E. Business

1. The approved budget will be the spending plan for the year. The Superintendent or his or her designee is authorized to make commitments in accordance with the budget appropriations in amounts not to exceed $5,000. For expenditures in excess of that amount, or expenditures of over $5,000 not planned for in the budget, approval for purchases must be made by the Board.

2. The Superintendent shall have authority to transfer funds for planned expenses between two line items in the budget up to an amount not to exceed 20% of the lesser of the two.

3. The Superintendent shall arrange an annual audit of accounts by a certified public accountant.

4. Employees handling large sums of money will be properly bonded.

5. Inventories of supplies, materials and instructional equipment will be maintained and reviewed on an annual basis.

6. The bidding requirements of 16 V.S.A. §559 will be followed by the Board and its designees.

7. A system will be established for managing miscellaneous accounts such as fees, fines, penalties, book losses, breakage and sale of equipment and materials.

8. Each quarter the board will be presented with a financial statement of current expenditures and commitments by line item.

9. At the school level, the Principal or designee will be responsible for overseeing all student accounts.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §563 (3) (Powers of school boards)

16 V.S.A. §559 (Public bidding)

24 V.S.A. §832 (Bonding requirements)

16 V.S.A. §1756 (Indemnity and insurance)

Vt. State Board of Education Manual of Rules & Practices §3250

Cross Reference: Budgeting (E2)

Financial Reports and Statements (E3)

BUDGETING CODE E2

Policy

The budget is a policy document that reflects the goals of the School and District. It is the policy of the

Grand Isle Elementary School to develop school budget(s) that reflect the District’s

goals in improving student achievement as outlined in its strategic and annual action plans and to

ensure responsiveness to community needs.

Administrative Responsibility

1. The Superintendent will develop an annual calendar for budget development. The calendar will provide sufficient time for:

A. establishing budget priorities based on ongoing consultations with school employees, parents, students and other citizens;

B. preparing budget requests by administrators and staff;

C. budget proposal preparations by the Board budget committee;

D. public hearings and informational meetings prior to formal adoption of a budget proposal by the Board.

2. The Superintendent will prepare a draft budget based on the District’s strategic and annual action plans and the input of school, community and Board members.

Approval

The Board will, after public hearings and/or informational meetings adopt a budget for consideration by the District’s voters. The budget will be presented by the Board for approval by the voters at the annual town meeting. Preparation of the Board's budget presentation and other Board strategies for explaining and supporting its budget will be a formal agenda item at a meeting of the Board prior to the annual town meeting.

Presentation

The Board will adopt a budget presentation format which:

· reviews the accomplishments of the prior year with regard to student performance and budgetary effectiveness in addressing increased student performance;

· clarifies budget priorities linked to student achievement adopted by the Board during the budget preparation process;

· emphasizes cost‑saving measures taken by the Board during the current budget period;

· indicates anticipated amounts and sources of revenue from sources other than local taxation;

· review performance of each specific program vs. budget over the period;

· works with administrators and teachers to improve and address fiscal performance;

· clearly indicates such key budgetary factors as cost per pupil, student‑teacher ratios, tax rate, and state aid computations;

· allows ample time for questions from voters;

· explains in a clear way the relationship between the budget and the amount of taxes to be raised;

· explains the relationship of the needed tax rate and the tax bills that individuals will receive using information developed by the State Department of Education.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §563 (Powers of boards)

16 V.S.A. §165 (a)(1) (Action plans)

Cross Reference: Fiscal Management and Financial Accountability (E1)

Financial Reports and Statements (E3)

CODE E3

FINANCIAL REPORTS AND STATEMENTS

Policy

It is the policy of the Grand Isle Elementary School to create financial reports and statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices that will allow the administration to demonstrate accountability while providing the Board with needed information.

Administrative Responsibilities

The Superintendent (business manager, treasurer) shall be responsible for submitting financial reports for all funds to the Board.

The treasurer's report shall be made monthly and include:

1. Cash on hand at the beginning of the month

2. Receipts by service

3. Disbursements during the month

4. Cash balance on hand at the end of the month

5. Reconciliation with bank statements

The financial report will be made monthly and include:

1. Appropriation Accounts

A. Original appropriation

B. Authorized transfers and adjustments

C. Revised appropriations

D. Expenditures to date

E.. Outstanding encumbrances

F. Unencumbered balance

2. Revenue Accounts

A. Estimated revenues

B. Amounts received to date

C. Revenues estimated to be received during the balance of the fiscal year

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §563 (Powers of school boards)

Cross Reference: Fiscal Management and Financial Accountability (E1)

Budgeting (E2)

CODE E4

RISK MANAGEMENT

Policy

It is the policy of the Grand Isle Elementary School to minimize risk to the School District as it discharges its responsibility for properly managing the resources of the school system. This responsibility includes concern for the safety of students, employees and the public, as well as concern for protecting the system's property from loss. No new program, policy or procedure will be adopted or approved by the Board without first giving careful consideration to the school system's risk exposure.

Implementation

The Superintendent or his designee shall be responsible for establishing a risk management and insurance program covering all property and program risks related to the performance of the educational and service missions of the system. This risk management and insurance program shall include means for identifying, eliminating, reducing, retaining or transferring risk. Only when a particular risk cannot be eliminated or feasibly retained by the system shall it be transferred by the purchase of insurance.

The Board realizes that the assumption of some predictable risks is the most economically feasible method of treating certain exposures. When it is in the apparent best interest of the system, the Board may budget for and retain limited and predictable risks of financial loss, through the use of contingency funds, deductibles, or other strategies.

Insurance shall be purchased on the basis of service offered by the insurer, the reliability and financial stability of the insurer, and price of the insurance as competitively determined in accordance with 16 V.S.A. §1756.

The Board does not recognize any obligation to purchase insurance from a particular agent, broker or insurer representative or from any group of agents, brokers or insurer representatives other than an obligation based on the above stated considerations.

The Superintendent is responsible for preparing an annual risk management audit report for review by the Board. The report shall include a description of the system's current risk management program and a summary of the existing insurance coverages.

The Superintendent may seek professional risk management advice, within budget constraints, in order to develop, implement, maintain and audit an effective risk management program for the system.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 12 V.S.A. §5781 (Non-profit organizations)

16 V.S.A. §1756 (Protection of school officials and staff)

Cross Reference: Safety and Security of School Facilities (E6)

CODE E5

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS

Policy

The School Board through its Superintendent or his/her designee may order the closing of school on a short‑term basis if operation would pose a serious threat to students or staff.

Implementation

Such emergencies may be caused by weather conditions, equipment breakdown, bomb threats, or health problems. The Superintendent or designee will also have the authority to delay school opening or dismiss early due to inclement weather or other emergencies.

In all cases, notification will be given staff and the public according to a predetermined plan developed by the Superintendent. The Board chair will be notified as soon as practicable by the Superintendent or designee when school is closed for emergencies.

Days lost due to emergency closings will be rescheduled so that school will be in session as required by state law.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): Vt. State Board of Education Manual of Rules & Practices §2311

Cross Reference:

CODE E6

SAFETY AND SECURITY OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

Policy

It is the policy of the Grand Isle School to maintain a physical environment that is safe, clean and attractive.

The Board and the school staff cannot be the guarantors of student safety, and the school does not owe students a duty of immediate supervision at all times and under all circumstances.

Implementation

The Principal or his or her designee will conduct weekly inspections of facilities. This inspection will include proper storage and use of potentially hazardous materials on the premises and areas where safety hazards might develop.

Faculty and staff members will report potentially hazardous conditions to the Principal promptly, and will correct those hazardous conditions which can reasonably be corrected. The Principal will be responsible for seeing to it that any hazardous conditions which cannot be reasonably corrected by faculty and staff members are promptly corrected by qualified persons.

Procedures for maintaining security will be developed by the building Principal (or Superintendent). Procedures will be distributed to all employees who will have responsibility for complying therewith.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §563 (5) (Duty of care)

Cross Reference: Risk Management (E4)

CODE E7

SCHOOL CRISIS PREVENTION & RESPONSE

Policy

It is the policy of the Grand Isle School to maintain a safe, orderly, civil and positive learning environment, and to be prepared, in so far as possible, to prevent and respond to unexpected crises quickly and appropriately. While the very unexpected nature of a crisis may make preparation difficult, the Board believes that staff and students should be ready to respond quickly and appropriately to emergency situations.

Definition

Examples of crises include criminal acts, disease epidemic, physical injury or death, presence of intruders on school premises, hazardous materials spills, weather related emergencies, natural disasters or bomb threats.

Administrative Responsibilities

To help prevent the occurrence of some individually caused crises, the Superintendent shall research and share information about educational programs and practices designed to create and sustain a safe learning environment.

The Superintendent is directed to create a school crisis prevention and response plan and administrative procedures that identify how the students, staff should respond to emergency situations, and the role that local emergency service providers will play in crisis preparedness and crisis management. This will include appropriate and effective training; establishment of crisis response teams, both within each building and throughout the supervisory union/district; consultation and cooperation with community agencies, such as police, fire, emergency medical, youth and health authorities; and publication of emergency procedures for such situations as can be imagined.

Generally, the Principal or his/her designee will organize and oversee the planning and operation of the crisis response team and will serve as the incident response team leader, according to the crisis response procedures. The plan will be reviewed annually and routinely practiced during regular drills.

Following a major incident, the crisis response team shall debrief and review the effectiveness of the crisis response and present a report and any recommendations for the future to the superintendent.

Staff Responsibilities

The staff shall follow all guidelines outlined in the crisis response procedures and staff handbook when practicing routine drills and when responding to actually emergency situations.

Student Responsibilities

Students shall follow all guidelines outlined in the crisis response procedures and student handbook when practicing routine drills and when responding to actually emergency situations.

Students suspected of involvement in causing school crises will be held accountable and shall be dealt with in accordance with the school’s discipline policy and state/federal law. An incident may also be referred to law enforcement for possible criminal charges or for the school to pursue civil litigation.

Any lost time learning time resulting from response to a school crisis or emergency shall be made up.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §1161a(a)(4) (Discipline)

13 V.S.A. § 1604 (Possession of explosive devices)

13 V.S.A. §1612 (Placing a hoax device)

13 V.S.A. §1753 (False alarms and reports)

School Crisis Response Procedures Guide

Cross Reference: Risk Management (E4)

Student Conduct and Discipline (F1)

Search and Seizure (F3)

Weapons (F21)

CODE E8 (Mandatory)

TOBACCO PROHIBITION

Policy

It is the policy of the Grand Isle School to prohibit the use of tobacco on school grounds in accordance with state law. This ban extends to any student, employee or visitor to the school, and applies at all times, whether or not school is in session. Students are, furthermore, prohibited from possessing tobacco products at all times while under the supervision of school staff or at school sponsored activities.

Administrative Responsibility

The Superintendent or his or her designee is directed to take reasonable steps to inform students and employees of this policy, to post signs on school property and to provide notice to visitors and those who are invited to attend school activities in bulletins, programs and announcements related to school events.

Violations of Policy

Students who violate this policy will be disciplined under the school’s disciplinary policy and procedures, and tobacco products may be confiscated.

Employees who violate this policy will be subject to disciplinary action in accord with applicable employee policies, employment contracts and requirements of law.

Others who use tobacco on school grounds will be informed of this policy and asked to comply. A person failing to comply will be asked to leave school grounds. A person who refuses to comply or to leave school grounds when requested to do so under this policy may be referred for prosecution as a trespasser.

For purposes of this policy, “school grounds” means any property and facilities owned or leased by the school and used at any time for school related activities, including but not limited to school buildings, areas adjacent to school buildings, athletic fields and parking lots.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 16 V.S.A. §140 (Tobacco on school grounds)

18 V.S.A. §§1422 et seq. (Smoking in the workplace)

13 V.S.A. §3705 (Unlawful Trespass)

20 U.S.C. §§6083 et seq. (Goals 2000 Educate America Act, Title X)

42 U.S.C. §§5119a et seq. (Children Protection Act of 1995)

Cross Reference: Student Conduct and Discipline (F1)

Bus Discipline (F2)

AIDS OR HIV CODE E9 (Mandatory)

Policy

It is the policy of the Grand Isle School District to tolerate no discrimination against students or employees who may be afflicted with AIDS or HIV and to provide appropriate education to students about this disease.

Background

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is not transmitted through casual contact and, therefore, is not reason in itself to treat individuals having or perceived as having HIV differently from other members of the school community. Accordingly, with respect to HIV disease, including acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), the Grand Isle School District recognizes the:

1. HIV is not, in itself, a disabling condition, but it may result in conditions that are disabling. To the extent that a student who has HIV is determined to meet the criteria for eligibility for accommodations under state and federal non-discrimination laws or for special education services, the School District shall meet all procedural and substantive requirements.

2. The School District shall provide systematic and extensive elementary and secondary comprehensive health education which includes education in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases as well as other communicable diseases, and the prevention of disease, as required by law.

OPTIONS:

3. The School District shall provide age-appropriate, ongoing HIV instruction, in accordance with the Vermont Department of Education guidelines. This instruction shall include current HIV epidemiology, methods of transmission and prevention, universal precautions, and psycho-social aspects of HIV as part of a skills-based comprehensive health education program and through its integration into other subject areas.

4. The Superintendent shall designate a coordinator to oversee the District’s HIV education plans and programs.

5. The School Board shall establish a comprehensive health education community advisory council to assist the School Board in developing and implementing comprehensive health education including HIV education. The School Board shall provide public notice to the community to allow all interested parties to apply for appointment. The School Board shall endeavor to appoint members who represent various points of view within the community regarding comprehensive health education.

6. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall create a plan to ensure that all school employees, including newly hired staff, receive training regarding current HIV epidemiology, methods of transmission and prevention, universal precautions, psycho-social aspects of HIV-related school policies and procedures, and where appropriate, teaching strategies. The Superintendent shall report annually to the School Board regarding implementation of this plan.

7. The School District shall provide for parents, families, students and the community, opportunities for education, discussion, and the development of recommendations about a systematic and comprehensive HIV prevention plan (including the promotion of abstinence, condom availability, and compassion for people living with the disease). Educators, administrators, and health professionals shall be involved in such activities.

Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens and Universal Precautions

1. The School District shall comply with applicable Vermont Occupational Safety and Health Administration (VOSHA) rules in order to protect employees who are reasonably

anticipated to be exposed to bloodborne pathogens as part of their regular job duties.

2. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall determine those employees (by job class and possibly by task or procedure) who are reasonably anticipated to have occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials as part of their duties. These employees will be protected in strict accordance with the provisions of the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard.

OPTIONS:

1. Students and all staff not covered by the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard shall be instructed to avoid contact with potentially infectious materials and blood and shall immediately contact a member of the staff who is covered by the exposure control plan. When this is not possible, any person providing assistance shall follow universal precautions.

2. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall provide training to all staff and students about the hazards of bloodborne pathogens, the recommendedoperating procedures of universal precautions, the existence of the VOSHA required exposure control plan, individuals or job classes to be notified in order to safely handle or clean up blood or other body fluid spills, and the location and use of appropriate protective equipment and first aid devices.

3. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall provide training on the recommended operative procedures of universal precautions to teaching substitutes and school volunteers.

Enforcement

1. A person who violates this policy may be subject to remedial and/or disciplinary action in accordance with applicable laws, collective bargaining agreements, policies, and/or disciplinary codes.

Date Warned: 10/27/04

Date Adopted: 11/08/04

Legal Reference(s): 1 V.S.A.§§317(c) (7), (11) (Public records)

16 V.S.A. §§131 et seq. (Comprehensive health education)

16 V.S.A. §906 (Course of study)

18 V.S.A. §1127 (HIV testing)

21 V.S.A. §201(c) (2) (Occupational safety), §224, (VOSHA standards)

§495 (Employment practices)

20 U.S.C. §§1400 et seq.(IDEA)

42 U.S.C.§§2000d et seq. (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964)

42 U.S.C. §§12101 et seq. (Americans with Disabilities Act)

29 U.S.C. §§651 et seq. (Occupational Safety & Health Act of 1970)

29 C.F.R. §1910.1030 (Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard)

Vermont State Board of Education Manual of Rules & Practices §2120.8.2.3(c)

Cross Reference: