213 School Board Committees
213 School Board Committees
I. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide for the structure and the operation of committees or subcommittees of the school board.
II. General Statement of Policy
School board committees, when used, will be used to support the work of the school board and to reinforce the wholeness of the school board’s job, and never to interfere with delegation of authority from the school board to the Director. Accordingly:
A. School board committees are to assist the school board to do its job, not to direct or advise the staff. Committees ordinarily will assist the school board by preparing policy alternatives and implications for school board consideration. In keeping with the school board’s broader focus, school board committees will not have direct dealings with staff operations unless specifically given that authority by the school board.
B. School board committees may not speak or act for the school board except when formally given such authority for specific and time-limited purposes. Expectations and authority will be carefully stated by the school board to assure that committee authority will not conflict with authority delegated to the director.
C. School board committees may not exercise authority over the director or staff. Because the director works for the school board, any direction to the director related to a committee recommendation must come from the school board.
D. School board committees are expected to avoid over-identification with organizational parts rather than the whole. Therefore, a school board committee that has helped the school board create policy will not be used to monitor organizational performance on that same subject. This policy applies only to committees that are formed by school board action, whether or not the committees include school board members. It does not apply to committees formed under the authority of the director.
E. All school board committee meetings are open to the public.
III. Appointment of Committees
A. The school board hereby appoints the following standing committees:
1. Finance
2. Personnel
3. Curriculum
B. Annually the school board will establish, for each standing or ad hoc committee, the members and the charge or mission of each such committee. When possible the Board will establish committees that include at least 2 parents and/or community members, and 2-3 staff members appointed by the Director.
All committees of the Board will include the Director and a Member of the Board.
213_1
Adopted:5/18/2009
Revised:10/28/2019
Reviewed:10/28/2019
IV. Composition of Committees
The composition of committees is to be broadly representative and shall reflect the specific tasks assigned to the committee. Committees are encouraged to recruit non staff members to provide an objective viewpoint or to add expertise outside of staff. Every effort must be made to prevent the domination of
committees by vested interest groups.
213_2
Adopted:5/18/2009
Revised:10/28/2019
Reviewed:10/28/2019