Board Roles and Responsibilities
This group sets policy and provides governance leadership for the school
What is the Governing Board?
This is what a Board member says to put an item forward for Board action.
What is, "I move that..."
Board members should do this respectfully during public comment.
What is listen?
This process helps concerns move through the correct level before reaching the Board.
What is the grievance process or the chain of command?
This should be disclosed before discussion or voting if it may affect impartial judgment.
What is a conflict of interest?
This person manages the day-to-day operations of the school.
Who is the Principal?
This must happen before the first motion can move forward for discussion.
What is a second?
Board members should avoid doing this with speakers during public comment.
What is arguing, interrupting, or debating?
In most concerns, communication should begin with this person.
Who is the person the complaint is against? (Lowest level possible.)
A Board member’s brother applies for a school job. The Board member should do this.
What is either disclose a conflict of interest/abstain from voting?
This is the difference between Board governance and school administration.
What is the Board sets direction and policy, while administration implements policy and manages daily operations?
This person restates the motion before discussion.
Who is the Board Chair/President?
A public comment names a student or employee and demands action. The Board should protect this.
What is confidentiality?
If a concern is not resolved at the staff or teacher level, it generally moves to this person.
Who is the Principal?
A vendor gives a Board member a gift card before a contract vote. This creates this kind of concern.
What is a conflict of interest or an ethical concern?
A Board member tells a teacher how to handle a student discipline issue. This is an example of what?
What is micromanagement?
This motion temporarily delays action on an item.
What is a table?
Complaints should usually be handled through this process.
What is the chain of command?
A Board member personally investigates a parent complaint. This violates what governance expectation?
What is respecting the chain of command?
A Board member participates in discussion and tries to persuade others even after disclosing that their relative is connected to the decision. This creates what problem?
What is improper influence?
Individual Board members have authority to direct staff only when this has happened.
What is official Board action?
These are the eight basic steps in the motion flow.
What are recognition, motion, second, restatement, discussion, vote called, result announced, and action recorded in minutes?
During public comment, the Board should not promise this.
What is a particular outcome or solution.
These are two reasons that bypassing the chain of command can damage school operations.
What is it creates confusion, undermines authority, damages trust, and is micromanagement?
A Board member uses their position to help a friend’s business get a school contract. This is an example of this ethical violation.
What is using public position for personal or private benefit?