Code Number: 805
The Board believes in, encourages, and supports the voluntary support of our schools as an important and vital component of District operations. Gifts to the District not only benefit students and schools but create opportunities to foster positive working relationships between the community and the District as a whole.
A gift is defined as any donation, present, endowment, device, or bequest in the form of money, goods, materials, or services which benefit the District and is provided without compensation, provided, however, that for purposes of this policy, a gift does not include any money or goods provided to the District either: (I) through a grant application process; (ii) through the Sioux City Public Schools Foundation, or (iii) money or goods received under Board Policy 505.8 Fund Raising / Crowdfunding.
The Board authorizes the Superintendent or his/her designee to accept a gift to the District on its behalf having a value of $30,000 or less except that any gift of real property may only be accepted by the Board regardless of the value of the real property. All gifts to the District over $30,000 may only be accepted by the Board.
Gifts of materials and services may be accepted subject to the terms of this policy. Nothing in this policy infringes on the District’s authority to decide what work is to be done or affects the District’s obligation to abide by public bidding procedures in accordance with its policies and applicable law.
The following criteria shall be used to determine whether or not the gift shall be accepted or requested on behalf of the District:
- Gifts must be consistent with the mission, objectives, goals and policies of the District;
- Gifts must be free of all safety and/or health hazards;
- Gifts must be free of any direct or implied endorsements or conditions;
- Gifts must not create significant, ongoing inequity of programs and/or facilities available to students within or between schools;
- Gifts must not obligate the District to financial support or continuing costs without the Board’s approval;
- Gifts must not unreasonably add to staff workload including technology support;
- Gifts must not place any restrictions on any programs or operations, including but not limited to those programs which may use the gift; and
- Gifts must comply with applicable laws as well as any relevant provisions of Board policies, collective bargaining agreements, and District regulations or specifications.
Individuals, organizations, or groups are required to discuss a proposed gift in advance with the Superintendent or his/her designee. Upon acceptance of the gift, the District will provide acknowledgment of the gift, but it is the responsibility of the donor to establish the value of the gift.
If the Board receives and accepts funds through a gift pursuant to this policy it shall deposit the funds in a trust fund, permanent fund, or custodial fund and shall use the funds in accordance with the terms of the gift as set forth herein.
All gifts to the District shall become District property and shall be accepted without obligation relative to use and/or disposal unless the District has explicitly accepted the gift subject to donor conditions in writing, which written conditions will be binding on the District upon acceptance. The District may sell, lease, rent, or exchange and invest or expend any principal and income from gifts and enter into contracts and adopt regulations deemed necessary by the Board to provide for the receipt, utilization, and/or expenditures of the gifts, conveyances, devises, or bequests.
- First Adoption:
- 2019-03-11
- Revision Adoption:
- September 14, 2020
- Reviewed Dates:
- February 22, 2019/ August 18, 2020
- Legal Reference:
- Iowa Code §§ 279.8, .42; 565.6