Board of Directors Meeting October 26, 2016

 26 October 2016, 5:30PM – 1160 N 645 West, Washington, Utah

Agenda Item	Presenter	Questions to answer	Time
Workshop Start	Chair		5:30
Review/Revise Policies	Chair	Discipline Policy Governance Process Policy Board Member Candidates Policy Emergency Director Succession
Observation Observations	Chair	What impressions did the board members have of their observation visits?
Workshop End			6:25
Board Meeting Call to Order	Chair		6:30
Read Vision and Mission Statement	Chair
Approve Minutes from Previous Meeting	Secretary
Public Comment			6:35
Director’s Report Short Celebration Average Daily Membership Classroom size Breakdown Academic Progress Report	Director		6:45
Finance Report Monthly Finance Statement	Business Manager	How do actual expenses compare to the school’s budget?	7:00
Board Governance Policy Review Governance Training	Chair	Are any changes to the reviewed policies needed?	7:15
Adjourn	Chair	What did you like about this meeting, what did you dislike, what needs to be changed for the next meeting?	7:30

 

Discipline Policy (Proposed additions in red)

Inasmuch as DMA emphasizes the value of grace, courtesy, and respect, these principles will guide administrators and faculty in the application of the school’s disciplinary policies and procedures. This begins with teachers addressing disciplinary issues in a respectful and compassionate manner. In most cases, teachers will address and remedy discipline issues in the classroom. If the teacher is unable to remedy the problem generated by the student in the classroom, teachers will work closely with school administrators and parents to coordinate their efforts in the resolution of discipline matters.

The Director shall implement and follow discipline procedures that include:

1. an outline of specific behavior offenses and consequences;

(If a student is referred for disciplinary action and he/she has an Individualized Educational Program (IEP), the Multidisciplinary Team shall determine if the behavior was due to a disability.  If it is determined the behavior WAS NOT due to a disability, the Director shall follow the disciplinary procedures that outline specific behavior offenses and consequences.  If it is determined the behavior WAS due to a disability, a behavior plan shall be created for the student.  If a behavior plan is already in place, it shall be reviewed and a determination shall be made if it needs to be modified.  In the event that suspension or expulsion is required, DMA staff will act in accordance with IDEA and all other applicable state and federal laws.)  

1. provisions governing student conduct, safety, and welfare;
2. standards and procedures for dealing with students who cause disruption in the classroom, on school ground, on school vehicles, or in connection with school-related activities or events;
3. procedures for the development of remedial discipline plans for students who cause a disruption at any of the places referred to in section (2)
4. procedures for the use of reasonable and necessary physical restraint or force in dealing with disruptive students, consistent with Utah Code 53A-11-802;
5. standards and procedures for dealing with student conduct in locations other than those referred to in section (2), if the conduct threatens harm or does harm to:

(a)   The school;
(b)  School property;
(c)   A person associated with the school; or
(d)  Property associated with a person described in section 6(c)

1. procedures for the imposition of disciplinary sanctions, including suspension and expulsion;
2. specific provisions, consistent with Utah Code 53A-15-603, for preventing and responding to gang-related activities in the school, on school grounds, on school vehicles, or in connection with school-related activities or events;
3. standards and procedures for dealing with habitual disruptive student behavior in accordance with the provisions of this part; and
4. procedures for responding to reports received through the School Safety and Crisis Line under Utah Code 53A-11-1503(3)

Governance Process Policy

Board Approved 18 Mar 2014

The Board will govern lawfully, observing the principles of the Policy Governance model, with an emphasis on:

1. Outward vision rather than internal preoccupation,
2. Encouragement of diversity in view-points,
3. Strategic leadership more than administrative detail,
4. Clear distinction of Board and Director roles,
5. Collective rather than individual decisions,
6. Future rather than past or present, and  
7. Proactivity rather than reactivity.

Governing Style

1. The Board may conduct electronic meetings in accordance with the provisions of the Public Meetings Act and particularly 52-4-207 (UCA, 2007)
2. The Board will cultivate a sense of group responsibility.  The Board, not the staff, will be responsible for excellence in governing.  The Board will be the initiator of policy, not merely a reactor to staff initiatives.  The Board will not use the expertise of individual members to substitute for the judgment of the Board, although the expertise of individual members may be used to enhance the understanding of the Board as a body.   
3. The Board will direct, control, and inspire the organization through the careful establishment of broad written policies reflecting the Board’s values and perspectives.  The Board’s major policy focus will be on the intended long-term impacts outside the staff organization, not on the administrative or programmatic means of attaining these effects.
4. The Board will enforce upon itself whatever discipline is needed to govern with excellence.  Discipline will apply to matters such as attendance, preparation for meetings, policymaking principles, respect of roles, and ensuring the continuance of governance capability.  Although the Board can change its policies at any time, it will scrupulously observe those currently in force.
5. Continual Board development will include orientation of new Board members in the Board’s governance process and periodic Board discussion of process improvement.   
6. The Board will allow no officer, individual, or committee of the Board to hinder or serve as an excuse for not fulfilling group obligations.

7. During each meeting the Board will monitor and discuss the Board’s policies and performance of the current meeting.  Self-monitoring will include comparison of Board activity and discipline to policies in the Governance Process and Board-Management Delegation categories.

Board Member Candidates Policy (Proposed additions in red)

Board Approved 18 Mar 2014

Any candidates for board membership will agree to the following:

1. Submit to a fingerprinting and criminal background check.
2. Read the Dixie Montessori Academy Charter and Board Policy Manual and sign a statement affirming they have read them and agree to be guided by those documents.

3. Complete all state required training with 60 days.

Emergency Director Succession

Board Approved 11 Jan 2014

The Director shall have one other administrator (budget permitting) sufficiently familiar with administrative issues and processes to enable them to take over with reasonable proficiency as an interim successor.