0100 - DEFINITIONS

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.

Agreement

A collectively negotiated contract with a recognized bargaining unit.

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) 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 also are used to facilitate communication to, from and among and between, staff, students, and parents, Board members and/or other stakeholders and members of the community.

Board

The Board of Education.

Bylaw

Rule of the Board for its own governance.

Classified or Support Employee

An employee who provides support to the District's program and whose position does not require a professional certificate.

District

The School District.

Due Process

Procedural due process requires prior knowledge (a posted discipline code), notice of offense (accusation), and the opportunity to respond.

Procedural due process may require consideration of statutorily mandated factors, right to counsel and/or confrontation or cross-examination of witnesses, depending upon the situation.

Family Member

"Family member" means a person’s spouse or spouse’s sibling or child; a person’s sibling or sibling’s spouse or child; a person’s child or child’s spouse; or a person’s parent or parent’s spouse, and includes these relationships as created by adoption or marriage. (See Bylaw 0144.3)

Full Board

Authorized number of voting members entitled to govern the District.

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.

May

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

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.

Parent

The natural or adoptive parents or individuals with a valid power of attorney for the care and custody of the student for purposes other than educational placement. Parent also refers to any individual appointed by the State or court as a legal guardian or custodian for the student. Both parents will have equal access to records and rights regarding the student's education absent a court order restricting such rights.

Personal Communication Devices

Personal communication devices ("PCDs") include computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, cellular/mobile phones, smartphones, 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 of Education. (See Bylaw 0171.1)

Principal

The educational leader and head administrator of one (1) or more District schools or programs, as designated by the Board of Education. The Principal must hold an appropriate school administrator certificate or permit.  The Principal is responsible for the supervision of the school or program consistent with Board policy and directives of the Superintendent and may delegate responsibility to subordinates as appropriate.

Professional Staff Member

An employee who implements or supervises one (1) or more aspects of the District's program and whose position requires a professional credential from the State.

Relative

The mother, father, sister, brother, spouse, parent of spouse, child, grandparents, grandchild, or dependent in the immediate household as defined in the negotiated, collectively-bargained agreement.

Secretary

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

Shall

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

Social Media

Social media are online platforms where users engage one another 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.  Apps and web services shall not be considered social media unless they are listed on the District's website as District-approved social media platforms/sites.

Student

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

Superintendent

The chief executive officer of the School District responsible to supervise all programs and staff of the District and to implement Board policy and follow Board directives. Consistent with Board policies and directives. The Superintendent must hold an appropriate school administrator certificate or permit.  Consistent with Board policies and directives, the Superintendent may delegate responsibility to subordinates as appropriate.

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, 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 District. (See Bylaw 0171.4)

Vice-President

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

Voting

A vote at a meeting of the Board of Education.  Except to accommodate the absence of any member of the Board due to military duty or for any other purpose permitted by law, Board members must be physically present to have their vote officially recorded in the Board minutes.   

Citations to Michigan Compiled Laws (M.C.L.) are shown as M.C.L. followed by the Section Number (e.g., M.C.L. 380.1438). Citations to the Michigan Administrative Code are prefaced A.C. Rule (e.g., A.C. Rule R380.221). Citations to the Federal Register are noted as FR, to the Code of Federal Regulations as C.F.R., and to the United States Code as U.S.C.

Revised 2/13/17
Revised 1/14/19
Revised 5/13/19

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