303 - Administrative Employees

303 - Administrative Employees dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:46

303.02 - Administrator Qualifications, Recruitment, Appointment

The board will employ building principals and other administrators, in addition to the superintendent, to assist in the daily operations of the school district.

The board will consider applicants who meet or exceed the standards set by the Iowa Department of Education and the qualifications established in the job description for the position. In employing an administrator, the board will consider the qualifications, credentials and records of the applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. In keeping with the law, however, the board will consider the veteran status of the applicants. The board will look closely at the training, experience, skill and demonstrated competence of qualified applicants in making its final decision.

In choosing an administrator, the board will also consider the school district's educational philosophy, financial condition, organizational structure, education programs, and other factors deemed relevant by the board.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board for filling an administrative position, based on the requirements stated in this policy. The board will act only on the superintendent's recommendation.

The board may contract for assistance in the search for administrators.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8, .21.
281 I.A.C. 12.4.

Cross Reference: 303 Administrative Employees

Approved       3/2020
Reviewed
Revised

dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:46

303.03 - Administrator Contract and Contract Nonrenewal

The length of the contract for employment between an administrator and the board will be determined by the board and stated in the contract. The contract will also state the terms of the employment.

The first three consecutive years of a contract issued to a newly employed administrator will be considered a probationary period. The probationary period may be extended for an additional year upon the consent of the administrator. In the event of termination of a probationary or nonprobationary contract, the board will afford the administrator appropriate due process, as required by law. The administrator and board may mutually agree to terminate the administrator's contract.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to create a contract for each administrative position. The board may issue temporary and nonrenewable contracts in accordance with the law.

Administrators who wish to resign, to be released from a contract, or to retire, must comply with applicable law and board policies.

Legal Reference:  Martin v. Waterloo Community School District, 518 N.W. 2d 381 (Iowa 1994).
     Cook v Plainfield Community School District, 301 N.W. 2d 771 (Iowa App. 1980).
                 Board of Education of Fort Madison Community School District v Youel, 282 N.W. 2d 677 (Iowa 1979).
                           Briggs v Board of Education of Hinton Community School District, 282 N.W. 2d 740 (Iowa 1979).
                                       Iowa Code §§ 279
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.4.

Cross Reference: 303 Administrative Employees

Approved       3/2020
Reviewed
Revised

dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:47

303.04 - Administrator Salary and Other Compensation

The board has complete discretion to set the salary of the administrators. It is the responsibility of the board to set the salary and benefits of the administrators at a level that will include consideration of, but not be limited to, the economic condition of the school district and the training, experience, skill, and demonstrated competence of the administrators. The salary will be set at the beginning of each contract period.

In addition to the salary and benefits agreed upon, the administrator's actual and necessary expenses will be paid by the school district when the administrator is performing work-related duties. The board will approve the payment of other benefits or compensation over and above the administrator's contract. Approval of other benefits or items of an administrator's compensation will be included in the records of the board in accordance with board policy.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.21.

Cross Reference: 303 Administrative Employees

Approved      3/2020
Reviewed
Revised

dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:48

303.05 - Administrator Duties

Administrators will be hired by the board to assist the superintendent in the day-to-day operations of the school district.

Each attendance center will have a building principal responsible for the administration and operation of the attendance center. Each building principal, as chief administrator of the assigned attendance center, is responsible for the building and grounds, for the students and employees assigned to the attendance center, for school activities at the attendance center, for the education program offered in the attendance center, and the budget for the attendance center. The principal is considered the professional advisor to the superintendent in matters pertaining to the attendance center supervised by the principal. Although the principals serve under the direction of the superintendent, duties of the principal may include, but not be limited to the following:

∙ Cooperate in the general organization and plan of procedure in the school under the principal's supervision;

∙ Supervision of the teachers in the principal's attendance center;

∙ Maintain the necessary records for carrying out delegated duties;

∙ Work with the superintendent in rating, recommending and selecting supervised employees whenever possible;

∙ Work with the superintendent in determining the education program to be offered and in arranging the schedules. As much of the schedule as possible should be made before school closes for summer vacation. In the matter of courses offered, the final approval rests with the superintendent who is in turn responsible to the board;

∙ Ensure that proper care is taken of all school books, supplies, materials, equipment, furniture and facilities;

∙ Instruct teachers to make a complete annual inventory of all school property contained in their individual rooms. This inventory is reviewed and filed with the board secretary;

∙ Investigate excessive cases of absence or tardiness of students and notify the parents or guardians of unexcused absence or tardiness. All such cases should be reported to the superintendent;

∙ Make such reports from time to time as the superintendent may require;

∙ Maintain the regular schedule of school hours established by the board and make no temporary changes in the schedule without the consent of the superintendent;

∙ Promptly notify the superintendent whenever ventilation, sanitation or heating of the building is unsatisfactory;

∙ Contribute to the formation and implementation of general policies and procedures of the school;

∙ Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the superintendent of schools.

This list of duties will not act to limit the board's authority and responsibility over the position of the administrators. In executing these duties and others the board may delegate, the administrators will consider the school district's financial condition as well as the needs of the students in the school district.

NOTE: This is a sample listing of administrator duties. Boards may want to amend it to reflect actual duties..

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8, .21, .23A.
281 I.A.C. 12.4(5), .4(6), .4(7).

Cross Reference: 301 Administrative Structure
303 Administrative Employees

Approved      3/2020
Reviewed
Revised

dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:48

303.06 - Administrator Evaluation

The Superintendent will conduct an ongoing process of evaluating the administrators on their skills, abilities, and competence. At a minimum, Superintendent will formally evaluate the administrators annually. The goal of the formal evaluation process is to ensure that the educational program for the students is carried out, ensure student learning goals of the school district are met, promote growth in effective administrative leadership for the school district, clarify the administrator's role as defined by the board and the superintendent, ascertain areas in need of improvement, clarify the immediate priorities of the responsibilities listed in the job description, and develop a working relationship between the superintendent and the administrator.

The superintendent is responsible for designing an administrator evaluation instrument. The formal evaluation will include written criteria related to the job description. The superintendent, after receiving input from the administrators, will present the formal evaluation instrument to the board for approval.

The formal evaluation will also include an opportunity for the administrator and the superintendent to discuss the written criteria, the past year's performance and the future areas of growth. The evaluation is completed by the superintendent, signed by the administrator and filed in the administrator's personnel file.

The principal will be an educational leader who promotes the success of all students by:

Facilitating the development, articulation, implementation, and stewardship of a vision of learning that is shared and supported by the school community.
Advocating, nurturing and sustaining a school culture and instructional program conducive to student learning and staff professional development.
Ensuring management of the organization, operations and resources for a safe, efficient and effective learning environment.
Collaborating with families and community members, responding to diverse community interests and needs and mobilizing community resources.
Acting with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner.
Understanding the profile of the community, and responding to and influencing the larger political, social, economic, legal and cultural context.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to conduct a formal evaluation of the probationary administrators and nonprobationary administrators prior to May 15.

This policy supports and does not preclude the ongoing informal evaluation of the administrator's skills, abilities and competence.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8, .21-.23A.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(3); ch 83.

Cross Reference: 303 Administrative Employees

Approved      3/2020
Reviewed
Revised

dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:49

303.07 - Administrator Professional Development

The board encourages the administrators to continue their professional growth by becoming involved in professional organizations, attending conferences, continuing their education, and participating in other professional activities.

It is the responsibility of the administrators to arrange their schedules in order to attend various conferences and events in which they are involved. Prior to attendance at an event, the administrator must receive approval from the superintendent. In the case where overnight travel or unusual expense is involved, the superintendent will bring it to the attention of the board prior to the administrator attending the event.

The administrator will report to the superintendent after an event.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8
281 I.A.C. 12.7.

Cross Reference: 302.6 Superintendent Professional Development
401.7 Employee Travel Compensation

Approved     3/2020
Reviewed
Revised

dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:50

303.08 - Administrator Civic Activities

The board encourages the administrators to be involved in the school district community by belonging to community organizations and by attending and participating in school district community activities.

It is the responsibility of the administrators to become involved in school district community activities and events. It is within the discretion of the board to pay annual fees for professional organizations and activities.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8

Cross Reference: 302.7 Superintendent Civic Activities

Approved     3/2020
Reviewed
Revised

dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:51

303.09 -Administrator Consulting/Outside Employment

An administrative position is considered full-time employment. The board expects administrators to give the responsibilities of their positions in the school district precedence over other employment. An administrator may accept consulting or outside employment for pay as long as, in the judgment of the board and the superintendent, the work is conducted on the administrator's personal time and it does not interfere with the performance of the administrative duties contracted by the board.

The board reserves the right, however, to request the administrator cease the outside employment as a condition of continued employment. The board will give the administrator thirty days notice to cease outside employment.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8, .21.

Cross Reference: 303.3 Administrator Contract and Contract Nonrenewal
303.5 Administrator Duties

Approved      3/2020
Reviewed
Revised

dawn.gibson.cm… Mon, 10/30/2023 - 09:51