Focusing on Strategic Leadership,

Continuous Improvement

and Accountability

Board of Education

Policy Governance

Book

Revised:

10.20.09

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Governance Processe

................................

GP 1.0

Board

’

s Purpose

................................

...........................

GP 1.1 The B

oard’s Governing Style

................................

.........

1.2 The Job of the Board

................................

....................

GP 1.3 Board President Responsibilities

................................

GP 1.4 Other Board Officers

................................

....................

GP 1.5 Agenda Planning

................................

..........................

GP 1.6 Board Committee Principles

................................

........

GP 1.7 Board Committee Structure

................................

.........

GP 1.8 Board Memb

ers

’

Code of Conduct

................................

..............................

GP 1.9

Cost of Governance

................................

.......................

Board

Superintendent Linkage

................................

..............

BSL 1.0

................................

........................

BSL 1.1 Providing Direction and Delegation to the Superintendent

................................

...................

BSL

1.2

Unity of Control

................................

..........................

BSL 1.3 Accountability of the Superintendent

................................

.......................

BSL 1.4 Monitori

ng Superintendent Performance

................................

..............

Ends

................................

.............................

G 1 End Statements

................................

............................

Executive Limitations

................................

...............................

EL 1.0 General Executive Constraint

................................

......

EL 1.1 Treatment of Students, Parents, Public, and Community

................................

.........................

EL 1.2 Treatment of Faculty and Staff

................................

EL 1.3 Emergen

cy Succession

................................

....

EL 1.4

Compensation/Benefits/Employment

................................

..........................

EL 1.5 Financial Planning and Budgeting

................................

.......

EL 1.6 Fiscal Management and Controls

................................

............................

EL 1.7 Protection of Assets

................................

....................

EL 1.

8 Com

munication with and Support of the Board

................................

........

EL 1.9 Schools of Innovation

................................

...................

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Douglas County School District’s Board of Education has adopted a new governance structure. It is built on a set of

policies that cover the four areas where the Board can m

ost effectively carry out its responsibilities as trustees of the

community.

Policies start from the most general statement (outside ring) and become more specific, moving in one layer at a

time. The depth of the Board’s involvement can change from policy

to policy. Working from the inside allows the

Board to define the line between its responsibilities and those of the CEO.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Governance Processes

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

GP 1.0

Board’s Purpose

On behalf of the citizens of Douglas County Sc

hool District, t

he purpose of the Board of Education is to assure that

the District (a) achieves appropriate results for appropriate persons at an appropriate cost, and (b) avoids

unacceptable actions and situations.

1.1

The Board’s Governing Style

The Board will govern lawfully with an emphasis on (a) outward vision rather than an internal preoccupation,

(b) diversity in viewpoints and sufficient understanding of issues, (c) strategic leadership more than

administrative detail, (

) clear distincti

on of Board and chief executive roles, (

) collective rather than

individual decisions, (

) future rather than past or present, and (

) pro

activity rather than reactivity.

Accordingly:

1.1.1

The Board will cultivate a sense of group responsibility. T

he Board, not the staff, will be

responsible for excellence in governing. The Board will be the initiator of policy, not merely a reactor to

staff initiati

es. The Board will not use the expertise of individual members to substitute for the judgment

of th

e Board, although the expertise of individual members may be used to enhance the understanding of

the Board as a body.

1.1.2

The Board will direct, control

and inspire the organization through the careful establishment of

broad written policies reflect

ing the Board's values and perspectives. The Board's major policy focus will

be on the intended long

term impacts outside the staff organization, not on the administrative or

programmatic means of attaining those Ends.

1.1.3

The Board will enforce upon it

self whatever discipline is needed to govern with excellence.

Discipline will apply to matters such as attendance, preparation for meetings, policymaking principles,

respect of roles, and ensuring the continuance of governance capability. Although the Boar

d can change its

governance process policies at any time, it will observe them scrupulously while in force.

1.1.3.1

Board members are expected to attend regular and special meetings of the Board.

1.1.3.2

Board members who fail to attend three consecutive regular meetin

gs of the Board will

be deemed to have vacated their Board membership, unless the Board determines otherwise

accordance with applicable law.

1.1.3.3

The Board will fill any vacated position on the Board as permitted by law.

1.1.4

Continual Board development w

ill include orientation of new Board members in the Board's

governance process and periodic Board discussion of process improvement.

1.1.5

The Board will allow no officer, individual

or committee of the Board to hinder or excuse the

fulfillment of its co

mmitments.

1.1.6

The Board will monitor and discuss the Board's process and performance at each meeting. Self

monitoring will include

at least an annual

comparison of Board activity and discipline to policies in the

Governance Process and Board

Superinten

dent Linkage categories.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.1.7

All governing policies of the Board are contained in this document, and they remain in effect,

unless amended or deleted by Board action.

1.2

The Job of the Board

Specific job outputs of the Board, as an informed

agent of the ownership, are those that ensure appropriate

organizational performance. Accordingly, the Board has direct responsibility to create:

1.2

The link between the ownership and the operational organization.

1.2.2

Written governing policies tha

t address the broadest levels of all organizational decisions and

situations.

1.2.2.1

Ends: Organizational products, impacts, benefits, outcomes, recipients, and their relative

worth (what good for which recipients at what cost).

1.2.2.2

Executive Limitations: Constrai

nts on executive authority, which establish the prudence

and ethics boundaries within which all executive activity and decisions must take place.

1.2.2.3

Governance Process: Specification of how the Board conceives, carries out and monitors

its own task

1.2.2.4

Board

Superintendent Linkage: How power is delegated and its proper use monitored;

the Superintendent's role, authority and accountability.

1.2.3

Assurance of successful organizational performance.

1.2.4

A favorable legislative impact.

1.2.5

Reviewing, monitoring and revising all Board policies.

1.3

Board President Responsibilities

The Chair of the Board shall be titled “President.” The President of the Board ensures the integrity of the

Board’s process and normally serves as the Board’s official spokesperson. Accordingly, the President has

the

following authority and duties:

1.3.1

To lead the Board so that the Board’s performance is consistent with its own rules and policies

and

those legitimately imposed on it from outside the organization.

1.3.

Board meeting deliberations are conducted an

d monitored to include only Board issues

that, as defined in Board policy, belong to the Board to decide or monitor.

Deliberations are fair,

open and thorough, but also efficient, timely, orderly

and to the point.

3.1.

To make decisions that fall within the topics covered by Board policies on Governance

Process and Board

Superintendent Linkage, ex

cept a) concerning the employment or termination

of a Superintendent, and b) where the Board specifically delegates portions of this authority to

others. The President is authorized to use any reasonable interpretation of the provisions in those

policies.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.3.1.

The President has no authority to make decisions about policies created by the Board in

the Ends and Executive Limitations policy areas.

1.3.1.

The President has no authority to supervise or direct the Superintendent.

1.3.2

To represen

t the Board to outside parties in announcing only Board

stated positions and in stating

decisions and interpretations within the areas delegated to him or her. The President may delegate this

authority to other Board members when appropriate, but remains a

ccountable for its use.

1.3.3

To sign all contracts

and official Board reports

authorized by the Board.

1.3.4

In the absence or inability of the President, the Vice

President shall have and perform all

of the

powers and duties of the President.

1.4

Other

Board Officers

In addition to the President, the Board shall have a Vice

President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

The Secretary

and Treasurer may be staff members appointed by the Board.

The Board may also appoint an Assistant

Secretary and an Assistant Treasurer. No Board member may serve more than two terms in any sin

gle office of

the Board.

Staff members serving

as Board officers are exempt from term limits.

1.5

Agenda Planning

The Board will prepare and follow an annual agenda plan that includes (1) a complete re

exploration of Ends

policies annually and (2) continuous improvement in Board performance

through Board education,

enriched

input,

and deliberation.

Accordingly:

1.5.1

The Board’s annual planning cycle will conclude each year on the last day of October, so that

administrative planning and budgeting can be based on accomplishing a one

year segment

of long

term

Ends.

1.5.2

The cycle will start with the Board’s development of its agenda for the next year.

1.5.2.1

The Board will identify its priorities for Ends and other issues to be resolved in the

coming year, and will identify information g

athering necessary to fulfill its role. This may include

consultations with selected groups in the ownership, other methods of gaining ownership input,

governance education, and other education related to Ends issues, (e.g., presentations by advocacy

grou

ps, demographers, other providers, staff, etc.).

1.5.2.2

The President will, at the commencement of the Board’s annual planning cycle, prepare

for the Board’s consideration a tentative agenda plan for the following year’s meetings.

1.5.3

The Presiden

t will determine the agenda for any particular meeting, although Board members may

request or recommend any appropriate matters for Board consideration.

1.5.3.1

Board member may recommend or request a matter for Board discussion by submitting

the item t

o the President no later than the

regularly scheduled agenda planning session.

1.5.3.2

The meeting agenda will be finalized at a regular agenda planning session

by the

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

President. Any other Board member and the Superintendent are welcome to attend. The

President

shall ensure that Board meeting agendas:

1.5.

2.1

Reflect

the need for monitoring and revision of all Board policies, and for

monitoring performance of the Superintendent relative to the Board’s Ends and Executive

Limitations policies.

1.5.3

.2.

1.1

Responsibility for Board self

evaluation will rotate each meeting

to a different Board

member.

1.5.3.2.1.2

While

material violations of Board policies may be noted

immediately during a meeting of the Board, self

evaluation will normally

occur at the end of each meeting prior to adjournment.

1.5.3.2.2

Reflect the need for timely decision

making and community feedback.

1.5.3.2.3

The President may delegate this authority to other Board members when

appropriate, but is ultimately acco

untable for the Board’s meeting agendas.

1.5.3.3

The

meeting agenda and packet are to be received by Board members at least four days

prior to the scheduled Board meeting.

1.5.3.4

an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Boa

rd present at a regular

meeting, additional matters may be added to the agenda of any such Board meeting.

1.5.4

The Board will attend to Consent Agenda items (those items delegated to the Superintendent yet

required by law or contract to be Board

appro

ved) as expeditiously as possible.

1.5.5

Monitoring reports due and/or submitted will be on the agenda for acceptance by the Board.

Discussion of the reports will be only for indication of policy violations or if the Board does not consider

the

Monitoring Reports

to be reasonable. Other discussion of operational activities and performance will

be included on the agenda only if other data indicate policy violations, if policy criteria are to be debated,

or if the Board for any reason choos

es to amend its monitoring schedule.

5.6

Superintendent

evaluation summary and compensation will be decided

annually

(to be effective

July 1) after a review of monitoring reports received during the

past

year.

1.6

Board Committee Principles

Board committees

, when used, will be assigned so as to reinforce the wholeness of the Board’s job and so as

never to interfere with delegation from Board to Superintendent.

Accordingly:

1.6.1

A committee is a Board com

mittee only if its existence and charge come from the Board.

1.6.2

Board committees are to help the Board do its job, not to help or advise the staff. Committees

ordinarily will assist the Board by preparing policy alternatives and implications for Boa

rd deliberation

1.6.3

Board committees may not speak or act for the Board except when formally given such authority

for sp

ecific and time

limited purposes. Expectations and authority will be carefully stated in order not to

conflict with authority delegated to the Superintendent.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.6.3.1

When fulfilling his or her charge from the Board, a Board liaison may reasonably

interpr

et relevant Governance Process policies and relevant, specific Board decisions as evidenced

by officially passed motions, making decisions or taking actions necessary to fulfill that charge, as

long as those decisions or actions are reasonable interpretati

ons of Governance Process policies

and specific Board decisions.

1.6.4

Board committees cannot exercise authority over staff. Because the Superintendent works for the

full Board, he or she will not be required to obtain approval of a Board committee bef

ore an executive

action.

1.6.5

Board

committees are to avoid over

identification with organizational parts rather than the whole.

Therefore, a Board committee that has helped the Board create policy on some topic will not

usually

be used

to monitor orga

nizational performance on that same subject.

1.6.6

Unless legally required, committees will be used sparingly and ordinarily in an ad hoc capacity.

1.6.7

This

policy applies to any group, that is formed by Board action, whether or not it is called a

com

mittee and regardless of whether the group includes Board members

even if a committee consists of one

Board

member

, w

o may be referred to as a

“liaison.”

It does not apply to committees formed under the

authority of the Superintendent.

1.6.8

Board

ommittees will have clear and specific goals, objectives

and timelines.

1.7

Board Committee Structure

The only Board committees are those that are set forth in this policy. Unless otherwise stated

or required by

law, a committee ceases to exist as soon as its task is complete.

1.7.

Name

District

Advisory

Committee

1.7.1.1

Charge

: This committee is charged with producing:

1.7.1.1.1

For the Superintendent/District: (a) a review and recommendations

ncerning school improvement plans, to be submitted by December 1

each year; (b) recommendations and appropriate reviews concerning

accreditation, expenditures, and transportation fees, to be submitted by April

of each year; (c) such other legally

prescribed duties, to the extent

necessary or requested by the Superintendent, completed on a schedule

determined by law or reasonably by the Superintendent; and (d) such other

products as are reasonably requested by the Superintendent by October 1

ch year in cooperation with the committee, delivered on a schedule

reasonably determined by the Superintendent.

1.7.1.1.2

For the Board, to help the Board accomplish a portion of its job, and as more

specifically requested by the Board by October 1

of each year

(or otherwise

requested as needed) in cooperation with the committee: (a) written

alternatives and their implications concerning Ends issues, their costs and

priorities, and including educational results to be achieved for students by the

District; (b) wri

tten alternatives and their implications for all other Board

policies, including limitations on District operations or staff means, which

includes expectations for the safety of students; and (c) Opportunities for the

Board to meet with community groups or

other methods of gathering

community opinion.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.7.1.2

Composition

This committee shall be composed of members as described in the

committee’s by

laws. Initially, the Board shall appoint committee members who have

been nominated through a process reasonably dete

rmined by the Superintendent and

approved by Board legal counsel. Thereafter, the Board shall appoint committee members

nominated by the committee. The Board may not appoint a nominee and may remove any

committee member if, in the Board’s discretion, that

action would be in the best interest

of the District.

1.7.1.3

Authority

This committee shall have authority granted by law, by its by

laws and by

Board policy. Law and by

laws shall be interpreted by Board legal counsel. Board policy

shall be interpreted reasona

bly by the Board’s liaison, or if unavailable, by the Board

President. The committee’s by

laws shall be acceptable to the Board, its legal counsel and

the Superintendent.

1.7.1.4

Authorized Funds and Staff Time

This committee may use funds, staff time and other

District resources as reasonably determined by the Superintendent.

1.7.1.5

Monitoring Timeline

Unless otherwise stated in the charge above, this committee’s

products shall be provided to the Board annually, as determined by the Board President.

1.7.2

Name

Long Range P

lanning Committee

1.7.2.1

Charge

This committee is charged with producing

1.7.2.1.1

r the Superintendent/District, as reasonably requested by the Superintendent

and delivered on a schedule reasonably determined by the Superintendent: (a)

community opinions, alternativ

es and their implications, and

recommendations and their rationale

concerning attendance boundaries,

facility usage, anticipated capital expenditures, anticipated project needs, and

site feasibility

; and (b) other products reasonably requested.

1.7.2.1.2

For the B

rd, to help the Board accomplish a portion of its job, and as more

specifically requested by the Board: (a) population changes, trends and

impacts on facilities; (b) alternatives and their implications, along with

recommendations preferred by the committee

as a whole along with

appropriate rationale, for relevant Board policy changes, for specific projects

needed over the intermediate

term, and for proposed uses of facilities; (c)

community opinions concerning facility use, boundaries and capital

requiremen

ts and (d) other products as the Board may request.

1.7.2.1.2.1

Composition.

This committee shall be composed of members as described in

the committee’s by

laws. The Board shall appoint committee members

nominated by the committee, if required by the committee’s by

aws. The

Board may not appoint a nominee and may remove any committee member if,

in the Board’s discretion, that action would be in the best interest of the

District.

1.7.2.1.2.2

Authority.

This committee shall have authority granted by its by

laws and by

Board polic

y. By

laws shall be interpreted by Board legal counsel, or

reasonably by the Superintendent, where appropriate. The committee’s by

laws shall be acceptable to the Board, its legal counsel and the Superintendent.

1.7.2.2

Authorized Funds and Staff Time.

This commi

ttee may use funds, staff time and other

District resources as reasonably determined by the Superintendent.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.7.2.3

Monitoring Timeline.

Unless otherwise stated in the charge above, this committee’s

products shall be provided to the Board as needed, as determined

by the Board President.

1.8

Board Members' Code Of Conduct

The Board commits itself and its members to ethical, businesslike, and lawful conduct, including proper use o

authority and appropriate decorum when acting as Board members.

8.1

Members must have loyalty to the entire ownership, unconflicted by loyalties to staff, other

organizations, including interest or advocacy groups, citizens of a director District,

membership on other

boards or staffs, interest as a parent of a student in the District, and any personal interest as a consumer.

1.8.2

Members must avoid conflict of interest with respect to their fiduciary responsibility.

1.8.2.1

There will b

e no self

dealing or business by a member with the organization. Members will

annually disclose their involvements with other organizations, with vendors, or any associations that

might be or might reasonably be seen as being a conflict.

1.8.2.2

Whe

n the Board is to decide upon an issue, about which a member has an unavoidable

conflict of interest, that member shall abstain without comment from not only the vote, but also from

the deliberation.

1.8.2.3

Board members will not use their Board po

sition to obtain employment in the organization

for themselves, family members, or close associates. Should a Board member apply for employment,

he or she must first resign from the Board.

1.8.2.4

Board member

shall not e

ngage in a substantial fin

ancial transaction for the member’s

private business purposes with

the Superintendent or any executive of the District without prior

Board approval

1.8.3

Board members

may not attempt to exercise individual authority over the organization.

1.8.3.1

Members' interaction with the Superintendent or with staff must recognize the lack of

authority vested in individuals except when explicitly Board authorized. The Super

intendent is

accountable only to the Board as an organization, and not to individual Board members. Therefore,

the relationship between the Superintendent and individual members of the Board, including the

President, is collegial, not hierarchical.

1.8.

3.2

Members' interaction with public, press

or other entities must recognize the same limitation

and the inability of any Board member to speak for the Board except to repeat explicitly stated

Board decisions.

1.8.3.3

Except for participatio

n in Board deliberation about whether reasonable interpretation of

Board policy has been achieved by the Superintendent, members will not express individual

judgments of performance of employees.

1.8.4

Members will respect the confidentiality appr

opriate to issues of a sensitive nature.

1.8.5

Board and Committee Meetings:

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.8.5.1

Attendance

As contemplation, deliberation

and decision

making require collaboration and

participation, Board members are expected to attend Board meeti

ngs.

1.8.5.2

Preparation and Participation

Board members will prepare for Board and committee

meetings

will

participate productively in discussions

and are expected to achieve and maintain

proficiency in Policy Governance.

1.8.5.3

Board members will keep reasonably up

date on changes and trends in District education

by reading newsletters, journals, and other sources.

1.8.5.4

Board members are expected to achieve and maintain proficiency in Policy Governance.

1.8.6

embers will respect

and support

the legitimacy and authority of all Board decisions, irrespective of

the member’s personal position on the matter.

1.8.7

In the event of a Board member's suspected violation of policy, the Board will seek to resolve the

matter by the following process:

1.8.7.1

Suspected substantial violations may only be brought forward by a member of the Board or

Superintend

ent. Upon notification of such violation, the President shall initiate a conversation in a

private setting between the member in question and the President acting as the representative of the

Board. This conversation may also include, in the President's di

scretion, the other Board member or

person who raised the question about the Board member's compliance.

If the violation is by the

President, the member of the Board will bring the violation to the Vice President. If President and

Vice President, the mem

ber of the Board will bring the violation to the entire Board.

1.8.7.2

the President’s discretion,

erbal or written report and recommendation of the President

provided to the Board in a closed session, to the extent permitted by law, or to B

oard members by

other means.

1.8.7.3

the Board’s discretion,

iscussion in a work session between the member in question and

the full Board.

1.8.7.4

Public censure of the member in question where a substantial violation is found by th

Board.

1.9

Cost of Governance

he Board will invest in its governance capacity.

Accordingly:

1.9.1

Board skills, methods, and supports will be suff

icient to assure governing with excellence.

1.9.1.1

Training and retraining will be used liberally to orient new members and candidates for

membership, as well as to maintain and increase existing member skills and understandings.

1.9.1.2

Outsid

e monitoring assistance will be arranged so that the Board can exercise confident

control over organizational performance. This includes, but is not limited to, fiscal audit.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.9.

1.3

Outreach mechanisms will be used as needed to assure the Board’s ab

ility to listen to

owner viewpoints and values.

1.9.2

Costs will be prudently incurred, though not at the expense of endangering the development and

maintenance of superior capability.

1.9.2.1

Up to

28,600

in fiscal year

2009

201

for training, including attendance at conferences,

retreats and workshops.

1.9.2.2

Up to

0,000

in fiscal year

2009

2010

for audit and other third party monitoring of

organizational performance.

1.9.2.3

Up to $

,000

in f

iscal year

2009

2010

for surveys, focus groups, opinion analyses, and

meeting costs.

1.9.2.4

Up to $

,000

in fiscal year

2009

2010

membership in statewide and national

organizations.

1.9.2.5

Up to $

200

,000

in fiscal

year

2009

2010

for use of outside professional expertise.

1.9.2.6

Up to $

24,10

in fiscal year

2009

2010

for ownership linkage and

partnership

opportunities.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Board

Superintendent Linkage

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

BSL 1.0

The Board’s sole, official connection to the operational organization of the District, its achievement and conduct is

through the District’s chief executive officer (CEO), titled “S

uperintendent.”

BSL

1.1

Providing Direction

and Delegation

to the Superintendent

The Board will instruct the Superintendent through written policies that prescribe the organizational Ends to be

achieved and describe organizational situations and actio

ns to be avoided, allowing the Superintendent to use

any reasonable interpretation of these policies.

1.1.1

The Board will develop policies instructing the Superintendent to achieve certain results for

certain recipients at a specified cost. These policies will be developed systematically from the broadest,

most general l

evel to more defined levels, and will be called Ends policies.

1.1.2

The Board will develop policies that limit the latitude the Superintendent may exercise in

choosing the organizational means. These policies will be developed systematically from the

broadest,

most general level to more defined levels, and they will be called Executive Limitations policies.

1.1.3

As long as the Superintendent uses any reasonable interpretation of the Board’s Ends and

Executive Limitations policies, the Superintende

nt is authorized, within the powers and authority of

the Board, to establish all further policies, make all decisions, take all actions, establish all practices,

develop all activities, rules or procedures as necessary and/or desired

and recommend additio

nal

policies or policy revisions.

1.1.4

The Board may change its Ends and Executive Limitations policies in accordance with the

Board’s adopted procedures, thereby shifting the boundary between Board and Superintendent

domains. By doing so, the Board

changes the latitude of choice given to the Superintendent. However,

as long as any specified delegation of authority is in place, the Board will respect and support the

Superintendent’s choices as long as they are a reasonable interpretation of its polici

es.

1.1.5 The Superintendent has no authority to direct the Board or any of its members, committees

liaisons about Board means or to interpret Board Governance Process or Board

Superintendent

Relationship policies.

BSL

1.2

Unity of Control

Only officially passed motions of the Board are binding on the Superintendent.

Accordingly:

1.2.1

Decisions or instructions of individual Board members, officers

or committees are not binding

on the Superintendent except in rare instances when the Bo

ard has specifically authorized such

exercise of authority.

1.2.2

While Board members or committees may request information or assistance without Board

authorization, the Superintendent may refuse such requests that require, in his/her opinion, an

inapp

ropriate amount of staff time or funds or are disruptive.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

BSL

Accountability

of the Superintendent

The Board will hold the Superintendent acc

ountable for all

organizational

operations of the District. All

authority and accountability of staff, as far as the Board is concerned, is considered to be the authority and

accountability of the Superintendent.

The Board will never give inst

ructions to persons who report directly or indirectly to the

Superintendent.

1.3

The Board will not evaluate, either formally or informally, any staff other than the Superintenden

and the Board

’s secretary.

1.3.3

The Board will view Sup

erintendent performance as identical to organizational performance, so

that accomplishment of Ends and

compliance with

Executive Limitations will be viewed as successful

Superintendent

performance.

BSL

Monitoring Superintendent Performance

stematic and rigorous monitoring of Superintendent job performance will be solely against the only expected

Superintendent job outputs: accomplishment of Board policies on Ends and organizational operation within the

boundaries established in Board policie

s on Executive Limitations.

Accordingly:

1.4.1

Monitoring is simply to determine the degree to which Board policies are being met. Data that do

not do this will not be considered to be monitoring data.

1.4.2

The Board will acquire monitoring data by

one or more of three methods:

1.4.2.1

by internal report, in which the

Superintendent

discloses compliance information to the

oard

;

1.4.2.2

by external report, in which an external, disinterested third party selected by the Board

assesses comp

liance with Board policies

;

and

1.4.2.3

by direct Board inspection, in which a designated member or members of the Board

assess compliance with the appropriate policy criteria.

1.4.3

In every case, the standard for compliance shall be any reasonable

Superintendent interpretation of

the Board policy being monitored. The Board is

the

final arbiter of reasonableness, but will always judge

with a “reasonable person” test rather than with interpretations favored by Board members or even by the

Board as a

whole.

1.4.4

All policies

that

instruct the Superintendent will be monitored at a frequency and by a method

chosen by the

oard. The

oard can monitor any policy at any time by any method, but will ordinarily

depend on a routine schedule.

1.4.5

In the event a Board member suspects the Superintendent has violated a policy, the Board will

seek to resolve the matter by the following process:

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.4.5.1

If a Board member believes a violation has occurred, he or she may inform the

Superintendent dir

ectly.

1.4.5.2

Suspected substantial violations shall be brought before the entire Board to determine if

direct Board inspection or policy revision is warranted.

1.4.6

Monitoring Report Schedule

Frequency

................................

Report Date

End Statement

1.0

G 1 End Stat

ements

Sub

ends 1.7 and 1.8

................................

....

September 2

meeting

Sub

ends 1.9 and 1.10

................................

.........

January 2

meeting

Sub

end 1.6

................................

.............

April 2

meeting

Sub

ends 1.1 through 1.5

................................

..............

June 2

meeting

Executive Limitation

1.0

General Executive Constraint

................................

....

November 2

eeting

1.1

Treatment of Students

, Parents, Public, and Community

................................

.........

October 2

meeting

1.2

Treatment of Faculty and Staff

................................

.........

October 2

meeting

1.3

Emergency Succession (annual unless change of staff)

................................

...........

March 2

meeting

1.4

Com

pensation/Benefits/Employment

................................

.........

January 2

meeting

1.5

Financial Planning and Budgeting

Quarterly Update

............

January

meeting

1.6

scal

Management and Controls

................................

.........

January

meeting

1.7

Protection of Assets

................................

....

September 2

eting

1.8

Communication with and Support of the Board

……………………………

April 2

meeting

1.9

Schools of Innovation

……………………

…

February

meeting

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Ends

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

G 1 End Statements

1.0

Douglas County School District students acquire the knowledge

, skills, and

dispositions

to be responsible

citizens who

contribute to our society.

1.1

Students are able to think critically,

creatively, and reflectively.

1.2

Students embrace universal ethical principles

1.3

Students demonstrate the self

motivation and resour

cefulness to continue their learning.

1.4

Students apply what they have learned. They go beyond merely knowing to using their knowledge

and skills productively.

1.5

Students lead with integrity to influence the future

1.6

Students take ownership and accept responsibility for their wellbeing.

Students have the knowledge, skills, and ability to make educated choices conce

rning their social,

emotional, and physical health. Students demonstrate:

• acceptable social interactions based upon respect for self, others, and property

• positive self

esteem through achievement

• proper nutrition, exercise, and healthy physical devel

opment.

1.7 Students demonstrate

the essential skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking,

and

numeracy

1.8

Students have

an understanding of a core body of knowledge in:

1.8.1

Science, including:

a. The fundamentals of

physical sciences, lif

e sciences

, earth

and space sciences.

1.8.2

Information Literacy, including

a. Collection and Classification

b. Storage and Retrieval

c. Application

d. Investigation

1.8.3

Social

Studies, including:

a. Modern and ancient world c

ultures

b. Economics

c. Civics

d. History

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

e. Geography

f. Psychology

g. Philosophy

1.8.4

World Languages, including:

a. The understanding of languages

b. The basic ability to communicate in another language

1.8.5

Lite

rature

and “Great Works” Across All Content Areas, including:

a. Poetry

b. Fiction

c. Drama

d. History

e. Art

f. Music

g. Science

h. Theology and Religion

1.8.6

Physical Education and Health

1.8.7

Personal Business

and Finance

1.8.8

Math

, including the ability to:

a. Understand and apply mathematical principles

b. Think mathematically

1.9

Students are exposed

to the fine arts

1.10

Students explore

chosen areas beyond the liberal arts foundation t

hat may expand future

opportunities,

such as:

a. Career and technical education

b. Internships

c. Post

secondary options

d. Exchange student programs

e. Extracurricular activities

f. Athletics

g. Community Service

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Executive Limitations

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

EL 1.0 General Executive Constraint

The Superintendent shall not cause or allow any practice, activity, decision

or organizational circumstance that is

unlawful,

imprudent

in violation of

commonly accepted business and professional

ethics

EL 1.1 Treatment of Students

, Parents, Public

and Community

With respect to treatment of students or those applying to enroll as students, the Superinten

dent shall not cause

or allow conditions which are unfair, unsafe,

undignified,

fail to provide appropriate confidentiality and

privacy

With respect to the Distr

ict’s interactions with student, parents, public

and community constituents or any of

their organizations, the Superintendent shall not cause or allow procedures or decisions that are unfair,

undignified

or unresponsive.

Accordingly

, the Superintendent shall not:

1.1

Neglect community opinion on relevant issues including new choice/options and facilities;

1.1.2

Fail to communicate

relevant decisions to the community

in a timely manner

;

1.1.3

Be disorganized or unclear with respect to interactions w

ith the District Advisory Committee and

School Accountability Councils.

1.1.4

Fail to ensure a reasonable policy to provide that nonprofit youth service, and education

organizations that involve students attending Douglas County School District schools,

as well as parents or

guardians of students attending Douglas County School District schools, be included in school information

programs, so that these organizations might provide information to students and parents on their activities.

EL 1.2 Treatment of Faculty and Staff

With respect to treatment of faculty and staff, the Superintendent shall not cause or allow conditions or

procedures that are unsafe,

disorganized, unclear

undignified

Accordingly, the Superintendent shall not:

1.2.1

Operate without written personnel policies and/or procedures, approved by legal counsel, which

clarify personnel rules for faculty and staff, provide for effective handling

of grievances, and protect

against wrongful conditions.

1.2.2

Retaliate against any faculty or staff member for non

disruptive internal expressions of dissent.

1.2.3

Prevent faculty and staff from using established grievance and/or due process proc

edures.

1.2.4

Prevent faculty and staff from

bringing a grievance to the Board when

i) internal grievance procedures have been exhausted

and

ii) the individual alleges that Board policy has been violated.

1.2.5

Fail

to acquaint faculty an

d staff with their rights under this policy.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.3

Emergency Succession

order to protect the Board in the event of sudden loss of Superintendent services,

the Superintendent shall

assure that no fewer than two

other executive staff members are familiar with Board and Superintendent issues

and processes and are capable of

assuming Superintendent responsibilities on an emergency basis

1.4

Compensation/Benefits/Employment

The Superintendent shall not fail to compensate employees fairly and competitively

With respect to teachers, specifically, the Superintendent shall not:

1.4.1

Fail to compen

sate teachers in a manner and amount that attracts and retains teachers who have a

demonstrated ability to have students successfully accomplish the Ends.

1.4.2

Fail to compensate individual (or groups of) teachers in a manner and amount that adequately

reflects that individual teacher’s (or group of teachers

’) demonstrated ability to have students successfully

accomplish the Ends in relation to other teachers.

1.5

Financial

Planning and Budgeting

Financial planning

may not deviate materially from the Board’s Ends priorities, risk financial jeopardy, or fail

to be derived from a

plan projecting at least five year

Accordingly, the Superintendent shall not:

1.5.1

Present

an annual

budget that risks incurring those situations or conditions described as

unacceptable in Executive Limitation 1.

“Fiscal Management and Controls.”

1.5.2

Present

an annual

budget with too little information to enable credible projection of

revenues

and expenses, separation of capital and operational items, cash flow projections, and disclosure of planning

assumptions.

1.6

Fiscal Management and Controls

The Superintendent shall not cause

or allow fiscal jeopardy or

any fiscal condition that is inconsistent with

achieving the priorities established in the Board’s Ends policies

The Superintendent shall not:

1.6.1

aintain

insufficient

general

fund, capital reserve f

und

and insurance reserve fund

fiscal year

end

balances of less than

three

percent of current fiscal year revenues.

1.6.2

ay District obligations

in an untimely manner or outside of the

dinary course of business.

1.6.3

Obligate the

District

a single purchase greater than $

750,000

1.6.4

Make any purchase

or contract

: (a) of

more than a minimal

amount

wherein normally prudent

protection has not been given against conflict of interest; (b) of over $100,000 without having obtained

competitive prices and comparative quality

unless inappropriate for the circumstances

; and (c) of o

ver

$250,000 without a stringent method of assur

ing a favorable balance of long

term quality and cost.

Splitting orders to avoid these requirements is not allowed.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.6.5

xercise

dequate internal controls over disbursements

allow

mat

erial dissipation of assets.

1.6.6

Compromise the independence of the Board’s audit or other external monitoring or advice

1.6.7

Accept revenues from sources that are not, in fact and appearance,

consistent with

Ends

1.7

Protection of Assets

The Superintendent shall not allow assets of the District to be unprotected, inadequately maintained,

inappropriately used

or unnecessarily risked.

Accordingly, the Superintendent shall not:

1.7.1

Allow there

to be inadequate insurance to protect the District’s assets, including but not limited to

coverage for theft and casualty, institutional liability and Directors and Officers liability.

1.7.2

Allow unbonded personnel access to material amounts of funds, or fail

to provide adequate

insurance to protect against employee dishonesty and theft.

1.7.3

Subject

facilities and equipment

to improper wear and tear or insufficient maintenance.

1.7.4

Expose

the Dist

rict, its Board

or staff to

unnecessary or excessive

claims of liability.

1.7.5

Fail to protect intellectual property, information and files from misuse, loss or significant damage

including intellectual property developed using District resources

1.7.6

Endanger

the District’s public image, its credibility

or its ability to accomplish Ends.

1.8

Communication with and Support of the Board

The Superintendent shall not cause or allow the Board to be uninformed or unsupported in its work.

Accordingly, the

Superintendent shall not:

1.8.1

Fail to adequately plan for short and long

erm capital or facility needs

in a manner that does not

align with the bond cycle.

1.8.2

Fail to report in a timely manner an actual or anticipated noncompliance with any policy of the

Boar

1.8.3

Fail to advise the Board if, in the Superintendent’s opinion, the Board

its committee

, or its

liaisons

are

not in compliance with its own policies on Governance Process and Board

Superintendent

Linkage.

1.8.4

Neglect to submi

t monitoring data required by the Board (see policy on Monitoring

Superintendent Performance in

Board

Superintendent

Linkage

)

in a timely, accurate and understandable

fashion, directly addressing provisions of Board policies being mon

itored.

1.8.5

Let the Board be unaware of significant incidental information, such as

student performance data,

graduation rates,

anticipated adverse media coverage, threatened or pending lawsuits,

results of District

wide polls or surveys (financed by the Dis

trict), anticipated bond refunding opportunities or ratings

changes, resolutions of significant grievances or complain

or material external and internal changes.

When feasible, the Board is to be notified of material internal changes in advance

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies

1.8

Fail to provide a mechanism for official Board, officer

or committee communications.

1.8.7

Send letters or surveys or share commu

nication under the Board name or on behalf of the Board

prior to the Board

’s review.

1.8.8

Fail, when addressing official Board business, to deal with the Board as a whole ex

ept when

ulfilling

individual requests for information, o

esponding to officers or committees duly charged by the

Board.

1.8.9

adequately support the Board in its responsibility to favo

rably impact legislation. Accordingly,

the Superintendent may not a

llow

the Board,

legislators

or other governmental officials to be unaware of

potential consequences to the District posed by pending legislation or regulation.

1.9

Schools of Innova

tion

The S

uperintendent shall not fail to provide a multitude of diverse educational choice options within the

District.

Accordingly, the Superintendent shall not:

1.9.1

Fail to encourage inten

tional

ly diverse approaches to learning and education.

1.9.2

Fail to cr

eate and manage a portfolio of schools that meet a variety of educational needs.

Douglas County

School District

Board of Education Policies