706 - Acceptance of Gifts

I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the acceptance of gifts and donations by the
Willmar Public School District and the School Board.

II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
It is the policy of the Willmar Public School District to accept gifts and donations only in compliance with state law.

III. ACCEPTANCE OF MONETARY DONATIONS AND REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY
The district is receptive to outside financial support to aid in the delivery, maintenance, and improvement of the educational program.  Outside financial support includes, but is not limited to:  grants (used for a specified or designated purpose, activity, or facility) from public or private agencies, private cash gifts to the district or a school, and donations of equipment, such as computer hardware.  In order to be accepted, gits/donations/grants must not include conditions or demands that would jeopardize the ethical or practical operation of the district.  The School Board designates the Superintendent and/or designee to ensure that gifts and donations meet the criteria established by this policy.

IV. ADMINISTRATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH TERMS
If the school board or their designee agrees to accept a bequest, donation, gift, grant or devise which contains preconditions, conditions or limitations on use, the school district shall administer
it in accordance with those terms. Once accepted, a gift or donation shall be the property of the
school district unless otherwise provided in the agreed-upon terms.
At the time of acceptance, there shall be a definite understanding with regard to the use of the gift/donation/grant, including wheather it is intended for the use of one particular school, for all schools in the district, or the district generally.  When private donations are used to provide, maintain, or enhance school programs or if the outside funding is discontinued or diminished, the district will be under no obligation to continue the same level of programming.
The district may accept conditional gifts/donations/grants for the purpose of hiring additional staff that directly serve studetns, including teachers, paraprofessionals, reading assistants, nurses, psychologist, and social workers.  All personnel decisions that arise because of a grant or donation rest with the district's administration with final approval by the Board of Education.  In determining whether or not to accept such gifts/donations/grants, the Board of Education will consider questions such as the following:
Is the educational program sound?
Are students in the same school or other schools disadvantaged?
Is the acceptance of the gift/donation/grant consistent with other district policies?
Based on the answers to these questions and other factors identified, the Board of Education may accept the proposed gift/donation/grant.  When the gift/donation/grant has been accepted by the Board of Education, it becomes the sole property of the district.

DOWNLOAD FILE TO VIEW FULL POLICY WHICH INCLUDES CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE AND PROCEDURES

Adopted: 1-23-2002; Revised: 7-13-2009; Reviewed: 3-13-2013

Download File: 706-Acceptance of Gifts