The Board and the staff shall give substantial weight to the advice they receive from individuals and community groups interested in the schools, especially those individuals and groups they have invited or created to advise them regarding selected problems, but shall use their own best judgment in arriving at decisions.

Methods of selection may include:
• Selection by the Board
• Board designated subcommittee’s recommendations
• PTA/PTSA selection by vote of its membership
• Other methods as specified by the Board

Prior to selecting representatives to various advisory committees, the Board and/or its representatives will identify the specific qualifications, criteria and selection process to be used.

All appointments of staff members to committees for the Board shall be made by the Superintendent with the approval of the Board. In the event that a staff member is also a citizen of District 68, efforts will be made to define their identified role on the citizen advisory committee.

Organization and Dissolution
The Board shall seek the advice of the Superintendent before establishing or dissolving any advisory committee.

Specific topics for study or well-defined areas of activity shall be assigned in writing to each committee immediately following its appointment. Upon completing its assignment, each committee either shall be given new problems or shall be dissolved promptly, but shall not be allowed to continue for prolonged periods without a definite assignment. Each committee shall be instructed as to the length of time each member is being asked to serve, the service the Board wishes it to render, the resources the Board intends to provide, the approximate dates on which the Board wishes to dissolve the committee. Furthermore, the committee shall be instructed as to the relationship it has to the Board, to individual Board members, to the Board member assigned to provide liaison, to the Secretary, and to the Superintendent, the committee assistant, and the remainder of the professional staff.

The Board shall have sole power to dissolve any of its advisory committees and shall reserve the right to exercise this power at any time during the life of the committee.

Resources
Advisory committees shall be encouraged to draw upon a wide variety of resources both inside and outside the school system. Each committee shall be particularly encouraged to draw upon the talents of other local residents and to recommend to the Board the official appointment of any such additional members as the committee desires.

At the request of any committee, the Superintendent shall appoint a member of the professional staff to assist it in carrying out the work assigned to it by the Board. Such committee assistants shall be responsible to the Superintendent.

Arrangements for the use of supplies, equipment, and personnel from within the school system shall be made through the District office.

Expenditure of District funds by any advisory committee shall be made only upon prior approval of the Superintendent.

Publicity
The Board shall see that the public is made aware of the services rendered by such committees of citizens as it may appoint, and shall see that the public is informed of the major conclusions and recommendations made by such committees. All public announcements concerning the organization, membership, operation, recommendations and dissolution of such committees shall be made in accordance with the requirements of the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

1. Members of the audience who wish to address the Board on a topic not listed on the meeting agenda should state such interest at the beginning of the meeting when the President calls for statements from the audience. Board members may decide to ask questions about the topic, but will ordinarily not act on any non-agenda topic without further study.

2. Audience members who wish to speak on an item which is on the agenda may be called upon by the President in response to a raised hand during such times as the item of interest is under consideration by the Board, usually at a point in the discussion when initial Board processing and clarification of informational material is completed.

3. Comments and questions are to be directed to the Board as a whole rather than to any individual member of the Board or administrative staff.

4. The Board has delegated the administration of the School District to the professional administrative staff under the leadership and direction of the Superintendent of Schools. Therefore, discussion of matters concerning individual pupils and the school program in general appropriately begins with school staff members.

5. Concerns regarding individual employees of this District or issues pertaining to an individual pupil will not be discussed at any public meeting of the Board. If discussion with an individual employee fails to resolve an issue, such matters shall then be presented to the appropriate administrative officials and only thereafter in writing to the Board.

Parents of currently enrolled students are encouraged to visit the schools often. PTA meetings, open house, parent education meetings and parent-teacher conferences are provided for this purpose. Visits by individuals or small groups to the classroom are also welcomed but only with the advance knowledge and consent of the building principal.

All visitors must initially report to the building office. Any person wishing to confer with a staff member must contact that staff member to make an appointment. Conferences with teachers are held outside school hours or during the teacher’s conference/preparation period.

Any staff member may request identification from any person on school grounds or in any school building; refusal to provide such information is a criminal act. The building principal or designee shall seek the immediate removal of any person who refuses to provide requested identification.

The School District expects mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct among all individuals on school property or at a school event. No person on school property or at a school event shall:

1. Injure, threaten, harass, or intimidate a staff member, a School Board member, sports official or coach, or any other person;
2. Damage or threaten to damage another’s property;
3. Damage or deface School District property;
4. Smoke or otherwise use tobacco products;
5. Consume, possess, distribute, or be under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs, or possess dangerous devices or weapons;
6. Impede, delay, disrupt, or otherwise interfere with any school activity or function (including using cellular phones in a disruptive manner);
7. Operate a motor vehicle in a risky manner, or in violation of an authorized District employee’s directive; or
8. Violate other District policies or regulations, or an authorized District employee’s directive.

1. Is a parent/guardian of a student attending the school and the parent/guardian is: (i) attending a conference at the school with school personnel to discuss the progress of his or her child academically or socially, (ii) participating in child review conferences in which evaluation and placement decisions may be made with respect to his or her child regarding special education services, or (iii) attending conferences to discuss other student issues concerning his or her child such as retention and promotion and notifies the building principal of his or her presence at the school, or
2. Has permission to be present from the School Board, Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee. If permission is granted, the Superintendent or Board President shall provide the details of the offender’s upcoming visit to the building principal.

In all cases, the Superintendent, or designee who is a certified employee, shall supervise a child sex offender whenever the offender is in a child’s vicinity.

• Purpose of the research
• Agency sponsoring the research
• Personnel conducting the research
• Research population and time required for each type of participant
• Description of research activities
• Description of exact information required from the school and/or faculty
• Draft letters to parents and/or students explaining the research project and soliciting permission          to participate
• Privacy of information obtained to be adequately protected
• Results of the research to be made available to the District

If the Superintendent (usually with advice from the Administrative Cabinet) considers the research to be of value to District 68, the project will be proposed to the principal(s) or supervisor(s) assigned to the target research population.

The Superintendent may authorize participation in the research project after determining the amount of disruption to the educational program, the willingness of staff to cooperate with the project and that parent permission letters are on file before any students participate.

Ethics Policy - 1313
This policy has been adopted in compliance with the requirements of the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. All terms contained within this Policy shall be interpreted consistent with the Act. Section I addresses prohibited political activity. Section II deals with restrictions on the acceptance of gifts by members and employees of the Board of Education. Section III addresses the implementation of this Policy.

I. Prohibited Political Activities

(a) Employees shall not intentionally perform any prohibited political activity during any compensated time (other than vacation, personal, or compensatory time off). Employees shall not intentionally misappropriate any District property or resources by engaging in any prohibited political activity for the benefit of any campaign for elective office or any political organization.

(b) At no time shall any member or employee intentionally misappropriate the services of any employee by requiring that employee to perform any prohibited political activity as part of that employee's duties, as a condition of employment, or during any time off that is compensated by the Board.

(c) An employee shall not be required at any time to participate in any prohibited political activity in consideration for that employee being awarded any additional compensation or employee benefit, in the form of a salary adjustment, bonus, compensatory time off, continued employment, or otherwise.

(d) An employee shall not be awarded any additional compensation or employee benefit, in the form of a salary adjustment, bonus, compensatory time off, continued employment, or otherwise, in consideration for the employee's participation in any prohibited political activity.

(e) Nothing in this section prohibits activities that are otherwise appropriate for an employee to engage in as a part of his or her official employment duties or activities that are undertaken by an employee on a voluntary basis as permitted by law.

(f) No person in a position that is subject to recognized merit principles of public employment shall be denied or deprived of Board employment or tenure solely because he or she is a member or an officer of a political committee, of a political party, or of a political organization or club.

For the purposes of this policy, “Prohibited political activity” means:

(a) Preparing for, organizing, or participating in any political meeting, political rally, political demonstration, or other political event.

(b) Soliciting contributions, including but not limited to the purchase of, selling, distributing, or receiving payment for tickets for any political fundraiser, political meeting, or other political event.

(c) Soliciting, planning the solicitation of, or preparing any document or report regarding any thing of value intended as a campaign contribution.

(d) Planning, conducting, or participating in a public opinion poll in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.

(e) Surveying or gathering information from potential or actual voters in an election to determine probable vote outcome in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes or for or against any referendum question.

(f) Assisting at the polls on election day on behalf of any political organization or candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(g) Soliciting votes on behalf of a candidate for elective office or a political organization or for or against any referendum question or helping in an effort to get voters to the polls.

(h) Initiating for circulation, preparing, circulating, reviewing, or filing any petition on behalf of a candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(i) Making contributions on behalf of any candidate for elective office in that capacity or in connection with a campaign for elective office.

(j) Preparing or reviewing responses to candidate questionnaires in connection with a campaign for elective office or on behalf of a political organization for political purposes.

(k) Distributing, preparing for distribution, or mailing campaign literature, campaign signs, or other campaign material on behalf of any candidate for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(l) Campaigning for any elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(m) Managing or working on a campaign for elective office or for or against any referendum question.

(n) Serving as a delegate, alternate, or proxy to a political party convention.

(o) Participating in any recount or challenge to the outcome of any election.

II. Gift Ban

A. Prohibition
Except as otherwise provided in this Policy, no member or employee shall intentionally solicit or accept any gift from any prohibited source or in violation of any federal or State statute, rule, or regulation. This ban applies to and includes the spouse of and immediate family living with the member or employee. No prohibited source shall intentionally offer or make a gift that violates this Policy.

For the purposes of this policy, “prohibited source” means any person or entity who:

(1) is seeking official action by the member, by the employee or by the supervisor of the employee;
(2) does business or seeks to do business with the member, with the employee or with the supervisor of the employee;
(3) conducts activities regulated by the member or by the supervisor of the employee;
(4) has interests that may be substantially affected by the performance or non-performance of the official duties of the member or employee; or
(5) is registered or required to be registered with the Secretary of State under the Lobbyist Registration Act, except that an entity not otherwise a prohibited source does not become a prohibited source merely because a registered lobbyist is one of its members.

B. Exceptions
The restrictions set forth in the “Gift Ban” section of this Policy do not apply to the following:

(1) Opportunities, benefits, and services that are available on the same conditions as for the general public.
(2) Anything for which the member or employee pays the market value.
(3) Any contribution that is lawfully made under the Election Code or activities associated with a fundraising event in support of a political organization or candidate.
(4) Educational materials.
(5) Travel expenses for a meeting to discuss Board business that is not otherwise covered or reimbursed by the Board, when attendance at the meeting is approved by the Board or the Superintendent.
(6) A gift from a relative, meaning those people related to the individual as father, mother, son, daughter, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, great aunt, great uncle, first cousin, nephew, niece, husband, wife, grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter, stepbrother, stepsister, half brother, half sister, and including the father, mother, grandfather, or grandmother of the individual's spouse and the individual's fiancé or fiancée.
(7) Anything provided by an individual on the basis of a personal friendship, unless the member or employee has reason to believe that, under the circumstances, the gift was provided because of the official position or employment of the member or employee and not because of the personal friendship. In determining whether a gift is provided on the basis of personal friendship, the member or employee shall consider the circumstances under which the gift was offered, including:

(i) the history of the relationship between the individual giving the gift and the recipient of the gift, including any previous exchange of gifts between those individuals;
(ii) whether to the actual knowledge of the member or employee the individual who gave the gift personally paid for the gift or sought a tax deduction or business reimbursement for the gift; and
(iii) whether to the actual knowledge of the member or employee the individual who gave the gift also at the same time gave the same or similar gifts to other members or employees.

(8) Food or refreshments not exceeding $75 per person in value on a single calendar day, provided that the food or refreshments are either consumed on the premises from which they were purchased or prepared, or catered.
(9) Food, refreshments, lodging, transportation, and other benefits resulting from the outside business or employment activities (or outside activities that are not connected to the duties of the member or employee as an office holder or employee) of the member or employee, or the spouse of the member or employee, if the benefits have not been offered or enhanced because of the official position or employment of the member or employee, and are customarily provided to others in similar circumstances.
(10) Any gift given to a member or employee of the Board by another member or employee of the Board, and any gift given to a member or employee of the Board by a member, officer, or employee of another State agency, federal agency or governmental entity.
(11) Bequests, inheritances, and other transfers at death.
(12) Any item or items from any one prohibited source during any calendar year having a cumulative total value of less than $100.
Each exception listed in this Section is mutually exclusive and independent of any other.

C. Disposition of Gift
A member or employee does not violate this Policy if the member or employee promptly takes reasonable action to return the prohibited gift to its source or gives the gift or an amount equal to its value to a charitable organization that is exempt from income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now or hereafter amended, renumbered, or succeeded.

III. Implementation

A. Procedures and Guidelines

(1) The Superintendent, consistent with the terms and provisions of the Act and this Policy, shall prepare rules, procedures and guidelines for implementation of this Policy.
(2) The Superintendent shall be responsible for disseminating this Policy and any implementing rules, procedures, and guidelines and making them available to all employees within ten (10) business days after its adoption. The Superintendent is also responsible for making all new employees and board members aware of this Policy and its implementing rules, procedures and guidelines on or at the time of the assumption of their positions.

B. Ethics Advisor
The Board may appoint an Ethics Advisor for the School District. The Ethics Advisor shall provide guidance to members and employees concerning the interpretation of, and compliance with, this Policy. If no Ethics Advisor is appointed, the regularly retained attorney of the School District shall serve as the Ethics Advisor.
C. Filing of Complaints
Complaints regarding the violation of this policy shall be filed with the Superintendent or the Board President pursuant to the rules, procedures and guidelines established by the Superintendent. Properly filed complaints shall be reviewed in accordance with the procedures established by the Superintendent. Such procedures may allow the Board itself to determine whether a violation has occurred or allow for the appointment of a three person Ethics Commission to review complaints. If it is determined that a violation has occurred, the Board may impose a penalty consistent with State law and this Policy and as deemed appropriate under a totality of the circumstances.

Gifts to the District - 1314
The Board accepts gifts from any education foundation or other entity or individual, provided the gift can be used in a manner compatible with the Board’s educational objectives and policies. While the Board encourages unrestricted gifts, donations to fund specific projects are acceptable if the project is approved by the Board. All gifts received become the School District’s property.

Legal Ref.: 105 ILCS 5/16-1

Copies of policies and procedures shall be made available at the District’s copying rate of 15 cents per page.

Communications about individual school and District-wide programs and activities may include District-published materials, local and area newspapers, cable television, electronic information services, community-wide information networks and such other media as effectively reach the District’s population.The content of these communications may include major changes or innovations which occur from time to time in the curriculum, teaching procedures and physical facilities, as well as periodic reports about student achievement levels. Publicity will be balanced and include the programs and activities of all schools, various subject matter fields and across grade levels. Information about individual children, including photographs, may be used, provided that the information no way reflects adversely upon a child or reveals information privileged in school records. Parents may, upon request to the school office, restrict the use of the names and photographs of their children in school-published publicity. This policy will be included in the Parent Handbook.The actions of the Board will be publicized through appropriate media, including furnishing notices to the media of forthcoming meetings, copies of major reports for meeting visitors and periodic summaries of major Board actions in news releases and District publications.The written process will include procedures to be employed in the event that a happening in or affecting the schools draws unusual media attention. In such an instance, a designated spokesperson will be responsible for the District’s response to and communications with the media and to whom school personnel will refer all requests for information.

The Superintendent or a designee will be responsible for developing and maintaining the communication and will review and approve information intended for release to the media. It is the principal’s responsibility to approve requests by the media to visit the school for the purpose of preparing articles or broadcast material about school programs and activities.

Those records exempt from inspection and copying are specified in Section 7 of the Information Act. Examples of exempt records include records covered by the Illinois Student Records Act, personnel files, information regarding individuals receiving services from the School District, minutes of closed meetings of the Board, library circulation records, communications with auditors and attorneys regarding civil and administrative proceedings involving the School District, course materials and tests used by faculty members, materials prepared for an internal audit, and records regarding real estate purchases or sales.All requests for inspection and copying shall be directed in writing to the Superintendent of Schools or to the administrator designated by the Superintendent and reported to the Board of Education as required by law. Inspection and copying shall be accommodated within seven working days after receipt of the requests, except when it is administratively no feasible to do so. When requested, copies of records shall be furnished at a cost of $.15 per page.In the event of denial of request for disclosure of a District record, the person making the request shall be so notified by letter giving reasons for the denial and including the person’s right to appeal to the Superintendent of Schools, or, if the decision to deny is made by the Superintendent, the person’s right to judicial review.The administration, in responding to requests made under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act shall regard the privacy of students and personnel and the integrity of the educational program as reference points in evaluating all requests.

Legal References: Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140-1 and subsequent sections).

School events and maintenance requirements have preference in scheduling. To insure that school events are scheduled first, outside activities are to be scheduled only tentatively until the annual school events calendar is complete. Reservations are not accepted more than one year in advance. Application for use of facilities is to be directed to the Business Office. Use of grounds by outside groups is approved and scheduled by the Park District.

1. Classification of Organizations and Rental Rates

Class I – School, Youth and Community Service Organizations – No Rental Charge
Includes:
—District parent-teacher organizations (first priority)
—youth service agencies
—Village and Park District educational/recreational activities

Class II – Organizations Within District 68
Includes civic, educational, recreational, cultural or charitable organizations which have their principle membership within District 68.

Class III – Other Organizations – Special Events
Includes organizations not described in Classes I and II for activities deemed appropriate by the Superintendent and, if it is deemed appropriate, with review by the Board.

Rentals fees may be adjusted or waived by the Superintendent for special circumstances.

	Class II	Class III
Meeting Rooms / teachers' lounge	$40.00	$80.00
Elementary school gymnasium or multi-purpose room	50.00	100.00
Jr. high gymnasium	90.00	180.00
Jr. high cafeteria or Forum	50.00	100.00

Additional Note on Rental Rates
The basic unit of rental time is three hours. If an event extends beyond the three-hour period, a charge is to be made for each additional hour based on one-third of the scheduled rate. A rental period begins when the facilities are opened for the renter and ends when the group leaves the premises.

2. Custodian-Supervisory Service and Charges
At least one custodian or supervisor is to be on duty at all times while an organization is using a school facility, except for playfields, unless otherwise determined by the Superintendent. Any additional help required for a rental use will be billed to the user at the cost of such labor to District 68.

3. Cafeteria Services and Charges
Whenever food is being served, a cafeteria employee must be on duty unless other arrangements have been made and approved in advance by the Business Office.
The sponsoring organization shall make necessary arrangements for food service directly with the Food Services contractor.

4. Liability
All organizations using District 68 facilities will hold District 68, its staff and Board members, harmless from any liability arising from such use. All user groups are to be held responsible for the cost of repairing damage to property and equipment when such damage is caused by the group. Evidence of liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence with the District named as an insured party is required – unless specifically waived by the Superintendent.

5. Restrictions
a. Rental access is to include only facilities specifically named in the contract plus access to nearby exits and restrooms.
b. Except for activities sponsored by student organizations and the PTAs where prizes not redeemable for cash are awarded, games of chance, lotteries or other activities classified as gambling are not to be conducted on school premises.
c. The use of tobacco and/or alcoholic beverages is prohibited on school property.
d. No enterprise, function or activity that promotes any commercial product or results in private profit or commercial gain for any business enterprise may be conducted on school property, unless the facilities are to be used to offer educational or recreational activities which are judged by the Superintendent to provide worthwhile services to the community.
e. No activities will be considered for rental which incite violence or hostility toward a person or group of persons based on race, religion, ethnicity or sexual orientation.