0100 - DEFINITIONS

The bylaws of the Board of this District incorporate quotations from the laws and administrative code of the State of Wisconsin. Such quotations may be substantively altered only by appropriate legislative, judicial, or administrative action.

Whenever the following items are used in these bylaws, policies, and administrative guidelines, they shall have the meaning set forth below:

Administrative Guideline

A statement, based on policy, usually written, which outlines and/or describes the means by which a policy should be implemented and which provides for the management cycle of planning, action, and assessment or evaluation.

Administrator

An employee who holds a position of leadership over a defined function or department of the District, is employed with an administrative contract, and reports directly to the District Administrator.

Apps and Services

Apps and services are software (i.e., computer programs) that support the interaction of personal communication devices (as defined in Bylaw 0100, above) over a network or client-server applications in which the user interface runs in a web browser. Apps and services are used to communicate/transfer information/data that allow students to perform actions/tasks that assist them in attaining educational achievement goals/objectives, enable staff to monitor and assess their students' progress, and allow staff to perform other tasks related to their employment. Apps and services are also used to facilitate communication to, from, and among, and between, staff, students, parents, Board members, and/or other stakeholders and members of the community.

Board

The School Board, also commonly referred to as the Board of Education, shall take action that is within the comprehensive meaning of the terms "duties and powers," provided that such action is not prohibited by State or Federal law. (Chapter 118, Wis. Stats. and Chapter 120, Wis. Stats.)

Within these bylaws and policies, the terms Board and District may be used interchangeably, depending on the context of the policy.

Bylaw

The rule of the Board for its own governance.

Clerk

The chief clerk of the Board. (See Bylaw 0171.3 - Clerk)

District

The School District. Within these bylaws and policies, the terms Board and District may be used interchangeably, depending on the context of the policy.

District Administrator

The administrative head of the School District is sometimes locally referred to as Superintendent. In policy, capitalization of the term District Administrator implies delegation of responsibilities to appropriate staff members.

District Records Custodian

The School District will designate one (1) District Records Custodian (DRC) to be the legal custodian of records for the District.  The DRC shall keep and preserve the public records of the District and is granted authority to render a decision and carry out duties related to those public records.  The DRC is designated in Policy 8310 - Public Records.

Due Process

Procedural due process requires prior knowledge (a posted discipline code), notice of offense (accusation), and the opportunity to respond. Specific due process requirements are dependent upon the circumstances and may vary depending on such circumstances.

Full Board

Authorized number of voting members entitled by law to govern the District. The full Board is the total number of Board members authorized by law, regardless of the number of current sitting members.

Information Resources

The Board defines information resources to include any data/information in electronic, audio-visual or physical form, or any hardware or software that makes possible the storage and use of data/information. This definition includes but is not limited to electronic mail, voice mail, social media, text messages, databases, CD-ROMs/DVDs, websites, motion picture film, recorded magnetic media, photographs, digitized information, or microfilm. This also includes any equipment, computer facilities, or online services used in accessing, storing, transmitting, or retrieving electronic communications.

Law Enforcement Officer(s) or Agency(ies)

These terms include any local, State, or Federal law enforcement agency of competent jurisdiction and its officers acting within their legal authority.

Legal Custodian of Records

See "District Records Custodian".

Legal Notice

Legal notice means every notice required by law to be published in a newspaper or other publication. There are three (3) classes of notices: class 1 (requiring one (1) insertion); class 2 (requiring two (2) insertions); and class 3 (requiring three (3) insertions). When more than one (1) insertion is required, the notice must be published once each week for consecutive weeks, with the last notice published at least one (1) week before the act or event, unless otherwise specified by law. Sunday publication is permitted.

Local Public Office Holder or Official

Individuals holding those positions designated by the Board as local public offices in compliance with 19.32 (1 dm), 19.42 (7w)(a) (f) and (g), Wis. Stats.

May

This word is used when an action by the Board or its designee is permitted but not required.

Medical Advisor

The School District is required to appoint a medical advisor. The medical advisor shall be a licensed physician and will participate in the annual review of the District's emergency nursing services plan. The School District may also have the medical advisor fulfill other roles. PI 8.01(2, g)3

Meeting

Any gathering which is attended by, or open to, all of the members of the Board held with the intent on the part of the members of the body present to discuss or act as a unit upon the specific public business of that body. Wis. Stat. 19.82(2)

Official Newspaper

A newspaper may be designated by the Board under 985.05, Wis. Stats. Other publication options are available to the Board pursuant to 120.11(4), Wis. Stats.

Parent

The natural or adoptive parents or the party designated by the courts as the legal guardian, custodian, or surrogate of a student, including a foreign exchange student. Both parents will be considered to have equal rights unless a court of law decrees otherwise.

Personal Communication Devices

Personal communication devices (PCDs), also referred to as "wireless communication devices," means a portable wireless device that has the capability to provide voice, messaging, or other data communication between two (2) or more parties and includes all of the following: computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, cellular/mobile phones, smartphones, smartwatches, wearable technology, gaming devices, and/or other web-enabled devices of any type.

Policy

A general, written statement by the governing Board which defines its expectations or position on a particular matter and authorizes appropriate action that must, or may, be taken to establish and/or maintain those expectations.

President

The chief executive officer of the Board. (See Bylaw 0171.1 - President)

Principal

The educational leader and head administrator of one (1) or more District schools. In policy and administrative guidelines, capitalization of the term Principal may imply delegation of responsibilities, as appropriate, to staff members.

Professional Staff Member

District employees who are either certified teachers employed in a position for which certification is a requirement of employment or administrative employees who are responsible for oversight or supervision of a component or components of the District's operation, or serve as assistants to such persons, regardless of whether they hold an administrative contract or are required to have administrator certification, but excluding the District Administrator.

Relative

The mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, domestic partner, parent of spouse/domestic partner, child or step-child, grandparents, grandchild, dependent, or member of the immediate household.

School/District Classification

Per 115.01, Wis. Stats., Wisconsin school districts are classified as follows:

Common School Districts:

These districts are responsible for K-12 education and are the most common type of district in Wisconsin, and operate pursuant to Subchapter I of Chapter 120, Wis. Stats.

Unified School Districts:

These districts serve all grade levels, from kindergarten through high school, and operate pursuant to Subchapter II of Chapter 120, Wis. Stats.

Union High Schools:

These districts focus on high school education and are often formed by a group of smaller common school districts. They operate pursuant to Subchapter I of Chapter 120, Wis. Stats.

School Nurse

A school nurse is a registered nurse who meets the requirements of Wis. Stat. Sec. 115.001(11).  A school nurse has the authority to exclude students for signs of illness. 

School Official

A school official is a person employed by the Board as an administrator, supervisor, teacher/instructor (including substitutes), or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel), a person serving on the Board; a person or company with whom the Board has contracted to perform a special task (such as an attorney, auditor, or medical consultant); a contractor, consultant, volunteer or other party to whom the Board has outsourced a service otherwise performed by Board employees (e.g. a therapist); or a parent or student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing their tasks (including volunteers).

School Support Organizations (SSO)

Any other nongovernmental organization or group of persons whose primary purpose is to support a District, school, school club, or academic, arts, athletic, or social activities related to a school, that collects or receives money, materials, property, or securities from students, parents, or members of the general public. (Examples: Booster Club, Foundation, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), Parent-Teacher Support Association)

Shall

This word is used when an action by the Board or its designee is required. (The word "will" or "must" signifies a required action.)

Social Media

Social media are online platforms where users engage with others and/or share information and ideas through text, video, or pictures. Social media consists of any form of online publication or presence that allows interactive communication, including, but not limited to, text messaging, instant messaging, websites, web logs ("blogs"), wikis, online forums (e.g., chat rooms), virtual worlds, and social networks. Examples of social media include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, Skype, and FaceTime. Social media does not include sending or receiving e‑mail through the use of District-issued e-mail accounts. 

Student

A person who is officially enrolled in a school or program of the District.

Superintendent

Sometimes the administrative head of the School District is referred to as Superintendent, but has the authority of the District Administrator by law. In policy, capitalization of the "S" in Superintendent implies delegation of responsibilities to appropriate staff members.

Support Staff

Any employee who provides support to the District's program and whose position does not require a professional certificate. This category includes special education paraprofessionals, even though it is a requirement to hold a special education program aide license issued by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) or another valid and current DPI license or permit.

Technology Resources

The Board defines technology resources to include computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, cellular/mobile telephones, smartphones, web-enabled devices, video and/or audio recording equipment, SLR and DSLR cameras, projectors, software and operating systems that work on any device, copy machines, printers and scanners, information storage devices (including mobile/portable storage devices such as external hard drives, CDs/DVDs, USB thumb drives and memory chips), the computer network, Internet connection, and online educational services and apps.

Treasurer

The chief financial officer of the Board. (See Bylaw 0171.4 - Treasurer)

Vice-President

The Vice-President of the Board. (See Bylaw 0171.2 - Vice President)

Voting

A vote at a meeting of the Board. The law requires that Board members must be present in order to have their vote officially recorded in the Board minutes and to be available for a roll call vote. A Board member’s presence at a meeting includes their presence if attending by telephone or other manner of remote access, so long as such remote access is compliant with State law. No voting by Proxy may be recorded or counted in an official vote of the Board. Remote access during quasi-judicial functions (e.g., termination hearings, expulsions) may be permitted after consultation with legal counsel.

Citations to Wisconsin statutes are shown by the Section Number (e.g., 120.11, Wis. Stats.). Citations to the Wisconsin Administrative Code are prefaced by P.I. (e.g., P.I. 11). Citations to the United States Code are noted as U.S.C., Federal Register are noted as F.R., and the Code of Federal Regulations as C.F.R.

Revised 11/13/23
Revised 2/12/24
Revised 5/20/24
T.C. 7/23/24
Revised 8/25/25

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