303.01

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Purchasing Policy

It shall be the policy of the District to purchase products and services at the best economical consideration for the District, while maintaining quality standards for purchases.

The administrative staff shall be responsible for approving all purchases made in the name of the District, except those authorized by direct action of the Board.

No official may make a purchase or contract in the name of the District exceeding fifty-seven thousand dollars ($57,000) for any single item, or single group of items, without competitive sealed bids/proposals, hereinafter referred to as "bids". Exceptions to this may only be made in the following situations:

1. An emergency exists where repair or improvement must be made immediately because of the impact on a school closing, the safety or security of a building, or to avoid related damage to a building;

2. The customary nature of the professional services being provided does not allow for the letting of bids.

All sealed bids shall be made in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa. Bids shall not be related to, or a result of, price fixing or any collusive activities among bidders or suppliers. Such activity on the part of vendors will eliminate them from future consideration as responsible bidders.

Contracts/purchases shall be awarded on the basis of the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, taking into consideration the price, quality, delivery, ability, past work history, and any other factors the District determines to be relevant, including the use of preferences for local or Iowa sources, and targeted small businesses, with the Board reserving the right to reject any and all bids if it is in the Board's judgment in the best interest of the District.

District staff should refer to District Purchasing Procedures prior to soliciting for bids or quotations.

Change orders to Board approved bids may be approved by the Chief Financial Officer if they are for additional work valued at less than $25,000.

• Cross References: Board Policy #303.02 Opening Bids

• Legal References: Iowa Code 10A.104(8); 23A; 72.3; 73; 73A; 285.10; 301 (2005); 261--I.A.C.54; 281--I.A.C. 43.25; 481--I.A.C. 25; 1984 Op. Att'y Gen. 115; 1974 Op. Att'y Gen. 171

• By action of the Board 9/20/76; Revised 2/14/83, 9/20/93, 11/13/95; Revised 10/26/98; Revised 6/13/05; Revised 4/23/07

• Edited 4/07

303.02

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Opening of Bids

Bids submitted for advertised materials, work, etc. shall be opened at the prescribed time published in the official notice of such call for bids. If only one bid is received, the administration may leave the bid unopened and present it to the Board with the recommendation to re-bid the item(s).

Bids that are opened shall be studied prior to the next regular Board meeting and presented to the Board with recommendations from the administration.

The administration will prepare estimates on all projects prior to the opening of bids. The estimate shall be included in the agenda for the Board meeting at which the bids are presented for approval.

Bids received later than the designated time for opening shall be returned to the sender unopened.

Preference shall be given for provisions within the State of Iowa when they can be procured without additional cost. Preferences shall be given Iowa residents in hiring for the construction of buildings or public improvement. Preference shall be given to targeted small businesses (minority-owned businesses and female-owned businesses) for any work or subcontracting.

Pursuant to Iowa Law, preference shall be given (by the successful contractor) to provisions within the State of Iowa when they can be procured without additional cost. Preferences shall be given (by the successful contractor) to Iowa residents in hiring for the construction of buildings or public improvements. Preference (by the successful contractor) shall be given to targeted small businesses (minority-owned businesses and female-owned businesses) for any work or subcontracting.

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, 5/12/80, 2/14/83; Reviewed 10/14/91; Revised 6/26/00; Revised 4/11/05

• Edited 5/05

303.03

BUSINESS OPERATIONS                                         (Deleted 6/11/07)

Requisitions   (Became an administrative regulation instead of policy)

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, 2/14/83; Reviewed 10/14/91; Revised 6/26/00; Deleted 6/11/07

• Edited 6/07

303.04

BUSINESS OPERATIONS                                         (Deleted 6/11/07)

Purchase Orders             (Became an administrative regulation instead of policy)

• Cross References: Board Policy 303.1 Purchasing Policy, Board Policy 303.2 Opening of Bids

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, 2/14/83, Reviewed 3/11/91, Revised 10/14/91; Revised 10/26/98; Deleted 6/11/07

• Edited 6/07

303.05

BUSINESS OPERATIONS                                         (Deleted 6/11/07)

Items to be Stocked         (Became an administrative regulation instead of policy)

• By action of the board 9/20/76, 2/14/83, Reviewed 10/14/91; Revised 6/26/00; Deleted 6/11/07

• Edited 6/07

303.06

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Receiving Supplies and Equipment

All supplies and equipment purchased in the name of the District shall be cleared through the Purchasing Department. Whenever this procedure is impossible and/or impractical, the Purchasing Department shall be notified by the school personnel receiving such equipment, supplies, and services the items have been received.

It shall be the duty of the Purchasing Department to certify to the Accounting Department the receipt of all equipment, supplies, and services.

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, 2/14/83; Reviewed 1/13/92; Revised 6/26/00; Revised 6/11/07

• Edited 6/07

303.07

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Approval and Payment of Bills for Goods and Services

The Board shall cause to have warrants issued for all claims against the school district upon review by an ad hoc committee of the Board and allowance by the Board. 

1. An ad hoc committee shall consist of the Board President or board president designee and at least one other but no more than two other board members.

2. The ad hoc committee shall meet as necessary to review bills for payment prior to the authorization by the Board for payment of the bills. A copy of the current check roster which summarizes the bills for payment shall be sent to the members of the Board prior to the meeting of the ad hoc committee. The function of the ad hoc committee shall be to ascertain that expenditures are made in response to a duly authorized purchase order with properly signed documents attesting that the goods and/or services were received properly by the school district.

3. Members of the Board who have questions regarding any of the bills shall submit their questions to the Superintendent or the superintendent designee, the Board President, or another member of the ad hoc committee prior to the review so that questions may be answered prior to the board meeting at which approval of payment is requested. The review of bills for payment will usually be held on the Friday or the Monday prior to the board meeting, at a time to be designated by the Board President. Any questions which occur to board members between the day of review and the Monday night meeting should be called in to the Superintendent or superintendent's designee  order that information can be gathered prior to the board meeting. Any questions that arise at the board meeting shall be noted by the Board Secretary and the Superintendent. Bills shall be approved with the understanding that an investigation of those questions raised at the meeting will be satisfactorily resolved. If the questions cannot be satisfactorily answered, then the bills shall be pulled for later consideration. In the next board packet, board members shall be informed of the questions raised at the board meeting and the answers regarding the bills following the investigation by the administration.  

The Board Secretary is authorized to issue warrants prior to the review by an ad hoc committee of the Board and allowance by the Board upon approval for pre-payment by the Board President, or upon a just claim for payment of freight, postage, printing, utilities, and travel expense, and to make payment of salaries pursuant to the terms of written contracts entered into by the Board. All claims and salaries for which warrants have been issued prior to audit and allowance by the Board, as provided herein, shall be passed upon by the Board at the first regular meeting thereafter and shall be entered on record in the regular minutes of the secretary.

• Legal References: Code of Iowa Chapter 298

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, 2/14/83; Revised 1/13/92, 9/20/93; Revised 6/26/00

• Edited 6/00

303.09

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Payroll 

Payroll Periods

It shall be the policy of the Board that all personnel of the District be paid on a basis established by the administration or through negotiations.  The payment would depend upon the job classification of the employee.

Payroll Deductions

Payroll deductions shall consist of federal income tax withholdings required by law.

Any employee may elect to have payments withheld for programs that have been approved by the Board.

• Legal References: Code of Iowa § 294.8--294.16

• By action of the Board 9/20/76; Revised 2/14/83, Revised 10/14/91; Revised and combined 1/24/00; Revised 6/11/07

• Edited 6/07

303.11

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Employee Travel Compensation

Employees traveling on behalf of the District and performing approved District business will be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses.  Actual and necessary travel expenses will include, but not be limited to, transportation and/or mileage costs, lodging expenses, meal expenses and registration costs.

Travel Outside the  District

Travel outside of the District must be pre-approved.  Pre-approval will include an evaluation of the necessity of the travel, the reason for the travel and an estimate of the cost of the travel to qualify as approved District business. Travel outside the District by employees, other than the Superintendent, must be approved by the employees’ immediate supervisor.  Reimbursement for air travel will be at the tourist class fares. Should an employee choose to travel by automobile, reimbursement will be limited to the public carrier amount. The supervisor will determine whether a District vehicle or rental vehicle is most appropriate. Pre-approved expenses for transportation in a rental car are limited to the cost of a “compact” rental car at a competitively priced agency, unless the number of people traveling on behalf of the District warrants a larger vehicle.

Pre-approved expenses for transportation within 300 miles of the District will be by automobile.  If a District vehicle or a rental vehicle is not available, the employee will be reimbursed for using their own vehicle. The reimbursement rate will be established at the beginning of each fiscal year. Exceptions to the limits may be approved by the Superintendent or superintendent’s designee.

Same Day Travel

Reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses will be allowed for travel outside the District if the employee received pre-approval for the travel.  Prior to reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses, the employee must provide the District with a detailed receipt, other than a credit card receipt, indicating the date, purpose and nature of the expense for each claim item.  In exceptional circumstances, the Superintendent or superintendent’s designee may allow a claim without proper receipt.  Written documentation explaining the exceptional circumstances is maintained as part of the District’s record of the claim.

Pre-approved expenses for meals are paid on a per meal basis, established at the beginning of each fiscal year, when meals are not included in registration or other fees.

Same day travel requires a detailed receipt otherwise it will be a personal expense.  Personal expenses, including mileage, in excess of that required for the trip are reimbursed by the employee to the school district no later than 10 working days following the date of the expense.

Reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses for travel outside the District will be limited to the pre-approved expenses.  Pre-approved expenses for registration are limited to the actual cost of the registration.

Overnight Stay

Pre-approved expenses for meals on overnight stays are paid on a per meal basis, established at the beginning of each fiscal year, when meals are not included in registration or other fees. Detailed receipts are not required for per diem reimbursements.  Meals may be pre-approved for a larger amount by the Superintendent or the superintendent’s designee.

Travel Within the District

Employees required to travel in their personal vehicle between District buildings to carry out the duties of their position may be reimbursed at the reimbursement rate established at the beginning of each fiscal year. It is the responsibility of the Superintendent or superintendent’s designee to approve travel within the District by employees.  It is the responsibility of the Board to review the travel within the District by the Superintendent through the Board's audit and approval process.

Employees who are allowed an in-school district travel allowance will have the amount of the allowance actually received during each calendar year included on the employee's W-2 form as taxable income according to the Internal Revenue Code.

Meals will not be reimbursed for in-district travel.

The Superintendent or superintendent’s designee is responsible for developing administrative regulations regarding actual and necessary expenses, in-school district travel allowances and assignment of District vehicles.  The administrative regulations will include the appropriate forms to be filed for reimbursement to the employee from the District and the procedures for obtaining approval for travel outside of and within the District.

NOTE:  This policy contains auditor's requirements for a travel compensation policy, including incidental vehicle use, reimbursement by employees for personal use, travel between attendance centers and taxation of additional compensation.  As a result, most of the language of the policy is mandatory.

• Legal Reference:  Iowa Constitution, Art. III, § 31.; Iowa Code §§ 70A.9-.11 (2003); 1980 Op. Att'y Gen. 512.
• Cross Reference: IASB Policy Manual: 216.3 Board of Directors' Member Compensation and Expenses; 401.6 Transporting of Students by Employees; 401.10 Credit Cards; 904.1Transporting Students in Private Vehicles
• By action of the Board: 9/20/76, 7/9/79; Revised 2/14/83; Reviewed 1/13/92; Revised 11/10/97;  Revised 4/13/04; Revised 10/22/07
• Edited: 10/07

303.12

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

Unpaid Warrants

The Board shall, only in the case of absolute necessity, issue warrants for which there are no funds available for the payment of such warrants. If warrants are issued for which there are no funds available for payment of such warrants, the Treasurer shall institute such procedures as stated in the Code of Iowa, Chapter 74, Sections 1-8 for the payment of said warrants.

• Legal References: Iowa Code §§ 74.1-74.8

• By action of the Board 9/20/76, 2/14/83; Reviewed 10/14/91; Reviewed 1/24/00; Reviewed 6/11/07

• Edited 6/07

303.13

BUSINESS OPERATIONS                (Deleted 6/26/00; See Policy 303.07)

Payment of Bills

• By action of the Board 11/8/93; Deleted 6/26/00

• Edited 6/00