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Policy Index

702. GIFTS, GRANTS, DONATIONS, SCHOLARSHIPS


Date Adopted: April 27, 1981.
Date Revised: February 5, 2001

1. Purpose

The Board recognizes that individuals and organizations in the community may wish to contribute money, supplies or equipment to enhance or extend the instructional program. This policy is intended to establish guidelines and procedures for such gifts.

2. Authority

Gifts

The Board has the authority to accept such gifts and donations as may be made to the District or to any school in the District by resolution duly passed at a public meeting.  The Board may authorize, through general resolution, that the Chief Executive Officer or her/his designee be authorized to accept gifts of cash or property valued up to $5,000.00.  Gifts exceeding $5,000.00 shall be authorized by separate resolutions.
 
The Board reserves the right to refuse to accept any gift which does not contribute toward the achievement of the goals of this District.

Any gift accepted by the Board, or its designee, shall become the property of the District, may not be returned without the approval of the Board, and is subject to the same controls and regulations as are other properties of the District.

In the case of gifts, or donations by or through a bona fide Home and School Association, the Chief Executive Officer or her/his designee is authorized to approve receipt upon certification by the school principal that the property is appropriate to the school's purposes and needs. At the close of each school term the Chief Executive Officer shall submit to the Board a detailed statement of these gifts and donations.

The Board shall be responsible for the maintenance of any gift it accepts, unless otherwise stipulated.

The Board will make every effort to honor the intent of donor in its use of the gift, but reserves the right to utilize any gift it accepts in the best interest of the educational program of the District.

In no case shall acceptance of a gift be considered to be an endorsement by the Board of a commercial product or business enterprise or institution of learning.


Scholarships

Scholarships shall be divided into two (2) groups:
 
1.  Endowed scholarships, comprising those awarded under agreement, gift, or bequest, without cost to the Board and

2.  Board scholarships, those established and paid for (either in whole or part) by the Board.
 

The number of Board scholarships shall be determined by resolution of the Board.

The grant of scholarships shall be limited to the period required to complete the regular course of study; provided that no scholarship shall be granted for a period longer than four (4) years. The continuance of any scholarship from year to year shall depend upon the satisfactory character of the work done by the recipient, as determined by the Chief Executive Officer upon reports to him/her from the institution in which the scholarships held.

Upon approval of the recommendations by the Board, the Secretary and Chief Financial Officer shall enter into the necessary financial agreements with the institutions concerned.

Each recipient of a scholarship shall report his/her progress semi-annually, in writing, to the Chief Executive Officer or her/his designee. If the scholarship or conduct report shall be unsatisfactory, the scholarship may be canceled by the Board upon the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer.  Each recipient of a scholarship must notify the Chief Executive Officer in advance, of his/her approaching graduation or completion of course, or the cessation of his/her attendance.


3. Procedure

1.  No later than October 1 of each school year, the Chief Financial Officer shall issue to the Office of the Chief Executive Officer a statement of account regarding the financial condition of each Grant or Scholarship Fund.

2.No later than November 1 of each school year, the Office of the
Chief Executive Officer shall notify in writing the availability of funds to all office heads, Cluster Leaders and Principals for whose locations or programs trust funds are held.

4. Delegation of Responsibility
The Chief Executive Officer shall counsel potential donors on the appropriateness of gifts; encourage individuals and organizations considering a contribution to the schools to consult with the principal or Chief Executive Officer before designating funds to that end; report to the Board all gifts which she/he has accepted on behalf of the Board; acknowledge the receipt and value of any gift accepted by the School District. All such gifts shall be recorded in the appropriate inventory listing and property records.


References:

School Code: SS 216(a)