Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School District
Bylaws & Policies
 

0140 - MEMBERSHIP

0141

Number
   
 

The Board of Education shall consist of seven (7) members of participating boards of education apportioned as follows: two (2) Ashtabula City, one (1) Geneva City, one (1) Conneaut Area City, and three (3) Ashtabula County Boards of Education.
   

0141.2

Conflict of Interest
   
 

A Board member shall not have any direct pecuniary interest in a contract with the District; nor shall s/he furnish directly any labor, equipment, or supplies to the District; nor shall s/he be employed by the Board in any capacity for compensation.
   
 

In the event a Board member is employed by a corporation or business which furnishes goods or services to the School District, the Board member shall declare his/her association with the organization and refrain from debating or voting upon the question of the contract. It is not the intent of this policy to prevent the District from contracting with corporations or businesses because a Board member is an employee of the firm. The policy is designed to prevent placing a Board member in a position where his/her interest in the public schools and his/her interest in his/her place of employment might conflict and to avoid appearances of conflict of interest even though such conflict may not exist.
   
 

The law specifically forbids:
 A.the prosecuting attorney or city attorney from serving on the Board of Education;
 B.a Board member from serving as the School dentist, physician, or nurse;
 C.a Board member from being employed for compensation by the Board;
 D.a Board member from having, directly or indirectly, any pecuniary interest in any contract with the Board;
 E.a Board member from accepting a reward, gift, or reduction in price for favoring, recommending, or advocating the introduction, adoption, or use in the school of a textbook, map, chart, or any other school supply;
 F.a Board member, for a period of one (1) year after leaving office, from accepting employment with the Board where such employment was authorized by the Board while s/he was a member thereof;
 G.a Board member from soliciting or using the authority or influence of his/her office to secure employment with the Board;
 H.a Board member from voting, deliberating, participating in discussions, or otherwise using the authority or influence of his/her office to create a position with the School District or to set the compensation for such position where s/he is considering, or is being considered for, employment in that position;
 I.a Board member from having interest in the contract for the purchase of property, supplies, or fire insurance by any county, township, municipal corporation, board of education, or public institution anywhere in the State of Ohio, if such contract exceeds $150 unless the contract is let by competitive bidding;
 J.a Board member from voting on a contract with that person as a teacher or instructor if s/he is related to that person as father, mother, brother, or sister.
 

Nothing herein shall prevent a Board member who attends a conference held by an association of public officials and employees from accepting a meal, or attending a reception or open house, the cost of which is financed by a private party so long as the meal, reception, or open house is: (1) of an ordinary, routine character; (2) at an educational or informational event; and (3) open to all of the public officials and employees attending the event. See Ohio Ethics Commission Advisory Opinion No. 2002-02 (6/13/2002). A Board member is prohibited from improperly using his/her position to secure the donation of the cost of a meal, reception, or open house at a conference of an association of public officials and employees to which s/he or his/her Board belongs, while the Board member is simultaneously engaged in governmental business or regulatory activity directly affecting the related interests of the person solicited.
   
 

A Board member whose spouse is a teacher in the District may not vote, authorize, or use the influence of his/her office to secure approval of an employment contract with his/her spouse. Neither may s/he vote, deliberate, discuss, or otherwise attempt to influence a collectively-bargained, negotiated agreement affecting his/her spouse if the agreement includes provisions for health insurance.
   
 

R.C. 102.03(D)(E)(F), 2921.42(A)(3), 2921.44(D-F),
 

R.C. 2921.02, 3313.13, 3313.33, 3313.70, 3319.21
   
 

Revised 2/17/03
   

0142

Qualifications
   
 

Each member of the Board shall meet the qualifications specified in the plan for this District. (R.C. 3311.19A)
   

0142.1

Oath
   
 

Each member of the Board shall, before entering his/her duties of office, take an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio and to perform faithfully the duties of his/her office. (R.C. 3313.10)

0142.3

Orientation
   
 

The Board believes that the preparation of each Board member for the performance of Board duties is essential to the effectiveness of the Board's functioning. The Board shall encourage each new Board member to understand the functions of the Board, acquire knowledge of matters related to the operation of the schools, and learn Board procedures. Accordingly, the Board shall give to each new Board member, no later than his/her first regular meeting as a Board member, for his/her use and possession during the term on the Board the following items:
 A.a copy of the Ohio Ethics Law as required by R.C. 102.09 (E);
 B.a copy of the Board policy manual;
 C.a copy of the District procedures manual;
 D.a copy of each current negotiated agreement.
 

The Board will provide and maintain a library of publications and reference materials for the use of Board members.
   
 

Each new Board member may request to meet with the Board President, the Superintendent, and the Treasurer to discuss Board functions, policies, and procedures.
   
 

R.C. 3315.15
   

0143

Appointment
   
 

A member shall be appointed to the Board upon an opening thereto by resolution passed by members of a board of education as specified in the District plan.
   

0144

Term
   
 

The term of each Board member shall be two (2) years and shall commence upon taking the oath of office at the organizational meeting. (R.C. 3311.19(A)

0145

Filling a Board Vacancy
   
 

A vacancy occurs on the Board when one of the following events occurs:
 A.death
 B.nonresidence
 C.failure of the person elected or appointed to qualify as an elector within the District within ten (10) days after the organization of the Board or of the appointment or election
 D.failure of the person elected or appointed to qualify due to acceptance of duties incompatible with those of a Board member
 E.absence from meetings of the Board for a period of ninety (90) days, if the absence is caused by reasons declared insufficient by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board
 

Whenever a vacancy occurs, the Board shall notify the board(s) the vacating member represents.
   

0147

Compensation
   
 

Each Board member shall be compensated for twelve (12) meetings attended and mileage at the rate established by the Board. In addition, each Board member shall be paid for attendance at approved training programs. (R.C. 3311.19(F), 3313.202, 3313.33)
   
 

Expenses of a Board member incurred in the performance of his/her duties and expenses of a member-elect in training and orientation will be paid from the Board Service Fund, provided that each such member or member-elect submit a written statement of his/her expenses for approval by the Board at its next regular meeting. (R.C. 3315.15)
 

A Board member shall be permitted to request coverage for himself/herself and/or family in the Center's group health and life insurance plans. This coverage is permissible only at the Board member's expense and must be announced at a regular meeting and recorded in the minutes. This does not constitute "pecuniary interest" in any contract. R.C. 3313.12, 3313.202(D)
   
 

Board members shall not receive compensation for their services. (R.C. 3313.12)
   
 

The following guidelines have been established by the Board of Education to ensure appropriate and proper reimbursement of expenses for Board members.
 A.Expenses will be reimbursed only for activities authorized by the Board.
 B.Reimbursement for mileage will not exceed the current rate permitted by law.
 C.When attending a Board-approved conference, all fees, parking, mileage, meals, and housing can be submitted for approval.
 D.Purchase of any printed or other materials necessary in the performance of Board member duties will be reimbursed if prepurchase approval is given by the Board. If such approval is not possible or feasible, a voucher must be submitted to the Board for approval. No postpurchase voucher will be approved if it exceeds $200.00.
 E.No entertainment expenses or purchases of alcoholic beverages are reimbursable.
 F.A voucher detailing the amount and nature of each expense must be submitted to the Board for approval within thirty (30) days after the expenses have been incurred.
 

Revised 12/16/02

0149

Authority
   
 

Individual members of the Board do not possess the powers that reside in the Board of Education.
   
 

Access to District personnel records shall be subject to Board policy and State statute.
   
 

Information obtained from employee personnel records by members of the Board shall be used only for the purpose of aiding the members to fulfill their legal responsibilities in making decisions on such matters as appointments, assignments, promotions, demotions, remuneration, discipline and dismissal, or to aid the development and implementation of personnel policies, or for such other uses as are necessary to enable the Board to carry out its legal responsibilities.