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MATERIALS
SELECTION,
INSTRUCTIONAL
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.
3313.21
3313.212
MEETINGS TO BE
OPEN, BOARD
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.
121.22
MEMBERSHIP
RESTRICTION
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.
3313.13
MENINGOCOCCAL
DISEASE
IMMUNIZATION
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.
3313.671
MERGER OF
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
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.
3311.25
MILITARY CHILDREN,
Ohio has joined the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunities for
3301.60