OBJECTIVES OF BUILDINGS & SITES
It shall be the goal of the board to provide sufficient school district buildings and sites for the education program. The board shall strive to provide an environment which will encourage and support learning.
In providing this environment the school district buildings and sites will accommodate the organizational and instructional patterns that support the education program. The board shall have final authority to determine what is necessary to meet the needs of the education program.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to oversee the day to day operations of the school buildings and sites and to notify the board of areas in need of improvement.
BUILDINGS & SITES LONG-RANGE PLANNING
As part of the board's long-range plan for the school district's education program, the board shall include the buildings and sites needs for the education program. The long-term needs for building and sites shall be discussed and determined by the board. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to provide information including, but not limited to, enrollment projections and education program requirements to the board.
BUILDINGS & SITE SURVEYS
The board may engage the services of consultants or other personnel to study the needs of the school district's buildings and sites in providing the education program. The results of the services will be considered in planning the education program and in making decisions about the improvement and acquisition of additional buildings and sites. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board regarding the need for such services and who should perform such services for the board.
EDUCATIONAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR BUILDINGS & SITES
Buildings and sites considered for purchase or construction by the school district or currently owned by the school district and used for the education program must meet, or upon improvement be able to meet, the specifications set by the board. The board shall make this determination.
Prior to remodeling or other construction of buildings and sites, the board may appoint a committee of consultants, employees, citizens or others to assist the board in developing the specifications for the new or improved buildings and sites. These specifications shall be consistent with the education program and will provide the architect with the information necessary to determine what is expected from the facility. It is within the discretion of the board to determine whether a committee shall be appointed.
The education specifications shall include, but not be limited to, the financial resources available for the project, the definition and character of classrooms, the functional use to be made of the rooms, description of specialized needs, and other pertinent information as the board deems necessary.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the board regarding the specifications of buildings and sites.
SITE ACQUISITION
Sites acquired by the Board of Directors shall meet or, upon improvement, be able to meet the specifications set out by the board prior to using the site for the education program. The board may meet in closed session to discuss potential purchases of sites. It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to assist the board and to make recommendations concerning acquisition of sites.
BIDS AND AWARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
Public, competitive scaled bids are required for construction projects, including renovation and repair, with a cost exceeding the statutory minimums required by law. The public, competitive sealed bid requirement is waived in the case of emergency repairs when the repairs are necessary to prevent the closing of a school. The AEA administrator will certify that the emergency repairs are necessary to prevent the closing of a school. The school district will comply with the competitive quote process for those projects subject to the competitive quote law. The school district will determine the process for obtaining quotes for projects below the competitive quote limit.
The award of construction contracts will be made to the lowest responsible bidder. When awarding contracts, the district will make a reasonable effort to purchase locally if the cost is within 10%. The board will have the right to reject any or all bids, or any part thereof, and to enter into the contract or contracts deemed to be in the best interests of the school district.
WARNING SYSTEM AND EMERGENCY PLANS
The school district shall maintain a warning system designed to inform students, employees, and visitors in the facilities of an emergency. The system shall be maintained on a regular basis under the maintenance plan for the school district buildings and sites. Students shall be informed of this system. Each classroom and office shall have a plan for helping those in need of assistance to safety during an emergency. This shall include, but not be limited to students and employees with disabilities. Licensed employees shall be responsible for instructing students on the proper techniques to be followed during an emergency.
Iowa law requires that all public and accredited nonpublic schools develop and maintain a high-quality emergency operations plan. Records containing district security procedures and/or emergency preparedness information are considered confidential records under Iowa Code Section 22.7, if disclosure could reasonably be expected to jeapordize students, employees, visitors, systems, or property. The records or class of records which are covered by this Iowa Code provision include, but are not limited to, records containing information directly related to vulnerability assessments; information relating to security measures; emergency response protocols; security codes and combinations, passwords, keys, and records containing information that, if disclosed, would significantly increase the vulnerability of attack to the critical systems or infrastructures of the district.
The board requires that at least once per school year, an emergency operations drill based on the emergency operations plan be conducted in each individual school building in which students are educated. The plan shall determine which staff and students are involved in the drill, the nature of the drill, and shall identify procedures for scool personnel, parents, and guardians to report possible threats to the safety of students or school personnel on school grounds or at school activities.
The board and authorities shall annually review the security plan and procedures as required by Iowa law.
DISPOSITION OF DISTRICT EQUIPMENT
District property, such as equipment, furnishings, supplies, or any other property that is not real property (hereafter “equipment”), will be disposed of when it is determined to be of no further use to the District. It shall be the objective of the District in disposing of the equipment to achieve the best available price or most economical disposal.
It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation to the Board regarding the method for disposing of equipment of no further use to the District.
Equipment having a value of less than $2,500 shall be disposed of in a manner determined by the superintendent. Equipment having a value of more than $2,500 shall be disposed of in a manner determined by the Board. Any obsolete equipment may be thrown away.
Prior to the superintendent’s or the Board’s final decision regarding the disposal of equipment having a value less than $5,000, the superintendent or the Board shall publish notice of the disposal in a newspaper of general circulation. The publication of the disposal shall be published with at least one (1) insertion each week for two (2) consecutive weeks.
Prior to the Board’s final decision regarding the disposal of equipment having a value greater than $5,000, the Board shall hold a public hearing regarding the disposal or lease of the equipment. The Board shall adopt a resolution announcing the proposed disposition, publishing notice of the time and place of the public hearing, and describing the property pursuant to law. The Board shall publish notice of the time and place of the public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation at least once, but not less than ten (10) days and not more than twenty (20) days, prior to the hearing date. Upon completion of the public hearing, the Board may dispose of the equipment.
Proceeds from the disposition or lease of equipment shall be placed in the District’s general fund.
DISPOSITION OR LEASE OF DISTRICT BUILDINGS AND SITES
Decisions regarding the lease, sale, or disposal of real property belonging to the District shall be made by the Board, with a recommendation from the superintendent. In making its decision the board will consider the needs of the education program and the efficient use of public funds.
Prior to the Board’s final decision regarding the disposal of real property, the Board shall hold a public hearing regarding the disposal of the real property. The Board shall adopt a resolution announcing the proposed disposition, publishing notice of the time and place of the public hearing, and describing the property pursuant to law. The Board shall publish notice of the time and place of the public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation at least once, but not less than ten (10) days and not more than twenty (20) days, prior to the hearing date. Upon completion of the public hearing, the Board may dispose of the real property.
If the real property contains less than two (2) acres, is located outside of a city, is not adjacent to a city and was previously used as a schoolhouse site, the property may revert to the owner of the tract from whom the property was taken following the procedures set forth under Iowa law.
In the case of the demolition of a school district facility or structure, the Board will follow all applicable laws regarding competitive bidding for the demolition project
The superintendent shall be responsible for coordinating the action necessary for the Board to accomplish the lease, sale, or disposal of real property belonging to the District, including student-constructed buildings.
Proceeds from the disposition of real property shall be placed in the District’s physical plant and equipment levy fund. Proceeds from the lease of real property shall be placed in the District’s general fund.