The Central Springs Community School District board is authorized by and derives its organization from Iowa law. The board will consist of 5 board members. Board members are elected by director districts.

• Director 1- District Number 1: North A
• Director 2 - District Number 1: North B
• Director 3-  District Number 2: South A
• Director 4- District Number 2: South B
• Director 5 to be elected at-large

District Number 1: North and west of a line beginning at Thrush Avenue and 375th Street south to the City limits of Plymouth; then west from the City of Plymouth on 330th Street to Spruce Avenue and then south. The City of Plymouth is included in District Number 1.

District Number 2: South and east of a line beginning at Thrush Avenue and 375th Street south to the City limits of Plymouth; then west from the City of Plymouth on 330th Street to Spruce Avenue and then south. The City of Plymouth is excluded in District Number 2.

The board is organized for the purpose of setting policy and providing general direction for the school district. The board will hold its organizational meeting at or before the first regular meeting following the canvass of votes. The retiring board will transfer materials, including the board policy manual, and responsibility to the new board.

The organizational meeting allows the outgoing board to approve minutes of its previous meetings, complete unfinished business and review the school election results. The retiring board will adjourn and the new board will then begin. The board secretary will administer the oath of office to the newly-elected board members. The will preside while the new board elects the president and vice-president of the new board.

Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 274.2; 275.23A; 277.23, .28, .31; 279.1, .5, .7, .8, .33.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(2).

Cross Reference:
202 Board of Directors Members
206.1 President
206.2 Vice-President
210 Board of Directors' Meetings

Approved: 11-15-21
Reviewed: _____
Revised: _____

The board, acting on behalf of the school district, will have jurisdiction over school matters within the territory of the school district.

The board is empowered to make policy for its own governance, for employees, for students and for school district facilities.

The board is also empowered to enforce its policies. The board may, through its quasi-judicial power, conduct hearings and rule on issues and disputes confronting the school district.

The board has these powers and all other powers expressly granted to it in federal and state law as well as the powers that can be reasonably implied from the express powers.

Legal Reference:
Board of Directors of Ind. School Dist. of Waterloo v. Green, 259 Iowa 1260, 147 N.W.2d 854 (1967).
Iowa Code §§ 28E; 274.1 -.2; 279.8.
281 I.A.C. 12.1(2).

Cross Reference:
209 Board of Directors' Management Procedures

Approved: 11-15-21
Reviewed: _____
Revised:_____

The board is authorized to govern the school district which it oversees. The board is entrusted with public funds and is responsible for overseeing the improvement of student outcomes, including student academic achievement and skill proficiency. As the governing board of the school district, the board has four duties to perform: legislative duty, executive duty, evaluative duty and quasi-judicial duty.

As a representative of the citizens of the school district community, the board is responsible for legislating policy for the school district. As a policy-making body, the board has jurisdiction to enact policy with the force and effect of law for the management and operation of the school district.

It is the responsibility of the board, under the board's executive duty, to select its chief executive officer, the superintendent, to operate the school district on the board's behalf. The board delegates to the superintendent its authority to carry out board policy, to formulate and carry out rules and regulations and to handle the administrative details in a manner which supports and is consistent with board policy.

The board has a responsibility to review the education program's performance under its evaluative duty. The board regularly reviews the education program and ancillary services. The review includes a careful study and examination of the facts, conditions and circumstances surrounding the amount of funds received or expended and the education program's ability to achieve the board's educational philosophy and goals for the school district.

The board fulfills its quasi-judicial duties in serving as a neutral arbitrator for hearings related to student suspension or expulsion proceedings and certain employment termination hearings and appeals. This important power was granted by the Iowa Legislature and cannot be delegated. To preserve the board’s neutrality to hear and decide upon these matters, the board does not investigate or become involved in student disciplinary matters or employment matters that may come before it and would require the board to serve in its quasi-judicial role.

Legal Reference:
Iowa Code §§ 274.1; 279.1, .8, .20; 280.12.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(2).

Cross Reference:
101 Educational Philosophy of the School District
103 Long-Range Needs Assessment
209 Board of Directors' Management Procedures
600 Goals and Objectives of the Education Program

Approved: 11-15-21
Reviewed: 06-20-22
Revised: 06-20-22

The board sees the value in promoting the excellent work and accomplishments of the district’s students and staff. Social media is one of many effective communication tools that the district may utilize. Board members have been publicly elected to govern the district and accept a fiduciary responsibility. That responsibility means board members agree to always act in the best interests of the district. For this reason, the board shall expect that individual communications and social media posts made by board members will reflect the values and decorum expected of elected officials in the school community.

All board members enjoy rights to freedom of speech under both the U.S. and Iowa Constitutions.  As such, the district will not limit protected speech of any board members. Certain categories of speech are not protected and may be subject to regulation.  Additionally, board members should be aware that protected speech can still subject individuals to legal liability.  Only the board president is designated as official spokesperson authorized to speak on behalf of the board. Any posting by Board Members about district related matters on their individual social media account shall not be considered official action of the district. Official statements of the district shall be made only on district social media accounts though the designated spokesperson of the district of the entire board speaking as a governing body.

The board as a whole and individual board members in their governance role have legal obligations to safeguard the privacy of information related to student and employee matters. Board members will refrain from posting or communicating on social media in a way that violates the district’s obligation to protect the privacy of its students and employees.

Board members are uniquely positioned in the school community to be both accessible and responsive to community concerns about the effective governance of the district.  As a result, the board will remember their obligations to safeguard student and employee privacy when responding to any social media posts or communications, even if the response is intended to correct information for the rest of the school community.  Board members will direct concerned individuals to the appropriate district staff to address their inquiry or complaint in accordance with board policy.  

Legal Reference:    U.S. Const. Amend. I
    Iowa Const. Art. I, sec. 7
    Lindke v. Freed, 601 U.S. (2024)
    20 U.S.C. 1417(c)
    34 C.F.R. 99.3
    Iowa Code §§ 21; 22

Cross Reference:    
200.03 Responsibilities of the Board
902.01 News Media Relations
 

Approved 6-19-23
Reviewed: 7-23-24
Revised: 7-23-24