GBD

The Deerfield School Board desires to maintain open channels of communications between itself and the staff. The basic line of communication will, however, be through the Principal or Superintendent of Schools.

All communications or reports to the Board or any Board committee from principals, supervisors, teachers, or other staff members shall be submitted through the Principal or Superintendent. Those administrators shall inform each other of such communications. The necessary procedure shall not be construed as denying the right of any employee to appeal to the Board from administrative decisions on important matters, provided that the Superintendent and Principal shall have been notified of the forthcoming appeal and that it is processed in accordance with the Board’s policy on complaints and grievances. Staff members are also reminded that Board meetings are public meetings. As such, they provide an excellent opportunity to observe at first hand the Board’s deliberations on problems of staff concern.

All official communications, policies, and directives of staff interest and concern will be communicated to staff members through the Principal and Superintendent, and these administrators will employ all such media as are appropriate to keep staff fully informed of the Board’s problems, concerns, and actions.

Individual Board Members interested in visiting schools or classrooms will inform the Superintendent of such visits and make arrangements for visitations through the Principal of the school. Such visits shall be regarded as informal expressions of interest in school affairs and not as "inspections" or visits for supervisory or administrative purposes. Official visits by Board Members will be carried on only under Board authorization and with the full knowledge of the Superintendent and Principal.

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 school district problems. However, staff members are reminded that individual Board Members have no special authority excepting when they are convened at a legal meeting of the Board or vested with special authority by Board action. Therefore, discussions by either party of personalities or personnel grievances will be considered as evidence of unethical conduct.

APPROVED: September, 1979

REVISED: July, 1992

REAFFIRMED: October, 1997