School District of Winter
Bylaws & Policies
 

4112 - BOARD-STAFF COMMUNICATIONS

The Board of Education has a legitimate interest in maintaining order by channeling employee communications to the School Board through the chain of command to the District Administrator. Employees are expected to follow the established chain of communication as described in this policy. Failure to do so may result in employee discipline.

 A.Staff Communications to the Board
  All communications from staff members related to the performance of their job duties or responsibilities to the Board or its committees shall be submitted through the District Administrator. This procedure is not intended to deny any staff member the right to appeal to the Board on important matters through established procedures.

 B.Board Communications to Staff
  All official communications, policies, and directives of the Board of staff interest and concern to the staff will be communicated through the District Administrator, who shall also keep staff members fully informed of the Board's problems, concerns, and actions.

 C.Social Interaction
  Both staff and Board members share a keen interest in the schools and in education generally, and it is to be expected that when they meet at social affairs and other functions, they will informally discuss such matters as educational trends, issues, and innovations, and general activities of the District. However, since individual Board members have no special authority except when they are convened at a legal meeting of the Board or vested with special authority by Board action, discussions between staff and Board members related to the performance of job duties or responsibilities are inappropriate violations of the chain of command.

Garcetti v. Ceballos, 547 U.S. 410 (2006)
Samuelson v. LaPorte Comm. Sch. Dist., 526 F.3d 1046 (7th Cir. 2008)

Revised 7/18/11

© Neola 2011