THE POLICY MANUAL
OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
OF PINELLAS COUNTY,
FLORIDA
(click here for Table of Contents)
(click here for Subject Index)
SCHOOL BOARD OF PINELLAS COUNTY
Mary L. Tyus Brown, Chairperson
Nancy N. Bostock, Vice-Chairperson
Janet R. Clark
Carol J. Cook
Jane Gallucci
Linda S. Lerner
Peggy L. O'Shea
Clayton M. Wilcox, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Julie Janssen, Ed.D.
Deputy Superintendent
Allen Mortimer, Ph.D.
Director, Planning and Policy
SUPERINTENDENT'S FOREWORD
This new Policy Manual is the result of a district wide comprehensive review of all existing policies that was begun in the fall of 1995 and culminated with the School Board adoption of a new Policy Manual on June 30, 1998. The revision process focused on four aspects:
• To review and correct the existing policies.
• To determine additional materials (i.e. handbooks) that currently exist but have not been adopted as rules (policies).
• To determine what new materials need to be developed and adopted as policies;
• To provide the School Board with opportunities to review each section and to amend as desired.
This has resulted in the development of this revised policy manual to more fully comply with Florida Statute as well as to update all policies as needed. Based upon a review of policy manuals from other districts in Florida and the guidelines prepared by the Florida School Board Association, the new manual was organized into the following eleven chapters:
CHAPTER 1 FOUNDATIONS AND BASIC COMMITMENTS
CHAPTER 2 SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS
CHAPTER 3 ORGANIZATION OF PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
CHAPTER 4 STUDENTS
CHAPTER 5 TEACHING AND LEARNING
CHAPTER 6 DISTRICT, AREA, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 7 BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
CHAPTER 8 HUMAN RESOURCES
CHAPTER 9 FACILITIES
CHAPTER 10 TRANSPORTATION
CHAPTER 11 FOOD SERVICE
During the revision process individual chapters were submitted to Board Workshops for review and tentative approval As part of the materials presented at the Workshop a narrative description was included to answer the three questions:
1. What is changing?
2. Why is it changing?
3. How will the change affect the organization?
The distribution of The Policy Manual will include the use of the Pinellas County Schools Home Page Website on the Internet and computer CD's. This will allow the most up-to-date access as policies are amended.
THE POLICY MANUAL OF THE SCHOOL BOARD OF PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA
CHAPTER 1 FOUNDATIONS AND BASIC COMMITMENTS
1.03 District Strategic Directions
1.05 Non-Discrimination/Affirmative Action
1.06 Beliefs About Parent/Family Involvement
1.07 Family And School Partnership For Student Achievement
CHAPTER 2 SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS
2.01 Scope Of The School District
2.02 School Board Responsibility
2.03 Membership Of The School Board
2.04 Orientation Of School Board Members
2.05 Superintendent Of Schools
2.06 Operational Procedures For School Board Members
2.07 Compliance With Board Procedures
2.13 Audience Participation And Conduct At Board Meetings
2.14 Board Proceedings For Suspension Or Dismissal Of Personnel
2.15 Procedures For Expulsion Hearings Before The School Board
2.16 Committees To Advise The Board
CHAPTER 3 ORGANIZATION OF PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS
3.01 Organization Of Pinellas County Schools
CHAPTER 4 STUDENTS
4.02 Code Of Student Conduct Postsecondary/Adult CTAE
4.04 Superintendent’s Waiver Of Labor Restrictions For Certain Students
4.05 Activities And Trips: Camps, Leagues And Other Non‑School Sponsored Events
4.06 Field Trips And Activities)
4.07 Teacher Chaperones For Combined School Functions
4.08 Foreign Exchange Students
4.09 High School Students’ Rights And Responsibilities
4.091 Principal's Multicultural Advisory Committee
4.10 Extra-Curricular Activities/Requirements
4.15 Legal Name On Student Records
4.17 Security Of Student Records
4.19 Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship Program
4.22 Voluntary Testing Program
4.23 Placement In Middle School Honors And Advanced Courses
4.24 Removal Of Students From Class
4.25 Child Abuse, Molestation, Neglect
4.27 Student Crime-Watch Program
4.28 Releasing A Student From School
4.29 Fundamental School District Appeals Committees –Repealed 1/16/01
4.30 Limited English Proficiency Students
4.31 Annual Notification of Rights Concerning Educational Records
4.32 Fundamental Schools, Magnet Programs and Career Academies
4.33 High School Career Academy Guidelines - Repealed 1/9/07
CHAPTER 5 TEACHING AND LEARNING
5.05 Instructional Materials, Including Textbooks
5.06 Library Information Selection
5.07 Required Program/Promotion/Retention/Acceleration-Elementary
5.071 Elementary School Magnet Programs - Repealed 1/9/07
5.08 Reporting Student Progress-Elementary
5.09 Regular Program/Promotion/Retention/Acceleration-Middle School
5.091 Middle School Magnet Programs - Repealed 1/9/07
5.10 Reporting Student Progress-Middle School
5.11 High School Credit And Student Performance Standards
5.13 Graduation Requirements: High School
5.14 High School Magnet Programs
5.15 Reporting Student Progress And Class Ranking-High School
5.16 Promotion/Retention Guidelines For Discovery Programs And Disciplinary Program Students
5.17 Exceptional Student Education
5.18 Dropout Prevention Services Programs
5.19 Biological Experiments On Living Subjects
5.21 Placement And Promotion Of Secondary Students At Pinellas Technical Education Centers (PTEC)
5.22 Career, Technical, And Adult Education (CTAE) Customer Work On/Off Campus
5.504 Section 504 Policy 504 (K-12)
CHAPTER 6 DISTRICT, AREA, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION
6.03 Closing/Converting School Facilities
6.04 Mobile And Board Owned Home Leases
6.07 Non-School Related Publications
6.08 Equipment Sales And Demonstrations
6.09 Announcements And Class Interruptions
6.10 Emergency Management Procedures
6.11 Entertainment And Fund Drives
6.125 Advertisement Or Announcement Of Non-School Events
6.13 Patriotic Observances And Periods Of Silence
6.15 Student Assignment To Schools (Attendance Districts)
6.16 Religious Holiday Exemptions
6.18 Purchase Of Commemorative Items
6.23 Animals On School Board Property
6.24 Student Survey Administration
6.25 Accessing High School Students Regarding Postsecondary Opportunities
CHAPTER 7 BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
7.02 School Personnel, Equipment And Supplies
7.03 Inter-County Transfer Of Students
7.04 Gifts To The School District
7.07 Salary Payments By Outside Organizations
7.08 School District Publications
7.09 Certification Of Project Compliance With Public Education & Capital Outlay (PECO) Requirements
7.10 School Internal Funds - Principles
7.101 Outside Support Organizations
7.102 PTA (Parent/Teacher Association)/PTSA (Parent/Teacher/Student Association)
7.11 School Internal Funds - General Practices
7.12 School Internal Funds - Standards, Practices And Procedures
7.13 School Internal Funds - Other Provisions
7.14 School Stores And Vending Machines
7.155 Non-Discrimination in Purchasing and Contracting
7.16 Procedures For Non-Public Schools To Receive Federal Funds And Services
7.19 Responsibility For Board-Owned Property
7.20 Assignment Of Board-Owned Vehicles To Certain Employees
7.21 Inventories And Property Records
7.22 Disposal Of Surplus Property
7.23 Purchase Of Board-Owned Materials By Parochial Schools And Educational Agencies
7.24 Management Of School Board Funds
7.25 Settlement Of Certain Legal Claims
7.26 Representation In Litigation
7.27 Reports And Forms Control
7.28 Preparation And Release Of Special Request Data
7.30 Network/Internet Acceptable Use Agreement
7.33 Use of Electronic Resources
CHAPTER 8 HUMAN RESOURCES
8.02 Agreements Between The Board And Labor Organization (s)
8.03 Personal Financial Obligations
8.06 Dual Employment And Compensation
8.09 Right Of The Board To Request Examinations
8.15 Reproduction Of Copyrighted Materials
8.19 Pre-Work Physical Examinations
8.21 Smoking Of Tobacco Products In Board Facilities
8.23 Drug-Free And Alcohol-Free Workplace
8.24 Guidelines To Prevent Sexual Harassment
8.241 Prohibition Of Harassment
8.242 Employee Complaints Based Upon Alleged Discrimination/Harassment
8.25 Disciplinary Guidelines For Employees
8.27 Insurance, Safety And Loss Prevention
8.28 Teacher Certification Standards
8.29 Requirements And Procedures For Initial Appointment
8.30 Recruitment Incentive Program
8.31 Assessment Of Instructional, Administrative And Supervisory Personnel
8.32 Professional Service Contracts For Instructional Personnel
8.33 Familiarity Of Instructional Personnel With Statutes, Rules, And Policy
8.34 Contracts With Administrators And Supervisors
8.35 Reappointment Or Non-Reappointment Of Certificated Personnel Not Under Continuing Contract
8.39 Credit for Prior Service on Salary Schedule
8.43 Membership in Organizations
8.46 Supplemental Responsibilities
8.49 Professional Education Advisory Council
8.50 Extra-Curricular Activities
8.51 Supporting Services Defined
8.53 Initial Minimum Employment Ages of Regular Supporting Services Personnel
8.62 Teacher Professional Expectations
CHAPTER 9 FACILITIES
9.01 Professional Services Selection
9.02 Standardized Agreement For Professional Services
9.03 Educational Specifications
9.04 Project Architect And Engineer Handbook
9.05 Waiver Of Performance Bond Requirements
9.07 Construction Manager Selection
9.201 Disposal Of Real Property
9.22 Granting Or Acquiring Partial Property Rights In Land
9.23 Land And Facility-Use Agreements
9.25 Facility Reimbursement For Extended-Care Programs
9.26 Contract Procedure For The Use Of Other Facilities
9.27 Off-Site Student Pedestrian/Bicycle Transportation Safety
9.28 Code Compliance For All Construction
9.30 Toxic Substance Safety Precautions
9.31 Payments To Contractors And Project Closeout
CHAPTER 10 TRANSPORTATION
10.01 Transportation Of School Children; Purpose; When Provided
10.02 Principles For Transportation Of Students (Repealed 3/11/03)
10.03 Powers And Duties Of The School Board; Transportation Of Pupils (Repealed 3/11/03)
10.05 Responsibilities Of The Director Of Transportation (Repealed 3/11/03)
10.06 Transportation Responsibilities Of The School Principal (Repealed 3/11/03)
10.09 Responsibilities Of Parents Of Students With Special Transportation Needs
10.10 Procedures For Providing Isolated Transportation Reimbursement