The official name of the District shall be North Mercer R-III.  

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

The District rules and regulations will consist of the District Policies, the Board Manual, the Administrative Manual, the Employee Manual and the Student/Parent Handbook.  These documents will provide the rules and regulations for an effective and efficient school system.  All Board members, employees, students and patrons are required to follow the District’s rules and regulations.  The Superintendent, administrators and District supervisors are required to implement and enforce District policies, the Administrative Manual, the Employee Manual, and the Student/Parent Handbook.  Questions regarding the interpretation of any District rule will be directed to the Superintendent or designee.

District policies will be approved by the Board, signed by order of the Board, maintained by the Board Secretary at the District’s offices, and posted on the District’s website.  The Superintendent and administrative staff will assist the Board in timely review and revision of District policies.  The Board Secretary will ensure that District policies and amendments thereto are transmitted to teachers in the District.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

The mission of the North Mercer R-III is: to inspire students to gain a diversity of life skills in a safe environment as they work to become responsible, productive citizens.  In reaching decisions the Board will attempt in every case to act in the best interests of its students.  The Board has a long-range plan for the governance of the District that is guided by the District’s mission, priorities, goals and objectives.  The strategic plan will be developed and amended under the direction of the Board and with input from key District stakeholders.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022; Updated November 7, 2022

The District will develop systems and processes using a variety of communication channels to effectively communicate with the public and key stakeholder groups.  District communications will come primarily from the District’s spokesperson.  If employees or Board members do provide communications during their contact with parents or patrons, such individuals will follow all confidentiality and other restrictions imposed by law or District rules, and ensure all communications are accurate. 

Superintendent as Spokesperson

The Superintendent will serve as official spokesperson for the District unless otherwise directed by the Board.  All employees and Board members will direct requests for statements about District business from the public or members of the media to the Superintendent or designee.  Board members should direct requests for statements about District business to the Superintendent or designee.  If a Board member chooses to make a statement about District business, the Board member will emphasize that he or she may only speak as an individual Board member, not on behalf of the Board or the District.

Communications Plan

The Superintendent or designee will develop a District communications plan that, at a minimum, establishes:

1. District channels of communications.
2. Methods of sharing information with the public.
3. Methods of sharing information with internal District stakeholders.
4. A plan for District communications during emergencies.
5. Information to be provided to parents/guardians and members of the public as required by law. 

Community Engagement 

District patrons should be encouraged to provide ideas, concerns and comments about District programs.  The Superintendent will create opportunities for engaging patrons including through written submissions, participation on committees and stakeholder focus groups, and survey responses.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

Effective communication helps avoid and resolve many complaints, concerns, misunderstandings and disagreements.  Individuals who have a complaint or concern should discuss their concerns with the school personnel involved in the issue at hand in an effort to resolve problems.   This step will usually involve communicating directly with the person or persons with whom the complainant has a concern.  This step may be skipped when the complainant in good faith believes that speaking directly to the person would subject the complainant to discrimination, harassment or retaliation.   

This step may also be skipped if the complainant in good faith believes that any law or a District policy or written rule has been violated.  The District has adopted specific procedures for investigation and resolution for complaints or concerns as required by specific and varying laws that are applicable to the District.  The District’s Compliance Officer should be contacted with any complaints or concerns that any law or District written rule has been violated, including but not limited to, laws relating to: civil rights, including discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; special education matters including the IEP and 504 processes and services; federal programs and related services; bullying; and The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, including student records and confidentiality. 

When communicating directly with the school personnel involved in the issue does not resolve matters satisfactorily, or if it is appropriate to skip the first step as described above, a complainant should consult with the District’s Compliance Officer who will direct the complainant to the appropriate process for resolution of the complaint.   The District designates the following individual to act as the District’s Compliance Officer:

Name:      Wade Hall

Phone #:  (660) 382-4214

Email Address: whall@northmercer.k12.mo.us

In the event the District’s Compliance Officer is unavailable or is the subject of a report that would otherwise be' made to the Compliance Officer, reports should instead be directed to the alternative Compliance Officer:

Name: Aimee Huse

Phone: (660) 382-4214

Email Address: ahuse@northmercer.k12.mo.us

All complaints of violation of any law or a District policy or written rule will be promptly investigated by the District, and appropriate action will be taken.  Complainants are strongly encouraged to provide their concerns in writing.

Public Notice

The Superintendent or designee will publicize this policy and will disseminate information about this policy to employees, parents/guardians, and students, as well as to newly enrolled students and newly hired employees.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

The District receives funds under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and is required to follow federal law regarding the ESEA governed programs.  Any concerns or complaints that the District may have violated these laws should be reported to the District’s Compliance Officer for immediate investigation so that the District may successfully address the issue.  The District’s Compliance Officer will be responsible for investigating and addressing all specific allegations of violations of federal statutes and regulations governing Title I, Parts A, B, C, D; Title II; Title III; Title IV, Part A; or Title V of the ESEA.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

The District is committed to providing equal opportunity in all areas of admission, recruiting, hiring, employment, retention, promotion, contracted services, and access to programs, services, activities, and facilities.  The District strictly prohibits any unlawful discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, religion, disability, age, sex, gender, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.  The District also prohibits retaliatory action, harassment, or discrimination against individuals who make complaints of, report, or otherwise participate in the investigation of any such unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.  The District is an equal opportunity employer.

Anyone who believes that they have been discriminated, harassed, and/or retaliated against in violation of this policy should report the alleged discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation to the District’s Compliance Officer, unless the Compliance Officer is unavailable or the subject of the report.  In that case, the report should be made directly to the alternative Compliance Officer.  The District designates the following individual to act as the District’s Compliance Officer:

Name:      Wade Hall

Phone #:  (660) 382-4214

Email Address: whall@northmercer.k12.mo.us

In the event the District’s Compliance Officer is unavailable or is the subject of a report that would otherwise be' made to the Compliance Officer, reports should instead be directed to the alternative Compliance Officer:

Name: Aimee Huse

Phone: (660) 382-4214

Email Address: ahuse@northmercer.k12.mo.us

All employees, students, and visitors who have witnessed any incident or behavior that could constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under this policy must immediately report such incident or behavior to the District’s Compliance Officer for investigation.

All complaints of violation of this policy will be promptly investigated by the District, and appropriate action will be taken.

Public Notice

The Superintendent or designee will publicize this policy and will disseminate information about this policy to employees, parents/guardians, and students, as well as to newly enrolled students and newly-hired employees.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

The District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates and is required by Title IX not to discriminate in such a manner. The requirement not to discriminate in the education program or activity extends to admissions and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX to the District may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator or Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education, or both.

The District designates the following individual to serve as the District’s Title IX Coordinator:

Name or Title: Wade Hall, Principal

Address: 22931 Main Street, Mercer, MO 64661

Email Address: whall@northmercer.k12.mo.us

Phone #: (660) 382-4214

Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment), in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report. Such a report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or electronic mail address, or by mail to the office address, listed for the Title IX Coordinator. 

All employees, students, and visitors who have witnessed, heard about, or received a report about any incident or behavior that could constitute sexual harassment under this policy must immediately report such incident or behavior to the District’s Title IX Coordinator for investigation. If the allegations are against the District’s Title IX Coordinator, it must be immediately reported to the Superintendent, unless the Superintendent is also the Title IX Coordinator, then to the President of the Board of Education.

All complaints of violation of this policy will be promptly investigated by the District, and appropriate action will be taken.

Public Notice

The Superintendent or designee will publicize this policy and will disseminate information about this policy to employees, parents/guardians, students, newly-enrolled students,  newly-hired employees, and all unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with the District.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

A quorum of at least four Board members must be present, either physically or electronically, at all meetings of the Board.  Meetings may be held in person or by means of communication equipment including, but not limited to, conference calls, video conferences, Internet chats or Internet message boards.  Board meetings are open to the public unless closed as allowed by law.  Open meetings will be held at a time that is reasonably convenient to the public and a place of sufficient size to accommodate the anticipated attendees.  The District will make reasonable efforts to make the meeting accessible to individuals with disabilities.  

The District may set guidelines for such audio, video and other electronic recordings of open meetings to minimize disruption to the meeting.  No recording of a closed meeting is permitted without Board action authorizing the recording.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

Written submissions may be directed to the Board, through the Superintendent, for consideration at a Board meeting.  Copies of all correspondence directed to the Board will be made available to all Board members.  

In addition to written submissions, a specific time may be set aside at regular Board meetings for public comments regarding items from the posted agenda.  Individuals who want to make public comments regarding an agenda item may do so in person or via telecommunication.  To provide notice to the public of matters to be discussed by the Board, only comments reasonably related to the posted agenda item will be permitted.  The Board President will apply reasonable restrictions on individuals addressing the Board including but not limited to restrictions on the number of items to be considered, the number of spokespersons and the amount of time each spokesperson may have to address the Board.  If the meeting agenda is full, the Board President may reschedule an item for the next regular meeting.  The Board President will set a time limit for the public comment portion of the meeting.  No individual will be permitted to speak more than once during this part of the meeting.  Each member of the public to speak will be given five (5) minutes to address the Board. 

If a member of the public wishes to have an item placed on the agenda of a regular Board meeting, he or she may make a written request to the Superintendent after going through the appropriate process for a complaint or concern pursuant to District rules.   See District Policy C-120-P regarding Complaints or Concerns.  The written request must be received at least three (3) business days prior to the Board meeting and must describe the items to be discussed with reasonable particularity.  The item may then be placed on the agenda as deemed appropriate by the Superintendent and the Board President.  The Board President will refuse to allow discussion of an issue that has not gone through the appropriate process as a complaint or concern pursuant to District rules. The item will be placed on the agenda if it directly relates to the governance or operation of the District. The District may refuse to place an item on the agenda if the Board has heard an identical or substantially similar issue in the previous 3 calendar months or if the resident previously violated District rules regarding conduct at meetings or on school property. The District may delay hearing an agenda item if more than 3 resident-initiated agenda items are schedule for the same meeting. If the agenda item is delayed, the resident may communicate to the Board as outlined in the first paragraph of this section about the agenda item.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022; Updated November 7, 2022

Generally, the District will ensure the public has access to the meetings, records and votes of the Board.  In certain situations, and as permitted by law, these meetings, records and votes will be closed to the public.   

The District’s custodian of records is responsible for responding to requests for District records.  Requests for records will be directed to the custodian, whose identity will be made available on request.  The Board appoints the following person as custodian of records:

Title: Superintendent

Address: 22931 Main Street, Mercer, MO 64661

Phone #: (660) 382-4214

In addition, the Superintendent designates the Secretary/Bookkeeper as an alternate records custodian to serve in the absence of the records custodian.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

To promote health of all individuals, the District prohibits all employees, students and patrons from smoking or using tobacco products, electronic cigarettes or imitation tobacco or cigarette products in all District facilities, on District transportation, on all District grounds at all times and at any District-sponsored event or activity while off campus.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

All visitors to school property or events must demonstrate appropriate behavior as good role models for the District’s students.  Visitors during school hours, including Board members, must sign in at the building office prior to proceeding elsewhere in the building.  The principal of each school building will ensure signs are posted to direct visitors to designated doors nearest the building office.  

Disruptive Conduct

Visitors who engage in disruptive conduct or exceed the scope of permission granted may be considered trespassers and subject to arrest and prosecution.  The Superintendent or designee may limit or revoke permission to visit school property or parts of school property at any time.  The Superintendent or designee may inform the visitor that he or she is not welcome back on District property or at District events indefinitely or for a specific period of time.  During any period of prohibition, the visitor will not be allowed on District property.  The Superintendent may make exceptions for parents, guardians or custodians of students enrolled in the District if the person's presence is necessary to transport the student or may benefit the student educationally, or in situations where the parent, guardian or custodian will be supervised at all times.   

Possession of Weapons

Possession of weapons, including concealed weapons, is strictly prohibited on District property, on District transportation or at any District function or activity sponsored by the District unless the visitor is an authorized law enforcement official or is specifically authorized by the Board.

Sex Offenders

Individuals listed on the Missouri Highway Patrol's sex offender registry may not be present in any school building, or on District property, in any District vehicle utilized to transport students, or be present at school activities without the written permission of the Superintendent.  For those extraordinary circumstances when permission is granted, it will be granted in writing for a specific event.  In such cases, the Superintendent will notify the principal of the building in which the sex offender will be present and arrange for the sex offender to be supervised at all times and the sex offender will not be permitted to be alone with a child.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

As a service to the community, the District may allow community groups and individuals to use District facilities for educational, recreational, social, civic, philanthropic and other similar purposes when the facilities are not being used by the District or District-sponsored groups. The Superintendent or designee may approve or deny facility use requests in accordance with law.  Unless otherwise required by law, the District will maintain District facilities as nonpublic forums and reserves the right to exclude individuals or groups from its facilities or cancel or modify any permission granted.

Priority of Use

Use of District facilities will not be granted if the use conflicts or interferes with a District-sponsored activity, and all uses granted are contingent upon the District's needs.  Any community group or individual may apply to use District facilities but applicants who intend to use District facilities for purposes that directly benefit District students will be given priority.  Staff use of District property and facilities for personal purposes, or reasons other than performing the staff member's duties with the District, will be subject to the application process and rules applicable to other applicants.

Fees

The District may charge rental fees and require security deposits for the use of District facilities.  The District may also charge for additional costs associated with the use as deemed appropriate by the Superintendent.  The Superintendent or designee may waive the fees for individuals and groups created to support the District and non-profits.  

Equal Access 

When the District allows youth or community groups not affiliated with the District to use District facilities outside of school hours, the District will provide equal access and related services and benefits to groups or organizations listed in Title 36 of the U.S. Code that are intended to serve young people under the age of 21, including the affiliates of the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Youth Summer Activities.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

The District prohibits audio and visual recordings on District property, District transportation or at a District activity unless authorized by the Superintendent.  Requests for such authorization must be made within a reasonable period of time prior to the recording.  

Unless otherwise specified by the Superintendent, the following exceptions to this prohibition apply:

1. The District or designated agents of the District may make audio or visual recordings to provide security, to maintain order, for staff or preservice teacher development use, or for educational purposes.  
2. Students may record if required by a District-sponsored class or activity.
3. Individuals may record performances or activities to which the general public is invited such as athletic competitions, concerts and plays.
4. Individuals may record open meetings of the Board or District committees.
5. Outside entities may record an event when using or renting District facilities in accordance with District rules.
6. A parent or legal guardian of a student may audio record any meeting held under the IDEA or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act with no less than 24 hours’ notice to the organizer of the meeting. 

All unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, with the potential to capture or produce visual images of District property or District events must be operated in accordance with applicable Federal Aviation Administration regulations or safety guidelines.  All UAS operators must receive authorization from the Superintendent to operate a UAS on or over District property or at a District event.

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022

It is the District’s intent to maintain a nonpublic forum.  Advertisement is prohibited on District property unless authorized by the Superintendent or building principal.  Advertising prohibited includes, but is not limited to, personal solicitations, signage, announcements, pamphlets, handouts, and any other dissemination of information regarding products or services available or for sale.  The solicitation of information including, but not limited to, political campaigning, is also prohibited. 

Adoption Date(s): August 8, 2022