Oklahoma Administrative Code › Title 780 - Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education › Chapter 15 - Technology Centers › Subchapter 3 - Technology Centers Education › Section 780:15-3-7 - Special provisions

Current through Vol. 41, No. 20, July 1, 2024
(a)
Sex discrimination.
It shall be the responsibility of the board of
				education of the technology center district to review and conform to all
				regulations that prohibit sex discrimination.
No person in the United
				States shall on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied
				the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program
				or activity receiving federal financial assistance
[ Public Law
				92-318, Title IX, Sec. 901 (A)]. Any reference to discriminatory language or
				practices relative to race, creed, or national origin should be
				deleted.
(b)
Basic
				education.
No technology center district shall be required to provide
				any training or instruction that is independent of career and/or technology
				education. However, foundational, academic and contextual academic education
				should be provided to persons in order to bring them up to a level at which
				they may successfully complete the course in which they are enrolled.
(c)
Education and Services in other
				districts.
No technology center district shall offer CareerTech
				education and/or services to any entities inside another technology center
				district without prior approval of that district. If there is a Reciprocity
				Agreement between technology center districts, the provisions of the
				Reciprocity Agreement shall be followed. Territory not presently a part of any
				technology center district may be served by a technology center district in
				accordance with the policy and procedures approved by the State
				Board.
(d)
Live Work
				Policy.
The live work policy adopted by the State Board of Career and
				Technology Education in February 2004 shall be incorporated into all technology
				center policies and procedures. Live work is work performed by students in a
				laboratory, classroom, shop, or in a field setting under written contract and
				under the direction of the instructor. The process by which all live work
				projects will be approved should be outlined in the live work policy. Live work
				projects should be chosen on the basis of merit in relation to the
				instructional objectives as well as the determined value of the project to
				allow students to achieve a desired level of competency. Superintendents,
				Deputy Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents and local board members shall
				be ineligible from utilizing live work services. These projects are not to
				replace other learning activities, nor to compete with other organizations
				within the district, but are to complement them. These projects will allow
				students to experience situations not easily duplicated in a lab or classroom,
				and at little or no cost to the school. Documentation for each live work
				project will be maintained by the technology center and will contain
				pre-numbered live work tickets, authorization signatures, signature of the
				project owner, estimated amount, amount paid or deposited, scope of the work,
				estimated completion date, and record of all materials and parts purchased.
				Live work accounts shall be paid in full upon the completion of the project.
				The list of live work projects may be reviewed at any time by the ODCTE
				audit/review staff or others as designated by the State Director of Career and
				Technology Education. All records of live work projects will be maintained by
				the technology center for at least three (3) fiscal years following the most
				recent technology center financial audit. The following policy should be
				incorporated into all technology center policies and procedures. The policies
				developed by the technology centers will become items for review during all
				standard accreditation visits or audit/reviews conducted by the Oklahoma
				Department of Career and Technology Education.
(e)
Technology Center Code of Ethics
				Guidelines.
Each technology center will ensure that its district
				policies and procedures comply with the guidelines for the Technology Center
				Code of Ethics approved by the State Board of Career and Technology Education
				in April 2004. Technology center district boards may add any other provisions
				to these guidelines with discretion. Policies and procedures shall be developed
				by each technology center board for reporting and resolving alleged violations.
				The policies developed by the technology centers will become items for review
				during all standard accreditation visits or audit/reviews conducted by the
				Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. The guidelines for the
				Technology Center Code of Ethics are:
(A)
Focus on the success of students and clients as the fundamental value
				upon which all decisions are made.
Provide a safe, supportive
				environment to include up-to-date facilities, equipment, instructional
				materials, and methods, as well as other appropriate student services to
				enhance the educational experience and enable all students to achieve their
				full potential for success. Ensure that all instructors are appropriately
				qualified to provide a high level of instruction to enable students to obtain
				realistic training and education for successful career and workplace
				readiness.
(B)
Acknowledge
				that the System is accountable to the taxpayers and patrons of the local
				district and the State of Oklahoma.
The district will compile and make
				available an annual report or profile that identifies the standards by which
				the district measures success. A copy of this report will also be published on
				the district website. The annual report or profile may measure standards such
				as teacher qualifications, revenue, expenditures, cost per student, economic
				impact of education and services, completion rates, sending school service
				rate, placement of completers, percentage of completers who attain an
				industry-recognized state or national licensure or certification,
				etc.
(C)
Understand that the
				role of the board of education is to set policy and direction for the school
				district, and the role of the administration and staff is to implement the
				policies of the board in a fair and consistent manner.
The district will
				maintain and enforce an up-to-date manual of Policies and Procedures. The
				district will utilize a strategic planning process that will include, at a
				minimum, the following components: core values and beliefs, vision statement,
				mission statement, and strategic goals. Adoption of policies not in conformity
				with the administrator's recommendations or beliefs is not just cause for
				refusal by the administration to support and implement those policies.
				Administration must be impartial in the execution of the school policies and
				the enforcement of rules and regulations. It is a breach of ethics to give
				preferential consideration to any individual or group because of special status
				or position in the school system or the community.
(D)
Not use position or influence for
				any personal gain; and will avoid actions that create a conflict of interest
				and strive to avoid actions that might appear to create a conflict of
				interest.
The term "conflict of interest" describes any circumstance
				that could cast doubt on a person's ability to act with total objectivity with
				regard to the district's interest. Conflicts of interest are prohibited. It is
				improper for a board member or school administrator to profit financially from
				interest in any business which publishes, sells, manufactures, or in any way
				deals in goods or services which are, or may be expected to be, purchased by
				the school system they serve. It is a breach of public trust for a board member
				or administrator to use confidential information concerning schools affairs
				(such as the knowledge of the selection of specific school sites) for personal
				profit or to divulge such information to others who might profit. Although it
				is impossible to list all potential conflict of interest situations, the
				following examples represent situations where a conflict of interest could
				arise: A direct or indirect financial interest in any business or organization
				that is a district vendor or competitor, if the employee or board of education
				member can influence decisions with respect to the district's business. Use of
				any district asset for the employee's personal business advantage (examples of
				such assets include not only equipment, tools, and supplies, but also valuable
				ideas, technical data, and other confidential information). Relationships,
				including business, financial, personal, and family may give rise to conflicts
				of interest or the appearance of a conflict. Employees should carefully
				evaluate relationships as they relate to district business to avoid conflict or
				the appearance of a conflict.
(E)
Fulfill professional responsibilities with honesty and integrity.
The Board of Education, superintendent, administration, faculty, and staff will
				fulfill their duties and responsibilities with honesty and integrity and
				improve their professional effectiveness through continuing professional
				development. Board members will be diligent and well informed of issues
				surrounding Board decisions and regularly attend Board meetings.
(F)
Support the Constitutions of the
				State of Oklahoma and the United States of America and obey all federal, state,
				and local laws.
Board members will uphold the Oath of Office.
				Professional development will be held annually for board members,
				superintendent, administration, faculty, and staff to learn about new
				laws.
(G)
Encourage effective
				communication between the Board, the students, the staff, and all elements of
				the community.
A communication plan will be developed to address
				internal and external audiences.
(H)
Improve professional effectiveness
				through continuing professional development.
In addition to meeting the
				minimum requirements for continuing education mandated by state law, board
				members, administration and staff have a professional obligation to attend
				conferences, seminars, and other learning activities that hold promise of
				contributing to their professional growth and development.