The following information will be released to an entity with whom an employee has applied for credit or has obtained credit: title of position, income, and number of years employed. This information will be released without prior written notice to the employee. Confidential information about the employee will be released to an inquiring creditor with a written authorization from the employee.

It is the responsibility of the board secretary or superintendent to respond to inquiries from creditors.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 22.7; 279.8.

I.C. Iowa Code                          Description
Iowa Code § 22.7                      Confidential Records
Iowa Code § 279.8                    Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees

Cross References:  401.05  Employee Records
                                         401.05-R(1)  Employee Records - Regulation

Approved: 2/15/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 6/16/2025
Revised: 6/16/2025

 

In compliance with state law and to provide protection to victims of child abuse, the board believes incidents of alleged child abuse should be reported to the proper authorities. All licensed school employees, teachers, coaches and paraeducators and all school employees 18 years of age or older are mandatory reporters as provided by law and are to report alleged incidents of child abuse they become aware of within the scope of their professional duties.

When a mandatory reporter suspects a student is the victim of child abuse, the mandatory reporter shall make an oral report of the suspected child abuse to the Iowa Department of Human Services within 24 hours of becoming aware of the abusive incident and shall make a written report to the Iowa Department of Human Services within 48 hours following the oral report. If the mandatory reporter believes the child is in immediate danger, the local law enforcement agency will also be notified.

Within six months of their initial employment, mandatory reporters will take a training course involving the identification and reporting of child abuse , or submit evidence they’ve taken the course within the previous three years. Once the training course has been taken, the certificate will remain valid for three years. Employees who have taken the training course will take the follow-up training course every three years and prior to the expiration of their certificate.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 232.67-.77; 232A; 235A; 280.17.
                                       441 I.A.C. 9.2; 155; 175.

I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code           Description
441 I.A.C. 155                                      Human Services - Child Abuse Prevention
441 I.A.C. 175                                      Human Services - Abuse of Children
441 I.A.C. 9.2                                       Human Service - Statement of Policy

Cross References:  401.06  Limitations to Employment References
                                         402.03  Abuse of Students by School District Employees
                                         502.09  Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies
                                         507.01  Student Health and Immunization Certificates

Approved: 2/15/2016, 8/16/2021, 8/15/2022, 11/21/2022, 7/17/2023, 9/15/2025
Reviewed: 8/15/2025
Revised: 8/15/2025

 

Physical or sexual abuse of students, including but not limited to sexual or physical relationships, grooming behavior, and otherwise inappropriate relationships with students by employees will not be tolerated. The definition of employees for the purpose of this policy includes not only those who work for pay but also those who are volunteers of the school district under the direction and control of the school district. Employees found in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including discharge.

The school district will respond promptly to allegations of abuse of students by school district employees by timely reporting to all relevant agencies as required by law. The processing of a complaint or allegation will be handled confidentially to the maximum extent possible. Employees are required to assist in the investigation when requested to provide information and to maintain the confidentiality of the reporting and investigation process. If the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reports to the board of directors of the district that an allegation of abuse of a student has been made against a school employee, the district will place the employee on administrative leave until the resolution of the investigation. The employee will be prohibited from entering school property while on administrative leave.

The superintendent is responsible for drafting administrative regulations to implement this policy.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 232.67, .70, .73, .75; 235A; 256.160; 272A; 280.17; 709; 728.12(1).
                                      281 I.A.C. 12.3(12), 102; 103.
                                      441 I.A.C. 155; 175.

I.C. Iowa Code                                      Description
Iowa Code § 232                                   Juvenile Justice
Iowa Code § 235A                                Child Abuse
Iowa Code § 272A                                Interstate Agreement of Qualification of Ed Personnel
Iowa Code § 280.17                              Uniform School Requirements - Child abuse reporting
Iowa Code § 709                                   Sexual Abuse
Iowa Code § 728.12                              Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
Iowa Code § 256.160                             DE - Reporting Requirements-complaints

I.A.C Iowa Administrative Code            Description
281 I.A.C. 102                                      Abuse of Students by School Employees Investigation Procedures
281 I.A.C. 103                                      Corporal Punishment, Physical Restraint, Seclusion
281 I.A.C. 12.3                                     Administration
441 I.A.C. 155                                      Human Services - Child Abuse Prevention
441 I.A.C. 175                                      Human Services - Abuse of Children

Cross References:  104  Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy
                                        104-R(1)  Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy - Investigation Procedures
                                        104-E(1)  Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy - Complaint Form
                                        104-E(2)  Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy - Witness Disclosure Form
                                        104-E(3)  Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy - Disposition of Complaint Form
                                        401.06  Limitations to Employment References
                                        402.02  Child Abuse Reporting
                                        503.05  Corporal Punishment - Mechanical Restraint and Prone Restraint
                                        503.06  Physical Restraint and Seclusion of Students
                                        503.06-R(1)  Physical Restraint and Seclusion of Students - Regulation
                                        503.06-E(1)  Physical Restraint and Seclusion of Students - Documentation Form
                                        503.06-E(2)  Physical Restraint and Seclusion of Students - Debriefing Letter to Guardian of student Involved in an Occurrence Where Physical
                                                   Restraint or Seclusion was Used
                                        503.06-E(3)  Physical Restraint and Seclusion of Students - Debriefing Meeting Document

Approved: 2/15/2016, 8/16/2021, 11/21/2022, 11/20/2023, 2/18/2025, 9/15/2025
Reviewed: 8/15/2025
Revised: 8/15/2025

 

Employees may receive a gift on behalf of the school district. Employees will not, either directly or indirectly, solicit, accept or receive any gift, series of gifts or an honorarium unless the donor does not meet the definition of "restricted donor" stated below or the gift or honorarium does not meet the definition of gift or honorarium stated below.

A "restricted donor" is defined as a person or other entity which:

• Is seeking to be, or is a party to, any one or any combination of sales, purchases, leases or contracts to, from or with the school district;
• Will be directly and substantially affected financially by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's official duty in a way that is greater than the effect on the public generally or on a substantial class of persons to which the person belongs as a member of a profession, occupation, industry or region; or Is a lobbyist or a client of a lobbyist with respect to matters within the school district's jurisdiction.

A "gift" is the giving of anything of value in return for which something of equal or greater value is not given or received. However, "gift" does not include any of the following:

• Contributions to a candidate or a candidate's committee;
• Information material relevant to an employee's official function, such as books, pamphlets, reports, documents, periodicals or other information that is recorded in a written, audio or visual format;
• Anything received from a person related within the fourth degree by kinship or marriage, unless the donor is acting as an agent or intermediary for another person not so related;
• An inheritance;
• Anything available or distributed to the general public free of charge without regard to the official status of the employee;
• Items received from a charitable, professional, educational or business organization to which the employee belongs as a dues paying member if the items are given to all members of the organization without regard to an individual member's status or positions held outside of the organization and if the dues paid are not inconsequential when compared to the items received;
• Actual expenses of an employee for food, beverages, travel and lodging for a meeting, which is given in return for participation in a panel or speaking engagement at the meeting when the expenses relate directly to the day or days on which the employee has participation or presentation responsibilities;
• Plaques or items of negligible resale value given as recognition for public service;
• Nonmonetary items with a value of less than three dollars that are received from any one donor during one calendar day;
• Items or services solicited or given to a state, national or regional organization in which the state of Iowa or a school district is a member for purposes of a business or educational conference, seminar or other meeting or solicited by or given for the same purposes to state, national or regional government organizations whose memberships and officers are primarily composed of state or local government officials or employees for purposes of a business or educational conference, seminar or other meeting;
• Funeral flowers or memorials to a church or nonprofit organization;
• Gifts other than food, beverages, travel and lodging received by an employee which are received from a person who is a citizen of a country other than the United States and is given during a ceremonial presentation or as a result of a custom of the other country and is of personal value only to the employee
• Gifts which are given to an employee for the employee's wedding or twenty-fifth or fiftieth wedding anniversary;
• Items or services received by members or representatives of members as part of a regularly scheduled event that is part of a business or educational conference, seminar or other meeting that is sponsored and directed by any state, national or regional government organization in which the state of Iowa or a political subdivision of the state of Iowa is a member or received at such an event by members or representatives of members of state, national or regional government organizations whose memberships and officers are primarily composed of state or local government officials or employees;
• Payment of salary or expenses by the school district for the cost of attending a meeting of a subunit of an agency when the employee whose expenses are being paid serves on a board, commission, committee, council or other subunit of the agency and the employee is not entitled to receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses from the school district for attending the meeting; or
• Actual registration costs for informational meetings or sessions which assist a public official or public employee in the performance of the person's official functions. The costs of food, drink, lodging and travel are not "registration costs" under this paragraph. Meetings or sessions which a public official or public employee attends for personal or professional licensing purposes are not "informational meetings or sessions which assist a public official or public employee in the performance of the person's official functions" under this paragraph.

An "honorarium" is anything of value that is accepted by, or on behalf of, an employee as consideration for an appearance, speech or article. An honorarium does not include any of the following:

• Actual expenses of an employee for registration, food, beverages, travel or lodging for a meeting, which is given in return for participation in a panel or speaking engagement at a meeting when the expenses relate directly to the day or days on which the employee has participation or presentation responsibilities;
• A nonmonetary gift or series of nonmonetary gifts donated within thirty days to a public body, an educational or charitable organization or the Iowa department of general services; or
• A payment made to an employee for services rendered as part of a private business, trade or profession in which the employee is engaged if the payment is commensurate with the actual services rendered and is not being made because of the person's status as an employee of the district, but, rather, because of some special expertise or other qualification.

It is the responsibility of each employee to know when it is appropriate to accept or reject gifts or an honorarium.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code ch. 68B

I.C. Iowa Code                          Description
Iowa Code § 68B                       Government Ethics and Lobbying

Cross References:  217  Gifts to Board of Directors
                                         401.02  Employee Conflict of Interest
                                         704.04  Gifts - Grants - Bequests  

Approved: 2/15/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 6/16/2025
Revised: 6/16/2025

 

Appropriate training and professional development of all employees is crucial to the success of all students. The district will provide professional development opportunities appropriate to the duties of school employees.

For all professional development programs the district requires employees to take, the district will provide to the employee notice indicating the section of the law, or rules adopted by the State Board of Education or Bureau of Educational Examiners that the district determines requires the employee to participate in the professional development program.

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code                          Description
Iowa Code § 279.14A                Professional Development - notification

Cross References:  302.06  Superintendent Professional Development
                                         303.07  Administrator Professional Development
                                         408.01  Licensed Employee Professional Development

Approved: 2/15/2016, 8/16/2021, 7/21/2025
Reviewed: 6/16/2025
Revised: 6/16/2025

 

The board believes the primary responsibility of employees is to the duties of their position within the school district as outlined in their job description. The board considers an employee's duties as part of a regular, full-time position as full-time employment. The board expects such employees to give the responsibilities of their positions in the school district precedence over any other employment.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to counsel employees, whether full-time or part-time, if, in the judgment of the superintendent and the employee's immediate supervisor, the employee's outside employment interferes with the performance of the employee's duties required in the employee's position within the school district.

The board may request the employee to cease the outside employment as a condition of continued employment with the school district.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20.7; 279.8.

I.C. Iowa Code              Description
Iowa Code § 20.7          Collective Bargaining - Public Employer Rights
Iowa Code § 279.8        Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees

Cross References:  401.02  Employee Conflict of Interest
                                         408.03                          Licensed Employee Tutoring

Approved: 2/15/2016, 8/16/2021, 10/20/2025
Reviewed: 8/20/2025
Revised: 9/15/2025