Public Relations

The Board President is the official spokesperson for the School Board.  The Superintendent is the District’s chief spokesperson.  The Superintendent or designee shall plan, implement, and evaluate a District public relations program which will:

1. Develop public understanding of school operation;
2. Gather public attitudes and desires for the District;
3. Secure adequate financial support for a sound educational program;
4. Help the community feel a more direct responsibility for the quality of education provided by their schools;
5. Earn the public’s good will, respect, and confidence;
6. Promote a genuine spirit of cooperation between the school and the community; and
7. Keep the news media accurately informed.
8. Coordinate with the District Safety Coordinator to provide accurate and timely information to the appropriate individuals during an emergency.

The public relations program should include:

1. Regular news releases concerning District programs, policies, activities, and special event management for distribution by, for example, posting on the District website or sending to the news media;
2. News conference and interviews as requested or needed.  The Board President and Superintendent will coordinate their respective media relations efforts.  Individuals shall not speak for the District without prior approval from the Building Principal with regard to a building issue or from the Superintendent with regard to the District;
3. Publications having a high quality of editorial content and effective format.  All publications shall identify the District, school, department, or classroom and shall include the name of the Superintendent, the Building Principal, and/or the author and the publication date; and
4. Other programs which highlight the District’s programs and activities.

Community Engagement

Community engagement is a process that the Board uses to actively involve diverse citizens in dialogue, deliberation, and collaborative thinking around common interests for the District’s schools. 5 The Board, in consultation with the Superintendent, determines the purpose(s) and objective(s) of any community engagement initiative. For each community engagement initiative, the Board will commit to the determined purpose(s) and objective(s), and provide information about the expected nature of the public’s involvement; 6 the Superintendent or designee will identify the effective tools and tactics that will advance the Board’s purpose(s) and objective(s).

The Superintendent will: (1) at least annually, prepare a report of each community engagement initiative, and/or (2) prepare a final report of each community engagement initiative.

The Board will periodically: (1) review whether its community engagement initiatives are achieving the identified purpose(s) and objective(s), (2) consider what, if any, modifications would improve effectiveness, and (3) determine whether to continue individual initiatives. CROSS REF.: 2:110 (Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers)

LEGAL REF.:  23 Ill.Admin. Code § 1.210.

CROSS REF: 2:110

ADOPTED:     October 4, 1999

REVISED:       October 29, 2015

1. the date, time, and place of the Board hearing;
2. a description of the unsportsmanlike or disruptive conduct;
3. the proposed time period that admission to school events will be denied; and
4. instructions on how to waiver a hearing.

The School Board appreciates gifts from any education foundation, other entities, or individuals.  All gifts must adhere to each of the following:

1.    Be accepted by the Board or, if less than $500.00 in value, the Superintendent or designee. Individuals should obtain a pre-acceptance commitment before identifying the District, any school, or school program or activity as a beneficiary in any fundraising attempt, including without limitation, any Internet fundraising attempt.

2.    Be given without a stated purpose or with a purpose deemed by the party with authority to accept the gift to be compatible with the Board’s educational objectives and policies.

3.    Be consistent with the District’s mandate to provide equal educational and extracurricular opportunities to all students in the District as provided in Board policy 7:10, Equal Educational Opportunities. State and federal laws require the District to provide equal treatment for members of both sexes to educational programing, extracurricular activities, and athletics. This includes the distribution of athletic benefits and opportunities.

4.    Permit the District to maintain resource equity among it learning centers.

5.    Be viewpoint neutral.  The Superintendent or designee shall manage a process for the review and approval of donations involving the incorporation of messages into or placing messages upon school property.  Comply with all laws applicable to the District including, without limitation, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Prevailing Wage Act, the Health/Life Safety Code for Public Schools, and all applicable procurement and bidding requirements.

The District will provide equal treatment to all individuals and entities seeking to donate money or a gift. Upon acceptance, all gifts become the District’s property. The acceptance of a gift is not an endorsement by the Board, District, or school of any product, service, activity, or program. The method of recognition is determined by the party accepting the gift.

LEGAL REF.: 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., Title IX of the Education Amendments implemented by           

                       34 C.F.R. Part 106.

                       105 ILCS 5/16-1. 23

            Ill. Admin. Code §200.40.

CROSS REF.: 4:60, 4:150, 6:10, 6:210, 7:10

ADOPTED:      October 4, 1999

REVISED:          October 29, 2015

1. The organization’s or club’s name and purpose, such as, to enhance students’ educational experiences, to help educational needs of students, to provide extra athletic benefits to students, to assist specific sports teams or academic clubs through financial support, or to enrich extracurricular activities.
2. The rules and procedures under which it operates.
3. An agreement to adhere to all Board policies and administrative procedures.
4. A statement that membership is open and unrestricted, meaning that membership is open to parent/guardians of students enrolled in the school, District staff, and community members.
5. A statement that the District is not, and will not be, responsible for the organization’s or club’s business or the conduct of its members.
6. An agreement to maintain and protect its own finances.
7. Recognition that money given to a school cannot be earmarked for any particular expense. Booster clubs may make recommendations, but cash or other valuables must be given to the District to use at its discretion. The School Board’s legal obligation to comply with Title IX by providing equal athletic opportunity for members of both genders will supersede an organization or club’s recommendation.

Permission to use one of the above-mentioned names or logos may be rescinded at any time and does not constitute permission to act as the District’s representative. At no time does the District accept responsibility for the actions of any parent organization or booster club regardless of whether it was recognized and/or permitted to use any of the above-mentioned names or logos.

In order to assure collaborative relationships among students’ families and the School Board and District personnel, and to enable parent(s)/guardian(s) to become active partners in education, the Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures to:

1. keep parent(s)/guardian(s) thoroughly informed about their child’s school and education;
2. encourage involvement I their child’s school and education;
3. establish effective two-way communication between all families and the School Board and District personnel;
4. seek input from parent(s)/guardian(s) on significant school-related issues; and
5. inform parent(s)/guardian(s) on how they can assist their children’s learning.

The Superintendent may periodically report to the Board on the implementation of this policy.

CROSS REF.:            6:170, 6:250, 8:10; 8:90

ADOPTED:           October 4, 1999

REVISED:             February 27, 2014

The District shall cooperate with other organizations and agencies, including but not limited to:

• County Health Department;

• Law enforcement agencies;

• Fire authorities;

• Planning authorities;

• Zoning authorities;

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), local organizations for civil defense, and other appropriate disaster relief organizations concerned with civil defense.

• Villages; and

• Other school districts.

CROSS REF.: 1:20; 4:170, 5:90, 7.150

ADOPTED: October 4, 1999

REVISED:   February 25, 2010

5-YEAR REVIEW: August 2014 (no changes)

REVIEWED:   October 2016