110 - Educational
Philosophy
The School District of Fort
Atkinson exists for the purpose of providing the greatest possible opportunity
for the educational growth of each child.
The opportunity for growth is dependent upon two components: the quality of teaching and the environment
for learning. The District is committed
to employing qualified, well-trained, knowledgeable, and dedicated teachers to
maintain a high level of instruction, and to providing a quality educational
environment in the form of buildings, equipment, and instructional materials
for children to use in acquiring knowledge.
This
Approved: March 18, 1997
112 - Discrimination
The School District of Fort
Atkinson does not discriminate against students, employees or in its
relationship with the community in areas of programs, services or facilities on
any basis protected by federal, state or local laws.
Individuals who believe
they have been or are being discriminated against may file a written complaint
in accordance with the procedures set forth in AR 112. There shall be no retaliation against any
individual who, in good faith, files a complaint under this policy. Any person who engages in retaliatory conduct
against a complainant in violation of this policy shall be subject to
disciplinary action.
This policy applies to all
off-site school activities including, but not limited to, school-sponsored
trips and athletic events, and at all times on school premises.
This policy will be
published annually and information about procedures (AR 112) will be provided
upon request.
The District nondiscrimination
officer is the Director of Instruction.
Legal Ref.: Sections 111.31-111.39; 118.13; 118.195;
118.20,
Titles
VI and VII - Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended
Title
IX - Education Amendment of 1972
Sec.
504 - Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Age
Discrimination Act of 1975
Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986
Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990
Civil
Rights Act 1991
Individual
with Disabilities Education Act
PI
9 and PI 41 of the
Cross
Ref.: Administrative Rule 112 – Discrimination
Complaint Procedures
Administrative
Rule 112, Exhibit A – Discrimination Complaint Form
Board
Policy 411.1 – Student Harassment
Administrative
Rule 411.1 – Student Harassment Complaint Procedures
Board
Policy 512 – Employee Harassment
Administrative
Rule 512 – Employee Harassment Complaint Procedures
Approved: March 20, 2003
ADMINISTRATIVE
RULE 112
AR 112 - Discrimination Complaint Procedures
If any individual believes that he/she has been or is being discriminated against in violation of the discrimination policy, he/she may bring forward a complaint in accordance with the informal and/or formal procedures outlined below.
A.
Informal
Procedure
1.
Any individual
who believes he/she has been or is being subjected to discrimination is
encouraged to advise the person who is engaging in such conduct of his/her
objection to the discrimination. Failure
to do so does not prevent the individual from pursuing the formal complaint
procedure set forth in section B of this rule.
B.
Formal Procedure
1.
Any individual
who believes that he/she has been or is being subjected to discrimination shall
prepare a written complaint (AR 112, Exhibit A) which shall be submitted to the
building administrator where the incident took place or is taking place. The building administrator where the alleged
discrimination took place or is taking place shall undertake a prompt and
thorough investigation of the complaint.
If the building administrator is the subject of the complaint, the
complaint shall be referred to the District Administrator for investigation and
action.
Upon completion of the investigation, the building administrator shall determine the appropriate action to be taken regarding the discrimination complaint. The building administrator shall inform the complainant, in writing, of his/her determination regarding the complaint within fifteen (15) school days.
2.
If the
complainant wishes to appeal the determination made in section B(1) above,
he/she may submit a signed statement of appeal to the District Administrator
indicating with particularity the nature of the disagreement with the
determination and the reasons underlying such disagreement within fifteen (15)
school days after receipt of the building administrator’s response to the
complaint. The District Administrator
will review with the complainant, the building administrator or other
appropriate persons the facts comprising the alleged discrimination which is
the subject of the appeal. Within
fifteen (15) school days after receiving the appeal, the District Administrator
shall decide the merits of the case, determine the actions to be taken, if any,
and report in writing the findings and the resolution of the appeal of the
complainant. If the complaint was
referred to the District Administrator in section B(1),
the appeal shall be to the School Board as outlined in section B(3) below.
3.
If the
complainant is dissatisfied with the decision of the District Administrator,
he/she may appeal the decision in writing to the School Board. The Board shall hear the appeal at its next
regular meeting or a special meeting may be called for the purpose of hearing
the appeal. Copies of the School Board’s
written disposition of the appeal shall be mailed or delivered to the
complainant and the District Administrator within fifteen (15) school days of
the meeting at which the appeal was heard.
AR 112 - Discrimination Complaint Procedures
4. A complainant who is dissatisfied with the School
Board’s decision may appeal the decision, in writing, to the State
Superintendent of Public Instruction.
5. Copies of the written complaint and any written
documentation related to the complaint shall be provided to the District
nondiscrimination officer.
C.
Other Procedures
1. Complaints relating to the identification, evaluation,
educational placement or the provision of free appropriate public education of
a child with exceptional educational needs shall be processed in accordance
with established appeal procedures outlined in the District’s Special Education
Handbook.
2. The procedures provided in this rule are not the
exclusive remedies for discrimination.
Legal remedies available under Federal, state and local law may be
pursued concurrently with the District procedures available hereunder.
Legal
Ref.: Sections 111.31-111.39; 118.13;
118.195; 118.20,
Titles
VI and VII - Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended
Title
IX - Education Amendment of 1972
Sec.
504 - Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Age
Discrimination Act of 1975
Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986
Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990
Civil
Rights Act 1991
Individual
with Disabilities Education Act
PI
9 and PI 41 of the
Cross Ref.: Equal
Education Opportunities and Special Education Handbook
Revised: March
20, 2003
EXHIBIT A –
DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT FORM
(Administrative
Rule 112)
Name of complainant
Where did or is the incident(s) occur(ring)
(building, grounds)?
When did or is the incident(s) occur(ring)? Date Time
Was or is anyone else present at the time the
incident(s) occurred or is occuring?
Who was or is involved in the incident(s)?
What happened or is happening (nature of complaint)?
How does complainant want the incident(s) or complaint
resolved?
Name of person providing information for the form
Name of person completing form Date
Signature of complainant Date
AR 112 - Discrimination Complaint Form
Action taken:
By
whom Date
120 - Board
Legal Status
The Board shall consist of five members elected
at large for alternating three-year terms.
Legal
Ref.: Sections 120.06(2), 120.06(3),
Wisconsin Statutes
Approved: May
15, 1997
133 - Filling
Board Vacancies
Vacancies on the Board
shall be filled as soon as possible by appointment by the remaining members in
accordance with Section 17.26, Wisconsin Statutes.
(Suggested format: The Board may suspend this format through a
special motion to set aside; then, an alternate format may be used.)
Appointments to unexpired terms will be made by
the Board as follows:
A. An announcement of the vacancy will be
published in the local newspaper designated by the Board as the official
newspaper for the current year.
B. A deadline for filing a declaration of
candidacy shall be established.
C. Persons who have filed a declaration of
candidacy shall be given an opportunity to make any statement they wish to make
on behalf of their candidacy at a meeting of the Board noticed for that
purpose.
D. Members of the Board may ask questions of
the candidates if they have any.
E. Any qualified elector of this District
shall be given an opportunity to make a statement on behalf of a candidate.
F. The Board president will then announce
that Board members may, if they wish, discuss the candidates.
G. A motion will be taken for the
appointment. If a motion fails, either
for want of a second or for lack of a majority, another motion shall be entered
and the process repeated until a candidate has received the vote of a majority
of the remaining members. Votes will be
cast by roll call vote.
H. The person so appointed shall then execute
the Oath of Office and be seated on the Board.
All
new Board member appointments will be made at an open Board meeting. Such action must be included on the published
agenda for the meeting.
Legal
Ref.: Sections 17.03, 17.26, 19.01, 19.88,
120.06(4), Wisconsin Statutes
Approved: May
15, 1997
141 - District
Officers
The
officers of the District shall be a president, vice-president, clerk, and
treasurer. The president,
vice-president, clerk, and treasurer must be members of the Board.
They
shall be elected annually at the organizational meeting.
A. President
The
president is the official spokesperson for the Board. All inquiries for official Board statements
shall be referred to the president. The
president will conduct each Board meeting, sign contracts and other documents,
and perform essential presidential duties as required by the Board or state
law.
B. Vice-President
The
vice-president will serve in place of the president when the president is
absent from the District or is incapacitated and unable to perform presidential
duties.
C. Clerk
The
clerk’s statutory responsibilities include certifying the annual tax levy,
conducting Board and referendum elections, and signing official reports and
documents.
D. Treasurer
The
treasurer’s statutory responsibilities include receiving all money due the
District and the deposit and disbursement of all District funds.
The
treasurer is also responsible for records of all accounts and disbursements for
presentation to the Board
Legal Ref.: Sections
120.05, 120.11(1), 120.15, 120.16, 120.17,
Approved: May
15, 1997
142 - Legal
Counsel
The Board shall annually
engage a legal firm or firms to advise the Board and to represent the
The District administrator
shall have the authority to confer with the designated counsel for legal advice
on such matters as he/she deems advisable in order to protect the interests of
the
Other
school personnel shall not contact the District’s counsel unless authorized to
do so by the District administrator. If
an emergency situation exists and the District administrator is unavailable to
give another administrator authority to seek District counsel, the
administrator may seek counsel if the administrator feels the interest of the
Board members are not
authorized to contact legal counsel unless there is official Board action
authorizing them to do so.
However, if the need for
legal advice concerns the employment or performance of the District
administrator, the Board president is authorized to contact the District’s
legal firm(s). Such legal advice will
be disseminated to all Board members and the District administrator.
This policy shall not prevent a board member from contacting legal counsel for advice concerning Code of Ethics for Local Governmental Officials under Sec. 19.59 Stats.
The
District administrator shall provide the appointed counsel with a copy of this
policy.
Legal Ref.: Sections 120.13(9m),
Revised: January 15, 2004
150 - Board
Powers and Duties
The
Board shall have the possession, care, control and management of the property
and affairs of the
The
Board can take official action only when its individual members meet together
in legal session.
The
Board’s major role is policy making. The
Board formulates and adopts Board policies regarding the employment of staff
personnel, educational programs, rules governing pupils, physical plant and
equipment, finances and public information.
Except as otherwise provided for by Board action, administration
and execution of Board policies shall be assigned to the District administrator
as the chief administrative officer.
Legal
Ref.: Sections 118.001, 120.10,
120.12, 120.13,
Cross Ref.: Job
Description for District Administrator
Approved: May
15, 1997
151 - Policy
Development
The Board shall provide
policy statements for the operation of the
Copies
of the policy statements shall be provided to all Board members and administrators
in the District. A copy of the policy
statements shall be placed in the library of each school and in the Dwight
Foster Public Library.
A. Formulation
of Policy
Proposed
changes or new policies shall be presented in writing for consideration to the
Board at a regular Board meeting. Such
proposals shall be presented at two consecutive regular meetings of the Board
before adoption may be considered.
B. Adoption
of Policy
Policies
of the Board shall be adopted or amended by a majority vote of the Board at a
regular meeting.
Approved: May
15, 1997
151.1 - Suspension/Amendment
of Policies
The policies of the Board shall be suspended
only upon a unanimous vote of the Board.
Approved: May 15, 1997
151.3 - Administrative
Discretion in Policy Absence
In
any situation which arises within the school system where the Board has
provided no guidelines for administrative action, the District administrator
shall have the power to act in keeping with the District administrator’s best
professional judgment. Current Wisconsin
Statutes and working rules and regulations shall form the basis for forming
professional judgments.
A
decision of the District administrator which is not covered by existing Board
policy shall be subject to review by the Board.
It
shall be the duties of the District administrator to inform the Board promptly
of such action and of the need for policy.
Approved: May 15, 1997