ORGANIZATION, PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS                               Regulation 0320

School Board Organization

School Board Elections

The qualified voters of the School District shall annually on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of April, elect two directors for terms of three years, except, effective for Board elections beginning in April of 1993, and each three years thereafter, when three directors shall be elected in compliance with regulations specified in state law.

An election shall not be held if the number of candidates who have filed for the Board is equal to the number of positions available.  However, regardless of the number of Board vacancies and Board candidates, if a ballot proposition (i.e., tax levy, bond issue) is on the ballot, an election of Board members must be held.  If no election would be held due to the number of candidates equaling the number of vacancies, the District will publish a notice containing the names of the candidates who will assume a Board directorship absent an election.  This notice will be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the District on or by March 1 prior to the scheduled election.

Qualified Voters in the School District

An individual must be a registered voter in order to vote in a school election. In order to vote, a person must be eighteen (18) years of age or older, must be a citizen of the United States, and must reside in the School District thirty (30) days.

Candidate Qualification - Method of Filing

Qualified applicants for the Board may file for office beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Superintendent's office commencing on the seventeenth (17th) Tuesday prior to the election and ending at 5:00 p.m. on the fourteenth (14th) Tuesday before the election. The candidate shall declare his/her intent to become a candidate, in person and in writing to the secretary of the Board of Education. The names of qualified candidates shall be placed on the ballot in the order of filing. The notice of election and certification of candidates must be submitted to the county clerk by the tenth Tuesday prior to the election. Candidates must comply with all of the prevailing laws concerning eligibility and campaign financing.

A candidate who files for one vacancy and later decides to run for another shall be positioned on the ballot according to the time when his/her change of declaration is received by the secretary of the Board, not on the basis of when the first petition was filed.

Candidates must be citizens of the United States and resident taxpayers of the District, reside in the District for one year next preceding their election or appointment, and be at least twenty-four (24) years of age. Candidates will be disqualified from participation in a Board election if, the candidate is delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes, real property taxes on the residence of the candidate.  Candidates must also complete a notarized copy of Form 0320 - Candidate’s Place of Residence attesting that the candidate is not currently aware of any delinquency in the filing or payment of state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal taxes or real property taxes on the candidate’s place of residence. The candidate must further attest that they are not a past or present corporate officer of the office that owes any taxes to the state, which are not in dispute.  Said affidavit (MCE Form 0320) must include a copy of the affidavit with the declaration of candidacy (MCE Form 0320.1).  Failure to accurately complete and file Form 5120 with the Department of Revenue may disqualify a candidate from the ballot.  Each newly elected or appointed director shall qualify and take his/her oath of office in the manner prescribed by law and according to Policy 0330 - Oath of Office.

No person may be a candidate for a position on the Board if such person is registered as a sex offender or is required to be registered as a sex offender under state law.  Any Board member who is likewise required to register, or who is registered as a sex offender under state law will immediately be requested by the Board to resign from the Board.  Should such Board member refuse to resign, the member will be ineligible to serve as a Board member at the end of his/her term.

In addition, no person shall qualify as a candidate for the Board of Education, who has been found guilty of, or has pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under federal law, or to a felony under Missouri law, or has been found guilty of an offense in another state, which would be considered to be a felony in the State of Missouri.

It is not the District’s responsibility to investigate and determine a candidate’s eligibility.  That responsibility rests with the Department of Revenue and/or the County Election Authority.

Expenditure of District Funds

No contribution or expenditure of District funds will be made directly by any officer, employee, or agent of the District to advocate, support, or oppose the passage or defeat of any ballot measure, or the nomination or election of any candidate for public office, or to direct any public funds to, or pay any debts, or obligations of any committee supporting or opposing such ballot measure or candidates.  This policy shall not be construed to prohibit any district official from making public appearances or from issuing press releases concerning such ballot issue.

Creation of Voting Sub-Districts

If the Board wishes to consider division of the District, the Board must first vote on the question of dividing the District.  If the question receives four affirmative votes, the Board will develop a proposed plan for voting sub-districts. The plan will comply with the provisions of RSMo. §162.563.  In addition, if 10% of the registered voters in the last school board election will submit a petition to subdivide the District into voting sub-districts, election of officials will be notified and an election held.

Updated:  10/11/22

ORGANIZATION, PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS                               Regulation 0321

School Board

School Board Officers

ORGANIZATION, PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS                               Regulation 0342

School Board Organization

Nepotism, Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure

Contractual and Business Relationships

No Board member or District employee may:

1. Perform a service, sell, rent or lease any property to the District for consideration of in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00) value per transaction or five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) value per annum to him/her, or to their spouse, to a dependent child in his/her custody, or to a business with which member or employee is associated unless the transaction is made pursuant to an award on a contract let or sale made after public notice and, in the case of personal property, competitive bidding, provided that the bid or offer accepted is the lowest received.
2. Attempt, for any compensation other than the compensation provided for the performance of his/her official duties, to influence the decision of the Board or the District on any matter.

Business Entities

No partnership, joint venture, or corporation in which any Board member is a partner having the lesser of a ten percent (10%) interest or a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) value partnership interest, or a co-participant or owner of outstanding shares of any class of stock with a fair market value equal to the lesser of ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares or $10,000, shall:

1. Perform any service for the District for any consideration in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) per transaction, or five thousand dollars ($5,000) per annum, unless the transaction is made pursuant to an award on a contract let after public notice and competitive bidding, provided that the bid or offer accepted is the lowest received.
2. Sell, rent or lease any property to the District where the consideration is in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) per transaction, or five thousand dollars ($5,000) per annum, unless the transaction is made pursuant to an award on a contract let or sale made after public notice and in the case of property other than real property, competitive bidding, provided that the bid or offer accepted is the lowest received.

Use of Confidential Information

A Board member shall not use or disclose confidential information obtained in his/her official capacity in any manner with the intent to cause financial gain for himself/herself, any other person, or any business. This also precludes the use of mailing lists or the school mail for any
communication other than that directly related to school matters.  The term Confidential Information shall mean all information whether transmitted orally or in writing which is of such a nature that it is not, at that time, a matter of public record or public knowledge.

Acceptance of Gifts

A Board member shall not solicit or accept gifts, payments, or anything greater than a nominal value item or holiday gifts of nominal value from any person, organization, group or entity doing business or desiring to do business with the District.

Contact Between Vendors and Board Members

A Board member, if contacted by a vendor requesting information about the District's bidding procedures, whether of a general nature or with regard to a specific goods or service to be bid, shall provide the vendor with the name and business telephone number of the District's Business Manager.  The Board member shall request that the vendor contact the Business Manager and direct all questions concerns to him/her.

Post Service/Employment

Neither a Board member, nor a District employee serving in an administrative capacity, may perform any service for consideration during one year after termination of his or her employment or office, by which performance he or she attempts to influence a decision of the Board of Education.

Financial Interest Statement

All Board members will disclose to the public all potential Board member and employee conflicts of interest including:

1. Transactions in excess of five hundred dollars ($500) per calendar year between a Board member, Superintendent, chief purchasing officer, or general counsel employed full time, and any person related within first degree consanguinity (see Form 0342) to such persons and the School District, excluding compensation received as an employee or payment of any tax, fee or penalty due to the District.  Disclosure will include the dates and identities of the parties in the transaction.
2. Transactions between any business entity in which such individuals have a substantial interest with a total in excess of five hundred dollars ($500), and the School District, excluding any payment of tax, fee or penalty due to the District or payment for providing utility service to the District.  Disclosure will include the dates and identities of the parties in the transactions.

The Superintendent and chief purchasing officer will make written disclosure of the following:

1. The name and address of each employer who provided income of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more to the Superintendent or chief purchasing officer.
2. The name and address of each sole proprietorship which the individual owned; the name, address and general nature of business conducted by each general partnership or joint venture in which he/she was a partner or participant; the name and address of each partner or co-participant in the partnership or joint venture unless the information is already filed with the Secretary of State; the name, address, and general nature of business or any closely held corporation or limited partnership in which the individual owned ten percent (10%) or more of any class of the outstanding stock or limited partner's units; and the name of any publicly traded corporation or limited partnership which is listed on a regulated stock exchange or automated quotation system which the individual owned two percent (2%) or more of any class of outstanding stock, limited partnership units, or other equity interests.
3. The names and addresses of each corporation for which the individual served as director, officer, or receiver.

A certified copy of this regulation shall be sent to the Missouri Ethics Commission within ten (10) days of the adoption.  Disclosure reports will be filed by May 1 for the preceding calendar year with the commission and the District’s Board of Education, and the reports will be made available to the public during normal business hours.

The Board of Education shall readopt this policy biennially on or before September 15 of the calendar year.

"Substantial Interest" is defined as ownership by the individual, his/her spouse, or dependent children, either singularly or collectively, of ten percent (10%) or more of any business entity, or an interest having a value of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more, or receipt of a salary, gratuity or other compensation of five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more from any individual, partnership, organization or association within any calendar year.

Updated:  10/11/16

ORGANIZATION, PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS                               Regulation 0410

Meetings

The Board of Education permits its open sessions to be audio or video recorded subject to the following restrictions:

1. No additional artificial lighting may be used for a video recording.

2. Individuals wishing to video record an open session of the Board must locate

    themselves behind individuals attending the meeting.

3. No microphones may be placed on or near the tables where the Board and the

    administration are seated for purposes of individual audio recording.

4. Board meetings will not be interrupted to respond to questions or requests from

    individuals recording the meeting.

These guidelines are adopted to minimize disruption of Board meetings and to minimize any inconvenience to individuals attending the Board meetings.

ORGANIZATION, PHILOSOPHY AND GOALS                               Regulation 0411

Meetings

Meeting Agenda

Order of Business

The President of the Board, upon taking the chair, shall call the members to order, on the appearance of a quorum. The order of business shall be as follows, unless changed by the President:

1. Call to Order
2. Announcements
3. Citizen Comments
4. Approval of Previous Minutes
5. Superintendent's Reports and Recommendations
6. Other Items
7. Adjournment

Parliamentary Procedure

In all matters not covered by the Rules of the Board, parliamentary procedure shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.

Vote of Member

Unless excused, every member present shall vote on all questions, and no member shall leave before the close of the session without permission of the president. Members may participate fully via videoconferencing. If the meeting is required due to a bona fide emergency, and if the nature of the emergency is stated on the record, members may also participate in roll call votes by other electronic means, including telephone.