Professional Report

MATERIALS SELECTION, INSTRUCTIONAL

3313.21 3313.212

While a district board of education is the sole authority in determining and selecting textbooks, reading lists, instructional materials, and academic curriculum for its schools, boards are also required to establish a parental advisory committee (or another method of review) for parents to review the selection of textbooks and reading lists, instructional materials, and the “academic curriculum” used in the district’s schools. The law requires public officials to take official action and to conduct all deliberations on official business only in open meetings, unless the subject matter is specifically excepted by law. Please see EXECUTIVE SESSIONS above. No prosecuting attorney, city law director, or other official acting in a similar capacity shall be a member of a school board if that official serves as attorney or legal advisor to that board. An exception also permits board membership by a city law director if the legal services provided by the law director’s office are performed under contract by persons not employed by the office of the city law director. A county assistant prosecuting attorney may also serve as a board of education member if the school district is located in another county and if the school district is not contiguous to the county in which the assistant prosecuting attorney is employed. Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, students attending public schools subject to minimum state educational standards are required to be immunized against meningococcal disease. The Ohio Department of Health is required to specify the recommended age and method for immunization. A board’s obligation is to adopt a policy requiring that the immunizations be completed or “in progress” within fourteen days of admission. If not, the child is to be excluded. Exceptions are provided if the parent submits statements declining “for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions” or if the student’s physician certifies in writing that the immunization is medically contraindicated for that student. Under section 3311.25, it is also permissible for residents of two or more school districts in an Ohio county with less than 100,000 residents to propose by petition to the county board of elections the question of whether two or more of the districts should be merged into one. The petitions must be signed by at least 10% of the electors who voted in the last gubernatorial election. In each district where the required number of signatures is obtained, the ballot issue asks whether a commission to plan for a merged school district shall be named, and the question is submitted to voters at the next general election occurring at least 90 days after the petition is filed. The ballot question also identifies the five residents of each school district to form the merger commission. The commission designs such a merged district, which will not be formed unless a majority of the people of each merged district agrees at the next general election following the creation of the commission. However, a merger plan may not be submitted to the voters of any district from which a majority of its commission members voted against the plan.

MEETINGS TO BE OPEN, BOARD

121.22

MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTION

3313.13

MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE IMMUNIZATION

3313.671

MERGER OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS

3311.25

MILITARY CHILDREN,

3301.60

Ohio has joined the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for