| School District of Colfax |
| Bylaws & Policies |
0140 - MEMBERSHIP
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0141 |
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The Board of Education shall consist of seven (7) members. |
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0142 |
Election/Appointment |
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0142.1 |
Electoral Process |
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Members of the Board shall be elected annually at the spring election on the first Tuesday in April in a manner that is consistent with State law. |
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120.06 (1), 10.68 (5)(2b), Wis. Stats. |
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Declaration of Candidacy |
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If an incumbent fails to file a Declaration of Candidacy and nomination papers by the 5:00 P.M. deadline on the first Tuesday in January, candidates may file a declaration of candidacy and nomination papers within seventy-two (72) hours of the Tuesday deadline. |
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Declaration of Non-Candidacy |
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If an incumbent files a Declaration of Non-Candidacy no later than 5:00 P.M. on the 2nd Friday preceding the Tuesday deadline, there is no extension of the Tuesday deadline. |
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When the first Tuesday in January is a holiday the deadline becomes 5:00 P.M. the next day. |
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120.06 (6)(b), Wis. Stats. |
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0142.2 |
Qualifications |
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A school elector in the School District is eligible to be a Board member. |
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120.06(2), Wis. Stats. |
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0142.3 |
Term |
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The term of each Board member shall be three (3) years commencing on the 4th Monday in April and shall continue until a successor is elected and qualified or until a vacancy occurs. |
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120.06(4), Wis. Stats. |
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0142.4 |
Oath |
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Each newly-elected Board member shall file the oath of office with the Clerk and shall take an oral oath of office administered by the Clerk. |
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120.06 (10), Wis. Stats. |
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0142.5 |
Vacancies |
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The office of a Board member shall become vacant immediately upon the occurrence of any one (1) of the following events: |
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A. |
the death of the incumbent, or the incumbent's being found mentally incompetent by the proper court |
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B. |
the incumbent's resignation |
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C. |
the incumbent's removal from office |
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D. |
the incumbent's conviction of a felony or imprisonment for one or more years |
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E. |
the incumbent's election or appointment being declared void by a competent tribunal |
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F. |
the incumbent's neglect or failure to file the oath of office or to give or renew an official bond, if required |
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G. |
the incumbent's ceasing to possess the legal qualifications for holding office |
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H. |
the incumbent moving his/her residence out of the District |
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I. |
the incumbent is absent from the territory of the District for a period of sixty (60) continuous days, unless such absence is due to active duty in the armed forces, in which case the vacancy shall be temporary for the remainder of the term or until the incumbent returns and files a notice of his/her intent to return to his/her unexpired term |
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A vacancy shall be filled by the remaining members of the Board in accordance with 17.26. |
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17.03 et seq., Wis. Stats. |
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Filling a Board Vacancy |
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If a majority of the Board is still seated, the vacancy shall be filled by the Board using the following procedure: |
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A. |
The Board shall seek qualified and interested candidates from the community through the news media, word of mouth, and contacts with appropriate organizations. |
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B. |
All applicants are to submit a notice of their interest, in writing, to the District Office. |
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C. |
The Board may interview candidates to ascertain their qualifications. |
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D. |
Appointment by the Board to fill a vacancy shall be by a majority vote of the existing Board. |
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0142.6 |
Recall |
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Any member of the Board may be recalled pursuant to Chapter 9.10, Wis. Stats. |
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0142.7 |
Orientation |
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The Board believes that the preparation of each Board member for the performance of Board duties is essential to the effective functioning of the Board. 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 District, and learn Board procedures. Accordingly, the Board shall give to each new Board member for his/her use and possession during the term on the Board a copy of or access to the Board policy manual. |
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Each new Board member shall be invited to meet with the Board President and the District Administrator to discuss Board functions, policies, and procedures. |
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The Board shall encourage the attendance of each new Board member at orientation and training meetings. |
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0143 |
Authority |
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Individual members of the Board do not possess the powers that reside in the Board of Education. The Board speaks through its minutes and not through its individual members. An act of the Board shall not be valid unless approved at an official meeting by at least a majority vote of the members present or as otherwise may be required by law. |
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0143.1 |
Public Expression of Board Members |
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The Board President or District Administrator function as the official spokespersons for the Board. |
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0144 |
Operations |
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0144.1 |
Compensation |
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Board members shall receive compensation as approved by the electors at the Annual Meeting. |
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Expenses of a Board member when authorized by the Annual Meeting shall be reimbursed when incurred in the performance of his/her duties or in the performance of functions authorized by the Board and duly vouchered. |
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120.10(3), Wis. Stats. |
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0144.2 |
Board Member Ethics |
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As members of the Board of Education, Board members will strive to improve public education and to that end they will: |
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A. |
attend all regularly scheduled Board meetings insofar as possible, and become informed concerning the issues to be considered at those meetings; |
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B. |
recognize that they should endeavor to make policy decisions only after full discussion at publicly held Board meetings; |
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C. |
render all decisions based on the available facts and independent judgment, and refuse to surrender that judgment to individuals or special interest groups; |
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D. |
encourage the free expression of opinion by all Board members, and seek systematic communications between the Board and students, staff, and all elements of the community; |
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E. |
work with the other Board members to establish effective Board policies and to delegate authority for the administration of the District to the District Administrator; |
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F. |
communicate to other Board members and the District Administrator expressions of public reaction to Board policies and school programs; |
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G. |
inform themselves about current educational issues by individual study and through participation in programs providing needed information, such as those sponsored by the State and National School Boards Associations; |
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H. |
support the employment of those persons best qualified to serve as school staff, and insist on a regular and impartial evaluation of all staff; |
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I. |
avoid being placed in a position of conflict of interest, and refrain from using their Board positions for personal partisan gain; |
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J. |
take no private action that will compromise the Board or administration, and respect the confidentiality of information that is privileged under applicable law; |
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K. |
remember always that their first and greatest concern must be for the educational welfare of the students attending the public schools. |
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Source: Board of Directors, National School Boards Association. |
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0144.3 |
Conflict of Interest |
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Board members shall perform their official duties in a manner free from conflict of interest pursuant to 19.59, Wis. Stats. To this end: |
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A. |
no Board member shall use his/her position as a Board member to obtain financial gain for himself/herself, immediate family, or any organization with which s/he is associated; |
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B. |
no Board member shall engage in or have a financial interest, directly or indirectly, in any activity that conflicts or raises a reasonable question of conflict with his/her duties and responsibilities in the school system and as a public officer; |
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C. |
when a member of the Board determines that the possibility of a personal interest conflict exists, s/he should, prior to the matter being considered, disclose his/her interest (such disclosure shall become a matter of record in the minutes of the Board), and thereafter shall abstain from participation in both the discussion of the matter and the vote thereon. |
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Board Members shall also perform their duties in a manner that does not violate criminal conflict of interest laws pursuant to 946.13, Wis. Stats., by having a private interest in a contract with the District in an amount that exceeds $15,000 annually. |
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0144.4 |
Indemnification |
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The Board may hold harmless, indemnify, pay, settle, or compromise a judgment against a Board member to the extent allowed under the law. |
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0145 |
Sexual and Other Forms of Harassment |
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The Board of Education believes that sexual or other forms of offensive speech and conduct are wholly inappropriate to the harmonious relationships necessary to the operation of the District and intolerable in an environment in which students and staff members of this District function. |
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Sexual harassment includes all unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal or physical contacts of a sexual nature whenever submission to such conduct is made a condition of employment or a basis for an employment decision, or when such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment. Other forms of harassment include verbal or non-verbal expression related to race, gender, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, or sexual orientation. |
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Substantial interference with a person/employee's work performance or creation of an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment is established when the conduct is such that a reasonable person under the same circumstances as the person/employee would consider the conduct sufficiently severe or pervasive so as to interfere substantially with the person's work performance or create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. 111.36(1) Wis. Stats. |
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The harassment of a District staff member or student by a member of the Board is strictly forbidden. Any member who is found to have harassed a member of the staff or a student, will be subject to discipline by the Board and may be reported to law enforcement authorities. |
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118.13, 120.13(1) 111.32(13) Wis. Stats. |
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