Board Policies

Board Policies PDF

South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative
BOARD POLICY
Accepted 5-21-07

1010 Cooperative Legal Status

The basic legal status for Educational Cooperative is found in K.S.A. 12-2901, 12-2902, 12-2903, 12-2904 and 72-8230. This permissive legislation allows public agencies to join with public or private agencies to provide services and/or action as specified in Kansas statutes.

South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative is established to provide special education services.

1020 Cooperative Members, Powers and Duties

The following unified school districts, by and through their respective boards of education, have each adopted a resolution authorizing these school districts to enter into an agreement for a special educational cooperative:

Unified School District No. 254, Barber County, Medicine Lodge, KS
Unified School District No. 255, Barber County South, Kiowa, KS
Unified School District No. 300, Comanche, Coldwater, KS
Unified School District No. 331, Kingman County, Kingman, KS
Unified School District No. 332, Kingman County, Kingman, KS
Unified School District No. 349, Stafford County, Stafford, KS
Unified School District No. 350, Stafford County, St. John, KS
Unified School District No. 351, Stafford County, Macksville, KS
Unified School District No. 361, Harper County, Anthony, KS
Unified School District No. 382, Pratt County, Pratt, KS
Unified School District No. 422, Kiowa County, Greensburg, KS
Unified School District No. 424, Kiowa County, Mullinville, KS
Unified School District No. 438, Skyline, Pratt County, Pratt, KS
Unified School District No. 474, Kiowa County, Haviland, KS
Unified School District No. 511, Harper County, Attica, KS

Any powers, privileges or authority exercised by the South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative (SCKSEC) which relates to educational service shall be limited to special education.

The SCKSEC and its board of directors shall be considered to have all powers and duties, except for the power to levy and collect taxes, of a unified school district and the board of such district for the performance of any obligation or to provide educational services in the areas of special education as provided in the Interlocal Agreement.

Powers and duties shall extend to employer-employee relations, including affiliation with the Kansas Public Employee’s Retirement System, old-age and survivors insurance coverage, compensation, continuing contract law, due process procedures, professional negotiations, requirements of the cash-basis law and for the receiving, budgeting and expending of State and Federal funds.

Revised: July, 2001

1030 Board Member Policies

It shall be the duties of the executive officers to consider and recommend action on items of business that require immediate action and do not require the action of the entire board.

The executive officers of the board shall consist of:

President - to preside over all regular and special meetings of the board for a term not to exceed one fiscal year. He/she shall be elected by the board and shall call all special meetings and appoint working committees as needed.

The president shall appoint or provide for the election of all committees of the board and shall be ex-officio member of all such committees.

Vice-President - In the absence of the president, the vice-president shall have and perform all the powers and duties of the president. He/she shall be elected by the board for a term not to exceed one fiscal year.

The South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative shall be governed by a Board of Directors consisting of one member from the board of education of each district which is signatory to the Agreement.

Members of SCKSEC Board of Directors shall be elected by their local board who shall also designate an alternate(s).

The board shall operate at all times as a committee for the whole.
1040 Appointed Officers

The clerk of the board shall attend all meetings of the board and shall keep an accurate journal of its proceedings. The clerk shall have the care and custody of the records, books and documents of the board. The clerk shall countersign (or stamp) all checks or warrants drawn upon the treasurer by order of the board or implement an electronic signature system for the clerk, treasurer and president. The clerk shall keep an accurate account of all monies paid to the treasurer by the board. It shall be the duty of the clerk to post or have published all legal notices and prepare and sign all legal documents.

The clerk shall be responsible for preparation of reports required by the State of Kansas and the board. The clerk shall furnish a surety bond in an amount fixed by the board, to be approved and paid for by the board. The clerk of the board, or a person designated by the board, shall be responsible for taking and transcribing the minutes of each meeting of the board.

The clerk shall be under the direction of the director in the performance of assigned duties.

The treasurer shall deposit all monies belonging to the board in accordance with the instructions of the board and in compliance with state laws. The treasurer shall prepare and submit in writing monthly reports of the finances of the board, and shall pay all money belonging to the board only upon warrants signed by the president, or in his/her absence, by the vice-president, and such warrants shall be countersigned by the clerk. The treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by action of the board.

Amended: April, 2002

1050 Attorney

The cooperative board shall retain a qualified attorney to handle all legal matters referred to him/her by the board and to receive such compensation as the board from time to time may provide. The duties of the attorney shall be prescribed by regulation.

1060 Complaints

It is the policy of the board to resolve all complaints regarding the district at the lowest possible administrative level. All such complaints should be directed to the director.

2010 Regular Meetings and Special Meetings

The board of directors of South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative recognizes that this educational organization belongs to the patrons of the several communities committed to its existence. The SCKSEC exists to assist member school districts in providing specially designed instruction to exceptional learners. Therefore, patrons are invited and encouraged to visit the programs and the board meetings. Meetings of the board shall be open to the public except for executive sessions as provided by statute.

At the first meeting in July a schedule naming the location of meetings shall be approved and published. If any regular meeting date occurs on a legal holiday, the regular meeting shall be held on the following day at the appointed place and hour of record unless otherwise designated by the board.

Special meetings of the board may be called at any time by the president. No business other than that stated in the special meeting notice shall be transacted at any such meeting.

Written notice shall be given each member of the board at least two days (48 hours) in advance of special meetings. Such written notice shall state the time and place of the special meetings and shall give the purpose of which the special meeting is called.

Waiver of the two day notification of a special meeting may be permitted provided that all members of the board sign such waiver whether they are present or not. Signing such waiver is necessary for action taken at special meetings to be official if notice of such meetings was less than two days.

2020 Agenda

The board agenda will be compiled by the director in cooperation with the board president. Other board members may request items to be placed on the agenda. The agenda will be sent to all board members at least three calendar days prior to any regular board meeting. The agenda may be sent to other interested persons, groups of persons or organizations required by law.

2030 Rules of Order

The board shall be governed by rules of procedure as adopted by the board.

WAIVER OF NOTICE
I hereby waive the written notice required under the provisions of KSA 72-8205 as to the time, place and purpose of a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, State of Kansas, held on , 19 .
(Lines for each board member to sign).

2040 Quorum

A majority of the legal membership of the board will constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting any business of the cooperative. No action will be deemed official when there are less than eight affirmative votes.

Amended: October 21, 2002

2050 Voting Method of Board Members

The board shall take action by way of motions. No motion may be acted upon until it has been duly seconded by a member of the board. Following each vote, the president shall announce that the motion carried or failed. The minutes shall indicate whether a motion passed or failed. Each board member shall have the privilege of explaining for the record any vote, be it affirmative, negative or abstaining.

Any abstaining vote shall be counted as a “no” vote.

Any member may declare a conflict of interest in a particular issue and leave the meeting until the matter is concluded. In this event, the member’s vote shall not be counted. The minutes will reflect the fact a particular member has declared a conflict of interest.

Each participating district shall be eligible and responsible for casting one vote in all matters acted upon by the board of directors. The vote shall be cast by the local board member or appointed alternate representing said district serving on the board of directors.

2070 Public Participation

Any patrons wishing to speak to the board should first notify the director prior to the meeting and state the reason(s) for the request. The director shall determine whether said request can be resolved by the staff without appearance of the patron before the board. If not, the director shall place the patron’s request on the agenda of the next regular board meeting. It is recommended that such requests be made at least five days before the board meeting.

At each meeting of the board, the president or the presiding officer of the board shall welcome all visitors to the board meeting.

The board president may, at his/her discretion, ask those patrons attending the board meeting if any of them have something to bring to the attention of the board. The board president may impose a limit on the amount of time a visitor may have to address the board. The board president, at his/her discretion to utilize board time wisely, may ask groups with the same special interest to appoint a spokesperson.

The individual or the spokesperson wishing to speak for a group shall be recognized by the chairperson of the meeting and will be asked to come forward and give his/her name and address and what group, if any, he/she represents. He/she shall then be asked to state the position he/she has taken regarding an issue before the board or to state the problem or complaint.

The board will hear all persons within limits of good parliamentary procedure and business. The board will not tolerate disruptive, disrespectful or abusive behavior, nor will it permit visitor participation in matters irrelevant to the business at hand. Visitors and members of the audience may participate in the business at hand only by invitation of the board.

Personalities are not to be injected. Anyone violating this rule will be denied the floor.

If it appears that the matter which the visitor wished the board to consider will consume an amount of time the board feels cannot be spared at said meeting, the board shall invite such visitor to return at the next regular meeting of the board; or if the matter is of great importance, the board shall schedule a special meeting or special hearing for the matter to be presented to the board.

2080 Handling of Complaints

Individuals or groups often confront a single board member with issues, which usually should be handled by a cooperative administrator.

In carrying out the policy for handling complaints, the board will observe the following procedures:

Neither the board as a whole nor any individual member of the board will act on a complaint from teachers, parents or patrons until the complaints have first been referred to the director who will determine who should handle the complaint.

Only in those cases where satisfactory adjustment cannot be made by an administrator or the director, shall the director refer communications and complaints to the board.

After hearing evidence submitted by the director in such event, the board may, if it seems advisable, grant a hearing to the parties interested. Such hearings will be held during a regular or special session of the board.

2090 News Coverage and Recording of the Board Meeting

At the beginning of each school year, all news media shall be invited and encouraged to attend all board meetings, except executive sessions. All meetings for the conduct of the affairs of, and transaction of business by, the board shall be open to the public. Broadcasting and taping of the public board meeting shall be subject to rules adopted by the board. At each meeting of the board, the board may provide seating for all members of the news media present and shall give all such persons full cooperation in explaining any action or consideration taken by the board. The director may provide copies of the board agenda, not including supplementary data, to all news media prior to each meeting of the board upon request or as required by law. The use of cameras at any said board meeting shall be permitted only when, in the judgment of the board, the use or proposed use of any camera will not be a disruptive influence upon the proceedings, genuinely annoying or harassing to the board or any member thereof or operated to attract undue attention to the camera or the proposed user thereof.

Use of recording devices at any said board meeting shall be permitted when, in the judgment of the board, the use or proposed use of any recording device will not be a disruptive influence upon the proceedings, genuinely annoying or harassing to the board or any member thereof or operated to attract undue attention to the recording device or the proposed user thereof. Any person desiring to record any portion of a board meeting shall make known the intent and presence of such device to the presiding officer prior to the meeting.

All recording devices together with all appurtenances and paraphernalia, including microphones, shall be kept in the area designated for the media; and recording devices, microphones or other appurtenances shall be allowed on, under or in the immediate vicinity of the board conference table only with board permission. No cameras or recording devices shall be allowed at executive sessions of the board.

2100 Executive Sessions

The board shall conduct executive sessions only as provided by law.

2110 Policy Adoption

The policies, rules and regulations of the board may be amended at any regular, special or adjourned meeting of the board by a majority vote of the members of the board.

A recommendation by an individual or group of citizens or patrons to adopt or amend any policy or rule may be submitted at any regular board meeting. Final action on any such recommendation may take place at the next regular meeting of the board unless an emergency is declared whereby final action may be taken immediately.

3010 Goals and Objectives and Ethics of the SCK Administration

The purpose of the cooperative administration is to supervise and coordinate the implementation of specially designed instruction. The selection of teachers and service providers is one of the most important responsibilities of the director. The director must shoulder much of the responsibility for the success or failure of his/her organization. The purpose of the cooperative administration is to help create and to foster an environment in which students can learn most effectively. All administrative duties and functions should be appraised in terms of the contribution that is made to better instruction, more effective learning and the development of worthwhile citizens who have the ability to think and who are capable of using their abilities wisely. One of the most important responsibilities that rest upon the administration is to select teachers who will discover and develop students’ abilities, which might otherwise remain dormant.

The director must shoulder much of the responsibility for the success or failure of his/her organization. He/she should possess those qualities of leadership that motivate all members of his/her staff to work for the improvement of the educational program. It is his/her responsibility, under the direction of the board, to mobilize and coordinate all available resources in the development of an educational program designed to stimulate the best effort in all students.

3030 Cooperative Director and Duties

The cooperative director shall be the chief administrative head of the special education cooperative and shall have, under the direction of the board, general supervision of all of the programs and of all the personnel and various personnel departments of the cooperative. The director is responsible for the management of the programs under board policies and is accountable to the board.

The director, at his/her discretion, may delegate to other school personnel the exercise of any powers and the discharge of any duties imposed upon the director by these policies or by vote of the board. The delegation of power or duty, however, shall not relieve the director of responsibility for the action taken under such delegation.

The director shall perform all duties described in the adopted job description for the director.

JOB DESCRIPTION – DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

Title: Director of Special Education for SCKSEC
Reports to: The Board of Directors of SCKSEC
Supervises: All SCKSEC Personnel

Job Goal: The director is to provide leadership in developing and maintaining the best possible educational programs and services. The director shall be the chief administrative head of the special education cooperative and shall have, under the direction of the board, general supervision of all the programs and of all the personnel in the cooperative. The director is accountable to the board. The degree of freedom to act, within the limits of statute and policy, is broad.

Essential Job Functions:

I. The director oversees safe and orderly schools.
Maintains programs for health and safety of students at the special schools.
II. The director ensures student achievement for exceptional learners.
Ensures the development of short-and long-range instructional goals that promote student achievement.
Monitors student progress as developed in each student’s IEP.
III. The director builds positive cooperative/community relations.
Communicates the cooperative’s vision/mission to the cooperative/community.
Promotes and maintains cooperative/community relations, cooperative/business partnerships, and related public service activities.
Formulates plans to coordinate social, health, and other community agencies.
IV. The director leads the board in developing constructive relationship.
Implements all cooperative board policies, rules and regulations of the Kansas State Board of Education, and state and federal laws.
Carries out board directions effectively and accurately.
Reports to the board about the status of instructional programs and current trends in education.
When considering agenda action items, makes recommendations, and as necessary, suggests alternatives to the board.
Helps the board conduct effective meetings.
V. The director oversees effective and efficient staff performance.
Supervises and evaluates all central office personnel.
Acts as liaison between the board and cooperative personnel.
Organizes recruitment and recommends assignment of personnel.
Ensures administration of all personnel policies and programs.
Implements personnel evaluation systems.
Maintains up-to-date job descriptions for selected personnel.
Plans and promotes instructional improvement through effective staff development programs and other appropriate strategies.
Interacts effectively with all district and cooperative personnel.
Maintains and informs staff of the cooperative’s organizational and management system.
VI. The director practices responsible fiscal, facility, and resource management.
Prepares long and short-term facility and site plans for the board.
Ensures the maintenance of cooperative property.
Monitors construction, renovation, or acquisition/disposal of cooperative facilities.
Prepares the annual budget according to the board-established priorities.
Ensures expenditures are within state guidelines approved by the board.
Reports to the board on the cooperative’s financial condition.
Establishes and monitors procedures for procurement of equipment and supplies.
Manages all purchases and expenditures for the cooperative that are consistent with the cooperative and host district policies.
To cause the cooperative’s books to be audited annually as provided by Kansas Statute.
VII. The director models positive professional attributes.
Participates in professional activities to enhance knowledge and skills.
Uses written and spoken language well.
Makes all necessary administrative decisions.
Delegates authority when appropriate.
Maintains office hours as directed by the board.
Secondary Responsibilities:
Perform other duties as assigned in accordance with the provisions of the Interlocal #605, Board of Directors.
To manage and supervise all required notices of meetings and to supervise all records of meetings.
Manage all records of financial transactions and prepare reports as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
A valid district-level certificate issued by the Kansas State Board of Education.
Ability to work cooperatively and constructively with others, including the ability to communicate effectively with broad and diverse audiences.
Ability to handle a fast-paced, intense work environment.
Ability to manage job responsibilities and meet the established district outcomes.
Ability to hold valid Kansas driver’s license, drive at night, and travel on short notice.

Terms of Employment: Twelve-month contract, 20 vacation days. A defined benefit for health insurance of up to $310 per month.

Evaluation: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Interlocal #605 Board of Director’s policy #3030 and this job description.

Approved: ______________________________ Date: __________
Board President
Reviewed and agreed to by: _________________ Date: __________
Employee

Each individual board member shall complete and submit appraisal forms to the president of the board. The board authorizes the president of the board to sign the summary as the agent of the board and as the evaluator.

The board may review the summary with the director in an executive session. In case an interpretation of written comments may be needed, the president of the board or the director may seek additional clarification from individual board member(s). After completion of the evaluation of the director, the individual board member appraisal forms shall be destroyed and the summary and any rebuttal thereto will be maintained in the director’s personnel file for a period of not less than three years from the date evaluation is made. The summary will be confidential and available only to the members of the board, the director and others as provided by law.

All administrative personnel (such as the assistant director) will be evaluated by the director formally in writing and in accordance with the statutory requirements. The administrator’s personnel file shall be available only to the administrator, the director and others authorized by law.

Amended: November 20, 2006

3040 Policy Implementation

The administrative staff will carry out and enforce in good faith all policies duly adopted by the board and the regulations of state authorities.

Failure of any administrative employee to implement the policies of the board may result in suspension, demotion, probation or termination of employment in accordance with procedures set forth in these policies and rules.

The board delegates to the director the responsibility for developing required actions and for designing the detailed arrangements to carry out the policies of said board and to operate the schools of the cooperative. These rules and detailed arrangements shall constitute the administrative regulations governing the schools and shall be considered for approval, modification or disapproval by the board.

3050 Records and Public Access to Records

Records include those dealing with the fiscal management of the interlocal and the individual program, official minutes of the board of director meetings, wage scales, salary information, board policies, negotiated agreements and other records pertinent to the above. The director is designated as the official custodian of records. In those instances when the disclosure of certain requested record is questioned, the custodian(s) shall seek legal counsel prior to disclosure. Original and special employee records and original comprehensive student records shall be housed at the South Central Kansas Special Education Offices at Pratt, Kansas.

All requests for inspection and copying of public records must be submitted to the director who is the official custodian of public records housed in the board of director’s office. If the custodian does not grant the request, the person requesting shall, within three days of his/her request for reasons, receive such reasons in writing.

Fees may be charged for the provision of access to and the copying of public records. Fees for copies shall equal the actual cost of furnishing copies, including the cost of staff time required to make them. Fees for providing access to computer records shall include the cost of computer services, including staff time required. The copying fee shall be 12 cents per page, or any fraction thereof, and a per hour rate of the staff member’s time required to copy records.

Revenue from copying open records will be deposited to the general fund of the cooperative monthly.
Employees are prohibited from giving or selling lists of any cooperative records to any person except as authorized by law or board policy. The director or designated representative is held responsible for the destruction of records under his/her jurisdiction according to law.

Amended: October 16, 2006

3055 Reproduction of Documents

An administrative charge of $5.00 per document will be assessed to employees requesting a reproduction of documents that are misplaced by that employee. (i.e. W2’s; payroll statements, etc.)

3060 Definition of Business Day

Business day for the special education office means Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except days designated as holidays by the board of directors of SCKSEC. The director has the authority to make temporary changes in the business day.

The board delegates to the director the authority to close the cooperative office whenever any condition exists which, in the opinion of the director, warrants such closing. Emergency closing situations may include: Snowstorms and other weather conditions, heating failure in the buildings, health reasons (epidemics), teacher strikes, budgetary problems, etc.

3080 Bonded Employees

A surety bond in the amount of $50,000.00 is required for the treasurer of the board. A blanket bond may be purchased by the board for cooperative employees as follows: clerk of the board $5,000.00.

3100 Gifts

Staff members are prohibited from receiving gifts from vendors, salesmen or other such representatives where the intent of the gift, either expressed or implied, is to influence the employee or cause the employee to represent the vendor, salesmen or other such representatives in a favorable light to the employee’s immediate supervisor, director or the board.

4010 Local District Assessments

The amount of the total budget that is required to be financed through the local assessment of participating districts shall be determined by subtracting the amount of revenue raised from all other sources from the total budget approved by the board of directors.

Programs and services that involve only certain districts or certain segments of the total student enrollment will be financed on a per district or per student rate counting only those districts or students involved in that particular program or service. All monies for tuition, participation fees, rent of facilities and other miscellaneous receipts, shall be recorded as Miscellaneous Receipts and become a part of the General Fund Budget.

Amended September 20, 2004

4011 Late Payment Penalty

Each participating district that receives special education aid generated by SCKSEC must send the aid to SCKSEC upon receipt of the payment. A late payment penalty of $10 per day will be assessed to the USD if the payment is not sent within five business days after the USD receives the payment.

Adopted: July 15, 2002

4020 Audit Procedures

The Board shall have the cooperative’s books audited each year as provided by Kansas Statutes.

4030 Activity Fund

Three cooperative activity funds shall be managed by the clerk and the board. Activity funds for the Iuka Learning Center, the Sharon Learning Center and SCKSEC shall be used for such items as shall be determined by the director subject to the approval of the board. All funds received and expended with no actual cost to the cooperative will be deposited in and withdrawn from accounts approved by the Board.

The limit for the SCKSEC activity fund shall be $1,500 that is in accordance with Kansas Statutes. The limit for the activity fund of Iuka Learning Center and the Sharon Learning Center shall be $500.
Amended: April, 2002

4040 Payment Procedures

Monthly expenditures shall be considered by the board at regular board meetings upon the recommendation of the director or designated representative.

The board may designate one or more employee to pay bills in advance of any board meeting in order to avoid penalty for late payment or to take advantage of any early payment discount.

All expenditures shall be paid by check with each check bearing the signatures of:
a. Board President
b. SCKSEC Treasurer
c. SCKSEC Clerk

4050 Payment to Employees not covered by Negotiated Agreement

Employees of SCKSEC, who are not addressed or benefit from the “Memorandum of Agreement” for the teachers, must meet the following requirements:
1. The retiring employee must have worked 20 years for SCKSEC;
2. The retiring employee declares with KPERS a specific date of retirement and meets KPERS requirements for full KPERS retirement benefits;
3. The retiring employee has been a member of the SCKSEC health insurance plan for at least two years.

The eligible employee will be entitled to the following retirement benefits:

1. A one-time payment of $10 for each unused sick leave day (maximum of 70).

2. The employee will be allowed to remain in the SCKSEC health insurance program and SCKSEC will continue to pay the defined benefit amount that was specified in the employee’s last contract of employment. The employee will be allowed to remain in the health insurance program for up to 10 years. In no case shall this benefit be paid past the eligibility for Medicare and/or Medicaid.

5010 Bids and Quotations Requirements

The administration shall develop and maintain lists of potential bidders for various types of materials, equipment, and supplies. Such bid lists shall be used in the development of mailing lists for distribution of specifications and invitations to bid.

All bids and supporting documentation shall be retained in the cooperative office with the clerk of the board for a period of three years after bids have been opened.

All bids must be submitted to the clerk of the board in sealed envelopes with the name of the bidder and the date of the bid opening plainly marked in the lower left-hand corner of the envelope. All bids shall be opened publicly on the stated day and time. All bidders and other interested persons are invited to be present when the bids are opened.

Bids may be opened by the administration or other persons designated by the board and such opening shall be witnessed by individuals determined by the board.

A copy of this policy shall be given to all bidders as part of the request for bids.

All bid specifications shall be developed at the board’s direction. The specifications may include: required performance, surety, bid and statutory bond information; the board’s right to reject any or all bids’ compliance with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations; the date, time and place for opening of bids; and other times as determined by the board.

5040 Equipment and Supplies Management

Small items such as paper clips, etc. are the responsibility of the host district. All cooperative personnel must follow the procedures established at the building where they teach to acquire these items.

The cooperative is responsible for special instructional materials necessary for specially designed instruction.

Local districts and personnel from the cooperative may acquire needed items from all available sources (including private and civic club donations). All items accepted from donors must be approved by the supervising principal.

Title to all materials and equipment purchased with cooperative funds shall remain with the cooperative throughout the expected life of the item unless earlier final disposition is made by the board of directors.

Title to all materials and equipment acquired pursuant to Project BEST and the South Central Kansas Instructional Materials Center shall remain with the cooperative throughout the expected life of the item and will be used in pursuance of the original objective of said projects.

5050 Solicitations

All persons seeking to sell, solicit or display an item relating directly to expenditures of district funds to any school employee on school premises must first secure permission from the building administrator or director, as the case may be, before any appointment is made. All such appointments thus made will be held either during the employee’s preparation/planning period or before or after regular school hours. All other solicitations of or by cooperative employees are prohibited. Solicitations of students or other school employees by staff members during regular school hours for any reason other than school-sponsored activities are prohibited.

Solicitations of staff members by any vendor, student, other cooperative employee or patron during normal school hours are prohibited unless permission is granted by the building administrator.

All vendors must secure permission from the building administrator to interview a cooperative employee. If any vendor violates this procedure, he/she may be barred from making appointments with cooperative employees. The administrators may also recommend to the director not to purchase products or other such items from said vendor. If a vendor violates board policy and is subsequently barred from soliciting in the school system, the director shall send appropriate notices to each cooperative superintendent. The notice will include the name of the vendor, his/her company and reasons for and length of the suspension. The director may bar a vendor from soliciting sales from cooperative employees for a period of time not to exceed 12 months from the date of suspension. Said notice will be sent to the vendor in question and to his/her immediate employer.

6020 Extended School Year

Because of extenuating circumstances, the board may extend the regular academic year prescribed in the school calendar. The director shall be responsible for the preparation of a plan to operate “summer sessions” of school within the cooperative as the need arises, which sessions shall not interfere with the regular instructional programs of the cooperative.

6030 School Day

The school day for special education programs shall be determined in the same manner as school days for regular education activities unless the Board develops an alternative school day plan.

6050 Patron/Parent Visitors to the Schools

The board encourages its patrons and parents to visit the cooperative attendance centers, supportive school departments and classrooms; however, not every day is the most advantageous time for a parent to view actual instruction or student activity, for example, students may be taking standardized tests. For that reason the following rules are adopted by the board to make parent visitations most profitable to each parent. Violators of this board policy and its rules may be subject to the state trespass law. Parent visits shall be made in accordance with the following guidelines:

- Parent visits shall be scheduled with the teacher and the building administrator.
- The building administrator shall accompany the parent on the visit if the parent so desires.
- Such visits are for the purpose of becoming acquainted with school instruction, programs, personnel, operation and/or the facility.
- Parents shall refrain from giving directions or making evaluations of personnel or operating procedures during their visits.
- Board members who have children in the schools and therefore have parental opportunities to converse with their child’s teacher, counselor or administrator shall make it clear that they are speaking and/or visiting as a parent and not as a member of the board.

7010 Equal Opportunity Employment

The board will make every attempt to hire its employees on the basis of the ability and needs of the district. The cooperative will be an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate in its employment policies as required by various titles of federal and state laws. Inquiries regarding compliance with any title may be directed to the Director of Special Education at 412 Sandy Lane, Pratt, Kansas 67124, telephone (620-672-7500) or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington, D.C.

Amended September 20, 2004

7020 Nepotism

The director shall make every reasonable effort to determine whether candidates for employment in the cooperative are related to a board member. If a candidate for employment is related to a board member, the director will make this fact known to the board before any recommendation is made to fill a vacancy.

7030 Political Activities

Staff members who intend to become candidates for political office should notify the director within five days of the date on which the declaration of candidacy is filed. A staff member who becomes a candidate for political office may apply to the director for a leave of absence without pay for the purpose of conducting his/her campaign. Staff members who are elected or appointed to a political office which the board, in its discretion, deems to be a full-time office may be required to terminate their employment with the cooperative.

Staff members holding political offices which are determined by the board to be less than full time in nature must make prior arrangements with the director for political leave of absence from their school duties when it is necessary to be absent from school to carry out the functions of the political office. An employee who must be absent from school to carry out the duties of a political office must take a leave of absence without pay for the duration of the political duties. Staff members shall not use school time or school property for the purpose of furthering the interests of any political party, the campaign of any political candidate or the advocacy of any political issue.

7040 Positions

The director or designated representative shall prepare a comprehensive list of all positions of employment within the cooperative. Job descriptions shall be developed and filed in the office of the clerk of the board and made available to all employees for their inspection during regular office hours.

7060 Hiring

The board has the legal responsibility of approving the employment of all employees. While this responsibility cannot be waived, the board delegates to the director or designated representative the authority to recruit staff members. In carrying out this responsibility, the director will involve various administrative and teaching staff members as needed.

All personnel recommended by the director for employment are subject to ratification by the board.

7070 Payroll and Payday Schedules

All professional salaries are to be paid in 12 equal payments on or before the 20th of each calendar month. Lump sum payments will be made to those individuals requesting this type of payment received for the fiscal year. Unless notification is received by the clerk of the board prior to April 1 of the current school year, professional staff will be paid in the same method as the prior school year. New professional staff will be contacted and given the option to choose lump sum payments prior to April 1 of the current school year.

Paraprofessional salaries will be paid according to the hours worked during each month on or before the 20th day of the following month after the final state aid payment is received.

7080 Salary Deductions

Only those salary deductions authorized by law or by board policy will be permitted.

The director or designated representative will develop appropriate forms that will supply the necessary information needed by the bookkeeper to make approved salary deductions. All requests for salary deductions must be submitted to the director or designee during the enrollment periods established by the board. Open enrollment for salary reduction/deductions will be held annually in August with reductions/deductions to salary beginning in September unless otherwise noted in the board policy.

Section 125 Cafeteria Plan will be offered to employees who work 17-1/2 hours or more per week. Included in the plan will be group health insurance, cancer insurance, salary protection insurance, group life insurance up to $50,000, dental insurance, medical expense reimbursement, dependent care reimbursement, vision insurance and heart/stroke insurance. Guidelines set forth in the plan’s adoption agreement will be followed. Changes to any coverage under the Section 125 Cafeteria Plan will not be allowed during the plan year with the exception of family status changes that affect the coverage. This applies to all premiums regardless of whether they are paid under salary reduction or salary deduction.

Enrollment in the SCKSEC group health insurance plan will be held annually at an unspecified time, depending upon the plan year.

Tax sheltered annuities and other salary deductions outside of the Section 125 Cafeteria Plan will be offered, however, for a company to be accepted there must be a minimum of three persons enrolled in that company’s plan. Enrollment will be held in August and January each year. Employees may terminate payroll deduction items in August.

Any employee who works 17-1/2 or more hours weekly will be enrolled in KPERS upon completion of the necessary enrollment forms.

Amended: March 19, 2007

7090 Assignment and Transfer

The board retains and reserves the right to assign, reassign and transfer all personnel.

7100 Fulfilling the Contract

If the board has reason to believe that an employee cannot fulfill the employee’s contractual obligations and/or the policies and rules of the board because of a mental or physical infirmity, the board reserves the right to have its employee examined by a physician or psychiatrist of its choice to determine whether or not the employee is mentally and/or physically able to fulfill the obligations of the employment contract and/or the policies and rules of the board.

The costs for any examination referred to in this rule will be borne by the board.

7110 Evaluation

1. Evaluation shall be conducted in compliance with K.S.A. 72-9003 that includes:

(a) All first and second year employees shall be evaluated at least two times each year. The first evaluation is to be completed prior to the 60th school day of the first semester, the second prior to the 60th school day of the second semester.
(b) All third and fourth year employees shall be evaluated at least one time each year, and the evaluation is to be completed prior to February 15th of the school year.
(c) Employees with four or more years of employment shall be evaluated at least once every three years by no later than February 15th of the school year in which the employee is evaluated.

2. SCKSEC administration will assign an evaluating administrator to each employee. This assignment may be subject to change, but generally the building administrator will be the evaluator.

3. Persons to be evaluated should participate in their evaluations, and shall be afforded the opportunity for self-evaluation. This opportunity shall be documented on the evaluation instrument.

4. Evaluation shall be based on information gained from at least one classroom or on the job observation and can include information from other sources. The evaluation shall be documented on the SCKSEC board approved evaluation instrument either prior to the evaluation conference or during the evaluation conference.

5. The evaluator will discuss the results of the evaluation with the employee in a scheduled evaluation conference.

6. Teacher or evaluator may request an additional evaluation by the SCKSEC administration.

7. Employee ratings of acceptable and unacceptable shall be interpreted with the following guidelines:

(a) Acceptable: performance areas that are average to above average. Some indicators may need improvement, however, they may not necessarily constitute a rating of unacceptable. Acceptable ratings do not prohibit an evaluator from writing a narrative on superior or competent attributes or areas that could benefit from improvement.
(b) Unacceptable: performance areas that are below average and are significant to warrant a plan of improvement. An unacceptable rating will usually have several indicators that need improvement. If an unacceptable rating has only one indicator cited as needing improvement, the evaluator must explain its significance. Unacceptable ratings must be accompanied with an improvement plan.

8. In all cases where unacceptable performance is identified, the evaluation conference will be followed in not less than two nor more than four weeks, by a written follow-up report by the evaluator regarding progress or lack thereof in correcting the deficiency.

9. If an employee feels that an evaluation is incomplete, inaccurate, or unfair, he/she may request a review by the SCKSEC Board of Directors. This request must be made in writing not later than two (2) weeks after the evaluation conference.

10. All completed evaluation reports shall be kept on file in the SCKSEC Administration Office for a period of not less than three years from the date each evaluation is made. This file shall be open to the inspection of the employee at all times.

11. Completed evaluations shall be available to all agents identified as having that right as stated by Kansas Statutes (K.S.A. 72-9005)

12. The evaluation report will be distributed to the staff member, the evaluating administrator and the SCKSEC Administrative Office.

13. Each school year a committee may be named to review and recommend any necessary changes in the SCKSEC Personnel Evaluation Policy.
Amended: March 19, 2007
7120 Supervision

The responsibility for the immediate supervision of faculty members rests with each building administrator within the cooperative. The director and assistant director also have a responsibility to supervise faculty members at regular intervals during the school year.

7130 Probation

The authority to recommend to the board that certified staff members be placed on probation is delegated to the director or designated representative. The board, after hearing the director’s recommendation for probation and after evaluating the evidence gathered by the administrative staff, may place a certified staff member on probation. The term of probation will be established by the board.

All conditions of probations shall be reduced to writing. One copy shall be given to the employee, and one copy shall be placed in the employee’s personnel file.

Failure by an employee to remedy the causes of probation may result in nonrenewal or termination of the employment contract.

7140 Suspension

The director or designated representative shall have the authority to suspend an employee until the suspension is resolved by board action at the next regular or special meeting of the board.

The director may suspend an employee for any one or more of the following reasons: alleged violation of board policy, rule or regulation; the filing of a formal complaint against the employee with any civil authority or with the board charging the employee with the alleged commission of an offense involving moral turpitude; and other just cause.

An employee may be suspended with pay on a short-term basis. If the suspension is for a long term or is imposed on an employee pending dismissal, the employee is entitled to pay at least until the employee has had a due process hearing before the board. Said hearing shall determine whether the suspension shall be with or without pay and whether the employee will be terminated with or without pay.

A negotiated agreement or any applicable grievance policy may provide the procedures for the teacher to obtain such a hearing and may have a time precedence over such a board determination.

7150 Reduction of Teaching Staff

It shall be the sole right of the Board of Directors of SCKSEC to determine when a reduction in staff is necessary. If, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, non-renewal is the only avenue of staff reduction, criteria explained in the Negotiated Agreement will be utilized.

7160 Conferences and Visitations

The director shall have the authority to grant leaves not to exceed five consecutive school days for any employee during any school year for the purpose of attending educational conferences or school visitations.

7165Paraeducator Sick Leave Bank

Paraeducators of South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative who are eligible for the sick leave bank may complete an enrollment form for participation. Participation will continue unless a written request not to continue in the bank is received by the SCKSEC business office prior to September 1 of the new school year. Each full time participant shall contribute nine contracted hours annually. Each part-time paraeducator shall contribute a prorated number of hours annually.

South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative Board will annually provide one hundred twenty (120) hours to the paraeducators sick leave bank.

Participants may draw upon the bank after depleting their regular accumulated sick leave as follows:

A.The sick leave bank policy shall be administered by the SCKSEC Administration and Paraeducator Advisory Council.
B.Full-time paraeducators, who join the bank, may make applications(s) for up to one hundred hours (100) of sick leave. Paraeducators who are part-time will receive a prorated number of hours. A doctor’s verification may be requested for extended leave over thirty (30) hours.
1.Paraeducators must have been employed earlier than December 1 of the prior school year to be eligible.
2.Sick Leave Bank cannot be used for funeral or maternity leave. However, illness or medical complications experienced by the paraeducators following childbirth are eligible for use of Sick Leave Bank hours.
3.Sick Leave Bank shall be used for paraeducator illness only.

C.Upon application to the sick leave bank the requested leave shall be allotted to the paraeducator when approved by the SCKSEC Administration. The Paraeducator Advisory Council will review requests for more than thirty (30) hours. The application is available on the SCKSEC website at www.scksec.com or can be requested from the SCKSEC administrative office.
D.A report pertaining to various transactions, if any, shall be prepared and reviewed annually with the Director of SCKSEC.
E.The sick leave bank shall have a maximum of nine hundred and seventy five (975) hours available annually. Hours remaining at the end of each plan year will be carried over to the next plan year to the maximum allowed.

Amended: September 20, 2004

7170 Leave Benefits

All personnel benefits accrued by the teacher at the date the disability leave begins will be retained during disability leave unless the person concerned shall have severed the employment relationship by resignation. No additional personnel benefits will accrue during the period of disability leave except as expressly provided by law.

The provisions of this policy and regulation shall not be applicable and shall be of no force nor effect during any period of time not covered by a contract of employment with the teacher.

A leave of absence due to a disability may be chargeable to the sick leave of the teacher.

Cooperative disability or sick leave benefits shall be reduced by any duplicating monetary benefit received by the employee under any plan, including a plan established by law, toward which the board contributes or for which the board pays. The board will retroactively adjust the cooperative benefits provided by the board under one plan when granted prior to the notice that the employee has elected to file for benefits under another plan provided in full or in part by the board, e.g., an employee’s utilizing paid sick leave for a disability and filing for benefits under workmen’s compensation which would be paid, duplicate all or part of the benefit provided earlier and increase the employer’s contribution rate because of the loss-experience record.

Such retroactive adjustment may involve a prorated deduction in wages to compensate for duplication of benefits or an endorsing all or part of the benefit over to the cooperative. In either case, a proration of sick
leave taken earlier will be reinstated to the employee’s accrued accumulated sick leave. The adjustment will be conducted as group insurance companies coordinate benefits so that the employee receives the best adjustment of his/her full claim, but never more than the full amount of his/her claim. Such an adjustment shall not affect any personal insurance coverage carried by the employee in which the board is not a contributor.

7172 Insurance and Medicare Benefits

1. The employee/retiree and/or spouse are required to convert health insurance coverage to Medicare at age sixty-five if they are no longer employed by SCKSEC.

2. Spouses of retired employees who have not reached age 65 may continue coverage in the current group health insurance plan until the retiree turns 65.
3. Employees who retire before reaching age 65 may retain coverage in the current group health insurance plan only if they have 10 consecutive years of service with SCKSEC. Coverage would continue up to age sixty-five.

For information regarding employees covered by the Negotiated Agreement, refer to the current Negotiated Agreement.

Amended June 21, 2004

7175 Family and Medical Leave

Cooperative employees shall be provided family and medical leave as approved by the board and required by current federal law and regulation.

During the period of any unpaid family and medical leave, the board shall continue to pay the employer’s share of the cost of group health benefits in the same manner as paid immediately prior to the leave. Any employee portion of the cost shall be paid by the employee to the clerk of the board on the payroll date or other time as the employee and director may agree. The board may terminate group health coverage if the employee payment is not received within 30 days of the due date.

7180 Returning To Duty After Being Disabled

The teacher who submits a written physician’s report that the teacher is physically fit for full-time employment may be declared eligible for resumption of duties by the director.

If the director or the teacher’s immediate supervisor has reason to believe that the teacher is incapable of resuming regular classroom duties, the director shall conduct an inquiry to determine whether the teacher is capable of resuming regular classroom duties. The findings and conclusions of the director’s inquiry may be given to the teacher in writing at the conclusion of the investigation. If the findings and conclusions are contrary to the opinion of the teacher and the teacher’s physician, the teacher may request a hearing before the board to resolve the matter. The request for said hearing shall be given to the clerk of the board in writing within a reasonable period of time after receipt of the director’s report. The board may hold the hearing at its next regularly scheduled board meeting.

If the board has reason to believe that an employee is unable to resume contracted duties, the board may request that the employee be examined by a physician of the board’s choice at the cooperative’s expense. If the physician’s report is that the employee is able to resume work, the board may require the employee to do so or to be placed on unpaid leave and possible suspension. The employee may request a hearing to resolve the matter before the board as herein provided previously.

Extensions or Reductions of Leave

Where disability leave has been approved, the beginning or ending dates thereof may be further extended or reduced for medical reasons upon application by the teacher to the board. Such extensions or reductions may be granted by the board for additional reasonable periods of time provided, however, that the board may alter the requested dates upon a finding that such extension or reduction would substantially interfere with the administration of the school and/or with the education of the students and provided further that such change by the board is supported by reasonable evidence.

The provisions of this regulation shall not be deemed to impose on the board any obligations to grant or extend a leave of absence to any nontenured teacher beyond the end of the contract school year in which the leave is obtained.

7185 Workers’ Compensation

SCKSEC will participate in workers’ compensation as required by current statute. The combined workers’ compensation benefits and salary received under allowed sick leave, or other available leave, shall not exceed one full day’s pay.

All employees of SCKSEC shall be covered by workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation coverage is provided for all employees regardless of assignment, length of assignment, and/or hours worked per day. Benefits are for personal injury from accident or industrial diseases arising out of and in the course of employment.
The workers’ compensation plan will provide coverage for medical expenses and wages to the extent required by statute to those employees who qualify; however, the amount of workers’ compensation benefits and sick leave benefits shall not exceed a regular daily rate of pay. An employee using sick leave, or other available leave, in combination with workers’ compensation will be charged for one full or partial day of sick leave, as provided for in the sick leave policy of the negotiated agreement, for each day of absence until the employee’s sick leave is exhausted.

Any employee who is off work and drawing workers’ compensation shall be required to provide the clerk of the board with a written doctor’s release before the employee is allowed to return to work. In addition, should the employee be released to return to work by a doctor and fail to do so, all benefits under sick leave shall be ended and those benefits under workers’ compensation shall be restricted as provided by current statute.

SCKSEC has the right to designate a health care provider for any employee with a work related injury. In the event that an employee seeks medical assistance from a provider not authorized by SCKSEC, the cooperative is only liable for up to $500.00 in expenses.

Amended: June 16, 2003

7190 Arrangement for Substitutes

Substitute teachers shall be obtained to provide for a level of instruction commensurate with the regular teacher’s performance as nearly as practical.

Teachers who find that they are unable to discharge their assigned duties should notify their supervising administrator at the earliest possible opportunity so that arrangements may then be made for a substitute. Each district hosting a cooperative program shall identify, from their substitute teacher list, those teachers interested and willing to substitute in special education. All substitute teachers teaching for cooperative personnel shall be under the direct supervision of the supervising administrator.

When available and approved by the building administrator, a substitute teacher shall be provided for all cooperative teaching personnel absent from their assigned position during those days when school is provided in the district hosting said program.

All teachers substituting for cooperative personnel shall be reported to the cooperative director.

All teachers substituting for cooperative personnel shall be paid by the cooperative at the rate determined annually by the board. Payment will be made on or before the 25th of each month.

7200 Substitute Teacher and Substitute Paraprofessional Pay

The rate of pay for substitute teachers shall be:

1/300 of the SCKSEC base salary (BS Step 1) per day; one-half day of substituting shall be paid as one-half of the daily rate; $12.00 per hour shall be paid to substitute teachers for substituting for less than half of a day.

Mileage shall not be paid to substitutes unless first approved by the Director.

Substitute paraprofessionals shall be paid at a rate determined by the SCKSEC administration.

Amended: July 19, 2004

7205 “Salary Schedule for Interpreters for the Hearing Impaired”

A paraeducator for the Hearing Impaired will be regarded as an Interpreter. Beginning wages for an interpreter will be the base wage per hour of paraeducators as set by the Board of Directors for a minimum of three weeks. During the three week period, the teacher of the Hearing Impaired and the SCKSEC Administration will evaluate the interpreter’s skills and assign a “Proficiency Rating” from the following table. If a proficiency rating warrants an increase in salary the new hourly wage shall be retroactive to include the three week assessment period.

SCKSEC Level 1
Base salary per hour for paraprofessionals.

SCKSEC Level 2
Base salary plus $2.00 per hour. Criteria: The interpreter would be
competent to interpret in lower level elementary classrooms at an
acceptable rate.

SCKSEC Level 3
Base salary plus $3.00 per hour. Criteria: The interpreter would be
competent to interpret in advanced high school courses at an acceptable rate.

An interpreter will receive one rating per year at the beginning of each year and no changes from the assigned rating will be made until the next year. Interpreters that intend to return for the next school year will be rated during the last three weeks of the current year.

Interpreters who are certified by Kansas state accepted testing standards, which will allow the certificate holder to become eligible for full categorical aid reimbursement, will receive a salary based on their assigned “Proficiency Rating” from the following table. New salary will become effective as of the issue date on the certificate.

KDSE Certificate Level 4 Base salary plus $9.00 per hour.

KDSE Certificate Level 5 Base salary plus $10.00 per hour.

Adopted: October18, 2004

7210 Tutoring for Pay

Because of the potential for abuse, the board reserves the right of exclusive access to the services of certified employees in accordance with the terms of the contract.

Recognizing that circumstances may dictate some variations from this policy, the board reserves the right to make exceptions.

7220 Safety

The safety of employees and students is an important responsibility of the board. The board and its administrative staff will make every effort to provide a safe environment for all employees and students within the cooperative.

7230 Staff Protection

Each SCKSEC employee bears responsibility to encourage appropriate student behavior. An SCKSEC employee will utilize a reasonable standard of care to ward off a physical attack, prevent physical harm to himself, protect others and property, and to assist a person to regain self-control. Recognizing their own physical limitations, each employee will use discretion when engaging with students. All incidents involving physical restraint will be documented and reported to an SCKSEC administrator.

Revised: July 19, 2004

7240 Personal Injury Benefits

Whenever a teacher is absent from school because of personal injury resulting from an assault by a student or school patron or a school-related incident off school premises, on school property or at a school-sponsored event, the teacher will be paid full salary less the amount of any workmen’s compensation or cooperative disability insurance received due to such injury until the termination of the employment contract. No part of such covered absence will be chargeable to annual sick leave.

The board, however, shall have the right to have the teacher examined by a physician designated by the board for the purpose of establishing the length of time the teacher may be absent, and the board shall consider the professional opinion of said physician in making a decision.

7260 Drug Prevention Policy (For Employees)

1. The unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol on school premises or at any school activity is prohibited. Disciplinary sanctions for employees who violate these standards of conduct may include suspension with pay, suspension without pay, termination, and/or the completion of an appropriate rehabilitation program.

2. Information about any drug and alcohol counseling and rehabilitation and reentry programs will be made available to employees as needed.

3. All employees will receive a copy of this policy and amendments/revisions. Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all employees.

Date policy adopted: 7/16/90

7270 Infectious Diseases Policy (For Employees)

1. The determination of whether an infected employee, not excluded pursuant to Section 2, shall be permitted to remain employed in a capacity that involves contact with students or other employees shall be made on a case-by-case basis by a team composed of public health personnel, the school employee’s physician, the school employee and/or the employee’s representative, and appropriate school and medical personnel as determined by the director.

In making this determination, the team shall consider;
a. the physical condition of the school employee;
b. the expected type of interaction with others in the school system;
c.the impact on both the infected school employee and others in that setting.

2. An infected employee who has uncoverable, oozing skin lesions or skin eruptions shall not be permitted to remain employed in any capacity which involves contact with students or other employees. Pending such determination, the employee shall not perform any duties involving contact with students or other employees. Determinations made by a team shall be reviewed by the team at appropriate intervals.

If the director or the director’s designee has reasonable cause to believe that an employee is an infected individual, the individual may be required to submit to a medical examination and evaluation deemed appropriate by the Cooperative to aid in implementation of this policy.

Using the guidelines of Section 1, the individual may be removed from the school’s settings. Any person who believes an employee is an infected individual shall so inform the director.

3. If the employment of an infected employee is discontinued, the employee shall be entitled to use any available medical leave and receive any available medical disability benefits.

The identity of an infected individual or an individual who there is reasonable cause to believe is an infected individual shall be revealed only to those who have a need to know. If an infected individual is permitted to remain in the school setting after a determination has been made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2, employees who will have regular personal contact with the individual shall be informed of his or her identity and provided with appropriate information as to the individual’s medical condition, including information as to any factors that might warrant a reconsideration of whether he or she should be permitted to remain in the school setting. They also shall be informed of public health precautions that should be taken. Persons informed of the identity of an infected person shall not disclose such information to others except as authorized under this policy.

When working or involving oneself with children in a situation where body fluids may come in contact with the employee, using common sense and good judgment will almost always prevail. The Cooperative employees should follow these guidelines:

Gloves are to be worn when there is direct contact with blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk. Gloves do not have to be worn when there is direct contact with saliva, vomit, urine, stool and sweat unless blood can be detected.

The hands of the employee involved in the contact with body fluids must be washed vigorously with soap and water for at least 10 seconds. Hands should be washed even after wearing protective gloves.

Surfaces soiled with blood or body fluids must be promptly cleaned with an appropriate disinfectant.

Cooperative employees should feel free to wear protective gloves in any situation in which they feel that gloves are warranted. No child’s health, safety or well being should be disregarded or abandoned on the basis of the availability of protective gloves.

The Cooperative will make a reasonable attempt to provide disposable protective gloves upon the request from any SCKSEC program or teacher.

7280 Legal Status

In the event a teacher’s association requests and is granted recognition by the board, as provided by law, the board shall negotiate with representatives of such association in the manner outlined elsewhere in these rules.

If no such recognition is requested or granted, the board shall meet with representatives of the teachers on an informal basis in regard to terms and conditions of employment and other matters of mutual concern.

If at any time such informal meetings are attempted to be turned into formal negotiation sessions by the representatives of the teachers, the board shall immediately cease such conferences until such time as the teachers request formal recognition and meet the statutory requirements thereof.

Except as provided by law, none of the rights and duties of the board shall be delegated in any manner to teacher organizations or teachers.

7290 Board Negotiation Agents

Annually, the board shall designate an individual(s) for the purpose of negotiating on behalf of the Board. The director shall make recommendations to the board in regard to who shall be the chief negotiator for the board. The director and the board president may authorize additional negotiation team members as necessary.

School facilities for negotiating sessions shall be made available without cost to the teacher’s organization. If the representatives of the teachers wish to negotiate in facilities not furnished by the board, none of the costs of any such other facilities shall be paid for by the board.

If the teachers’ representatives desire certain school equipment for negotiating sessions, a request for such equipment shall be made to the director at least one day in advance of the day scheduled for negotiating.

7300 Ratification Procedures

The board will not engage in piecemeal ratification of agreements. The board will not take action on the total “package of agreements” until after the teachers’ association has acted upon the same package of agreements unless impasse has been declared; but if impasse has been declared, the board may take action after the completion of impasse procedures as provided by law.

7310 Records

Teaching staff members who maintain and compile student records for their personal use are cautioned not to include in said files any material which is prohibited by these rules or board policy. Each said employee is held responsible for the security of any such student personnel files and records under his/her custody against inspection or copying by unauthorized individuals.

Employees of the cooperative will be cautioned not to insert in any student’s personnel record any alleged fact based on hearsay, rumor or innuendo. Cooperative employees will record only observed behavior and will not record conclusions or generalizations based upon such behavior.

Student records kept by certified employees will be kept in a secure place. Each employee shall periodically screen said records and destroy obsolete material.

Records kept by certified employees at their own expense shall not be made available to the public, other students or employees of the district unless the student is the subject of a legitimate discussion by certified school personnel in the performance of their duty.

Personnel files kept by the Cooperative concerning employees shall be under the custodianship of the director. An employee has the right to inspect his/her file upon proper notice.

Request for release of any personnel record that is a public record to a third party shall be made in writing and submitted to the appropriate supervisor or record custodian for disposition as required by law.

Personnel files maintained by the cooperative at cooperative expense pertaining to cooperative employees are not public records and must not be made available to the general public unless required by law. All records and files, including personnel records and files, maintained by the cooperative should be screened periodically by the custodian of said records to discard obsolete materials. The Board of Directors of SCKSEC authorizes the destruction of all accounting records, audit reports, financial papers of any type relating to programs supported by federal funds, official bonds of surety, insurance policies, and any other records according to K.S.A. 72-5369.

8010 Student Welfare

The cooperative will endeavor to provide a suitable environment conducive to the general health, safety and welfare of each student in school attendance and in school-sponsored activities.

The director and his staff shall develop and enforce the necessary rules and regulations relating to student welfare in accordance with the cooperative and member agency guidelines.

8030 Lesson Plans

Each building principal, in conjunction with the cooperative director, is authorized to develop rules and regulations concerning the use and maintenance of lesson plans in each building in the cooperative. Each building principal shall assume the responsibility of seeing that each teacher develops and maintains appropriate lesson plans.

8040 Weapons

A student shall not knowingly possess, handle or transmit any object that can reasonably be considered a weapon on the school grounds or off the school grounds at a school activity, function or event.

This policy shall include any weapon, any item being used as a weapon or destructive device, or any facsimile of a weapon.

Possession of a firearm shall result in expulsion from school for a period of one year (186 school days), in accordance with the local policy of the student’s attendance center.

As used in this policy, the term “firearm” means any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive, the frame or receiver of any such weapon, or any firearm muffler or silencer; or any destructive device.

As used in this policy, the term “destructive device” means any explosive incendiary or poison gas: bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine, or other device similar to any of these devices.

8060 Due Process

Every student shall be afforded due process of law as required by statute and judicial decision as further implemented by rules and regulations of the board.

8070 Suspension and Expulsion

Cooperative students shall be subject to local policies and rules concerning suspension and expulsion.

8090 Promotion and Retention

The policy of the cooperative is to encourage and assist each student to progress in a continuous growth pattern of academic achievement in harmony with normal intellectual, social and emotional development. The best interest of the student will be the guiding philosophy for determining acceleration, promotion or retention. In arriving at a decision for either the promotion or retention of a student, the teacher will consider the viewpoints of the special services personnel, principal and parents. The final decision in any case pertaining to promotion or retention shall rest with the IEP team.

8110 Graduation

Graduation requirements for exceptional students parallel requirements for regular education students insofar as possible. The principal shall approve the course of study as it relates to fulfilling credit requirements. The same number of credits expected of regular students in SCKSEC participating districts shall be expected of exceptional students.

Students certified as having completed a special education course and are eligible for graduation shall receive the same recognition as regular education students; however, at parent request, special recognition services may be arranged.

Amended: June 16, 2003

8120 Drug Education (For Students)

South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative will not develop nor support the implementation of curriculums that conflict with its member districts’ curriculums for drug and alcohol prevention programs. This policy does not prohibit the adapting and/or modification of materials to the ability level of certain students.

1. All students served by providers employed by the Cooperative will participate in age-appropriate, developmentally based drug and alcohol education and prevention programs administered at their attendance center.

2. Exceptional students shall adhere to the prevention programs at their designated attendance center and the responsibility of notices and statements, parental notification, informational activities, shall be those of the child’s attendance center and/or attendance district.

Adopted: July 16, 1990

8130 Infectious Diseases Policy (For Students)

1. The determination of whether an infected student who is not excluded pursuant to Section 2 shall be permitted to attend classes or participate in school activities with other students shall be made on a case-by-case basis by a team composed of public health personnel, the student’s physician, the student’s parents or guardian, and appropriate school and medical personnel as determined by the director. In making this determination, the team shall consider:

a. the behavior, neurological development, and physical condition of the student;
b. the expected type of interaction with others in the school setting; and
c. the impact on both the infected student and others in that setting.

Pending such determination, the student shall not be permitted to attend classes or participate in school activities. Determinations made by a team shall be reviewed by the team at appropriate intervals.

2. Infected neurologically handicapped students who lack control of the bodily secretions or who display behavior such as biting, vomiting, etc., and infected students who have uncoverable, oozing lesions or skin eruptions or display inappropriate behavior (biting, incontinence, etc.) shall not be permitted to attend classes or participate in school activities with other students. These children will be educated in other appropriate settings.

3. If the director or the director’s designee has reasonable cause to believe that a student is an infected individual, the individual may be required to submit to a medical examination and evaluation deemed appropriate by the Cooperative to aid in implementation of this policy. Using the guidelines of Sections 1 and 2, the individual may be removed from the school’s settings. Any person who believes a student is an infected individual shall so inform the school nurse (if available), and the director.

4. If an infected student in grades Pre through 12 is not permitted to attend classes or participate in school activities with other students, the Cooperative shall provide the student with an appropriate alternative education.

The identity of an infected individual or an individual who there is reasonable cause to believe is an infected individual shall be revealed only to those who have a need to know. If an infected individual is permitted to remain in the school setting after a determination has been made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2, employees who will have regular personal contact with the individual shall be informed of his or her identity and provided with appropriate information as to the individual’s medical condition, including information as to any factors that might warrant a reconsideration of whether he or she should be permitted to remain in the school setting. Persons informed of the identity of an infected person shall not disclose such information to others except as authorized under this policy.

8160 Student Insurance Program

The board recommends that all students engaging in hazardous activity be covered by some type of accident insurance. Such insurance may be provided by each student’s parents through personal insurance coverage or through the student group insurance program available from the local district.

Any additional medical expense not covered by the student’s accident insurance, the KSHSAA catastrophic insurance or activities insurance and any voluntary, optional basic accident insurance is the responsibility of the parents.

8180 Emergency Drills

Cooperative faculty and students will follow local district policy concerning emergency drills.
Students shall be under the supervision of appropriate school personnel at all times when they are under the jurisdiction of the cooperative.

Each building administrator shall coordinate and assign teachers, aides or paraprofessionals to supervise students engaged in school related activities. For the safety of each student, no activity sponsored by the school will be allowed to begin without appropriate supervision.

8190 Student Accidents

Any school employee who discovers an accident involving a student on school property shall immediately report the accident to the building administrator or designated representative. School employees are not trained to administer medical treatment to students.

In the event of a student accident which appears to require medical treatment other than emergency first aid, all school employees will follow the plans and procedures which have been developed by the director and/or building administrators to cover such emergencies.

8200 Dispensing of Medication

The dispensing of oral medicines shall be in strict compliance with the rules and regulations of each school board in SCKSEC.

Under the following rules, the dispensing of medication by school personnel, including school nurses, is authorized;
School personnel shall not be required to be custodians of any medication except as required by a written order of a licensed medical person;
The medication shall be examined by the school employee dispensing the medication to determine in his/her judgment that it appears to be in the original container, to be properly labeled and to be properly authorized by the written order of a licensed medical person.

The dispensing of any such authorized medication shall be logged by the building administrator or his designee in the school’s medical diary that shall be maintained for these purposes and filed by the administrator for future reference.

Student Self-Administration of Medications
As used in this policy, medication means a medicine for the treatment of anaphylactic reactions or asthma which is prescribed by a physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery; a certified, advanced registered nurse practitioner who has authority to prescribe drugs; or a licensed physician assistant who has authority to prescribe drugs pursuant to a written protocol with a responsible physician.

Student Eligibility
The self-administration of medication is allowed for students in grades K-12 attending one of the special day schools sponsored by SCKSEC. To be eligible, a student shall meet all requirements of this policy. Parents/guardians shall submit a written statement from the student’s health care provider stating:
The name and purpose of the medication;
The prescribed dosage;
The conditions under which the medication is to be self-administered;
Any additional special circumstances under which the medication is to be administered; and
The length of time for which the medication is prescribed.
The statement shall also show the student has been instructed on self-administration of the medication and is authorized to do so in school.

Authorization Required
The student shall provide written authorization from the student’s health care provider and parent or guardian stating the student has been instructed on self-administration of the medication and is authorized to do so in school. The student’s parent or guardian shall provide written authorization.

Employee Immunity
A school district, and its employees and agents, which authorizes the self-administration of medication in compliance with the provisions of this policy, shall not be liable in any action for any injury resulting from the self-administration of medication. The school district shall provide written notification to the parent or guardian of a student that the school and its employees and agents are not liable for any injury resulting from the self-administration of medication.

Waiver of Liability
The parent or guardian of the student shall sign a statement acknowledging that the school incurs no liability for any injury resulting from the self-administration of medication and agreeing to indemnify and hold the school, and its employees and agents, harmless against any claims relating to the self-administration of such medication.

Amended April 16, 2007

8210 Student Transportation

Local districts are responsible for transporting their special education students to their attendance district or collection points. Transportation will be provided by the cooperative for all extra-class activities.

Student activities are important in the development of a well-rounded educational program. The staff is encouraged to capitalize on the educational possibilities of student activities. Any activity, which involves the expenditure of public funds, shall be subject to prior approval of the board.

All students scheduled in the cooperative’s activities will participate in the educational and social activities of the building where they are assigned whenever possible.

Activity Fees

Fees of various student activities shall be governed by local district policies.

8220 Student Transportation Management

Transportation of all special education students shall be the responsibility of the sending district. It shall be the responsibility of the sending district to provide transportation at the time and on the days when school is being conducted by the hosting district.

8250 Types of Student Records

Student personnel record files shall include but shall not be limited to the following: administrative, supplemental and tentative record files. Information about students that is collected and stored by any school personnel shall be separated into one of the following three classifications:

Administrative records. This classification includes official administrative records that constitute the minimum personnel data necessary for operating the educational system. It includes birth date, sex, race, names, addresses and places of employment of parents, academic work completed, grades, attendance records, withdrawal and reentry records, honors and activities, date of graduation and follow up records.

Supplementary records. This classification includes verified information that is important in operating the educational system but is of a more sensitive nature and of less historical importance. It includes: test data, such as scores on standardized achievement, aptitude and intelligence tests; observational data such as systematically gathered teacher or counselor evaluations and observations of social and personal assets; clinical findings and verified reports of serious or recurrent deviant behavior patterns; general data such as health data, family background information, and educational and vocational plans.

Tentative records. This classification includes useful information that has not been verified or is not clearly needed beyond the immediate present. It includes unevaluated reports of teachers or counselors that may be needed in ongoing counseling or disciplinary actions.

The general public does not have the right to inspect a student’s personal record files.

Any data found in a student’s personal record file must be made available to any law enforcement officer or officer of any court upon presentation of a subpoena or court order. The custodian shall attempt to notify the parents and student prior to making such records available.

In an emergency situation when the student or his/her parents/guardian cannot be reached, the custodian of said student’s records may, in his/her discretion, release information to appropriate persons if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons. The custodian of the records shall take the following factors into consideration in deciding whether the information should be released:

Is it a serious emergency;
Will the information meet the emergency;
Are the persons to whom the information will be released in a position to deal with the emergency; and
Is time of the essence in dealing with the emergency.

Data may be released without permission of the student or his/her parents/guardians to outside research agencies in such a form that no individual student is identifiable.

If the custodian of student records has special information that would indicate granting or denying access to student records in accordance with these rules, he/she may exercise discretion in granting or denying access in a manner other than provided herein.

9040 Printing and Duplicating Services

The copyright laws of the United States make it illegal for anyone to duplicate copyrighted materials without permission. Severe penalties are provided for unauthorized copying of all materials covered by the Act unless the copying falls within the bounds of the “fair use” doctrine.

Prohibited Practice - A teacher may not make multiple copies of a work for classroom use if it has already been copied for another class in the same institution; make multiple copies of a short poem, article, story or essay from the same author more than once in a class term or make multiple copies from the same collective work or periodical issue more than three times a term; make multiple copies of works more than nine times in the same class term; make a copy of works to take the place of an anthology; and may not make a copy of “consumable” materials, such as workbooks.

Permitted Practice - A teacher may make--for use in scholarly research, in teaching or in preparation for teaching a class--a single copy of the following: a chapter from a book; an article from a periodical or newspaper; a short story, short essay or short poem (whether or not from a collected work); a chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon or picture from a book, periodical or newspaper; may make (for classroom use only and not to exceed one per student in a class) multiple copies of the following: a complete poem (if it has fewer than 250 words and is printed on not more than two pages), an excerpt from a longer poem (if the excerpt has fewer than 250 words), an excerpt from a prose work (if the excerpt has fewer than 1,000 words or 10 percent of the work, whichever is less) and one chart, graph, diagram, cartoon or picture per book or periodical.

A library may, for inter library loan purposes, make up to six copies a year of a periodical published within the last five years, make up to six copies a year of small excerpts from longer works, make copies of unpublished works for purposes of preservation and security and make copies of out-of-print works that cannot be obtained at a fair price.

9050 Public Information Program

The implementation of the public information program of the cooperative shall be the responsibility of the director.

The director shall be responsible for the content of the cooperative news releases and such other school sponsored information the cooperative endeavors to inform the public concerning the needs, their rights, and availability of services to handicapped by means of contact through radio and newspaper media. Information is disseminated by personal appearances of personnel at meetings of civic clubs and special service units.

9060 Use of School Facilities

The utilization of cooperative buildings and grounds by community groups shall be allowed only after Board approved. Such use of any cooperative facility or grounds, however, shall not interfere with the daily school student routine or any school sponsored student activity.

The board will establish reasonable fees and/or rental charges for the use of any cooperative facility or grounds; such fees and/or rental charges will cover costs of wages for any school personnel involved and utilities consumed.

9070 Equipment

Permission must be gained from the cooperative office before any cooperative equipment may be removed from the school grounds.

9075 Caseload and Class Size

It shall be the policy of the South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative (SCKSEC) to review the class-size and caseload (CSCL) of each professional at board meetings. This review will occur at least once each nine weeks. The administration will use a Class-Size/Case-Load formula as piloted by the State of Kansas since 1991. As concerns arise, the SCKSEC administration will review caseload of class-size with the building administration. In no case will the formula supercede the professional judgment of administration and the Board.

9080 Internet Usage

SCKSEC owns several computers and numerous types of software. The hardware and software is for educational and professional use only. All information created by staff and students shall be considered property of SCKSEC and subject to unannounced monitoring by SCKSEC administration. When SCKSEC hardware and/or software are used within a school building, that school’s policies shall be the prevailing policy.

Software shall not be installed on a computer owned by SCKSEC without the approval of the building administration or the SCKSEC administration.
Students attending a special placement as directed by the IEP team shall comply with the internet policy of the school of enrollment and the internet policy of SCKSEC. The parent or legal guardian of a student and/or the student who attends Iuka or Sharon facility is required to review and sign the internet policy prior to attendance.

Filter devices are installed and/or utilized for all computers that students and teachers utilize in the facilities operated by SCKSEC.

Adopted: August 19, 2002

9090 Credit Card Usage By Employees

The director’s use of a district motor vehicle and a district credit card shall be confined to school business. The board shall appoint the director to prescribe limits and restrictions on the use of credit cards. In no case shall credit card expenditures exceed $4,000 in one month. The Board shall monitor receipts and reimbursement expenses at lease once a month. Each employee who uses a cooperative issued credit card shall sign an agreement that describes procedures and consequences of misuse.

Adopted: August 20, 2001

9100 Staff Use of Cellular Phones/Paging Devices in School

Staff members shall not use a cellular phone/paging device while on duty [or while attending a school-sponsored activity on or off school property], unless the staff member has been assigned a device by the administration for job-related use, or the staff member is serving as an active member of a volunteer fire-fighting organization or a volunteer emergency medical service organization. Limited use to deal with family emergencies is permitted.

A “paging device” is a telecommunications device that emits an audible signal, vibrates, displays a message, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor.

Adopted: September 20, 2004

9105 Sexual Harassment

The board of education is committed to providing a positive and productive working and learning environment, free from discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment. Sexual harassment will not be tolerated in the school district. Sexual harassment of employees or students of the district by board members, administrators, certified and support personnel, students, vendors and any others having business or other contact with the school district is strictly prohibited.

Sexual harassment is unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex under Title lX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title Vll of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Kansas Acts Against Discrimination. All forms of sexual harassment are prohibited at school, on school property, and at all school-sponsored activities, programs or events. Sexual harassment against individuals associated with the school is prohibited, whether or not the harassment occurs on school grounds.

It shall be a violation of this policy for any student, employee or third party (visitor, vendor, etc.) to sexually harass any student, employee, or other individual associated with the school. It shall further be a violation for any employee to discourage a student or another employee from filing a complaint, or to fail to investigate or refer for investigation, any complaint lodged under the provisions of this policy. Violation of this policy by any employee shall result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

Adopted: September 20, 2004