7 Miss. Code. R. 11-Two-6
Textbooks are the property of the local public school districts. Each district must make available for transfer all textbooks that have been declared surplus by the district.
There is no need to differentiate between funding sources such as State, Local, Educational Enhancement, etc., in the maintenance of an inventory. Regardless of the funding, all sources are to be treated the same regarding the inventory process.
The school should provide adequate storage or shelving space for safe and accessible textbook storage.
The label on the inside cover of each textbook shall be completed before the textbook is issued to the pupil.
The school district shall maintain adequate records regarding the issuance of textbooks to students. It is suggested that the method of issuing textbooks to students reflect the condition of the book. The parent or guardian should sign that the child has received books. A statement similar to the following should be part of the signature process.
"I hereby accept the responsibility of the books listed and for any other books issued to my child during the current school year. If any book is lost, damaged, or destroyed, I agree to pay such loss before my child will be entitled to any further books." (See MS AG. op., Johnson (Jan. 10, 1997).) |
Textbooks that are on the state-adopted list are built by very rigid construction specifications. The contract between the publisher and the MDE requires that the adopted textbooks continue to measure up to these construction standards. Therefore, any school district that fails to receive defective textbook replacement assistance from the publisher should contact the MDE Office of Instructional Materials and Library Media.
Each local district should have a board policy that deals with the issuance of textbooks plus fines or damages. This policy needs to be a part of the student handbook. This plan should be sufficient to comply with Miss. Code Ann. § 37-7-301(ff), which states:
"As part of their duties, tine local district school board may require that parents/legal guardians be responsible for the textbooks and for the compensation to the school district for any textbooks that are not returned to the proper schools upon the withdrawal of their dependent child. If a textbook is lost or not returned by any student who drops out of the public-school district, the parent or legal guardian shall also compensate the school district for the fair market value of the textbooks." |
The following is an example of the type of policy that could be used:
"____________ School District provides textbooks free of charge to students. It is the duty of each student to care for the textbooks to the best of his/her ability. Students who lose or damage textbooks are required to pay for them. Students should take pride in the upkeep of their textbooks. Teachers are instructed to assess fines for amounts up to the current value of a book when it is obvious that the student has damaged or defaced the book." |
The following is an example of one district's fines and damage replacement schedule. The example is given to aid in the development of a district policy.
DAMAGE | FINE |
Writing/drawing/scribbling in book | $1.00 per page |
Excess wear/damage but still usable | 10% of cost of the book |
Cover of book damaged | 25% of cost of the book |
Spine damaged | 25% of cost of the book |
Water damaged but still usable | 25% of cost of the book |
Water damaged, not usable | Cost of the book |
Pages missing, not usable | Cost of the book |
Obscene writing or drawing on or in the book | Cost of the book |
Non-returned book | Cost of the book |
Contact information for rebinding companies is available at MDE Textbook Website. School districts are not required to use such company recommended by MDE. Each district has the discretion and authority to secure its own rebinding company. The cost for rebinding may be paid from funds used for the purchase of textbooks.
NOTE: The MDE will attempt to assist local districts in the location of a book rebinding company. School districts are not required to use such company recommended by the MDE. Each district has the discretion and authority to secure its own rebinding company.
CONTACT: Norris Bookbinding Company | 107 N Stone Ave. Greenwood, MS 38930 | 662-453-7424
An annual inventory of active, surplus and disposable textbooks, including kits and consumables, must be conducted and submitted by way of the TIMS program to the MDE by the first Friday in August each year. The MDE Office of Instructional Materials and Library Media will send a TIMS INVENTORY FORM to the school's TIMS contact to be signed verifying that the inventory report in the TIMS system is correct.
Mississippi Code Ann. § 37-43-33 provides that parents, persons, or school boards may purchase textbooks directly from the regional depository. The price of textbooks shall be at contract price plus whatever postage or delivery charges might accrue.
Since the textbooks now are the property of each local school district, no emergency fund is maintained at the state level. Consequently, districts are encouraged to maintain a contingency fund or plan to utilize in the replacement of textbooks in the event of a disaster. Further, districts are reminded to delete textbooks that may have been destroyed from their current inventory. Each school district shall maintain and file current inventory with the MDE Office of Instructional Materials and Library Media.
7 Miss. Code. R. 11-Two-6