Cleveland Heights-University Heights Board of Education meeting highlights [10-18-11

OCTOBER 18, 2011

• Finance report
• NEOLA
• Policies reviewed:
  • Personnel
  • Students
  • Student interaction and student services
  • Financial issues
  • Computer technology and information technology (IT)
  • Public records
  • Food services
  • Other policies

All board members were present.

Finance report

The board approved the five-year forecast for fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, through June 30, 2016.

NEOLA

This work session, lasting about three hours, began the review of board policies using the NEOLA management document. NEOLA (Northeast Ohio Learning Association) is a service provider helping school districts develop and update policies.

After rules for board meetings and legislative actions of the board were discussed for clarification, the remainder of the meeting was devoted to various topics, as follows.

Policies reviewed:

Personnel

Personnel policies requiring clarification spanned a range of topics, including the nondiscrimination policy and language changes for employee physical examinations so as to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The board discussed processes requiring team reporting, such as suicide, abuse, neglect, and substance abuse, specifically how to effectively report such issues and use community resources. The board also discussed electronic social media and communication, including staff communication with students outside school guidelines. No personal texting is permitted except in an emergency such as a team practice unexpectedly being cancelled.

Students

Policies were reviewed in four areas: 1) the instruction program for students who are in the military, homeless, or nonresident, 2) school choice options required as part of the No Child Left Behind Act, 3) excused absences, and 4) medication policies. The medication policy must be clarified as to whether the school nurse can train other personnel such as teachers or coaches, to administer medication when the nurse is unavailable.

Student interaction and student services

Bullying policy need clarifications on victimization and cyber-bullying. Healthy dating and dating education policies were discussed. It was noted that positive relationships are a focus of the Girl’s Circle program. The student website needs review.

Financial issues

Policies are needed regarding charging students for materials they take with them. For example, current policy states if a student receives a free lunch, he or she cannot be charged for material. How to resolve student financial obligations to the district needs review. Currently, debts must be paid before graduation. Notifications should be sent earlier to the parents. Other policies discussed include the need for appropriate spending plans, budget manager approval of project budgets, and detailed travel expense requests and reports.

Computer technology and information technology (IT)

Computers are district property to be used for business purposes. Personal use places a burden on the district’s e-mail system. Other privacy policies discussed were network access for staff and employees, and open access for the new tech schools, and open access for students and for teachers. Policy on student computer repair (currently outsourced) is needed to bring down costs. Charges for collection and repair in 2010-2011 were $750,000, which is more than the price for new computers. Options include student-owned computers or an annual computer fee.

Other policies to be reviewed concern smart phones, software purchase decisions, and the need for computer use by elementary students (iPads are an option). Policy changes in schoolwork due on snow days if the work assigned is to be done on a computer may be tested in a pilot project.

Public records

Policy development concerning transcripts fees needs consideration, and policy concerning information management and security breaches needs clarification.

Food services

The board also examined policies regarding food safety, nutritional standards (there is no staff dietitian), and wellness promotion through physical education, standards, nutrition, obesity awareness, and nutritious breakfast foods. Sale of foods through school related organizations, such as PTA, is also a concern.

Other policies

A variety of other policies were covered:

• Grounds and property policies, including clarification of smoking policies on board-owned properties especially when property is rented to others
• School calendar
• Practices related to devotional exercises and religious music within the schools
• Safety issues concerning law enforcement and security and revisions to the suspension policy

LWV observer: Lillian Houser

These meeting summaries are abstracted from LWV observers’ written reports. The summaries have been edited and prepared by Anne McFarland, Charlene Morse and Maryann Barnes. To receive e-mail postings of full reports, send an e-mail to mbarnes9515@gmail.com or join through Google groups using “lwv-chuh observer reports” as a search phrase.

These reports contain member observation and selected highlights of public meetings and are not official statements of the Heights Chapter of the League of Women Voters Cuyahoga Area. This disclaimer must accompany any redistribution of these reports.