NORTHFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION FILE CODE: 1100
Northfield, New Jersey X Monitored
Mandated
Policy X Other Reasons
COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC
The Northfield Board of Education will keep the community informed of the status of the schools through advertised public meetings, press releases, a district website and such other means as may be appropriate.
The public information program of the board and the district shall be directed by the Superintendent, who shall arrange to keep the public informed regarding the policies, administrative operations, objectives, and successes or failures of the schools and shall provide interpretation and explanation of the schools’ plans and programs.
The district’s budget; its audit; its annual goals and its progress toward achievement of them; its special education plans; its bilingual/ESL program; student progress toward achievement of the Core Curriculum Content Standards and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards; graduation statistics and any other information shall be communicated to the public as required by law.
The board’s meetings and records shall be a matter of public information except as such meetings and records pertain to individual personnel and other classified matters.
Annually, the school district shall disseminate a report card of each school, which shall contain statistical information specified by the Department of Education, to all staff and parents. The school district shall also make the report card available to the media.
The homepage of each school and the district website will include the grade received from the Commissioner of Education on the effort of each school and the district to implement policies and programs consistent with the laws on harassment, intimidation or bullying. The Superintendent or designee shall oversee the postings. The grade shall be posted within 10 days of its receipt. In addition, the district shall provide a link to the twice-yearly report prepared by the Superintendent detailing the number and nature of violence vandalism, and harassment, intimidation or bullying reports in the schools.
In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, content appearing on the district and school website shall not discriminate on the basis of disability. The district will conduct bi-monthly audits to identify barriers to accessibility of existing, newly added or modified online content on the district’s website. Additionally, a notice to persons with disabilities about how to request access to online information or functionality that may be inaccessible will be posted on the district website. Accessibility training will be provided for all appropriate personnel.
Avoiding Excessive Expenditures when Communicating with the Public
District publications will be produced and distributed in a cost-efficient manner, for example:
- The use of expensive materials or production techniques where lower cost methods are available, such as the use of multi-color glossy publications instead of suitable, less expensive alternatives, is prohibited.
- Distribution of pictures of school board members is prohibited within 90 days of any district election.
- Excessive public relations activities that are not part of the instructional program are prohibited.
Adopted: November 18, 1996
NJSBA Review/Update: August 2009; December 2010; July 2011; October 2017
Readopted: October 24, 2011
Key Words
Communicating With the Public, Public Information Program, Press Releases
Legal References: N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq. Open Public Meetings Act
N.J.S.A. 18A:7E-2
through -5 School report card program
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq. Examination and copies of public records (Open Public Records Act)
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1(a)3 Curriculum and instruction
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.2 Public relations and professional services
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-8.1 et seq. Budget Submission, support documentation, website publication
N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-9.5 Commissioner to ensure achievement of the CCCS
N.J.A.C. 6A:30-3.1 Comprehensive review of public school districts
N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12.1 Reporting Requirements
N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12.2 School-level planning
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-110, 20 U.S.C.A. 6301 et seq.
Possible
Cross References: *1000/1010 Concepts and roles in community relations; goals and objectives
*1120 Board of education meetings
*2240 Research, evaluation and planning
*3570 District records and reports
*5124 Reporting to parents/guardians
*6142.2 English as a second language; bilingual/bicultural
*6142.6 Basic skills
*6142.10 Technology
*6171.1 Remedial instruction
*6171.3 At-risk and Title 1
*6171.4 Special education
*6300 Evaluation of the instructional program
*Indicates policy is included in the Critical Policy Reference Manual.