reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.7 - Petitions for public measures.

277.7 Petitions for public measures.
1. A petition filed with the school board to request an election on a public measure shall be examined before it is accepted for filing. If the petition appears valid on its face it shall be accepted for filing. If it lacks the required number of signatures it shall be returned to the petitioners.
2. Petitions which have been accepted for filing are valid unless written objections are filed. Objections must be filed with the secretary of the school board within five working days after the petition was filed. The objection process in section 277.5 shall be followed for objections filed pursuant to this section.
94 Acts, ch 1180, §44; 2019 Acts, ch 24, §104
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.20 - Canvassing returns.

277.20 Canvassing returns.
1. The canvass of returns shall be conducted pursuant to section 50.24. Special elections held in school districts shall be canvassed at the time and in the manner required by section 50.24. The appropriate board of supervisors shall declare the results of the voting for members of boards of directors of school corporations nominated pursuant to section 277.4, and the commissioner of elections or controlling commissioner for the district shall at once issue a certificate of election to each person declared elected. The appropriate board shall also declare the results of the voting on any public question submitted to the voters of a single school district, and the commissioner or controlling commissioner shall certify the result as required by section 50.27.
2. The abstracts of the votes cast for members of the board of directors of any merged area, and of the votes cast on any public question submitted to the voters of any merged area, shall be promptly certified by the county commissioner of elections to the merged area’s controlling county commissioner under section 47.2.
[C97, §2756; S13, §2756; C24, §4210; C27, §4210, 4211-b6; C31, 35, §4216-c20; C39, §4216.20; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.20]
2017 Acts, ch 155, §40, 44; 2019 Acts, ch 24, §104
Referred to in §260C.15, 331.383
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.22 - Contested elections.

277.22 Contested elections.
School elections may be contested as provided by law for the contesting of other elections.
[C24, 27, §4209; C31, 35, §4216-c22; C39, §4216.22; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.22]
Contesting elections, chapter 57 et seq.
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.23 - Directors — number — change.

277.23 Directors — number — change.
1. In any district including all of a city of fifteen thousand or more population and in any district in which the voters, or the board as provided in section 275.23A, subsection 2, have authorized seven directors, the board shall consist of seven members; in all other districts the board shall consist of five members.
2. A change from five to seven directors shall be effected in a district at the first regular election after authorization by the voters or the board, or after a district first includes all of a city of fifteen thousand or more population, in the manner described in section 275.37.
[C51, §1112; R60, §2031, 2035, 2075; C73, §1720, 1721, 1808; C97, §2752, 2754; S13, §2752, 2754; C24, §4198, 4212; C27, §4198, 4211-b3, -b5; C31, 35, §4216-c23; C39, §4216.23; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.23]
2002 Acts, ch 1024, §2, 3; 2002 Acts, ch 1134, §89, 115; 2003 Acts, ch 44, §57
Referred to in §275.23A, 275.25
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.25 - Directors in new districts.

277.25 Directors in new districts.
At the first election in newly organized districts the directors shall be elected as follows:
1. In districts having three directors, two directors shall be elected for two years, and one for four years.
2. In districts having five directors, three shall be elected for two years, and two for four years.
3. In districts having seven directors, four shall be elected for two years, and three for four years.
[C73, §1802; C97, §2754; S13, §2754; C24, 27, §4199; C31, 35, §4216-c25; C39, §4216.25; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.25]
2008 Acts, ch 1115, §19, 21
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.27 - Qualification.

277.27 Qualification.
A member of the board shall, at the time of election or appointment, be an eligible elector of the corporation or subdistrict. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Code, a member of the board of directors of a school district shall not receive compensation directly from the school board unless the compensation is for part-time or temporary employment and does not exceed the limitation set forth in section 279.7A.
[C97, §2748; C24, 27, §4213; C31, 35, §4216-c27; C39, §4216.27; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.27]
87 Acts, ch 224, §46; 88 Acts, ch 1038, §2; 2001 Acts, ch 53, §1
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.28 - Oath required.

277.28 Oath required.
1. Each director elected at a regular district or director district election shall qualify by taking the oath of office on or before the time set for the organization meeting of the board and the election and qualification entered of record by the secretary. The oath may be administered by any qualified member of the board or the secretary of the board and may be taken in substantially the following form:
Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa and that you will faithfully and impartially to the best of your ability discharge the duties of the office of .................... (naming the office) in ........................ (naming the district) as now or hereafter required by law?
2. If the oath of office is taken elsewhere than in the presence of the board in session it may be administered by any officer listed in sections 63A.1 and 63A.2 and shall be subscribed to by the person taking it in substantially the following form:
I, ........................, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa and that I will faithfully and impartially to the best of my ability discharge the duties of the office of ........................ (naming the office) in ........................ (naming the district) as now or hereafter required by law.
3. Such oath shall be properly verified by the administering officer and filed with the secretary of the board.
[C51, §1113, 1120; R60, §2032, 2079; C73, §1752, 1790; C97, §2758; S13, §2758; C24, 27, §4214; C31, 35, §4216-c28; C39, §4216.28; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.28]
88 Acts, ch 1038, §3; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §98
Referred to in §260C.15, 273.8, 279.3, 279.6, 279.7
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.29 - Vacancies.

277.29 Vacancies.
Failure to elect at the proper election or to appoint within the time fixed by law or the failure of the officer elected or appointed to qualify within the time prescribed by law; the incumbent ceasing for any reason to be a resident of the district or removing residence from the subdistrict; the resignation or death of incumbent or of the officer-elect; the removal of the incumbent from, or forfeiture of, the office, or the decision of a competent tribunal declaring the office vacant; the conviction of incumbent of a felony, as defined in section 701.7, or of any public offense involving the violation of the incumbent’s oath of office, shall constitute a vacancy.
[C31, 35, §4216-c29; C39, §4216.29; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.29]
86 Acts, ch 1112, §10; 86 Acts, ch 1238, §12
Referred to in §260C.11, 273.8, 273.23
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.30 - Vacancies filled by election.

277.30 Vacancies filled by election.
When vacancies are to be filled by election, the provisions of sections 279.6 and 279.7 shall control.
[C73, §1802; C97, §2754; S13, §2754; C24, 27, §4199; C31, 35, §4216-c30; C39, §4216.30; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.30]
2015 Acts, ch 140, §55, 58, 59
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.31 - Surrendering office.

277.31 Surrendering office.
Each school officer or member of the board upon the termination of the officer or member’s term of office shall immediately surrender to the successor all books, papers, and moneys pertaining or belonging to the office, taking a receipt therefor.
[R60, §2080; C73, §1791; C97, §2770; C24, 27, §4215; C31, 35, §4216-c31; C39, §4216.31; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.31]
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 277 - SCHOOL ELECTIONS › Section 277.32 - Penalties.

277.32 Penalties.
Any school officer willfully violating any law relative to public or accredited nonpublic schools, or willfully failing or refusing to perform any duty imposed by law, shall forfeit and pay into the treasury of the particular school corporation in which the violation occurs the sum of twenty-five dollars, action to recover which shall be brought in the name of the proper school corporation, and be applied to the use of the schools therein.
[C51, §1137; R60, §2047, 2081; C73, §1746, 1786; C97, §2822; C24, 27, §4216; C31, 35, §4216-c32; C39, §4216.32; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §277.32]
2018 Acts, ch 1026, §95
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 278 - POWERS OF ELECTORS › Section 278.2 - Submission of proposition.

278.2 Submission of proposition.
1. The board may, and upon the written request of one hundred eligible electors or a number of electors which equals thirty percent of the number of electors who voted in the last regular school board election, whichever number is greater, shall, direct the county commissioner of elections to provide in the notice of the regular election for the submission of any proposition authorized by law to the voters. When the board has directed the commissioner to submit to the voters a proposition authorized by section 278.1, subsection 1, paragraph “g” or “h”, it shall not thereafter direct the commissioner to submit at the same election any other proposition under either of those paragraphs.
2. Petitions filed under this section shall be filed with the secretary of the school board at least seventy-five days before the date of the regular school election, if the question is to be included on the ballot at that election. The petition shall include the signatures of the petitioners, a statement of their place of residence, and the date on which they signed the petition.
[R60, §2028; C97, §2749; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4218; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §278.2]
89 Acts, ch 30, §1; 89 Acts, ch 136, §64; 90 Acts, ch 1238, §36; 2008 Acts, ch 1115, §20, 21
Referred to in §275.36
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 278 - POWERS OF ELECTORS › Section 278.3 - Power given electors not to limit directors’ power.

278.3 Power given electors not to limit directors’ power.
The power vested in the electors by section 278.1 shall not affect or limit the power granted to the board of directors of a school district in section 297.7, subsection 2, and the authority granted in section 297.7, subsection 2, shall be construed as independent of the power vested in the electors by section 278.1.
[C75, 77, 79, 81, §278.3]
2014 Acts, ch 1092, §60
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.1 - Organization — student improvement oversight.

279.1 Organization — student improvement oversight.
1. The board of directors of each school corporation shall meet and organize at the first regular meeting or at a special meeting called by the secretary of the board to organize the board in advance of the first regular meeting after the canvass for the regular school election at some suitable place to be designated by the secretary. Notice of the place and hour of the meeting shall be given by the secretary to each member and member-elect of the board.
2. Organization of the board shall be effected by the election of a president from the members of the board. The president shall serve for one year and shall be entitled to vote as a member. During nonelection years, the president shall be elected to serve for one year at a regular meeting held not less than one year, nor more than thirteen months, after the prior organizational meeting.
3. A school corporation is entrusted with public funds for the purpose of improving student outcomes, including but not limited to student academic achievement and skill proficiency, and the board of directors of the school corporation is responsible for overseeing such improvement.
[C51, §1119; R60, §2036; C73, §1721, 1722; C97, §2757; SS15, §2757; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4220; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.1]
87 Acts, ch 224, §47; 90 Acts, ch 1238, §37; 2010 Acts, ch 1033, §39; 2019 Acts, ch 148, §56; 2021 Acts, ch 25, §3; 2021 Acts, ch 139, §23; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §54
Referred to in §275.37
Subsection 2 amended
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.2 - Special meetings.

279.2 Special meetings.
Such special meetings may be held as may be determined by the board, or called by the president, or by the secretary upon the written request of a majority of the members of the board, upon notice specifying the time and place, delivered to each member in person, or by registered letter, but attendance shall be a waiver of notice.
[C51, §1121; R60, §2036; C73, §1722; C97, §2757; SS15, §2757; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4221; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.2]
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.3 - Appointment of secretary and treasurer.

279.3 Appointment of secretary and treasurer.
1. The board shall appoint a secretary who shall not be a teacher employed by the board but may be another employee of the board. The board shall also appoint a treasurer who may be another employee of the board. However, the board may appoint one person to serve as the secretary and the treasurer.
2. These officers shall be appointed from outside the membership of the board and the appointment and qualification shall be entered of record in the minutes of the secretary. They shall qualify within ten days following appointment by taking the oath of office in the manner required by section 277.28 and filing a bond as required by section 291.2 and shall hold office until their successors are appointed and qualified.
[C51, §1119; R60, §2035; C73, §1721; C97, §2757; SS15, §2757; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4222; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.3; 82 Acts, ch 1012, §1]
85 Acts, ch 28, §1; 2001 Acts, ch 47, §1; 2003 Acts, ch 180, §30
Referred to in §291.2
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.4 - Quorum.

279.4 Quorum.
A majority of the board of directors of any school corporation shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a less number may adjourn from time to time.
[C51, §1120; R60, §2037, 2038, 2079; C73, §1730, 1738; C97, §2758, 2771, 2772; S13, §2758, 2771, 2772; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4223; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.4]
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.5 - Temporary officers.

279.5 Temporary officers.
The board shall appoint a temporary president or secretary, in the absence of the regular officers.
[C51, §1120; R60, §2037, 2038, 2079; C73, §1730, 1738; C97, §2758, 2771, 2772; S13, §2758, 2771, 2772; C24, §4223; C27, 31, 35, §4223-a1; C39, §4223.1; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.5]
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.7 - Vacancies filled by special election — qualification — tenure.

279.7 Vacancies filled by special election — qualification — tenure.
1. If a vacancy or vacancies occur among the elective officers or members of a school board and the remaining members of the board have not filled the vacancy within thirty days after the vacancy occurs or if a valid petition is submitted to the secretary of the board pursuant to section 279.6, subsection 1, or when the board is reduced below a quorum, the secretary of the board, or if there is no secretary, the area education agency administrator, shall call a special election in the district, subdistrict, or subdistricts, as the case may be, to fill the vacancy or vacancies. The county commissioner of elections shall publish the notices required by law for special elections, and the election shall be held not sooner than thirty days nor later than forty days after the thirtieth day following the day the vacancy occurs. If the secretary fails for more than three days to call an election, the administrator shall call it.
2. An appointment by the board to fill any vacancy in an elective office on or after the day notice has been given for a special election to fill such vacancy as provided in this section shall be null and void.
3. In the case of a special election as provided in this section to fill a vacancy occurring among the elective officers or members of a school board before the expiration of a full term, the person so elected shall qualify within ten days from the final canvass of the election by the county board in the manner required by section 277.28 and shall hold office for the residue of the unexpired term and until a successor is elected, or appointed, and qualified.
4. Nomination petitions shall be filed in the manner provided in section 277.4, except that the petitions shall be filed not less than twenty-five days before the date set for the election.
[C51, §1120; R60, §2037, 2038, 2079; C73, §1730, 1738; C97, §2758, 2771, 2772; S13, §2758, 2771, 2772; C24, §4223; C27, 31, 35, §4223-b1; C39, §4223.3; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.7]
87 Acts, ch 48, §1; 89 Acts, ch 136, §65; 93 Acts, ch 67, §1; 2010 Acts, ch 1033, §40; 2015 Acts, ch 140, §57 – 59; 2016 Acts, ch 1121, §10; 2019 Acts, ch 148, §57
Referred to in §275.25, 275.41, 277.30, 279.6
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.7A - Interest in public contracts prohibited — exceptions.

279.7A Interest in public contracts prohibited — exceptions.
1. A member of the board of directors of a school corporation shall not have an interest, direct or indirect, in a contract for the purchase of goods, including materials and profits, and the performance of services for the director’s school corporation. A contract entered into in violation of this section is void.
2. This section does not apply to contracts for the purchase of goods or services which benefit a director, or to compensation for part-time or temporary employment which benefits a director, if the benefit to the director does not exceed twenty thousand dollars in a fiscal year, and contracts made by a school board, upon competitive bid in writing, publicly invited and opened.
3. This section does not apply to a contract that is a bond, note, or other obligation of a school corporation if the contract is not acquired directly from the school corporation, but is acquired in a transaction with a third party, who may or may not be the original underwriter, purchaser, or obligee of the contract, or to a contract in which a director has an interest solely by reason of employment if the contract is made by competitive bid in writing, publicly invited and opened, or if the remuneration of employment will not be directly affected as a result of the contract and the duties of employment do not directly involve the procurement or preparation of any part of the contract.
4. The competitive bid qualification of this section does not apply to a contract for professional services not customarily awarded by competitive bid.
90 Acts, ch 1209, §2; 91 Acts, ch 258, §40; 2000 Acts, ch 1187, §1; 2001 Acts, ch 53, §2; 2003 Acts, ch 36, §1; 2019 Acts, ch 74, §1; 2022 Acts, ch 1006, §2, 3
Referred to in §277.27, 298A.15
Sale of textbooks and supplies prohibited, see §301.28
Subsection 2 amended
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.8 - General rules — bonds of employees.

279.8 General rules — bonds of employees.
1. The board shall make rules for its own government and that of the directors, officers, employees, teachers and pupils, and for the care of the schoolhouse, grounds, and property of the school corporation, and shall aid in the enforcement of the rules, and require the performance of duties imposed by law and the rules. The board shall include in its rules provisions regulating the loading and unloading of pupils from a school bus stopped on the highway during a period of reduced highway visibility caused by fog, snow or other weather conditions. The board shall have the authority to include in its rules provisions allowing school corporation employees to use school credit cards to pay for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of work-related duties.
2. Employees of a school corporation maintaining a high school who have the custody of funds belonging to the corporation or funds derived from extracurricular activities and other sources in the conduct of their duties, shall be required to furnish suitable bond indemnifying the corporation or any activity group connected with the school against loss, and employees who have the custody of property belonging to the corporation or any activity group connected with the school may be required to furnish such bond. Said bond or bonds may be in such form and penalty as the board may approve and the premiums on same shall be paid from the general fund of the corporation.
[R60, §2037; C97, §2772; S13, §2772; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4224; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.8]
84 Acts, ch 1315, §35
Referred to in §279.9, 279.9B, 279.22, 808A.1
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.8A - Traffic and parking.

279.8A Traffic and parking.
1. The board may make necessary rules to provide for the policing, control, and regulation of traffic and parking of vehicles and bicycles on school grounds. The rules may provide for the use of institutional roads, driveways, and grounds; registration of vehicles and bicycles; the designation of parking areas; the erection and maintenance of signs designating prohibitions or restrictions; the installation and maintenance of parking control devices; and assessment, enforcement, and collection of reasonable penalties for the violation of the rules.
2. Rules made under this section may be enforced under procedures adopted by the board. Penalties may be imposed for violation of the rules, including but not limited to a reasonable monetary penalty. The rules made under this section may also be enforced by the impoundment of vehicles and bicycles for violation of the rules. The board shall establish procedures for the determination of controversies in connection with the imposition of penalties. The procedures must require giving notice of the violation and the penalty prescribed and providing the opportunity for an administrative hearing.
3. The board may contract with a city or county to enforce rules made under this section by ordinance of the city or county, and shall consult with local government transportation officials to ensure that rules made pursuant to this section are not in conflict with city or county parking and traffic ordinances.
96 Acts, ch 1219, §70; 2017 Acts, ch 54, §76
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.8B - Petition — school board meeting agenda — public comment.

279.8B Petition — school board meeting agenda — public comment.
1. Upon petition signed by eligible electors of a school district equal in number to at least ten percent of the persons who voted in the last preceding election of school officials under section 277.1, or five hundred eligible electors, whichever is less, the board of directors of the school district shall place the proposal specified in the petition on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the school board or on the agenda of a school board meeting held within thirty days of receipt of the petition filed in accordance with this subsection. If the proposal relates to curriculum, the school district may halt use of the subject instructional materials until the school board holds the board meeting at which the proposal is presented and discussed. The meeting notice shall include a brief description of the proposal.
2. The board of directors of the school district shall provide sufficient time to receive public comment on the proposal. The board shall allow each interested member of the public to speak at the meeting regarding the proposal, but may impose a time limit on the amount of time a member of the public is allowed to speak if the time limit is the same for each speaker and necessary due to the amount of people wishing to speak.
2021 Acts, ch 170, §31
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.9 - Use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, or controlled substances.

279.9 Use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, or controlled substances.
The rules adopted under section 279.8 shall include rules prohibiting the use of tobacco and the use or possession of alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer or any controlled substance as defined in section 124.101, subsection 5, by any student of the schools. The board may suspend or expel a student for a violation of a rule described under this section.
[S13, §2772; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4225; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.9]
94 Acts, ch 1131, §2; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §150
Referred to in §260C.14, 279.9A, 808A.1
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.9A - Student transfers — information sharing.

279.9A Student transfers — information sharing.
The rules referred to in section 279.9 shall provide that upon the request of school officials of a school to which the student seeks to transfer or has transferred, school officials of the sending school shall provide an accurate record of any suspension or expulsion actions taken, and the basis for those actions taken, against the student under sections 279.9, 280.19A, 280.21B, 282.3, 282.4, and 282.5. The designated representative shall disclose this information only to those school employees whose duties require them to be involved with the student. For purposes of this section, “school employees” means persons employed by a nonpublic school or school district, or any area education agency staff member who provides services to a school or school district.
94 Acts, ch 1131, §3; 2013 Acts, ch 90, §68
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.9B - Reports to juvenile authorities.

279.9B Reports to juvenile authorities.
The rules adopted under section 279.8 shall require, once school officials have been notified by a juvenile court officer that a student attending the school is under supervision or has been placed on probation, that school officials shall notify the juvenile court of each unexcused absence or suspension or expulsion of the student.
97 Acts, ch 126, §37
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.11 - Number of schools — attendance — terms — classroom assignment.

279.11 Number of schools — attendance — terms — classroom assignment.
1. The board of directors shall determine the number of schools to be taught, divide the corporation into such wards or other divisions for school purposes as may be proper, determine the particular school which each child shall attend, and designate the period each school shall be held beyond the time required by law.
2. a. A parent or guardian of siblings may request of a school principal that the siblings be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms if the siblings are in the same grade level academically for kindergarten through grade five. The school principal in consultation with the siblings’ classroom teachers for the prior school year, may recommend classroom placement to the parent or guardian. The school principal shall provide the placement requested by the parent or guardian, unless the school principal makes a classroom placement determination as provided under paragraph “b” or if the placement would require the school district to add an additional class at the siblings’ grade level. A request made by a parent or guardian under this paragraph must be submitted to the school principal at the time of registration for classes or, if the siblings are enrolled in the school district after the school year commences, within fourteen days after the siblings’ first day of attendance during the school year.
b. At the end of the initial grading period following the siblings’ placement in the same classroom in accordance with paragraph “a”, if the school principal, in consultation with the siblings’ classroom teacher and parent or guardian, determines that placement in the same classroom is disruptive to the class, the school principal may assign one or more of the siblings to a different classroom.
c. For purposes of this subsection, “disruptive to the class” includes classroom placement of the siblings where it is determined that a sibling’s behavior or actions are detrimental to other students’ academic achievement or substantially interferes with other students’ abilities to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by the school.
d. A parent or guardian may appeal the assignment of siblings made by a school principal under this subsection to the board of directors of the school district.
[R60, §2023, 2037; C73, §1724, 1727; C97, §2773; S13, §2773; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4227; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.11]
2019 Acts, ch 72, §1; 2020 Acts, ch 1062, §41
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.12 - Contracts — teachers — insurance — educational leave.

279.12 Contracts — teachers — insurance — educational leave.
1. The board shall carry into effect any instruction from the regular election upon matters within the control of the voters, and shall elect all teachers and make all contracts necessary or proper for exercising the powers granted and performing the duties required by law, and may establish and pay all or any part thereof from school district funds the cost of group health insurance plans, nonprofit group hospital service plans, nonprofit group medical service plans, and group life insurance plans adopted by the board for the benefit of employees of the school district, but the board may authorize any subdirector to employ teachers for the school in the subdirector’s subdistrict; but no such employment by a subdirector shall authorize a contract, the entire period of which is wholly beyond the subdirector’s term of office.
2. The board may enter into an agreement pursuant to chapter 28E with another school district or an area education agency for the purpose of jointly procuring a group health insurance plan, nonprofit group hospital service plan, nonprofit group medical service plan, or group life insurance plan for the benefit of the districts or agencies which are parties to the agreement. Such plan may include a cafeteria plan as defined in 26 C.F.R. §1.125-2T. An agreement entered into pursuant to this subsection shall not be construed to establish a multiple employer welfare arrangement as defined in section 3 of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. §1002, paragraph 40.
3. The board may approve a policy for educational leave for licensed school employees and for reimbursement for tuition paid by licensed school employees for courses approved by the board. The board of directors of a community college may approve a policy for educational leave for its instructors and for reimbursement for tuition paid by its instructors for courses approved by the board. For the purpose of this section, “educational leave” means a leave granted to an employee for the purpose of study including study in areas outside of a teacher’s area of specialization, travel, or other reasons deemed by the board to be of value to the school system.
[C73, §1723, 1757; C97, §2778; SS15, §2778; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4228; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §279.12]
89 Acts, ch 265, §40; 95 Acts, ch 22, §1; 2002 Acts, ch 1047, §13, 20; 2017 Acts, ch 54, §76
Referred to in §262.9, 272.15, 273.22, 275.33
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.14 - Evaluation criteria and procedures.

279.14 Evaluation criteria and procedures.
1. The board shall establish evaluation criteria and evaluation procedures.
2. The determination of standards of performance expected of school district personnel shall be reserved as an exclusive management right of the school board and shall not be subject to mandatory negotiations under chapter 20. Objections to the procedures, use, or content of an evaluation in a teacher termination proceeding brought before the school board in a hearing held in accordance with section 279.16 or 279.27 shall not be subject to any grievance procedures negotiated in accordance with chapter 20.
[C77, 79, 81, §279.14]
98 Acts, ch 1215, §41; 98 Acts, ch 1216, §24; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §47; 2017 Acts, ch 2, §30, 48, 49
Referred to in §262.9, 279.13, 279.16, 279.19B, 284.3
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.15 - Notice of termination — request for hearing.

279.15 Notice of termination — request for hearing.
1. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall notify the teacher not later than April 30 that the superintendent will recommend in writing to the board at a regular or special meeting of the board, held not later than May 15, that the teacher’s continuing contract be terminated effective at the end of the current school year. However, if the district is subject to reorganization under chapter 275, the notification shall not occur until after the first organizational meeting of the board of the newly formed district.
2. a. Notification of recommendation of termination of a teacher’s contract shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered to the teacher, or mailed by certified mail. The notification shall be complete when received by the teacher. The notification and the recommendation to terminate shall contain a short and plain statement of the reasons, which shall be for just cause, why the recommendation is being made. The notification shall be given at or before the time the recommendation is given to the board.
b. As a part of the termination proceedings, the teacher’s complete personnel file of employment by that board shall be available to the teacher, which file shall contain a record of all periodic evaluations between the teacher and appropriate supervisors.
c. Within five days of the receipt of the written notice that the superintendent is recommending termination of the contract, the teacher may request, in writing to the secretary of the board, a private hearing with the board. The private hearing shall not be subject to chapter 21 and shall be held no sooner than twenty days and no later than forty days following the receipt of the request unless the parties otherwise agree. The secretary of the board shall notify the teacher in writing of the date, time, and location of the private hearing, and at least ten days before the hearing shall also furnish to the teacher any documentation which may be presented to the board at the private hearing and a list of persons who may address the board in support of the superintendent’s recommendation at the private hearing. At least seven days before the hearing, the teacher shall provide any documentation the teacher expects to present at the private hearing, along with the names of any persons who may address the board on behalf of the teacher. This exchange of information shall be at the time specified unless otherwise agreed.
[R60, §2055; C73, §1757; C97, §2778; SS15, §2778; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4229; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §279.13; C77, 79, 81, §279.15]
86 Acts, ch 1239, §4; 91 Acts, ch 174, §7; 92 Acts, ch 1227, §18; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §180; 2017 Acts, ch 2, §31, 48, 49
Referred to in §260C.39, 262.9, 272.15, 273.22, 275.33, 279.13, 279.16, 279.19, 279.19B, 279.27, 284.8
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.18 - Appeal by teacher to court.

279.18 Appeal by teacher to court.
1. If a teacher rejects the board’s decision, the teacher shall, within thirty days of the initial filing of such decision, appeal to the district court of the county in which the administrative office of the school district is located. The notice of appeal shall be immediately mailed by certified mail to the board. The secretary of the board shall transmit to the reviewing court the original or a certified copy of the entire record which may be the subject of the petition. By stipulation of all parties to the review proceedings, the record of such a case may be shortened. A party unreasonably refusing to stipulate to limit the record may be taxed by the court for the additional cost. The court may require or permit subsequent corrections or additions to the shortened record.
2. In proceedings for judicial review of the board’s decision, the court shall not hear any further evidence but shall hear the case upon the certified record. In such judicial review, especially when considering the credibility of witnesses, the court shall give weight to the decision of the board, but shall not be bound by it. The court may affirm the board’s decision or remand to the board for further proceedings upon conditions determined by the court. The court shall reverse, modify, or grant any other appropriate equitable or legal relief from the board decision, including declaratory relief, if substantial rights of the petitioner have been prejudiced because the action is any of the following:
a. In violation of constitutional or statutory provisions.
b. In excess of the statutory authority of the board.
c. In violation of a board rule or policy or contract.
d. Made upon unlawful procedure.
e. Affected by other error of law.
f. Unsupported by a preponderance of the competent evidence in the record made before the board when that record is viewed as a whole.
g. Unreasonable, arbitrary, or capricious or characterized by an abuse of discretion or a clearly unwarranted exercise of discretion.
3. An aggrieved or adversely affected party to the judicial review proceeding may obtain a review of any final judgment of the district court by appeal to the supreme court. The appeal shall be taken as in other civil cases, although the appeal may be taken regardless of the amount involved.
4. For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, “teacher” shall include but not be limited to an instructor employed by a community college.
[C77, 79, 81, §279.18]
2002 Acts, ch 1047, §15; 2017 Acts, ch 2, §34, 48, 49
Referred to in §260C.39, 262.9, 272.15, 273.22, 275.33, 279.13, 279.16, 279.19B, 279.27
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.19 - Probationary period.

279.19 Probationary period.
1. The first three consecutive years of employment of a teacher in the same school district are a probationary period. However, if the teacher has successfully completed a probationary period of employment for another school district located in Iowa, the probationary period in the current district of employment shall not exceed two years. A board of directors may waive the probationary period for any teacher who previously has served a probationary period in another school district and the board may extend the probationary period for an additional year with the consent of the teacher.
2. In the case of the termination of a probationary teacher’s contract, the contract may be terminated by the board of directors effective at the end of a school year without cause. The superintendent or the superintendent’s designee shall notify the teacher not later than April 30 that the board has voted to terminate the contract effective at the end of the school year. The notice shall be in writing by letter, personally delivered, or mailed by certified mail. The notification shall be complete when received by the teacher. Within ten days after receiving the notice, the teacher may request a private conference with the school board to discuss the reasons for termination. The provisions of sections 279.15 and 279.16 shall not apply to such a termination.
3. The board’s decision shall be final and binding unless the termination was based upon an alleged violation of a constitutionally guaranteed right of the teacher.
[C77, 79, 81, §279.19]
98 Acts, ch 1215, §43; 98 Acts, ch 1216, §26, 41; 2001 Acts, ch 161, §18; 2002 Acts, ch 1152, §5; 2017 Acts, ch 2, §35, 48, 49; 2017 Acts, ch 54, §41
Referred to in §262.9, 272.15, 273.22, 275.33, 275.56, 279.13, 279.16, 279.19B, 279.27, 280.15
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.20 - Superintendent — term — employment of support personnel.

279.20 Superintendent — term — employment of support personnel.
1. The board of directors of a school district may employ a superintendent of schools for a term of not to exceed three years. However, the board’s initial contract with a superintendent shall not exceed one year if the board is obligated to pay a former superintendent under an unexpired contract. The superintendent shall be the executive officer of the board and have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by rules adopted by the board or by law. Boards of directors may jointly exercise the powers conferred by this section.
2. The board of directors of a school district may delegate the authority to hire support personnel and sign the support personnel employment contracts, if applicable, if the board adopts a policy authorizing the superintendent to perform such duties and specifying the positions the superintendent is authorized to fill. For purposes of this subsection, the term “support personnel” includes, but is not limited to, bus drivers, custodians, educational associates, and clerical and food service employees.
[R60, §2037; C73, §1726; C97, §2776; SS15, §2778; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §4230; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §279.14; C77, 79, 81, §279.20]
87 Acts, ch 224, §48; 2004 Acts, ch 1175, §94
Referred to in §272.15, 273.3, 273.22, 273.23, 275.25, 275.33, 275.41, 279.23
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.21 - Principals.

279.21 Principals.
1. The board of directors of a school district may employ principals, under the provisions of section 279.23. A principal shall hold a current valid principal’s certificate. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 279.23, after serving at least nine months, a principal may be employed for a term of not to exceed two years.
2. a. The principal, under the supervision of the superintendent of the school district and pursuant to rules and policies of the board of directors of the school district, shall be responsible for administration and operation of the attendance center to which the principal is assigned.
b. The principal shall, pursuant to the policies adopted by the board of directors of the school district, be responsible for the planning, management, operation, and evaluation of the educational program offered at the attendance center to which the principal is assigned and shall submit recommendations to the superintendent regarding the appointment, assignment, promotion, transfer, and dismissal of all personnel assigned to the attendance center. The principal shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the superintendent.
c. For purposes of this section and sections 279.23, 279.23A, 279.24, and 279.25, the term “principal” includes school principals, associate principals, and assistant principals.
[C77, 79, 81, §279.21]
93 Acts, ch 32, §1; 2017 Acts, ch 54, §42
Referred to in §272.15, 273.22, 275.33
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.23A - Evaluation criteria and procedures.

279.23A Evaluation criteria and procedures.
The board shall establish written evaluation criteria and shall establish and annually implement evaluation procedures. The board shall also establish written job descriptions for all supervisory positions.
87 Acts, ch 94, §2
Referred to in §279.21, 279.23, 284A.3, 284A.4, 284A.6
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.25 - Discharge of administrator.

279.25 Discharge of administrator.
An administrator may be discharged at any time during the contract year for just cause. The administrator shall be notified in writing that the board has voted to consider termination of the administrator’s contract and the applicable procedures of section 279.24 shall apply.
[C77, 79, 81, §279.25]
Referred to in §273.3, 279.21, 279.23
2023 Iowa Code › Title VII - EDUCATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS › Chapter 279 - DIRECTORS — POWERS AND DUTIES › Section 279.26 - Lease arrangements.

279.26 Lease arrangements.
The board of directors of a local school district for which a voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy has been voted pursuant to section 298.2, may enter into a rental or lease arrangement, consistent with the purposes for which the voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy has been voted, for a period not exceeding ten years and not exceeding the period for which the voter-approved physical plant and equipment levy has been authorized by the voters.
[C75, §279.23; C77, 79, 81, §279.26]
89 Acts, ch 135, §73
Referred to in §298.2