Appendix F

-- New Policies and Policy Revisions --


New Policies:

  1. Policy on school-based decision-making (school site management):

    It is the policy of the Duval County School Board that the Superintendent of Schools establish school-based decision-making in the Duval County Public Schools and that school site management operate within the limits of budget controls, School Board policies, professional ethics and the requirements of law. Decentralization shall be accompanied with school unit accountability measures.

    It is further the policy of the School Board that the Superintendent of Schools provide a yearly report on the degree to which school-based decision-making is contributing to enhanced school results and management efficiency.

  2. Policy on school-based improvement plans:

    It is the policy of the Duval County School Board that the Superintendent of Schools establish school improvement plans for each school, based on individual school demographics and current individual school results. Each principal shall maintain a school database to be used for developing school improvement plans.

    It is further the policy of the School Board that school improvement plans be submitted to the Board no later than October 1 of each school year and that school results be presented to the Board no later than August 1 of each school year.

  3. Policy on periodic public reporting of student performance information:

    It is the policy of the Duval County School Board that teachers provide a rigorous program of instruction, including homework, and that all school personnel will maintain high expectations for all students. Pupil performance data shall be a high priority for all schools.

    It is further the policy of the School Board to periodically report pupil performance data to parents (guardians) and to the community.

  4. Policy on community partnerships:

    It is the policy of the Duval County School Board to establish community partnerships which support the educational efforts of the school district. Such partnerships shall be approved by the principals of the schools in which they are established and shall be presented to the School Board for information purposes.

Policy Revisions:

We recommend the following revisions in four policies:

  1. Policy on public participation at Board meetings:
    File: BEDH Conduct of the Public in School Board Meetings:
    Add to current policy:
    Any information presented must be attributed to an identifiable source - person, reference or other source. The School Board will not receive or act on anonymous information.

  2. Policy on school unit accountability:
    File:AE School Improvement and Educational Accountability
    Add to current policy:
    Each school shall establish effectiveness levels to be achieved, the time period over which effectiveness levels are to be attained and the method by which achievement of effectiveness levels will be measured. The attainment of school effectiveness levels shall be a portion of the evaluation of the principals' performance.

  3. Policy on personnel evaluation:
    File: GCOA Evaluation of Instructional Personnel
    It is our position that personnel evaluation should not be a negotiable item. When negotiated, however, the following statement should be part of the agreement: Although procedures for assessing instructional personnel are part of this agreement, the judgments made by supervisors are not subject to the grievance process.

  4. Policy on superintendent powers and responsibilities:
    File: CBC Responsibilities of Superintendent
    Add a final statement to the end of current policy:
    The employment, transfer, assignment, evaluation and recommendation for termination of all employees shall be the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Superintendent of Schools.


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