TABLE OF CONTENTS K- GENERAL PUBLIC RELATIONS

KA

Public Information Program

KB

Staff-Community Relations

KC

Interviews with Students

KD

Public Gifts to the Schools

KE

Public Sales

KF

Visitors to the Schools

KG

Public Complaints

KH

Tobacco Use Visitors and the Public

KI

Procedures for Placing Item on the Board Agenda

FILE: KA PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM The Board shall make every attempt to represent the people according to the best interests of their children and keeping with laws of the State and Federal government. Therefore, the Board shall attempt to: A.

keep its members and public informed regarding the policies, administrative operation, objectives, and successes or failures of the school system;

B.

provide the means for furnishing full and accurate information, favorable and unfavorable, together with interpretations and explanations of the school system plans and operations.

The Board encourages a policy of sound relations with the press and other communication media in the community. The Superintendent shall plan for releases to the press and other communication media which will provide information to the community concerning its schools and various phases of the Board's program. The Superintendent or designee shall release all official statements pertaining to the school system. Teachers and principals should clear with the Superintendent in advance the contents of any public release of information which might affect the school system other than routine public announcements. All inquiries in this respect shall be directed to the Superintendent or his/her designee. All local news media representatives shall be welcome to attend all regular, special and annual meetings of the Board.

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004

FILE: KB STAFF-COMMUNITY RELATIONS While the Board realizes that the primary responsibility of a teacher is to educate young people, teachers and other staff members should be constantly aware of the role good public relations plays in the implementation of an effective education program. Good communication with parents and other citizens of the system is essential for a smoothly-functioning organization. The Board expects each employee to maintain adequate and positive communication with parents and citizens.

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004

FILE: KC INTERVIEWS WITH STUDENTS Requests for interviews with minor students relating to a controversial issue will be denied unless written consent of the parent is given, or the parent is present for the interview.

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004

FILE: KD

PUBLIC GIFTS TO THE SCHOOLS The Board may receive gifts which may serve to enhance and extend the work of the schools.

1.

Equipment contributed to the schools becomes the property of the Board and is subject to the same controls and regulations that govern the use of other school-owned property.

2.

All administrators in a position to receive gifts in the name of a school or the school system shall apply a test of "reasonableness" to the gift. "Reasonableness" may be defined as anything that might not be construed to influence the decision makers in the purchase of school-related goods and services.

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004

FILE: KE

PUBLIC SALES

The Board prohibits public sales on school property unless prior approval is given by the Superintendent or his/her designees.

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004

FILE: KF

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOLS

In order to maintain a safe and organized learning environment within the schools of the school system, all visitors are required to report immediately to the principal's office upon arrival at a school campus and secure approval. The principal shall be required to post a notice to this effect at all entrances of the school. Notices shall inform all visitors to report to the principal's office prior to entering other parts of the schools. School officials, parent(s) of school children and other visitors will be welcomed in a cordial manner. Conduct by any visitor which creates interference with maintaining a proper atmosphere for learning shall not be permitted. Principals shall be authorized to take necessary actions to eliminate the interference.

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004

FILE: KG PUBLIC COMPLAINTS The Board has confidence in its professional staff members and desires to support their actions in order that they be free from unnecessary, spiteful, or negative criticism and complaint. However, constructive criticism of the schools is welcomed by the Board whenever it is motivated by a sincere desire to improve the quality of the education program or to equip the schools to do their tasks more effectively. Whenever a complaint is made directly to the Board as a whole or to a Board member as an individual, it will be referred to the administration for study and possible solution. The proper channeling of complaints involving instruction, discipline, or learning materials is as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4.

teachers principal superintendent Board of Education

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004

FILE: KH

TOBACCO USE VISITORS AND THE PUBLIC In accordance with the mission of the Talladega County Board of Education to promote the welfare of the young people entrusted to its care, the Board acknowledges the harmful effects of cigarettes and other tobacco products both to the smoker and to those around him/her. Smoking and the use of tobacco products is prohibited in all Talladega County Board of Education buildings, on school buses, in school vehicles and on the grounds of all facilities at any time including the locations of extended day, enrichment and extracurricular activities. This policy applies to the general public, contracted workers, visitors and volunteers on the property of the Talladega County Board of Education including anyone attending extended day, enrichment and extracurricular activities.

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004

FILE: KI 1 of 2 PROCEDURES FOR PLACING ITEM ON THE BOARD AGENDA The Superintendent by law functions as the secretary of the Board. In such capacity, he/she prepares the agendas for regular and special meetings subject to approval by the Board. The Superintendent is also the Board’s chief executive officer charged with implementation and evaluation of all policies adopted by the Board which includes appraisal of all personnel, curriculum materials, facility usage, and related aspects of the Talladega County educational program. The Board is most interested in providing all citizens with maximum opportunity to have a share in the educational progress of Talladega County Schools and to participate actively in formulation of educational policies. For this reason, all written correspondence from parents and interested citizens is examined carefully by the Board for the purpose of improving the educational programs for all youth enrolled in the Talladega County School System and removing any barriers to progress. The Board refers all complaints received to its chief executive and may request periodic reports concerning the resolution of such problems. To spend exorbitant amounts of Board meeting time on such matters only to finally refer them to the Superintendent for examination is considered a waste of taxpayer time and money. The Board has adopted the following procedures for those who wish to address the Board: 1. 2. 3.

The citizen shall provide written notification to the Superintendent of his/her desire to place a matter before the Board. Such request shall be provided no less than five working days prior to the scheduled date of any regular Board meeting. The person shall specify the following when requesting that an item be placed on the Board agenda:

FILE: KI 2 of 2 (a) (b) (c)

4. 5.

his or her name, address, and telephone number; A brief summary of the situation; Steps taken at local school level to resolve the problem (if applicable to the situation); (d) Spokesperson; (e) Presentation will be limited to ten (10) minutes. The Superintendent will provide notification to individuals or groups placed on the agenda. The Superintendent shall set a specific time on the agenda for hearing from the public. The Board may extend the time of discussion by majority vote.

In those situations where requests for items to be placed on the Board agenda concern complaints, the superintendent shall advise the person so requesting of the following: 1. The Board has instructed him to initiate resolution of such complaints at the various levels at which such complaints may originate. 2. The Superintendent or designee shall meet with the complainant and/or those toward whom the complaint is directed if applicable 3.

4.

The Superintendent shall investigate or cause to be investigated any complaint concerning curriculum, fitness of school conditions, or similar complaint which is directed toward the system itself or a particular condition rather than toward personnel. All personnel grievances shall be resolved according to the Talladega County Grievance Procedure.

If a mutually acceptable resolution is not reached following the Superintendent’s investigation of the complaint and hearing all sides of any issue, he/she shall so notify the complainant and the Board Chairperson. The item shall then be placed on the Board agenda.

ADOPTED: October 19, 2004