School Boards

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School Boards

• What We Really Do!

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What We Can Control

• There are many State and Federal Laws that
  control what we may do.

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What We Do

• Community
• School Board
• Superintendent
• Directors

• Set the direction of the District
• Long range planning
• Policies
• Hire and evaluate the Superintendent
• Follow requirements of the School Code

Principals Assistant Principals
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What We Dont Do
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School Board Meetings

• Governing Board Meeting - 4th Wednesday of month
  630 to 1000 p.m.
• Special Meeting or Committee of Whole- First
  Thursday of month 700 to 1000 p.m.
• Others as necessary

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Regular Board Meeting

• Closed Session - No Voting
• Buying property
• Evaluating staff
• Union issues
• Discipline (staff or children)
• Personnel matters such as salaries, and
  performance
• Litigation
• Self-evaluations

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Regular Board Meetings

• Consent Agenda
• Items where we anticipate no discussion
• Board Member can ask for an item to be pulled
  from Consent to be discussed

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Regular Board Meetings

• Citizens Statement
• Chance for public to speak on an issue
• Board does not respond immediately
• Research further information may be required
• A written response within 2 weeks
• At no other time during the meeting should the
  audience participate

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Regular Board Meeting

• Reports
• Written reports from district school
  administrators
• Outside organizations such as Music Boosters
  PTA
• Verbal reports on special topics

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Regular Board Meetings

• Action Items
• Anything that requires a vote ( and personnel)
• Can only vote on items that are on the agenda
• Always ask - how will this affect the children?
• Status of Board Requests
• Allows us to provide direction to the
  administration on specific tasks

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Special Board Meeting/ Committee of the Whole

• Address specific items of high interest or
  emergency items
• No set times
• May be open and/or closed meetings
• Discuss policy, finance
• and facilities

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Board of Education

• Board Members are representatives to external
  agencies
• Special Education District of Lake County (SEDOL)
• Woodland Educational Foundation
• Ed-Red
• Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB)
• National School Board Association (NSBA)
• The Board of Education has strategic planning
  committees and a District Goals/Superintendent
  Evaluation Committee.

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Additional Duties

• Read and review all information sent by
  Superintendent (Board packets, weekly updates)
• Participate in Board of Education training
• Attend special events both inside outside
  District
• Host Board Forums

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Points to Remember

• Always remember - its all about the childrens
  education.
• Remember you represent everyone in the District -
  Make sure you are not only listening to the vocal
  minority.

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Board Member Qualifications

• Eager to learn
• Thick skin
• Must be able to devote the time needed
• Must be able to work with others

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Board Member Qualifications

• Be willing to compromise
• Support the decisions of the Board
• Must make the tough decisions
• Make decisions based on facts and not emotions

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Information Regarding Board Petitions

• Nomination forms may be picked up at the Woodland
  Educational Support Center, 1105 N. Hunt Club
  Road, Gurnee.
• The first day that candidates may lawfully
  circulate nominating petitions for signatures is
  October 28.
• For more information, contact Kerry Pollard at
  the Office of the Superintendent, [phone].

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Timeline

• October 28 First day to circulate petitions
• January 20-26 Dates to file petitions for
  candidacy at the Educational Support Center
• April 7 Elections

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Remember!

• Its all about the children