Board Policy Manual
Chapter 2: The Community and the Schools
2.100: Communication with the Public
2.110: Board of Education Meetings
2.120: Internal & External Relations
2130: Public Complaints:
- 2.131: Public Concerns and/or Complaints
- 2.132: Instructional Materials
- 2.133: Public Concerns and/or Complaints About Policies
- 2.134: Public Concerns and/or Complaints About Facilities and Services
- 2.135: Public Concerns and/or Complaints About School Personnel
2.140: TITLE I Parent Involvement Statement
2.150: Districtwide Policy on Family Involvement
2.110: Board of Education Meetings
The Board will announce the date, time, and place of all regular and special meetings and the major topics to be discussed as required by the Open Meetings Act. Copies of the agenda are to be mailed or delivered to the local news media prior to each meeting. It is the responsibility of the Superintendent or his/her designee to supervise the execution of this policy.
All meetings of the Board shall be open to the public, except in specific circumstances described in the statutes. The decision to go into executive session may only be made upon the majority vote of a quorum. Official business will be transacted in open meetings.
Rev. 2/18/86
2.120: Internal & External Relations
It is highly desirable that the constituents and personnel of the District have as much information as possible regarding operation of the school system. The public and school personnel shall be kept as fully informed as possible regarding the policies, programs, objectives, activities, and plans of the system. This is to be done through the press, school publications, and such other media as may seem desirable. Interested persons are welcome to attend the regular meetings of the Board of Education.
Budget books, annual reports, board minutes, and studies approved for release are available to the general public upon request at the Board of Education Office and are also on file at the Urbana Free Library. A fee may be charged to defray cost to the district for paper, copying, and secretarial time.
Rev. 2/18/86
- 2.131: Public Concerns and/or Complaints
The Board of Education believes that positive and appropriate two-way communication between the school district, schools and citizens of the Urbana school community is a vital component of achieving the district's goals. The Board further believes that most questions and concerns are best resolved through communication with appropriate staff members, either at each local site or at the district level. Community concerns and/or complaints should be directed to the individual who may and can directly address the concern or complaint. Such concerns and/or complaints may involve policies, personnel, operations and services, facilities, curriculum and instructional materials and other related school community issues.
The Board directs the superintendent to develop procedures which assists the public in expressing concerns and registering complaints. Such procedures should expedite responses to the public and, if possible, resolutions of complaints.
The Board of Education, however, maintains final authority on all school matters.
SUPERSEDES: BP 2.131 Adopted 2/18/86
POLICY ADOPTED ON: NOVEMBER 20, 1990
LEGAL REFERENCES:
CROSS REFERENCES: BP 2.132; BP 2.133, BP 2.134, BP2.135 - 2.132: Instructional Materials
If individuals or groups take exception to the materials being used by children in the public schools, they may request a review and reconsideration of particular items. The following steps will be taken:
- a. The complainant will fill out an instructional material reconsideration request. This form can be obtained from the librarian or from the administrative office of the school.
- b. Upon completion of the form, the complainant and the teacher/librarian will try to settle the matter between them.
- c. If no agreement can be reached, the teacher/librarian will report the matter to the school administrator who, if the matter remains unresolved, will in turn refer it through the Superintendent to the Board.
- d. The Board may request a full review and reevaluation of the material, or upon receiving the complainant's report and staff recommendations, may make a determination in the matter.
- e. The Board's decision will be final.
Rev. 2/18/86 - 2.133: Public Concerns and/or Complaints About Policies
The Board recognizes that situations may arise that question and/or conflict with the school district's existing policies. Such concerns should be initially dealt with through communication with the appropriate staff members and officers of the Board of Education.
The Board of Education directs the superintendent to develop administrative guidelines to implement this policy.
SUPERSEDES: BP 2.131, ADOPTED 2/18/86
POLICY ADOPTED ON: NOVEMBER 20, 1990
LEGAL REFERENCES:
CROSS REFERENCES: BP 2.131, BP 2.132, BP 2.133, BP 2.134 - 2.134: Public Concerns and/or Complaints About Facilities and Services
The Board recognizes that citizens, parents, students, taxpayers, and other residents may have concerns about schools and/or school district facilities and services. Concerns and complaints about facilities and services are best processed through direct communication with the appropriate administrative staff members. The Board of Education directs the superintendent to develop administrative guidelines to implement this policy. By the adoption of this policy, the Board does not intend to produce letters, telephone calls, and other means of addressing these concerns.
SUPERSEDES: BP 2.131, ADOPTED 2/18/86
POLICY ADOPTED ON: NOVEMBER 20, 1990
LEGAL REFERENCES:
CROSS REFERENCE: BP 2.131, BP 2.132, BP 2.133, BP 2.134, and BP 2.135 - 2.135: Public Concerns and/or Complaints About School Personnel
The Board of Education recognizes that situations may arise in which parents, citizens, taxpayers, students, and residents have concerns or complaints about school personnel. Such concerns are best handled through direct communication with the appropriate staff member and/or the supervisor of the staff member. Staff members are to be notified of formal complaints filed against them by any party mentioned in this policy. The Board of Education directs the superintendent to develop administrative guidelines to administer this policy.
SUPERSEDES; BP 2.131, ADOPTED 2/18/86
POLICY ADOPTED ON: NOVEMBER 20, 1990
LEGAL REFERENCES:
CROSS REFERENCES: BP 2.131, BP 2.132, BP 2.133, BP 2.134
2.140: TITLE I Parent Involvement Statement
The Board of Education of Urbana School District 116 recognizes the necessity and value of parent* involvement to support student success and academic achievement. In order to assure collaborative partnerships between parents and schools, the board is committed to achieving the following goals in ways that recognize and respect the diversity and differing needs of families.
1) Involving parents as partners in school governance, including decision making.
2) Establishing effective two-way communication with all parents.
3) Developing strategies and programmatic structures at schools to enable parents to participate actively in their children's education.
4) Providing support and coordination for school staff and parents to implement and sustain appropriate parent involvement from early childhood through grade twelve.
5) Utilizing community resources to enrich the educational environment and promote family and student success.
6) Supporting parents in their roles as the child's first and most important teacher.
Urbana School District 116 intends to include parents in all aspects of the district's Title 1 program. The goal is a home-school partnership that helps all students in the district succeed.
*For our purposes, the term parent means any adult who assumes major responsibility in the rearing of a child.
SUPERSEDES: None
POLICY ADOPTED ON: DECEMBER 17, 1996
LEGAL REFERENCES:
CROSS REFERENCES:
2.150: Districtwide Policy on Family Involvement
The Board of Education of Urbana School District 116 is committed to a united effort of school, family, and community working with great determination to see that every child will succeed. The board is committed to creating a climate that
1) Fosters positive relationships between all stakeholders: parents*, families, students, school staff, and community members.
2) Makes our schools accessible and welcoming to families and the community.
3) Collaborates with community organizations for the sake of supporting and enriching student success.
4) Encourages employers to support a family’s involvement in its child’s education.
5) Utilizes community resources to provide additional support to “at risk” students: middle and low achieving students, children of color, and low-income students.
6) Provides education and support to parents in their role as their child’s first and continuing teacher and advocate.
7) Supports and encourages positive communication between schools, families, and the community.
*For this policy, parent is defined as any adult who assumes major responsibility in the rearing of a child.
SUPERSEDES: None
POLICY ADOPTED ON: MARCH 15, 2005
LEGAL REFERENCES
CROSS REFERENCES