Board of Education

Providing community leadership by setting the direction for the district through a process that involves the community, parents/guardians, students, and staff and is focused on student learning and achievement

Establishing an effective and efficient organizational structure for the district by:

Overseeing the development and adoption of policies

Establishing academic expectations and adopting the curriculum and instructional materials

Establishing budget priorities and adopting the budget

Providing safe, adequate facilities that support the district's instructional program

Setting parameters for negotiations with employee organizations and ratifying collective bargaining agreements

Providing support to the Superintendent and staff as they carry out the Board's direction by:

Making decisions and providing resources that support district priorities and goals

Upholding Board policies

Being knowledgeable about district programs and efforts in order to serve as effective spokespersons

Ensuring accountability to the public for the performance of the district's schools by:

Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of policies

Serving as a judicial (hearing) and appeals body in accordance with law, Board policies, and negotiated agreements

Monitoring student achievement and program effectiveness and requiring program changes as necessary

Ensuring accountability, monitoring, and adjusting district finances

Monitoring the collective bargaining process

Providing community leadership and advocacy on behalf of students, the district's educational program, and public education in order to build support within the local community and at the state and national levels

Keep learning and achievement for all students as the primary focus

Value, support and advocate for public education

Recognize and respect differences of perspective and style on the Board and among staff, students, parents and the community

Act with dignity, and understand the implications of demeanor and behavior

Keep confidential matters confidential

Participate in professional development and commit the time and energy necessary to be an informed and effective leader

Understand the distinctions between Board and staff roles, and refrain from performing management functions that are the responsibility of the Superintendent and staff

Understand that authority rests with the Board as a whole and not with individuals

Keep the district focused on learning and achievement for all students

Communicate a common vision

Operate openly, with trust and integrity

Govern in a dignified and professional manner, treating everyone with civility and respect

Govern within Board-adopted policies and procedures

Take collective responsibility for the Board's performance

Periodically evaluate its own effectiveness

Ensure opportunities for the diverse range of views in the community to inform Board deliberations

A request for censure must be submitted by a Board member to the Board President (or Board Clerk if the Board President is the subject of the censure) in writing. The request must contain a specific factual description of the alleged conduct of the Board member at issue, a description of how that conduct constitutes a violation, and the reasons why censure is appropriate. A censure request may only be made by a member of the Board. A copy of the censure request shall also be provided to the Superintendent’s office. 

The Board President (or Board Clerk if the Board President is the subject of the censure) shall appoint an ad hoc committee of less than a quorum to review the request and the ad hoc committee may draft a censure resolution or simply place the issue on the Board’s agenda for an open session discussion.  The committee may conduct any related investigation that it determines is necessary prior to making any recommendation.  Any proposed censure and/or related resolution shall not be discussed by a majority of the Board prior to the public discussion to ensure compliance with the Brown Act.

Notice of the proposed censure discussion and/or resolution shall be provided to the subject Board member at least five (5) business days prior to the board meeting at which the discussion will occur. Copies of the censure resolution and supporting documents shall be provided to all board members at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. At the board meeting, the member of the Board subject to the proposed censure discussion/resolution shall be given the opportunity to respond and to provide the Board with relevant information and material(s).

As a general premise, but not as a binding rule, censure shall not be imposed unless lesser forms of discipline have been attempted. For example, the Board President or other board member (or Board Clerk if the Board President is the subject of the censure) can first discuss the conduct with the board member at issue and encourage a change in behavior. In addition, an open session board discussion of the conduct can occur so the board member at issue understands the concerns of the board majority prior to the formal adoption of a censure resolution. Whether lesser forms of discipline are appropriate shall be addressed in the recommendation of the ad hoc committee and shall be left for final decision by the Board.

Any formal censure resolution shall initially be presented to the Board, as a discussion item only, and the Board shall determine that either:

If a censure resolution is placed on the Board’s agenda as an action item, it must be calendared so that the board member who is the subject of the censure has at least five (5) business days to prepare a defense.

During public discussion on the adoption of the censure resolution, the member of the Board subject to the censure request shall be given the opportunity to respond and to provide the Board and the public information and material(s) relevant to the charge(s). The proponents of the censure may also respond to the presentation and members of the Board may ask questions. The member subject to the charge(s) may be represented at his or her own personal expense and may have the representative speak on his or her behalf.

A formal written censure requires the approval by a majority of the Board. The censure resolution shall contain factual findings with regard to the specific charge(s) and set forth any recommended actions. The member of the Governing Board whose actions are the subject of the censure resolution shall be entitled to vote on the matter. As an alternative to a formal censure, a written warning or written reprimand may be adopted in the same manner as a censure resolution.

Call such meetings of the Board as he/she may deem necessary, giving notice as required by law

Consult with the Superintendent or designee on the preparation of Board meeting agendas

Call the meeting to order at the appointed time and preside over the meeting

Announce the business to come before the Board in its proper order

Enforce the Board's policies relating to the conduct of meetings and help ensure compliance with applicable requirements of the Brown Act

Recognize persons who desire to speak and protect the speaker who has the floor from disturbance or interference

Facilitate the Board's effective deliberation, ensuring that each Board member has an opportunity to participate in the deliberation and that the discussion remains focused

Rule on issues of parliamentary procedure

Put motions to a vote and clearly state the results of the vote

Be responsible for the orderly conduct of all Board meetings

Signing all instruments, acts, orders, and resolutions necessary to comply with legal requirements and carry out the will of the Board

Consulting with the Superintendent or designee on the preparation of the Board's agendas

Working with the Superintendent or designee to ensure that Board members have necessary materials and information

Subject to Board approval, appointing and dissolving all committees

Leading the Board's advocacy efforts to build support within the local community and at the state and national levels

Representing the district as governance spokesperson in conjunction with the Superintendent

Prepare, distribute and maintain the Board agenda

Record, distribute and maintain the Board minutes

Maintain Board records and documents

Conduct official correspondence for the Board

As directed by the Board, sign and execute official papers

Perform other duties as assigned by the Board

Certify or attest to actions taken by the Board when require

Maintain such other records or reports as required by law

Sign documents on behalf of the district as directed by the Board

Serve as presiding officer in the absence of the president and vice president

Notify Board members and members-elect of the date and time for the annual organizational meeting.

Perform any other duties assigned by the Board