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to policy1. Vehicle speed limits in school zones shall be restricted to thirty minutes prior to the opening of school and thirty minutes after the closing of school.
2. Traffic speeds on school property or parking areas shall be established at speeds no greater than fifteen miles per hour unless otherwise posted.
The superintendent or designee is authorized to request appropriate school zone designations, to arrange for installation of appropriate warning signs and devices and to coordinate assignment of crossing guards.
1. Materials of a hazardous nature must be authorized by the district safety office prior to use on school board premises.
2. Principals and site supervisors shall be responsible for the proper disposal of hazardous materials which are no longer in use. Requests for proper disposal shall be sent to the district safety office.
3. Principals and site supervisors shall develop a plan for proper maintenance of hazardous materials with the assistance of the district safety office. Each employee must be trained in the proper use and handling of such materials, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) must be available for review by all employees. Principals and site supervisors must coordinate this training with the district safety office.
4. Principals and site supervisors must ensure that all hazardous materials containers are clearly labeled at all times. Supplies ordered must be accompanied with MSDS, and a chemical inventory list must be maintained at each site.
Occupational Safety and Health Program
Emergency Action Checklist
Life threatening deficiencies include, but are not limited to the following:
1. non-functional fire alarm systems;
2. existing non-functional fire sprinkler systems;
3. doors with padlocks or other locks which preclude egress at all times;
4. inadequate exits.
1. Principals shall hold monthly emergency evacuation drills; the first drill must be held within the first five days of the school year. A written report of each emergency evacuation drill shall be kept on file at the site.
2. Non-school sites shall develop and implement a site-specific plan for emergency evacuation drills.
3. Principals and site supervisors are responsible for the development and implementation of a site-specific evacuation plan. Diagrams shall be posted in each student-occupied area clearly indicating fire exits and alternate evacuation routes.
Occupational Safety and Health Program
Emergency Action Checklist
The school board shall authorize school centers to be available as emergency shelters for Red Cross and civil defense use in the event of an emergency disaster.
The Director of Pupil Administrative Services is the designated Disaster Preparedness Coordinator for the district. District sites, which have been designated as shelters, are equipped and operated jointly by the district, Red Cross and the County Emergency Operations Center personnel.
Principals or designees shall be available to prepare their school plants as emergency shelters.
In case of an emergency, the superintendent is authorized to close and dismiss any school or all schools prior to the regular daily dismissal hour.
1. The principal may dismiss the school when the superintendent or designee cannot be contacted and an extreme emergency exists, endangering the health, safety or welfare of students.
2. Any such early dismissal made by the principal shall be reported immediately to the superintendent's office with a statement describing the reasons for early dismissal. This report shall be submitted to the school board at its next regular meeting unless a special meeting is held relating to the emergency.
1. The site administrator shall call police immediately, then school security, for all losses involving burglary, theft or vandalism exceeding $25.
2. The site administrator shall call Risk Management if losses exceed $5,000 or fire occurs.
3. A Property Loss/Damage Report (PDR100) (SB38200) shall be used to report losses due to vandalism, fire, storm, theft, burglary and disappearance. Only one PDR100 shall be submitted for each loss event. This form is also available on the e-mail bulletin board in "District Forms".
4. The PDR100 shall be completed and copies distributed within twenty-four hours of discovery. If full details are not known, the report shall be submitted with whatever information is available and supplemented later by memo. Serial and BPI numbers shall be provided, if applicable, for all district-owned property involved. Distribution should be as follows:
5. If building damage is involved, the maintenance copy of the PDR100 shall serve as a damage repair requisition. This form shall not be used to request routine maintenance.
6. If a burglary occurs and there is visible evidence of forced entry,
requisition of stolen items (except for food, cash, classroom or office supplies
and personal property) may be attached to Risk Management's copy of the PDR100
or forwarded at any time up to ninety days. Requisitions must be completed
according to specific Risk Management procedures.
1. The district's safety office shall be provided training to all personnel at the time of employment.
2. Training shall be provided by a registered nurse from the Division of Supportive Services at all school sites on an annual basis.
3. Training at other sites will be arranged annually by the site administrator with the district's safety office.
1. The site administrator is responsible to ascertain that all employees receive the appropriate level of universal precautions training annually.
2. Training logs for personnel assigned to the site will be provided by the person assuming the responsibility for the training activity.
3. It is the responsibility of the site administrator to assure that all employees trained sign the training log.
4. Training logs will be forwarded to the Department of Staff Development, Division of Instruction by the trainer.
It is the responsibility of the district's safety office to update and revise the training materials and delivery format based on the latest state and federal regulations concerning universal precautions.
District administration shall be responsible for the following duties:
1. provide for medical examiners to conduct physical examinations for bus
drivers and ensure that examinations are conducted annually;
2. develop safety regulations and promote proper safety practices for all
drivers as prescribed in the Florida Department of Education School Bus Driver's
Curriculum;
3. plan for the purchase or contract for use of safe school buses;
4. organize or approve an inspection, maintenance and repair program, including
the inspection of all buses every twenty school days in accordance with
procedures described in the Florida School Bus Safety Inspection Manual;
5. develop bus routes that, in so far as possible, do not require elementary
students to be on a bus more than fifty minutes or secondary students more than
one hour during the morning or evening, and to ensure that total elapsed time
between getting on and off the bus at the beginning and end of the school day is
no more than one and one half hours;
6. provide transportation for students on field trips planned in accordance with
policies approved by the board.
Bus drivers and attendants shall be responsible for the following:
1. maintain order and discipline, under the direction of the respective
school principal;
2. assure that students are only allowed to leave the bus at their assigned
stops;
3. keep an up-to-date route card listing all stops and directions for each route
in the bus at all times;
4. in the event of rain (p.m. only), to discharge passengers as near to their
residence as possible.
School administrators shall be responsible for the following:
1. provide supervision during loading and unloading of buses;
2. assign and ensure safe loading and unloading zones for students;
3. assure that transported students who arrive early or remain late are under
school supervision at all times;
4. supervise school bus emergency evacuation drills on each bus during the first
six weeks of each semester;
5. approve all stops and route changes in advance through a route coordinator
except in emergencies.
State Board of Education Rules
1. Required student transportation services are covered in Section 1006.21(3), Florida Statutes. FTE funding for these services is covered in Section 1011.68, Florida Statutes, and SBE Rule 6A-1.0451.
2. The district shall provide transportation for each student in pre-kindergarten handicapped and K - 12 membership in a public school when, and only when, transportation is necessary to provide adequate educational facilities and opportunities which otherwise would not be available and to transport students whose homes are more than a reasonable walking distance, as defined by rules of the state board from the nearest appropriate school.
3. The district shall provide transportation for elementary school students if such students are subject to hazardous walking conditions as provided in Section 1006.23, Florida Statutes, while en route to or from school.
4. The district shall provide transportation for migrant, exceptional, nursery, and other students in membership below kindergarten; K - 12 students in a public school; and adult students in adult vocational, basic and high school graduation programs in a public school when, and only when, transportation is necessary to provide adequate educational facilities and opportunities which otherwise would not be available.
5. The district may provide transportation for other persons to events or activities in which the district or school has agreed to participate or cosponsor. The district shall also adopt policies to address liability for such trips.
6. As specified in SBE Rule 6A-3.001(3), a reasonable walking distance for
any student who is not otherwise eligible for transportation pursuant to Section
1011.68, Florida Statutes, is
any distance not more than two miles between the home and school or one and
one-half miles between the home and the assigned bus stop. The pedestrian entry
point of the residence shall be where private property meets the public
right-of-way. The district shall determine the shortest pedestrian route,
whether or not it is accessible to motor vehicle traffic.
1. Field trip buses are requested by completing Part A of the Bus Trip Request (SB00074). The form shall be signed by an administrator. The request must be received by Transportation at least ten working days prior to the trip date and have the correct account coding.
2. During school hours, buses are available from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The bus driver shall determine what time to leave the trip site in order to return to the school by 1:30 p.m. After school hours, buses are available at 5:15 p.m.
3 Transportation shall accommodate all schedules on weekends and non- school days, if at all possible.
4. A yellow confirmation copy of the bus request shall be sent to the school after bus driver assignments have been made. The confirmation shall contain the approved trip information and the assigned driver(s) and should alleviate the need to contact Transportation. If no confirmation is received, the school shall call Transportation after 1:00 p.m. to obtain a verbal confirmation.
5. The school shall be billed on the pink trip charge copy of the bus request.
1. Charges for regular buses are $30.00 per hour for drivers' salaries, plus $1.75 per mile, with a three-hour minimum charge per bus. Require field trip request forms to be received at the Transportation Department at least 10 working days prior to the trip date. For field trips not received 10 days prior to the field trip date, establish a 5% surcharge. This would not apply to playoffs and tournaments for athletic events.
2. Wheelchair-equipped buses are also available for field trips, with an additional $11.00 per hour charge for a bus rider.
3. When a field trip is over, the bus driver shall ask the teacher or chaperone to sign and indicate the time of return on the trip sheet, which shall be used to determine time billed.
4. Payments for bus trips shall be sent to Finance, accompanied by a completed Remittance Slip (SB36100), indicating the bus trip number to insure proper credit.
A passenger list shall be provided to the bus driver before leaving the school. The list shall include name, home address and phone number of all passengers.
Children of chaperones are not allowed to ride on the school bus unless they are authorized participants in the field trip.
1. There shall be at least one chaperone on each bus and as many other chaperones as necessary to maintain a ratio of one adult to fifteen students.
2. Only teachers whose classes are going on the field trip shall be utilized as chaperones.
3. Students' parents should be utilized to provide any additional chaperones as needed.
Hillsborough
Classroom Teacher Association Contract
School Activity Fund Handbook
Transportation Beginning of the Year Packet
1. The superintendent or designee shall report any unauthorized usage of automotive equipment used exclusively for school business to the school board. Violation of this rule shall be cause for disciplinary action.
2. Failure of the operator to notify the site administrator as to any mechanical defect of any piece of automotive equipment may be cause for disciplinary action.
1. All needed repairs of equipment shall be the superintendent or designee's responsibility, and repairs shall be made immediately; the vehicle may be withdrawn from use by the superintendent or designee until the repairs are made.
2. The school board shall not assume any financial responsibility for purchases or contract for repairs unless prior approval is obtained from the superintendent or designee.
1. The superintendent or designee shall determine that all equipment be inspected at regular intervals. The equipment shall be placed in the district's garages for repairs or service if needed. Under no conditions shall equipment be repaired by a private shop or private individual without the superintendent's or designee's approval.
2. The person who is assigned a vehicle on a full-time basis shall be responsible for delivering the vehicle to the district's garage for inspection as prescribed by the site administrator.
1. Vehicles shall be provided by contract through local car dealers at negotiated prices for each school year.
2. The fee charged to each individual student registered for the drivers education course shall be subject to change at any time.
1. The use of the vehicles shall be restricted to teaching students how to operate motor vehicles.
2. Use of the vehicles for any other purpose shall be strictly prohibited.
3. Students shall be allowed to operate these vehicles only under the supervision of a certified drivers education teacher.
1. The storage of these vehicles shall be at the school sites if no facilities are available.
2. The principal shall advertise and assign cars to school personnel to take home at the end of the school day for safekeeping.
3. Drivers education teachers shall be assigned vehicles first; then other school personnel shall be considered.
4. The cars shall be assigned to those persons who live closest to the school first.
5. The principal shall have final authority regarding assigning or rejecting car maintenance and storage assignments.
Division of Instruction Procedures Manual
School Activity Handbook
1. Elementary students shall not be on a bus more than fifty minutes during the morning or evening.
2. Secondary students shall not be on a bus more than one hour during the morning or evening.
3. The total elapsed time between getting on and off the bus and the beginning and end of the school day for elementary or secondary students shall not exceed one and one half hours.
1. The transportation route coordinator is responsible for the school's bus routes and drivers and may be contacted for any questions regarding bus routing, bus stops or bus drivers.
2. If Exceptional Student Education (ESE) classes are held at the school, Transportation will identify the ESE Route Coordinator responsible for the school and appropriate routes.
3. New enrollments or changes of address for ESE students must be processed through the Supervisor of Related Services.
1. Management Information Services will provide bus stop information to the schools the first three weeks prior to the first day of school and on the twentieth of each month thereafter.
2. Those parents requesting a new bus stop location should be provided with a written request to add a bus stop, which should be returned to the school or mailed to the following:
3. Parents of ESE students requiring specialized transportation shall call the Supervisor of Related Services to request a change of bus stop.
Transportation Beginning of the Year Packet
1. The principal is responsible for conducting school bus emergency evacuation drills on each bus serving the school during the first six weeks of each semester and to maintain documentation for all students.
2. Evacuation drills should be conducted during the months of September and February.
3. All school bus evacuation drills should be held under the direct supervision of the school principal or appointed designee.
1. In most cases evacuation drills can best be carried out on school grounds.
2. Drills should never be conducted along public highways or any place where hazardous conditions exist.
1. The primary purpose of an evacuation drill shall be to acquaint the bus riders with the use of the rear exit door, rather than to maximize the speed at which students exit the vehicle. Therefore, the bus driver and school personnel shall emphasize a safe and orderly evacuation.
2. The passageway to the emergency exit of the school bus shall be kept open at all times.
3. Due to height of the bus floor from the ground, the principal shall assign members of the faculty to assist elementary students exiting the bus through the rear exit door.
1. School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drill forms are provided to each school prior to the school year.
2. This form shall be completed by the principal or other school personnel directly supervising the drill and returned to Transportation after each drill.
Specific procedures for evacuating wheel chair students or other students with significant physical problems (such as visually impaired students) shall be determined by the school's administrators and therapists.
School Bus Drivers Manual of Policies and Procedures
State Board of Education Rules
1. Initial requirements for school bus drivers include the following:
2. Drivers are required to have an annual physical and to complete a minimum of eight hours of additional in-service training per year.
3. Drivers must submit to a drug screening conducted as part of their annual physical.
1. The district shall review a driver's driving record obtained from the Department of Motor Vehicles or by using the Automated School Bus Driver's License Record Check System prior to initial employment and prior to the first day of each semester of the regular school year, or the first day of summer school for any driver who will be transporting students during summer school.
2. Any district employee who operates a school bus with a suspended or revoked license shall be subject to dismissal by the board.
School Bus Drivers' Manual of Policies and Procedures
Each bus driver is to post his or her valid license on his or her bus.
1. The district shall provide maintenance and inspection procedures for all buses owned by the district and assure that all contract buses in use in the district are properly inspected and maintained.
2. Inspections shall be scheduled every twenty school days and conducted in accordance with all procedures listed in the current edition of the Florida School Bus Safety Inspection Manual.
3. All deficiencies discovered during the safety inspection shall be noted on the inspection form, and follow-up repairs of all safety related items shall be made before the bus is returned to service.
4. Inspection and maintenance records shall be maintained for all school buses.
Florida School Bus Safety Inspection Manual
State Board of Education Rules
1. School bus drivers shall keep current route information, listing all stops and directions for each route in the bus at all times.
2. Except in emergencies, all stops and route changes shall be approved in advance by a route coordinator.
3. Students shall be allowed to leave the bus only at their designated stop, unless otherwise authorized by a district administrator.
School Bus Drivers' Manual of Policies and Procedures
1. Either an Elementary Field Trip Approval Request (SB60526), Middle School Field Trip Approval Request (SB60526) or Secondary Field Trip Approval Request (SB60529) indicating the planned mode of transportation should be submitted to the principal at least two weeks prior to the field trip.
2. Either an Application for Participation in Instructional Field Trips (SB60531) or Application for Participation in School Sponsored Activities (SB60532) signed by the student and his or her parent or guardian must be on file two weeks prior to a field trip for each student. These forms indicate that students shall be or may be transported in a private automobile of a parent, teacher or licensed student, further indicating that such vehicle is not under the control or supervision of the board.
3. If a bus is not to be used, responsible parents shall be contacted for the provision of private cars. An Automobile Insurance Form (SB60528) shall be signed by these parents and returned to the school.
4. Transportation of students by an approved charter vehicle corporation shall be permitted when such travel is for authorized activities and the use of a school bus is not available or warranted under the circumstances. Charter vehicle corporations must be on Insurance's approval list prior to contracting the service.
Instructional Field Trip Guidebook
The operator and each front-seat passenger of a motor vehicle conducting school board business or participating in a school-related activity shall be restrained by a safety belt when the vehicle is in motion. This provision is applicable to all vehicles except the following:
1. a school bus;
2. a bus used for transportation of persons for compensation;
3. a farm tractor or implement of husbandry;
4. a truck of net weight of more than 5,000 pounds;
5. a motorcycle, moped or bicycle.
The number of front-seat passengers of a pick-up truck shall not exceed the number of safety belts.
School bus drivers shall wear a seat belt when operating a school bus.
The Director of Student Nutrition Services shall be responsible to the Assistant Superintendent for Business and Research for the operation of the county student nutrition services program as well as the administration of the state and federal programs.
1. The principal in each school shall administer the operation of the school's student nutrition services program.
2. The principal may delegate authority but shall be held responsible for the results of the program. Where possible, the principal shall correlate the program with other areas of instruction.
3. The principal shall handle all matters of discipline.
The student nutrition services manager in each school shall be responsible for collecting and accounting for all student and adult receipts. An adequate cash control procedure shall be maintained in each school.
1. When outside agencies use the student nutrition services facilities, an adequate fee, as approved by the school board, shall be charged.
2. Replacement of broken and lost items and repairs of damages to the equipment shall be required.
3. If a school's student nutrition services is used for the preparation and
service of food other than for the regular program, the manager or designated
member of the student nutrition services staff must be on duty to see that the
equipment is properly used and that no USDA commodities or other food and
supplies purchased from student nutrition services funds are used.
4. All edible and non-edible supplies for such occasions must be purchased, invoiced and handled as transactions separate from those of the regular student nutrition services program.
1. Commodities may not be sold, traded or otherwise disposed.
2. Section 6 commodities shall be used only in reimbursed plate lunch programs.
3. Commodities shall not be used for PTA refreshments, school benefit dinners or other similar affairs.
4. Accurate records must be maintained at all times on commodities stored in a school, warehouse or in rented storage.
1. Custodial service shall be extended to include the cleaning of walls, ceilings, windows, kitchen exhaust systems, dining area floors; emptying of garbage cans; and cleaning up spills in dining area.
2. Any additional student nutrition services duties carried out by the custodian shall be performed during off-duty hours and not during the custodian's regular eight hours of custodial duties.
3. If these additional duties are performed, remuneration may be made with a free lunch or otherwise.
Meal patterns established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture apply to the National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program.
1. Free or reduced-price meals shall be served to all students who are unable to pay the full price of meals and who qualify based on eligibility criteria approved by the school board.
2. The income eligibility guidelines for free or reduced-price meals shall be in accordance with the scales provided by the Florida Department of Education as adopted by the State Board of Education based upon income guidelines prescribed by the United States Secretary of Agriculture.
3. Eligibility criteria shall be applicable to all district schools and shall provide that all students from a family meeting the eligibility criteria and attending any district school are offered the same benefits.
Procedures for implementing the free and reduced-price meal services shall be reviewed annually and shall be in accordance with procedures and guidelines published by the Florida Department of Education and the United States Department of Agriculture.
1. Student permanent records shall be maintained at the student's current site of enrollment.
2. Upon notification that the student has transferred to another school site within the district, the original cumulative file shall be transferred to the receiving school.
3. The original file shall be maintained at the last district school of attendance. In all instances, the records transfer process shall be documented electronically by the sending school.
1. Upon the student's withdrawal, the permanent record shall be filed at the last site of enrollment in an inactive file area.
2. Upon high school graduation, the student's cumulative record shall be retained for one calendar year by the school granting the diploma; a separate file cabinet shall be utilized for this purpose.
3. One year after the date of the student's graduation, the record shall be purged in compliance with the cumulative folder checklist, the other contents shredded, and the original file folder which contains the required document shall be sent to the microfilming for processing.
4. The process for microfilming inactive student records of elementary or middle school students shall occur five years after being stored at the last district site of enrollment. The process for microfilming inactive student records of senior high students shall occur one year after being stored at the last district site of enrollment.
5. Those student records which are housed in the district's central files
remain active until the end of the school year in which the student reaches the
age of twenty-six. Those records are purged, shredded and microfilmed.
Record requests originating from outside the district shall be facilitated within thirty days with copies of the contents of the student's record, excluding the original health and immunization information; original health and immunization records shall be sent to the requesting school, and copies of this documentation shall be retained within the cumulative folder at the local school.
1. The Bureau of Archives and Records Management administers the state's Records Management and Archives Program under the Division of Library and Information Services, Department of State. The bureau establishes standards for controlling, retaining, destroying and/or preserving public records.
2. No public record may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of without the approval of the bureau. This means that all public records of an agency must be assigned to a retention and disposition schedule established by the bureau, and subsequent requests for disposition shall be made periodically with reference to the appropriate schedule.
3. The bureau promulgates general records schedules describing and setting retention periods for records common to several or all agencies of the state and its political subdivisions. General Records Schedule GS7 describes and sets retention periods for public school records.
4. Accounts Control shall submit a Records Disposition Request (LS5E107), to the bureau annually to request approval to dispose of records listed on the form.
5. The bureau shall review the form and return it to the district, either approved, disapproved or approved with corrections. The request shall be submitted and officially approved before disposition takes place.
6. When an approved Disposition Request Form is received from the bureau,
Accounts Control shall notify all site administrators, providing them with a
list of records approved for disposition and a list of the locations of the
master copies and duplicates of these records.
Basics of Records Management Handbook
Records Schedule GS7 - Public School Records
1. The Director of Planning and Construction shall be responsible for major capital outlay projects from the point of solicitation of bids through the guarantee period (one year after substantial completion).
2. The director shall ensure that all facilities are constructed in accordance with the Uniform Building Code for Public Educational Facilities Construction.
Construction projects estimated to cost less than $200,000, and which the district will complete using contracted services, shall be advertised for a minimum of one week.
1. For construction projects estimated to cost $200,000 or more, the district shall publish legal notice providing the following information:
2. This notice shall be published a minimum of once a week for three consecutive weeks in a local newspaper with general circulation throughout the district. The last notice shall appear at least seven days prior to the date set for the bid opening.
3. Complete drawings and project manuals shall be available to contractors on the date of the first legal advertisement.
4. In addition to publication of the notice, the invitation to bid shall be mailed or delivered to not less than three prospective bidders or shall be distributed to area plan review rooms.
Contractors shall include the following in their bid:
1. Bids shall be publicly opened, read and tabulated at the designated time and place by an employee of the board or other appointed individual.
2. Alternates listed in the bidding documents may be accepted at any time after the contract award by change order, provided the contractor remains the low bidder on the combination of the base bid and alternates selected.
3. The district may reserve the right to waive minor technicalities, if so stated in the bid advertisement.
4. The board shall consider all bids received, and either reject all bids or identify the lowest acceptable bidder, considering base bid and accepted alternates, and award a contract for a fixed amount for the work. The contract shall include a time limit in which the construction is to be completed.
1. Bid security shall be a certified check, cashier's check, treasurer's check, bank draft or bid bond.
2. Should the accepted bidder refuse to enter into the contract or fail to furnish performance and materials and payment bonds, the amount of the bid security may be forfeited to the district as liquidated damages.
3. The accepted bidder shall deliver the required bonds no later than the date of execution of the contract or the first request for payment under the contract, whichever is first.
4. Surety companies must be admitted to do business in the state of Florida and listed in the Federal Register of the U.S. Department of Treasury for Surety Companies Acceptable on Federal Bonds.
State Requirements for Educational Facilities
1. The general area director is responsible for soliciting prospective names through local newspaper advertisements and for receiving input from neighboring schools.
2. The general area director shall list all suggestions and prepare ballots for school board action.
When naming facilities such as libraries, playgrounds, stadiums, the principal shall notify the general area director of this request and provide all background information for school board consideration.
1. The district's school buildings shall house a grade level organization of K - 5, 6 - 8 and 9 - 12. Exceptions to this grade structure shall be approved by the school board. Programs may also be housed in other school district facilities.
2. Whenever possible, students in special programs shall attend schools within their assigned clusters. The locations of special programs shall be chosen whenever practicable to enhance or not adversely affect the desegregated status of the schools.
1. Each general area director shall recommend expenditure of capital outlay funds for the maintenance, renovation and remodeling of school facilities.
2. The general area directors shall review their recommendations with the Assistant Superintendent for Administration and the superintendent's staff.
3. The superintendent shall submit to the school board a capital outlay budget which shall be approved by the school board.
1. New school sites shall be researched by the Director of Administration and reviewed by the administrative division staff.
2. Sites shall be recommended on the basis of best location in reference to existing schools to be relieved, accessibility, price, and availability of water, sewer and other services.
1. Each school cluster shall include a group of K - 5 elementary schools, one or more 6-8 middle schools and one 9 - 12 high school. The major purpose of the cluster organization is to allow students to move together through grades K - 12 whenever possible except for special programs, desegregation initiatives and magnet schools.
2. Clusters may include magnet schools.
3. The size of the student population served by clusters shall be determined by the size of the high school located within that cluster.
4. Clusters are intended to be comprised of self-contained geographic areas, and satellites are intended to be used only to the extent necessary to maintain a desegregated school system.
5. One cluster incorporates the core of the city of Tampa.
6. Clusters are configured so that within said clusters all schools are fully utilized, overcrowding is avoided whenever possible and desegregation is maintained.
7. Clusters are configured so as to minimize the number of years students are transported and the distances they travel.
8. Some clusters may include neighborhood early childhood centers.
1. The architect prepares a proposal request and presents it to the contractor for pricing.
2. The contractor responds with a cost proposal for the change. Additionally, the contractor may request a change order through the architect.
3. The cost proposal is reviewed for fairness, accuracy and need by the architect, his or her engineers and the school board project coordinator.
4. If the proposal is fair, it shall be placed on a change order along with possibly several other proposed changes that have also been reviewed.
5. The change order is delivered to Planning and Construction. It is again reviewed by the project coordinator and then by the Director of Planning and Construction.
6. The change order is placed on the school board agenda for approval. After approval, the change order becomes part of the contract for construction.
1. Due to the nature of construction and the importance of timely completion, emergency changes may require a construction change directive (CCD) from the architect, contractor and owner. A CCD provides for an immediate change to the work. Following issuance of a CCD, normal change order procedures are followed. The CCD shall be incorporated into a change order for school board approval.
2. When a construction project follows the construction management method, a contingency to allow for changes shall be incorporated into the cost of the project. Changes to the work that do not exceed the overall cost of the project are handled as contingency adjustments rather than as change orders. If the overall cost of the project is to be exceeded, a change order is created, using the above change order procedure.
1. Any group or organization which desires to improve the school site, add facilities or install equipment shall submit a written proposal to the principal or site supervisor for approval.
2. All alterations to the buildings or grounds caused by moving, transferring or acquiring new property shall be submitted to the superintendent or his or her designee for approval.
3. Permanent structures shall have utilitarian value in the operation of the school.
Any improvements in facilities or acquisitions of equipment made by private organizations shall become the property of the school district.
1. The school board, in accordance with the Florida Clean Indoor Act, prohibits all uses of tobacco products in any form in buildings owned by the school board.
2. In accordance with state law, the school board prohibits possession of tobacco products or tobacco paraphernalia by day-school students on school grounds or by adult and evening school students under the age of eighteen.
The superintendent or designee shall develop a uniform system for implementing effective telephone service systems, including use of telephone lines to support technology.
No person shall charge personal calls to the school board.
1. Telecommunications services and networks shall be consistent with the mission, goals, policies, and priorities of the School District of Hillsborough County (SDHC).
2. The district provides telecommunications services that are financially feasible and educationally appropriate. These services are for administrative and instructional purposes.
3. The school district maintains an Internet content filter. All Internet access by all personnel and students must utilize this filter. Requests for exclusion of this procedure must be submitted to the Chief Information and Technology Officer and will only be granted to those with legitimate job related duties requiring such access.
4. SDHC accounts shall be used only by the authorized users for the purposes specified in these guidelines; misuse may result in the limitations of participant access rights and authorization; authorized users shall be responsible for the security of their account and password.
1. Telecommunications services or networks for illegal, inappropriate, or obscene purposes or in support of such activities shall be prohibited.
2. Telecommunications services or networks shall be in accordance with existing District policy.
3. Telecommunications services or networks shall not be intentionally used to disrupt the use of the network by other users. All communications and information accessible via the telecommunications services or network shall be assumed to be public property. No guarantee shall be made for the privacy of any communication on the network.
4. All network users shall adhere to the rules of copyright regarding software, information, and attribution of authorship.
5. Harassment or unsafe, unwanted, or unsolicited contact via district sponsored telecommunications services and networks is prohibited in accordance with board policy. Users cannot be completely prevented from accessing services or information that may be offensive or inappropriate; therefore, individual users must be responsible for their own conduct in using telecommunications services and networks.
6. Participation in a network requires that its users regard it as a shared resource and that members conduct themselves in a responsible, ethical, and legal manner.
1. The Internet is coordinated through a complex association of government agencies and regional, state, and local networks. The operation of the Internet relies heavily on the proper conduct of the users.
2. The School District of Hillsborough County makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. The district will not be responsible for any damages suffered including loss of data. The district is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through this Internet connection.
3. The use of the Internet is not a right, but a privilege, and inappropriate or irresponsible use may result in cancellation of that privilege.
4. Users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette.
5. Users shall avoid security risks.
6. Vandalism is defined as the malicious attempt to harm or destroy the data of another user, the Internet, FIRN, or other networks. This includes the creation of, or the uploading of, computer viruses on the Internet or the host site or disruption of data flow. Vandalism may result in cancellation of privileges.
7. All terms and conditions as stated in this document are applicable to all users of the Internet. These terms and conditions reflect an agreement of the parties and shall be governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Florida and the United States of America.
The School District of Hillsborough County (SDHC) provides electronic mail (email) services to district employees in support of public education.
1. District employees are automatically provided a district electronic mail account.
2. Non-district employees may request a temporary user account. Requests must be made through the school principal or site administrator via the Temporary User Access Form, located in the District Forms folder on IDEAS. Examples of non-district employees who may be granted email access include interns, contracted service providers, and partnership organizations.
3. Communication made by means of district email is subject to the Florida Public Records Law State Statute 119.07 and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Authorized users are responsible for:
Email is a convenient way to correspond with parents about general information, assignments and class expectations. However, the confidentiality of email sent outside the school district cannot be ensured. Information that is private concerning an individual student should be communicated in another manner in order to protect the privacy rights of the student.
4. Group mailing lists are provided as a service and are reserved for official school district business. The use of the "All-Email-Sites" mailing list is restricted to directors, managers or their designee and above.
5. Conferences provide a service to facilitate collaboration, problem solving, and sharing of information consistent with the district's mission. Editorial comments and personal opinions are not appropriate and will be removed at the sole discretion of the district.
1. The district has the right to establish user limits for district email services.
2. The district has no responsibility or liability for the deletion, corruption or failure to store any message or other content maintained or transmitted by the email service.
3. The district reserves the right to delete accounts that are inactive for an extended period of time.
4. Use of an email account constitutes the user's agreement with the terms
regarding email procedures and that the user will not:
5. The district reserves the right to terminate any account that it believes is transmitting SPAM or abusing email procedures. Infractions will be reported to Professional Standards.
6. The district defines email "privacy" as the following:
7. The district does not control or endorse the content, messages or information found in any email message; therefore, the district disclaims any liability regarding the electronic mail services.
8. The district reserves the right to change the terms, conditions, and notices under which services are offered. The user is responsible for regularly reviewing the terms and conditions and additional terms posted on district website. The continued use of the electronic mail service constitutes an agreement to all such terms, conditions, and notices.
1. The school district maintains an Internet content filter. All Internet access by all students must utilize this filter in order to restrict student access to material harmful to minors as defined in the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
2. Public school student use of telecommunications services, through district equipment or authorization, will be supervised. District procedures that comply with CIPA guidelines include technology protection measures that block or filter visual depictions that are obscene, include child pornography, or are harmful to minors.
3. A parent or guardian wishing to deny access to the Internet must notify the school in writing through the Internet Exclusion Request Form. Unauthorized users of the Internet will be subject to disciplinary action.
4. Email use by students is not allowed without specific instructional purposes and must be monitored at all times for appropriate content. This use requires prior approval by the Superintendent or designee to assure compliance with the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act (NCIPA).
5. Unauthorized access, including so-called hacking or other unlawful activities, will result in disciplinary action including, but not limited to, cancellation of privileges.
6. Written parental permission is required prior to a student's participation in online programs that transmit personally identifiable information. The district will make all reasonable efforts in selecting online programs that ensure the privacy and confidentiality of the student and comply with Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA requirements will be communicated annually to parents, students, faculty and staff.
1. The data elements, procedures and timelines for state reporting, local record keeping and statewide records transfer to be implemented by the district are prescribed in the current versions of the following series of publications titled DOE Information Data Base Requirements:
2. Copies of these publications can be obtained from the Education Information & Accountability Services Section, Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399.
The automated student attendance system is the prescribed attendance system and shall conform to all provisions of Rule 6A-1.044, Pupil Attendance Records.
The district uses the Florida Automated System for Transferring Educational Records (FASTER) from the Department of Education to exchange transcripts and other records electronically between districts, community colleges and state universities. The Florida Information Resource Network (FIRN) provides the communications network over which request and response messages are transmitted.
1. MIS offers the following classes for school level personnel:
2. Additional classes shall be added as new applications are implemented.
State Board of Education Rules
1. The use of vehicles shall be restricted to the performance of tasks necessary for school district operation.
2. Use of vehicles for any other purpose shall be strictly prohibited.
3. Use of vehicles shall be limited to individuals who meet the requirements of the Safe Driver Plan and School Board Policy.
4. Under certain circumstances, subject to school board approval on an annual basis, district vehicles might be driven by employees during the day and might also be driven home by employees at the end of the workday. Circumstances may include security vehicles, vehicles needed for emergencies and safety issues, school buses, and driver education vehicles, and the staff car assigned to the Chief Government Relations Officer.
5. The effective and efficient use of district vehicles will be periodically reviewed by management to ensure that such vehicles serve the best interest of the district. Such reviews will serve as a basis for management's decisions to periodically replace, repair, or reassign vehicles or provide economical alternatives to accomplish the district's objectives.
1. Drivers may drive school buses to their home at the end of the workday in cases where there is no space available at a site or compound for appropriate storage.
2. Driver education vehicles may be driven home when approved storage space is not available.
3. Trucks and maintenance vehicles that are driven during the workday, are necessary to transport tools, materials, and equipment required for performing maintenance at district sites, and are driven during the workday may be driven home at the end of the workday.
4. Security and safety vehicles are driven by district personnel during the day. A limited number may be driven home to be used in response to emergencies. Personnel are required to be in a district security vehicle when responding to emergencies.
5. District vehicles driven for services that may expose employees to unsafe environmental hazards may be driven home at the end of the workday.
6. Vehicles driven by transportation route coordinators and administrators are equipped with radios that are necessary for employees to stay in contact with several busses throughout the day and evening. These vehicles are driven home at the end of the workday.
7. The staff car assigned to the Chief Government Relations Officer may be driven home during legislative committee meetings, legislative sessions, or special sessions, provided that the vehicle is not used for personal business when in the county. Additionally, at other times throughout the year, the vehicle may be driven home as necessary for travel to job related meetings.
1. Mileage traveled and trips taken in every non-bus district vehicle must be logged by the operator daily on a Vehicle/Equipment Utilization Record (SB49900). Supervisors must review vehicle usage recorded on these forms at least monthly. Bus mileage must be recorded by operators and reviewed monthly by management via the automated fueling software.
2. District employees that utilize a district vehicle for personal use, including commuting, must record and report the personal use as a non-cash fringe benefit. The Payroll Department will administer this reporting in accordance with Internal Revenue Service requirements.
1. The Information and Technology Division establishes the standards that are supported by the district. No equipment or software may be purchased or installed that does not meet the district's standards.
2. Stakeholders representing schools and district-level users are key to the planning and decision making process. All decisions are reviewed by district committees prior to making changes. The quarterly review committee is charged with overseeing and endorsing changes to hardware or operating system software.
3. Hardware standards are adjusted when the current models available for purchase no longer are produced.
4. Operating software is supported by the district, usually up to two previous versions, depending on available support outside the district.
5. Any exceptions to district technology standards for equipment or software must receive approval of the Chief Information and Technology Officer or designee prior to purchase or implementation.
1. Selection of instructional software is the responsibility of the content specialists.
2. Prior to purchasing or implementing instructional software for district networks, the Information and Technology Division will review the software to ensure that the software will operate effectively and will not compromise the networks.
3. The process defined in "Guidelines for Selecting Instructional Software" serves to help departments, teachers and schools make good choices with their software needs.
1. Selection of functional software is the responsibility of the division, department or site.
2. Prior to purchasing or implementing functional software, the Information and Technology Division will review the software to ensure that the software will operate effectively and will not compromise the networks.
1. The District Technology Steering Committee meets approximately every two weeks. This committee considers major technology issues and provides technology guidance on decisions and recommendations that require higher levels of approval. The committee has representation from each division and the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association.
2. Governance for technological decisions flows from individuals, ad hoc committees and standing advisory committees through the Chief Information and Technology Officer to the superintendent and then to the school board.
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School District of Hillsborough County Florida, USA http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/ |
updated on: 04/24/2005 - tvb
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Polices
and procedures are subject to change. |
