Organization, Philosophy & Goals 0000

The School District is organized under the authority of the State Legislature and exercises powers delegated directly and indirectly by the Missouri State Legislature.

The official, corporate name of the School District shall be Leopold R-III School District.

Leopold R-III School District

16797 Main St.

P.O. Box 39

Leopold, MO 63760

573-238-2211

Identification Codes

CODE

MO-009078 

ID NUMBER

2918420

Last modified: January 01, 2003

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Board of Education is guided by the desire to use the resources of its community, its staff and its students to provide the highest quality education permitted by its financial resources. In reaching decisions the Board will attempt in every case to act in the best interests of its students.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

In carrying out its responsibilities, the Board of Education is guided by the desire to use the resources of its community, its staff and its students to provide the highest quality education permitted by its financial resources. In reaching decisions the Board will attempt in every case to act in the best interests of its students.

The School Board of Education performs three basic functions in the management of the School District:

Legislative

The School Board shall exercise full legislative rule and management authority for the District by adopting policy and directing all procedures necessary for the governance of District educational and administrative responsibilities.

Executive

The School Board shall delegate to the Superintendent the responsibility of implementing all Board policy.

Appraisal

The School Board shall determine the effectiveness of policy implementation through evaluation of school operations, practices and program outcomes. The achievement level of students shall be the guiding standard through which all success shall be measured.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

Attendance

Members shall attend all regularly scheduled Board of Education meetings insofar as possible. Any member failing to attend the meeting of the Board for three (3) consecutive regular meetings, unless excused by a majority of the Board for reasons satisfactory to the Board, shall be deemed to have vacated the seat; and the secretary of the Board shall certify that fact to the Board. The vacancy shall be filled as other vacancies occurring in the Board. Attendance for purposes of this provision shall be defined as actual, physical attendance at the Board meeting until all of the business of the Board has been completed unless a member is excused by a majority of the Board.  However, Board members may participate fully via teleconferencing.  If the Board meeting is required due to a bona fide emergency and if the emergency is stated on the record, Board members may also participate in roll call votes by other electronic means, including telephone.

Knowledge

Members shall come to Board of Education meetings informed concerning the issues to be considered.

Abstentions

Members shall avoid abstaining except when required by statute or Board policy. The members of the Board have been elected to make difficult decisions on behalf of the students, parents, patrons and employees of the district. The concept of trusteeship requires each member to review the issues under the Board's consideration and to take a stand regarding those issues. A member who has conformed to the above-described tenets of knowledge, open discussion, independent judgment, and independent and civility should be prepared to cast a vote on each of the issues before that member.

Cooperation/Delegation

Members shall work with other Board members to establish effective Board policies and to delegate authority for the administration of the schools to the Superintendent. Members shall not attempt to by-pass, undermine, or usurp the Superintendent's authority and responsibility for the daily operation of the schools.

Conflict of Interest (Refer to Policy and Regulation 0342 – Nepotism, Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure)

Members shall avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest and shall not use the Board position for personal or partisan gain. Members shall conduct themselves in accordance with the conflict-of-interest policy and disclosure requirements prescribed by statute and Board policy.

Confidentiality

Members shall not disclose confidential information. Information is confidential if it is (a) communicated during executive session; or (b) otherwise communicated with a mutual understanding of confidentiality.

Acceptance of Gifts

Members 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 School District.

Contact with Vendors

Members, if contacted by a vendor requesting information about the District's bidding procedures, whether of a general nature or with regard to specific goods or services to be bid, shall provide the vendor with the name and business telephone number of the administrator responsible for purchasing such goods or services. The member shall request that the vendor contact the relevant administrator and direct all questions and concerns to that administrator.

Board Communications to Staff

All official communications, policies, and directives of staff interest and concern will be communicated to staff members through the Superintendent, and the Superintendent will employ such media as are appropriate to keep the staff fully informed of the Board's concerns and actions.

Visits to Schools

Individual Board members who, in their parental capacity, wish to visit the school(s) or classroom(s) of their child(ren) will follow the regular procedures for visitors. Board members who wish to visit other schools or classrooms as an informal expression of interest in school affairs will inform the Superintendent who will arrange such visit(s) through appropriate principal(s). Official visits by Board members will be conducted only with the full knowledge of the Superintendent and principal(s) involved.

Educational Welfare

Members shall remember always that the first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare of the students attending the School District.

Last modified: March 30, 2021

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.

Last modified: August 27, 2022

Within fourteen (14) days after the annual Board election in April, the Board will meet to administer the oath of office to new Board members and to elect a president and vice-president. Thereafter, on or before the 15th day of July of each year, the Board shall elect a secretary and a treasurer, who shall enter upon their respective duties on the 15th day of July. The secretary and treasurer may or may not be members of the Board (RSMo. Section 162.301(2)).

Last modified: January 01, 2003

Any School Board member who wishes to resign from office shall inform the School Board secretary in writing. The School Board secretary shall certify to the Board that the office is vacant. The Board will then appoint a replacement to serve until the next School Board election, at which time the position shall be filled by election to complete the unexpired term.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

Whenever a vacancy occurs on the Board of Education, the remaining members of the Board will, by majority vote, select an individual to fill the vacant position until the next annual school election. Persons who are delinquent in the payment of state income tax, personal property tax, municipal tax, or real property tax on the person's place of residence are not eligible to be appointed to a Board vacancy. A candidate to fill a Board vacancy must provide the District with a signed and notarized affidavit stating that all state income taxes and property taxes, both person and real, have been paid or attest to the fact that no taxes were owed for the two fiscal years immediately prior to their appointment.

In filling the vacancy, the Board will inform the community and solicit applications. In addition, the Board may affirmatively solicit qualified community members to apply for the vacant position. The Board, or a committee designated by the Board will screen the applicants and will select no more than three applicants for Board interview. Candidate interviews and the vote taken to fill the vacancy will occur in an open session meeting of the Board.

If there are more than two vacancies and if the District is located in a county without a county commission, the county executive will fill the vacancies with the advice and consent of the county council.

Last modified: August 31, 2021

Within fourteen (14) days after their election, the newly elected members of the Board shall take the oath of office proscribed by Article VII, Section II, of the Constitution of Missouri, RSMo. Section 162.301(1).

OATH OF OFFICE

I, Board Member, do solemnly swear that I am at least twenty-four (24) years of age, that I am a citizen of the United States and a resident taxpayer of the Leopold R-III School District, in Bollinger County in the State of Missouri, and that I will support the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Missouri, and that I will abide by and uphold the Leopold R-III School District Board Member Code of Ethics, and will faithfully demean myself in office.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

The purpose of the Board of Education is:

1. To govern and control the affairs of the District as provided by law.

2. To discover and interpret the educational needs, attitudes and interests throughout the District as a guide to developing and setting priorities for an educational program.

3. To exercise judgment in reviewing, considering and voting on district wide policies affecting the operation of the schools.

4. To oversee the management and fiscal control of the schools as provided by law and to review, evaluate and judge the effectiveness of the educational program.

The roles of members of the Board of Education are:

1. To recognize that it is the responsibility of the Board to see that the schools are properly administered, not to administer them.

2. To hold the Superintendent responsible for the implementation of Board policies and the administration of the District.

3. To give the Superintendent authority commensurate with his/her responsibility.

4. To vote on Board matters only after considering the recommendation of the Superintendent and any interested citizens.

5. To maintain a working rapport with other members of the Board and the Superintendent.

6. To respect and encourage the right of others to hold and express opinions.

7. To support the Board once a legal decision has been made by a majority vote.

8. To avoid inappropriate or disparaging remarks, in or out of Board meetings, about other Board members or their opinions.

9. To realize that the responsibilities are district-wide.

10. To recognize that authority rests with the School Board in legal session and no individual Board member has legal authority to request action from the staff.

11. To avoid any comments which may be interpreted as undermining the administration of the District.

12. To assure that special committees, when appointed, have a well defined objective and that there is understanding that the committee serves in an advisory capacity.

In addition, members of the Board of Education will:

1. Work through the Superintendent and his/her staff.

2. Support the Superintendent's efforts to appoint the most qualified persons as employees of the District.

3. Reinforce the efforts of the Superintendent and the staff so that they may perform their assigned responsibilities in the most effective manner.

4. Provide the Superintendent counsel as requested or required.

5. Make every effort to keep all citizens informed about the quality and condition of public school education in the District.

6. Initiate and implement all efforts to secure adequate financial support for the District.

7. Assure that all transactions of the District are ethical, open and aboveboard.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

The Board may employ a person related within the fourth degree to a Board member (see Form 0342), provided the related Board member does not debate or vote upon the employment issue.  However, the Board may not under any circumstances employ one of its own members.

In order to consider employment of a Board member's spouse, the position must have been advertised as required in Policy 4120 - Employment Procedures. In addition, the Superintendent must consider and submit a written affirmative recommendation to the Board. The names of all applicants for that position, as well as the name of the applicant hired, shall be included in the Board minutes.

Members of the Board of Education will conduct themselves in a manner which complies not only with the letter of conflict of interest laws, but also in the spirit of those provisions.   Board members will at all times make good faith efforts to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. If a situation arises which involves the potential for a conflict of interest, the individual Board member will declare his interest and will refrain from debating or voting upon the question of engaging or using the business entity in question.

Last modified: August 27, 2022

No member of the Board shall accept a salary from, or be employed by the Board, or profit financially in any manner by reason of any dealings with the Board.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

Travel and accompanying expenses may be authorized by a majority of the Board of Education for any of its members to attend conferences, meetings, seminars, conventions, etc., at the state, regional and national levels. Travel expenses may include transportation, lodging, meals and registration fees.

Each Board member who has been approved for travel shall file with the Business and Finance Office an itemized account of anticipated expenses and may request and receive an advance for these expenses. Upon completion of travel, an actual expense account report, with appropriate receipts, shall be filed with the Business and Finance Office within the next two weeks.

Travel requests will not normally be approved in the three months prior to the completion of a Board member's term.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

The Board may appoint committees to assist it in carrying out the Board's responsibilities. However, the Board may not delegate those functions which, by law, must be exercised by the Board of Education.

Committee Guidelines

1. Committees created by the Board of Education will be assigned specific tasks to be performed and will be assigned a specific time frame within which to accomplish assigned tasks.

2. 
   Upon completion of these tasks or upon expiration of the time allotted, the committee will be dissolved unless extended by the Board.

3. 
   Reports of Board committees may be made in written form or be presented verbally at a Board meeting at the discretion of the Board.

Committee Meetings

Meetings of committees appointed by the Board or at the Board's direction including advisory committees appointed for the specific purpose of recommending policy, policy revisions, expenditures of public funds to the Board or to the Superintendent will comply with the notice and open meeting provision applicable to Board of Education meetings. The District's custodian of records will maintain a current list of such advisory committees.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

Board members initially elected or appointed after August 28, 1993, shall successfully complete orientation and training requirements within one year of the date of election or appointment.  The orientation and training will consist of at least eighteen hours and thirty minutes.  The District will pay the costs of the training.

This mandatory training will include two hours and thirty minutes of current reliable information concerning identifying signs of sexual abuse in children and the danger signals of potentially abusive relationships between children and adults.  In addition, this segment of the training will emphasize methods to establish an atmosphere of trust in order that students feel comfortable discussing abuse with school staff.  District administrators will conduct investigations following abuse hotline calls, and advise the Board of the facts and recommendations.

Any Board member serving a term as of August 28, 2019 or elected or appointed after August 28, 2019, will complete at least one hour of refresher training each year of their term of office.  However, the refresher training is not required in the year the member completes the initial orientation and training.

The annual refresher training will address concepts covered in the initial training, including the prevention of sexual abuse of children.

Last modified: August 24, 2019

Regular

The regular meeting of the Board shall be held on the First Monday in each month, at the hour of 9PM, except when a majority of the Board agrees in advance and public notice is given. Public meetings may be conducted in person or by conference call, video chats, Internet conferences, e-mails and Internet message board.

Special

Special meetings may be held at the time set by the Board or on the call of the Board president or a majority of the Board. (Not less than twenty-four (24) hours written notice, stating the time and place of the meeting and the business to be considered, will be given to each member.) Simultaneously with the giving of notice of such meeting to the members of the Board, a written notice of the meeting and the matters to be considered will be posted in the same manner as postings for regular Board meetings.

Quorum and Majority Vote

The presence of a majority of the Board constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. However, the letting of contracts, employment of personnel, approval of bills for payment and the ordering of warrants require an affirmative vote of a majority of the Board.

Closed Meetings

The Board may vote to conduct closed executive sessions as provided for in Policy 0430 - Executive Sessions. In order to enter into executive session, such motion must be approved by a roll call majority vote. The motion to enter executive session must reference the specific statutory matters to be discussed.

Any Board member may object to the closing of a meeting, record or vote if the member believes the motion to close violates the Sunshine Law; such member(s) must object at or before the motion to close is voted upon and must vote against closing. The member(s) shall be allowed to fully participate in any subsequent meeting or vote. The objecting member(s) shall be immune from any liability for improper closure of a meeting.

Recording of Board Meetings

The open sessions of Board meetings may be audio or video taped. The Board has adopted guidelines set forth in Regulation 0410 to minimize the potential disruptive effect of such recordings.

Firearms and Weapons

Possession of firearms and weapons are prohibited from all school premises and school activities. This prohibition specifically applies to meetings and activities of the Board of Education and applies to all attendees, including members of the Board. The firearm prohibition includes permitted weapons. (See also Policy 1432 - Prohibition Against Firearms and Weapons.)

Last modified: January 01, 2003

A tentative agenda for each regular, special or proposed closed meeting of the Board shall be prepared by the Superintendent, in consultation with the Board president, and shall be included in any public notice of such meetings. Any member of the Board may request items to be placed on the agenda. The tentative agenda, related materials and minutes of the previous meeting shall be mailed to each member of the Board at least four days prior to the stated meeting unless a special emergency meeting is called at a time which makes the four day prior notice impossible.

The agenda for each meeting of the Board shall be adopted or modified by a motion by a majority of those Board members present. Once the agenda is approved, it shall require a vote of majority of the Board members present to make additional modifications.

The agenda for closed sessions shall be on a separate document; however, the motion to close a meeting must be voted on during a public meeting and must also include the reasons for closing the meeting with references to the specific topics under the provision of Section 610.021, RSMo. as valid grounds for a closed meeting session.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

Citizen Complaints

A designated period of time may be provided for public comments at all regular Board meetings.  The Board is very interested in citizen viewpoints and problems; however, citizens are encouraged to work through problems at the building and/or administrative levels before coming to the Board. Remarks may be limited to three minutes and to one appearance, thus allowing a maximum number of participants in the allotted time period in which citizens are to speak to issues. Questions directed to the Board may not always be answered immediately. All questions will be responded to by an appropriate person as soon as possible. Persons who wish to suggest items for the agenda should contact the Superintendent.

Agenda Items

Beginning July 1, 2023, and after citizen comment, residents of the District may submit an agenda item which is related to governance or operation of the District.  Prior to submission of an agenda item, the submitting resident must meet with the Superintendent/designee in an effort to resolve the concern related to the agenda item. The Superintendent/designee will hold the resolution meeting within twenty (20) business days of the request.  Following the resolution meeting or if a resolution meeting is not timely scheduled the agenda request will be submitted to the Board Secretary by the requesting resident.  The agenda item will be included in the Board agenda for the next regularly scheduled meeting if item received at least five (5) school days prior to the meeting. If not timely received, the item will be placed on the agenda of the following regularly scheduled meeting.  However, the agenda may be moved to a later meeting with the resident’s agreement.

Placement of a resident’s requesting agenda item is subject to the following rules:

1. Presentation of the agenda item is limited to five (5) minutes unless expanded by the Board.

2. No more than three (3) persons may speak on the agenda item but only if each of the speakers has spoken with the Superintendent/designee as provided in this policy.

3. The Board may decline to hear a resident’s requested agenda item if the Board reasonably believes that the Board has heard an identical or substantially the same agenda item within the preceding three (3) months.

4. If the resident requesting addition of the agenda item has previously violated rules regarding conduct at a Board meeting or on District property, as reasonably determined by the Board that the requesting resident be denied placement of their agenda item.

5. If more than three (3) resident-initiated agenda items are scheduled for the same Board meeting, later resident submissions may be scheduled for the following meeting.

However, if a resident-initiated agenda item is delayed under this paragraph the resident will be advised of this option to submit their presentation to the Board in writing.

Last modified: August 27, 2022

Open Session Minutes

Minutes of the Board of Education meetings shall be available to District residents for inspection at the Superintendent of Schools office, at reasonable hours. The minutes will include the date, time, place, members present, members absent, and a record of any votes taken.

Closed Session Minutes

A separate minute book used solely for the purpose of executive sessions shall be used to record the minutes. Under such circumstances, the Board members and others in attendance are honor-bound not to disclose the details or discussions or minutes of the executive session. Any vote taken during a closed session will be taken and recorded by a roll call vote.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

The Board reserves the right, as provided by law, to close meetings, records and votes. District records closed to public access by the Board as authorized by statute are delineated specifically in Regulation 1450. All discussion and action by the Board in executive session must be related to the reasons set forth in the motion to enter executive session. The minutes of the executive session shall be recorded and maintained in a separate, confidential minute book. (See Policy 0420 - Minutes.)

Last modified: August 31, 2021

Notice of meetings of the Board of Education, including committees of the Board as provided in Policy 0360 - Board Committees, will be given in a manner to reasonably inform the public of the matters to be considered by the Board.

Notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting as well as the tentative agenda will be provided at least twenty-four (24) hours, exclusive of holidays and weekends, prior to the meeting unless for good cause it is impossible or impractical to provide such notice. In such instances, the nature of the impossibility or impracticality will be stated in the minutes. In order to maximize public participation, notice of Board meetings will be posted in each District school and at the District's administrative offices. Upon request, members of the media will be provided with notice of the meeting at the same time notice is provided to members of the Board. Meetings will be scheduled at a location reasonably accessible to the public in a room of sufficient size to accommodate the anticipated attendance by the public.

Where meetings are conducted by telephone or other electronic means, written notice of such meetings will include the specific mode by which the meetings will be conducted and the location where the public may attend such electronic meetings. If a meeting is conducted through the Internet or other computer link, notice of such meeting will be posted on an existing District web site.

Last modified: January 01, 2003

The development and adoption of policies to govern operation of the School District are the responsibility of the Board of Education. In developing policy, the Board may solicit input from the community, staff and other professionals.

At any meeting of the Board, policies governing the schools may be enacted, amended or repealed by a majority vote. The formal adoption of policies shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board. Only those written statements so adopted and so recorded shall be regarded as official Board policy.

Implementation

The Superintendent of Schools is assigned the responsibility for insuring that all Board policies, rules and regulations are implemented. The Board authorizes the Superintendent to develop administrative guidelines in order to implement Board policy. The Superintendent shall notify all employees and students of their need to abide by Board policies and regulations. Administrators shall prepare staff, student and parent handbooks that interpret Board policies and state rules and regulations that affect each population set. The handbooks shall be revised annually and distributed within the first month of the school term.

Review

The Board shall review written policies on a continuing basis to ensure consistency and legality of Board action and administrative decisions. Policies shall be reviewed and revised as a result of newly enacted state and/or federal legislation, court decisions, as a result of research and/or policy development as presented by state and/or national organizations and agencies, or for other reasons as determined by the Board.

Posting Board Policies and Student Handbooks

During periods of time in which the District maintains a District web site, the Board's policies and regulations along with student handbooks will be posted on the web site.

Last modified: January 01, 2003