BASA Member Update 11.9.18

BASA Member Update November 11, 2018

1. Hot Topics

• School Safety Grants Deadline Extended • Election Notice

2. 2018 Management Guide 3. ABConduct Tip Sheet

HOT TOPICS

School Safety Grants Deadline Extended The state attorney general is giving Ohio public schools more time to apply for their share of $12 million set aside for school safety grants. His office says the original deadline for grant applications was this week, and more than $2.8 million was still unclaimed then. The application deadline is being extended to Nov. 30 to encourage more schools to claim their share of the funding. Schools were eligible to get $5.65 per student, or at least $2,500 per school. The General Assembly allotted that money earlier this year in House Bill 318. It can be spent on efforts such as training school resource officers and funding programs to help identify students struggling with mental health issues. Schools are required to work with local law enforcement to decide how to spend the grants. STRS Ohio Election Notice Nominations for one contributing member position on the State Teachers Retirement Board will be received by the execuitve director, under provisions of Sections 3307.06 and 3307.07, Revised Code. Contributing members of the Retirement Board serve without compensation for a term of four years. The term for which nominations will be received begins September 1, 2019. Eligible for nomination are those members presently contributing to the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS Ohio) or those who have contrinutions on deposit with STRS Ohio. STRS Ohio retirees who are reemployed in an STRS Ohio-covered position are note eligible for nomination.

The Management Guide for School Leaders ********************2018 Edition********************

The Management Guide for School Leaders updates all education-related legislation adopted between July 2017 and July 2018.

Now in electronic book format!

NEW for 2018

Updated Calendar Year of Duties New Schedule for Property Value Reappraisal and Updates All New References to the Ohio Revised Code Organized Alphabetically by Topic Over Fifty (50) References and Resources, Including:  Operating Levy Options  Specific Offenses Barring Employment or Licensure

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 The Management Guide for School Leaders has been completely reviewed and updated for 2018. The new edition is now formatted in an easy, more efficient  layout to minimize the time it takes to find answers to questions like:

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 When and where are districts required to display the state and/or national mottoes?

College Credit Plus And Much More!

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 What kind of facsimile signature is not per- mitted on vouchers, checks, or other instru- ments for the payment of money?

 What is the annual deadline for conducting the mandatory fire drill?

The 2018 Management Guide for School Leaders

Name:________________________________ Title:____________________________________

District:_______________________________ Email:___________________________________

Address:_____________________________________ City/Zip:__________________________

Ph: ( ) ____________________________ Fax: ( ) ________________________________

$99.00 Per Subscription Number Ordered: _______ Total Amount Due: $_______________ ❑ Check enclosed (payable to BASA)

❑ Purchase Order Attached ❑ Please send an invoice

Please fax to BASA at: 614-846-4081 or mail to: 8050 N. High Street, Suite 150, Columbus, OH 43235

Questions? Call 614-846-4080

3

Dollars and Sense

TIP SHEET

Office of Professional Conduct

To download other tip sheets, visit education.ohio.gov/ABConduct

Educators have a visible place in their communities. The choices they make, even when well-intended, can affect their jobs, families, schools and profession. The Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Education Association and Ohio Federation of Teachers, supported by BASA, OASSA and OAESA offer this series of tip sheets on how to recognize situations that can get good educators in trouble. #ABConduct tip sheets are designed to help educators identify and mitigate risks that occur in everyday situations. These tip sheets provide guidance for best practices and are not intended to be used in disciplinary actions. The public gives educators a great deal of responsibility to manage public funds. If educators fail to properly manage these funds, even by accident, they can be held personally and professionally liable.

Señora Dinero’s Dilemma Penny Dinero is a veteran high school Spanish teacher who also coaches softball and advises the The Spanish Club president asked Señora if the club can hold a bake

office at the same time. When Señora added up the bake sale proceeds, she found the Spanish Club exceeded its expectations. When she counted the softball ticket stubs, she found the team was $50 short. Señora did not know when the shortage occurred. Señora took $50 out of the Spanish Club deposit to reconcile the missing softball funds. Señora promised herself that if the Spanish Club ran short, she would donate $50.

sale to raise money for a trip. Señora agreed and helped the students purchase baked goods from a Spanish bakery. Señora convinced the bakery to throw in some extra sweets, free of charge, which increased the profits. On the day of the sale, the club treasurer was ill, so the president gave the proceeds to Señora. Señora planned to give the softball ticket money and the Spanish Club bake sale proceeds to the central

Spanish Club. Señora Dinero wants to help the softball team raise money for new uniforms. In accordance with booster policy, she asked for 20 percent of softball ticket sales to be set aside for uniforms. At softball games, Señora enlisted parents to sell tickets. She kept the money in her locked desk and planned to count the funds at the end of the season.

Tip 1: Señora correctly sought permission to set ticket sales aside for uniforms. Always follow district and booster policies when handling school, student or community funds. Tip 2: Señora should have reconciled and deposited ticket sales after every game in accordance with district and booster policies. Proper bookkeeping helps reduce educator risk. Señora could be responsible for the missing money. Tip 3: Once Señora discovered the missing ticket funds, she should have reported it according to district and booster policies.The failure to disclose exposes educators to more personal and professional risk. Tip 4: Señora had good intentions, but her actions put her license at risk. Señora’s lack of bookkeeping allowed her to commingle softball and Spanish Club funds. Shortages should be reported according to policies. Where did Señora go wrong?

Fraud starts small and can snowball out of control.

Department of Education

D O ’s & DON’Ts with Crystal Clear

A speech coach uses the points on the speech team’s credit card to purchase a flight for his personal spring break trip. Orator or No-rator? Coach purchases her son a bike while she is purchasing baseball equipment using team money. She reimburses the team the next day. Fair or Foul? Penny f r a Thought DO ensure timely deposits are made on all activity accounts according to policy. DON’T use school activity funds for personal use, even if you pay it back right away. DON’T misuse your professional position for personal gain. DON’T forget to request itemized receipts. Director takes the Drama Club to a local dinner theater. His family joins for dinner. He asks for DO seek preapproval from administrators for privately paid tutoring, coaching or lessons and use of school resources. DO know and follow all district and booster guidelines when handling public funds. DO keep accurate records of all money going in and out of all activity accounts. DO avoid the appearance of impropriety. Perception matters.

Action: Director can show he did not use Drama Club funds to pay for his family’s dinner. separate checks and pays for his family’s dinner with personal funds. Action or Cut?

No-rator: Using points from a

Foul: Never use school or student money for personal reasons, even if you pay it back.

team credit card or other “freebies” is considered nonmonetary compensation received from public funds.

Coach brings in herbal supplements from his direct marketing business to sell to students. Deal or No Deal?

Neutron: This might be ok—educators should follow district policy before providing paid private tutoring. Educators should remember private tutoring or lessons could be perceived as influencing a grade or audition. A student approaches the chemistry teacher and offers to pay for private tutoring. The teacher agrees. Proton, Neutron or Electron?

No Deal: Educators cannot use their professional positions for personal gain nor should they or provide or encourage use of supplements to students.

Department of Education