Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Policy Updates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Whitfield County school board adopts changes to board election timing, meeting location and personnel ethics policies
Summary
The board approved revisions to policy BD (board officers and term limits), policy BE (organizational meeting timing and meeting address), and multiple personnel policies in Section G, including staff code of ethics and a nepotism clause that allows the board to suspend the policy in specific cases on superintendent recommendation.
The Whitfield County School District Board of Trustees on June 22 approved a set of policy changes recommended by the Policy Committee that update board organization, meeting procedures and several personnel rules.
Dr. Cannon, speaking for the Policy Committee, outlined the proposed changes to policy BD (organization of board officers) and BE (board meetings). Recommended edits set the organizational meeting on the fourth Monday in January rather than November, clarified officer roles (chair, vice chair, secretary, parliamentarian) and added language limiting consecutive service in an officer role in certain circumstances. The committee also recommended updating the public meeting address to the Public Service Administration Building in Kingstree, S.C., as reflected in the packet.
The committee presented multiple personnel policies in Section G, including a staff code of ethics that references the South Carolina Ethics, Government Accountability and Campaign Reform Acts and enumerates prohibited activities (financial conflicts, use of confidential information, restrictions on certain post-employment procurements). The proposed nepotism language adds a provision that, "Upon recommendation of the superintendent or his or her designee, the board has the authority to suspend application of this policy in particular situations where it is believed to be in the district's best interest," with any such suspension subject to a board vote.
After a question-and-answer period about when the policy committee meets and whether the district has an alternative-school policy (committee agreed to develop one), the board moved to adopt the policies as presented and to forego the second reading. The board voted in favor by voice vote.
Board members raised related operational concerns during the discussion: Mr. Clark noted that student transfers across district lines reduce district revenue and requested the policy manual be provided as reference for existing transfer procedures. The policy committee and staff confirmed relevant procedures exist and said they would supply the policy document on request.
The policy changes take effect upon adoption; the board directed the policy committee to continue work on any outstanding items (including an alternative-school policy) and to provide the requested documentation on student transfer procedures.
