director.
Anyone desiring to appear before the board to present any
matter other than those regularly scheduled shall notify the director in
writing ten days prior to a regular board meeting except in the case of an
emergency.
Notification shall state the nature of the matter desired to
be presented to the board. The board reserves the right to grant or deny the
request. The board will not be obligated to do more than consider and listen at
this time. There shall be no necessity for answering and carrying on a dialogue
with the audience. The meeting shall be conducted in such manner as to maintain
proper dignity and decorum.
Any matter relating to the operation of the school system may be appealed to the Board. However, the Board desires that all matters be settled at the lowest level of responsibility and will not hear complaints or concerns which have not advanced through the proper administrative procedure from the point of origin.
If all steps of the administrative procedure have been pursued and there is still a desire to appeal to the Board, the matter shall be referred in writing to the office of the Director of Schools and the Board shall determine whether to hear the appeal.
Individuals desiring to appear before the Board must submit a written request with descriptive materials to the office of the Director of Schools ten working days (amount of time) before the meeting. If the request is approved by the Executive Committee, the item will be placed in the agenda; individuals placed on the agenda will be recognized at the beginning of the meeting and given time to speak when their topic of interest is addressed on the agenda. All requests submitted will be included in the board packet.
If an individual wishes to address the Board on an item on the agenda, he/ she may sign up on the form provided before the beginning of the board meeting to request time to speak. Delegations must select only one individual to speak on their behalf unless otherwise determined by the Board.
The chairman may recognize individuals not on the agenda for remarks to the Board if he/ she determines that such is in the public interest. A majority vote of members present can overrule the decision of the chairman.
Individuals speaking to the Board shall address remarks to the chairman and may direct questions to individual board members or staff members only upon approval of the chairman. Each person speaking shall state his name, address, and subject of presentation. Remarks will be limited to ten minutes unless time is extended by the Board. The chairman shall have the authority to terminate the remarks of any individual who is disruptive or does not adhere to Board rules.
Individuals desiring additional information about any item on the agenda shall direct such inquiries to the office of the Director of Schools.