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1:10 School District Legal StatusThe Illinois Constitution requires the State to provide for an efficient system of high-quality publiceducational institutions and services in order to achieve the educational development of all persons tothe limits of their capabilities.The General Assembly has implemented this mandate through the creation of school districts. TheDistrict is governed by the laws for school districts serving a resident population of not fewer than1,000 and not more than 500,000.The School Board constitutes a body corporate that possesses all the usual powers of a corporationfor public purposes, and in that name may sue and be sued, purchase, hold and sell personal propertyand real estate, and enter into such obligations as are authorized by law.LEGAL REF.:Ill. Constitution, Art. X, Sec. 1.105 ILCS 5/10-1 et seq.CROSS REF.:2:10 (School District Governance), 2:20 (Powers and Duties of the School Board)ADOPTED:December 19, 2011Dongola USD 66

1:20 District Organization, Operations, and Cooperative AgreementsThe District is organized and operates as a Unit District serving the needs of children in gradeskindergarten through 12 and others as required by the School Code.The District enters into and participates in joint programs and intergovernmental agreements with unitsof local government and other school districts in order to jointly provide services and activities in amanner that will increase flexibility, scope of service opportunities, cost reductions, and/or otherwisebenefit the District and the community. The Superintendent shall manage these activities to the extentthe program or agreement requires the District's participation, and shall provide periodicimplementation or operational data and/or reports to the School Board concerning these programsand agreements.LEGAL REF.:Ill. Constitution, Art. VII, Sec. 10.5 ILCS 220/1 et seq.ADOPTED:May 28, 2008Dongola USD 66

1:30 School District PhilosophyVisionTo excel in meeting the educational needs of the Dongola Unit #66 students.MissionOur school's mission is:To formally educate all students to high personally appropriate levels of academic performancewhile fostering positive growth in social/emotional behaviors and attitudes.To improve the quality and relevance of formal education for all students so they are prepared fora personally and professionally rewarding career in the 21st Century.To teach all students so that they can attain their maximum educational potential.ValuesEMPOWERMENT: WE will:Value empowering employees to assist in achieving the mission of the school.Value equal access by all employees to support information and resources.Value all employees as equally important members of the organization.DECISION MAKING: WE will:Value placing decision making as close to the point of implementation as possible.Value the opportunity for input in decisions.Value decisions being made by those who are directly affected by them.BELONGING: WE will:Value commitment to the development of the individual within the school.Value treating all individuals as significant stakeholders in the organization.Value a "we" spirit and feeling of ownership in the organization.TRUST AND CONFIDENCE: WE will:Value employees as having the expertise to make wise decisions.Value investing in the development of employees.DIVERSITY: WE will:Value differences in individual philosophy and practices.Value differences in perspectives.INTEGRITY: WE will:Value honesty in words and actions.Value consistent, responsible pursuit of what we stand for.Value the unwavering commitment to ethical conduct.STUDENT SUCCESS: WE will:

Value students as inherently curious learners.Value doing whatever it takes to achieve student success.Value students being meaningfully engaged in work that has personal value to them.CROSS REF:2:10 (School District Governance), 3:10 (Goals and Objectives), 6:10 (EducationalPhilosophy and Objectives)ADOPTED:January 10, 2009Dongola USD 66

SECTION 2 - SCHOOL BOARDDongola USD 66

2:10 School District GovernanceThe District is governed by a School Board consisting of seven members. The Board's powers andduties include the authority to adopt, enforce, and monitor all policies for the management andgovernance of the District's schools.Official action by the Board may only occur at a duly called and legally conducted meeting at which aquorum is physically present.As stated in the Board member oath of office prescribed by the School Code, a Board member hasno legal authority as an individual.LEGAL REF.:5 ILCS 120/1.02.105 ILCS 5/10-1, 5/10-10, 5/10-12, 5/10-16.5, 5/10-16.7, and 5/10-20.5.CROSS REF.:1:10 (School District Legal Status), 2:20 (Powers and Duties of the School Board),2:80 (Board Member Oath and Conduct), 2:120 (Board Member Development), 2:200 (Types ofSchool Board Meetings), 2:220 (School Board Meeting Procedure)ADOPTED:December 19, 2011Dongola USD 66

2:20 Powers and Duties of the School BoardThe major powers and duties of the School Board include, but are not limited to:1. Organizing the Board after each consolidated election by electing officers and establishing itsregular meeting schedule and, thereafter, taking action during lawfully called meetings to faithfullyfulfill the Board's responsibilities in accordance with State and federal law.2. Formulating, adopting, and modifying Board policies, at its sole discretion, subject only tomandatory collective bargaining agreements and State and federal law.3. Employing a Superintendent and other personnel, making employment decisions, dismissingpersonnel, including determining whether an employee has willfully or negligently failed to reportan instance of suspected child abuse or neglect as required by 325 ILCS 5/, and establishing anequal employment opportunity policy that prohibits unlawful discrimination.4. Directing, through policy, the Superintendent, in his or her charge of the District's administration.5. Approving the annual budget, tax levies, major expenditures, payment of obligations, annualaudit, and other aspects of the District's financial operation; and making available a statement offinancial affairs as provided in State law.6. Entering contracts using the public bidding procedure when required.7. Indemnifying, protecting, and insuring against any loss or liability of the School District, Boardmembers, employees, and agents as provided or authorized by State law.8. Providing, constructing, controlling, and maintaining adequate physical facilities; making schoolbuildings available for use as civil defense shelters; and establishing a resource conservationpolicy.9. Establishing an equal educational opportunities policy that prohibits unlawful discrimination.10. Approving the curriculum, textbooks, and educational services.11. Evaluating the educational program and approving School Improvement and DistrictImprovement Plans.12. Presenting the District report card and School report card(s) to parents/guardians and thecommunity; these documents report District, School and student performance.13. Establishing and supporting student behavior policies designed to maintain an environmentconducive to learning, including deciding individual student suspension or expulsion casesbrought before it.14. Establishing attendance units within the District and assigning students to the schools.15. Establishing the school year.16. Requiring a moment of silence to recognize veterans during any type of school event held at aDistrict school on November 11.17. Providing student transportation services pursuant to State law.18. Entering into joint agreements with other boards to establish cooperative educational programsor provide educational facilities.19. Complying with requirements in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA).Specifically, each individual Board member must, if an allegation is raised to the member duringan open or closed Board meeting that a student is an abused child as defined in ANCRA, director cause the Board to direct the Superintendent or other equivalent school administrator tocomply with ANCRA’s requirements concerning the reporting of child abuse.20. Communicating the schools’ activities and operations to the community and representing theneeds and desires of the community in educational matters.LEGAL REF.:105 ILCS 5/10, 5/17-1, and 5/27-1.

115 ILCS 5/, Ill. Educational Labor Relations Act.325 ILCS 5/, Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.CROSS REF.: 1:10 (School District Legal Status), 1:20 (District Organization, Operations, andCooperative Agreements), 2:10 (School District Governance), 2:80 (Board Member Oath andConduct), 2:140 (Communications To and From the Board), 2:210 (Organizational School BoardMeeting), 2:240 (Board Policy Development), 4:60 (Purchases and Contracts), 4:70 (ResourceConservation), 4:100 (Insurance Management), 4:110 (Transportation), 4:150 (Facility Managementand Building Programs), 5:10 (Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Recruitment), 5:90(Abused and Neglected Child Reporting), 6:10 (Educational Philosophy and Objectives), 6:15 (SchoolAccountability), 6:20 (School Year Calendar and Day), 7:10 (Equal Educational Opportunities), 7:30(Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer), 7:190 (Student Behavior), 7:200 (SuspensionProcedures), 7:210 (Expulsion Procedures), 8:10 (Connection with the Community), 8:30 (Visitors toand Conduct on School Property)Adopted: December 19, 2019Dongola USD 66

2:30 School District ElectionsSchool District elections are non-partisan, governed by the general election laws of the State, andinclude the election of School Board members, various public policy propositions, and advisoryquestions. Board members are elected at the consolidated election held on the first Tuesday in Aprilin odd-numbered years. If, however, that date conflicts with the celebration of Passover, theconsolidated election is postponed to the first Tuesday following the last day of Passover. Thecanvass of votes is conducted by the election authority within 21 days after the election.The Board, by proper resolution, may cause to be placed on the ballot: (a) public policy referendumaccording to Article 28 of the Election Code, or (b) advisory questions of public policy according toSection 9-1.5 of the School Code.The Board Secretary serves as the local election official. He or she receives petitions for thesubmission of a public question to referenda and forwards them to the proper election officer.LEGAL REF.:10 ILCS 5/1-3, 5/2A, 5/10-9, 5/22-17, 5/22-18, and 5/28.105 ILCS 5/9 and 5/9-1.5.CROSS REF.:2:40 (Board Member Qualifications), 2:50 (Board Member Term of Office), 2:210(Organizational School Board Meeting)ADOPTED:April 28, 2014Dongola USD 66

2:40 Board Member QualificationsA School Board member must be, on the date of election or appointment, a United States citizen, atleast 18 years of age, a resident of Illinois and the District for at least one year immediately precedingthe election, and a registered voter.Reasons making an individual ineligible for Board membership include holding an incompatible officeand certain types of State or federal employment. A child sex offender, as defined in State law, isineligible for Board membership.The Board will annually appoint the Student Council President as its student member to serve in anadvisory capacity. The student member will not have any voting privileges and may not attendexecutive sessions of the Board.LEGAL REF.:Ill. Constitution, Art. 2, ¶ 1; Art. 4, ¶ 2(e); Art. 6, ¶ 13(b).105 ILCS 5/10-3 and 5/10-10.CROSS REF.:2:30 (School Board Elections), 2:70 (Vacancies on the School Board - FillingVacancies)Adopted: April 30, 2019Dongola USD 66

2:50 Board Member Term of OfficeThe term of office for a School Board member begins immediately after both of the following occur:1. The election authority canvasses the votes and declares the winner(s); this occurs within 21 daysafter the consolidated election held on the first Tuesday in April in odd-numbered years.2. The successful candidate takes the oath of office as provided in Board policy 2:80, BoardMember Oath and Conduct.The term ends 4 years later when the successor assumes office.LEGAL REF.:10 ILCS 5/2A-1.1, 5/22-17, and 5/22-18.105 ILCS 5/10-10, 5/10-16, and 5/10-16.5.CROSS REF.:2:30 (School District Elections), 2:80 (Board Member Oath and Conduct), 2:210(Organizational School Board Meeting)Adopted: April 30, 2019Dongola USD 66

2:60 Board Member Removal from OfficeIf a majority of the School Board determines that a Board member has willfully failed to perform his orher official duties, it may request the Regional Superintendent to remove such member from office.LEGAL REF.:105 ILCS 5/3-15.5.CROSS REF.:2:70 (Vacancies on the School Board - Filling Vacancies)Adopted: April 30, 2019Dongola USD 66

2:70 Vacancies on the School Board - Filling VacanciesVacancyElective office of a School Board member becomes vacant before the term's expiration when any ofthe following occurs:1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.Death of the incumbent,Resignation in writing filed with the Secretary of the Board,Legal disability,Conviction of a felony, bribery, perjury, or other infamous crime or of any offense involving aviolation of official oath or of a violent crime against a child,Removal from office,The decision of a competent tribunal declaring his or her election void,Ceasing to be an inhabitant of the District or a particular area from which he or she was elected,if the residential requirements contained in the School Code are violated,An illegal conflict of interest, orAcceptance of a second public office that is incompatible with Board membership.Filling VacanciesWhenever a vacancy occurs, the remaining members shall notify the Regional Superintendent ofSchools of that vacancy within five days after its occurrence and shall fill the vacancy until the nextregular board election, at which election a successor shall be elected to serve the remainder of theunexpired term. However, if the vacancy occurs with less than 868 days remaining in the term or lessthan 88 days before the next regularly scheduled election, the person so appointed shall serve theremainder of the unexpired term, and no election to fill the vacancy shall be held. Members appointedby the remaining members of the Board to fill vacancies shall meet any residential requirements asspecified in the School Code. The Board shall fill the vacancy within 60 days after it occurred by apublic vote at a meeting of the Board.Immediately following a vacancy on the Board, the Board will publicize it and accept résumés fromDistrict residents who are interested in filling the vacancy. After reviewing the applications, the Boardmay invite the prospective candidates for personal interviews to be conducted during duly scheduledclosed meetings.LEGAL REF.:105 ILCS 5/10-10 and 5/10-11.CROSS REF.: 2:40 (Board Member Qualifications), 2:60 (Board Member Removal from Office),2:120 (Board Member Development)Adopted: October 26, 2020Dongola USD 66

2:70-E Exhibit - Checklist for Filling Board Vacancies by AppointmentThe School Board fills a vacancy by either appointment or election. The Board uses this checklist forguidance when it must fill a vacancy by appointment. Some items contain guidelines along withexplanations. For more information, see Vacancies on the Board of Education, published by acommittee of the Ill. Council of School Attorneys, and available at: www.iasb.com/law/vacancies.cfm.Confirm that the Board must fill the vacancy by appointment.GuidelinesExplanationReview Board policy 2:70,Filling a vacancy by Board appointment or election depends uponVacancies on the Schoolwhen the vacancy occurred. If a vacancy occurs with less than: (1) 868Board - Filling Vacancies, days remaining in the term of office, or (2) 88 days before the nextto determine if a vacancy on regularly scheduled election for the vacant office, no election to fill thevacancy is held and the appointee serves the remainder of the term.the Board occurred and, ifAt all other times, an appointee serves until the next regular schoolso, whether the successorwill be selected by election election, at which election a successor is elected to serve theremainder of the unexpired term. See 105 ILCS 5/10-10.or Board appointment.In the event a seat on theboard goes unfilled at anelection, consult the BoardAttorney to determine (1)how long the seat can beheld over by the incumbentmember, and (2) theprocess by which the Boardwill fill the seat.The School Code partially addresses the concept of a holdover seat;it states “no elective office becomes vacant until the successor ofthe incumbent of such office has been appointed or elected, as thecase may be, and qualified.” 105 ILCS 5/10-11.Notify the Regional Superintendent of the vacancy within five days of its occurrence (105ILCS 5/10-10).Develop a list of qualifications for appointment of a person to fill the vacancy.GuidelinesExplanationAt a minimum, a candidatemust meet the followingqualifications:Be a United StatescitizenBe at least 18 years ofageBe a resident of Illinoisand theDistrict for at least one yearimmediately preceding theappointmentBe a registered voterWhile the School Code does not expressly set forth eligibilityrequirements for appointment to a Board vacancy, the Board maywant to use the qualifications for elected Board members listed in105 ILCS 5/10-3 and 5/10-10.For guidance discussing other qualifications that the Board may want

Not be a child sexoffenderNot hold anotherincompatible publicofficeNot have a prohibitedinterest in any contractwith the DistrictNot be a schooltrusteeNot hold certain typesof prohibited State orfederal employmentWhen additionalqualifications apply, thefollowing items may beincluded in the Board's listof qualifications:Meet all qualificationsbased upon thedistribution ofpopulation amongcongressionaltownships in thedistrict.Meet all qualificationsbased upon thedistribution ofpopulation amongincorporated andunincorporated areas.to consider, see IASB's Recruiting School Board Candidates,available at: www.iasb.com/training/recruiting.cfmFor guidance regarding conflict of interest and incompatible offices,see Conflict of Interest and Incompatible Offices FAQ (ICSA).Board members of some community unit school districts may besubject to historical residential qualifications based on the distributionof population among congressional townships in the district orbetween the district's incorporated and unincorporated areas. 105ILCS 5/10-11.Note: If a vacancy for an area of residence remains unfilled, a boardmust submit a proposition at the next general election for the electionof a board member at large. 105 ILCS 5/10-10.5(c), added by P.A.100-800.Decide who will receive completed vacancy applications.GuidelinesExplanationThe Board Presidentwill acceptapplications.Who accepts vacancy applications is at the Board's sole discretion.According to 2:110, Qualifications, Term, and Duties of Board Officers, theThe Board willBoard President is a logical officer to accept the applications, but this taskdiscuss, at an openmeeting, its process may be delegated to the Secretary or Superintendent's secretary if theBoard determines that it is more convenient. Who accepts the applicationsto review theapplications and who must be decided prior to posting the vacancy announcement.will contact applicantsfor an interview.Create the Board member vacancy announcement.

AnnouncementExplanationSchool District BoardMember VacancyThe contents of a vacancy announcement, how it isannounced, and where it is posted are at the Board's solediscretion.The School District is acceptingapplications to fill the vaca

1:30 School District Philosophy SECTION 2 - SCHOOL BOARD 2:10 School District Governance 2:20 Powers and Duties of the School Board 2:30 School District Elections 2:40 Board Member Qualifications 2:50 Board Member Term of Office 2:60 Board Member Removal from Office 2:70 Vacancies on the School Board - Filling Vacancies