2111 Board Member Authority

The intent of this policy is to clarify and further define the role of the Board of Education member. Members of the Board of Education have legal authority for the conduct of the district schools only when acting as a body in the properly convened session. Board members acting as individuals have no authority over personnel or school affairs.

Members of the Board are free to speak to individuals on these issues outside of Board meetings, but such public expression is not to be construed as Board policy. Information from executive sessions must remain confidential at all times, unless release is appropriately authorized. The Board will not be bound in any way by any individual's statement or action unless the Board, through an adopted policy or by a majority vote of Board membership, has delegated this authority to the individual member.

This policy sets up protocols and safeguards when Board members visit school district buildings and that information relating to district business is common amongst other Board members as well as the Superintendent. This will also reduce the prospect of micromanagement in schools as well as intimidation that staff members may feel in the presence of a Board member. Further, it is an enforcement of security procedures in the district that would be in place universally to all school visitors.

SCHOOL DISTRICT BUILDING VISITATIONS

It has been the practice of the district to encourage Board members to visit school district buildings; however, in doing so, Board members should not disrupt the educational process in that building.

When a Board of Education member visits a school district building, the following guidelines should be adhered to:

• Upon visitation, the Board member is to present his/her district I.D. or be given a name tag if the Board member does not have his/her district I.D. and be escorted to the area where he/she is to conduct business.
• Upon arrival and departure, the Superintendent is to be notified by the appropriate building administrator of the Board member’s presence.
• It is strongly recommended that the building principal or the appropriate building administrator escort the Board member to his/her business within the school district building.
• Proper security measures should be in place at all times and Board members must also go through the necessary visitation procedures upon entering and exiting any school district buildings.
• The building principal shall defer any request for written information to the Superintendent of Schools. The Superintendent shall decide if the information is available to the Board members making such request.
• Under no circumstance should a Board member visit school district buildings or grounds after-school hours or when schools are not in session, unless previously approved by the Board President and proper advance notice has been given to the Superintendent of Schools.
• Within his/her capacity as a Board member, any business that is conducted relating to the affairs of the Brentwood Union Free School District during a visit to a school district building is to be reported back to the Board of Education. Since some of the business discussed or conducted would relate to personnel matters and other affairs that are confidential, any findings, discussions or business would be reported during Executive Session only.
• Board members and the Superintendent would be notified of the proceedings that have taken place at a school district building; the time of entry, time of departure, who escorted the Board member, business discussed or conducted as well as any other relevant information necessary, which would represent the Board member in his capacity as representing the Brentwood Union Free School District Board of Education. This would also appear in the agenda items of Executive Session as School Visitation Reports by Board Members.
• In addition, it is the responsibility of the visiting Board member to notify the Superintendent in advance of their visit (preferably within 24 hours) so that the appropriate building administrators are aware.
• Further, the visiting Board member must inform the Board President of his visit and indicate to him/her the nature of the business in that school district building.
• In order to effectively communicate the interests of the Board and its members, it is necessary that the governing bodies are aware of any business that is to be conducted and discussed within school district buildings by Board members as they ultimately act as liaisons and representatives of the Board of Education.
• Further, information regarding visits may be useful for other Board members as they may wish to participate in certain business affairs at a school district building that he/she may deem important to the Board or Education.

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION

• All requests for information, by Board members, relating to the day-to-day operations of the district should be sent to the Board President. Any issues or requests from Board members shall be brought to the entire Board for its consideration and action, if required.

EXCEPTIONS

Throughout the school year numerous concerts, sporting events, activities, meetings and shows take place at the various school district buildings within the Brentwood School District. For these events, approval by the Board President and notification to the Superintendent is not required per this policy; however, notification of upcoming events within school district buildings should be sent, by the schools, to the District Clerk for announcement at Board of Education public meeting(s). At any given event, the principal or presiding administrator at the event would welcome and introduce the present Board member(s) representing the Board of Education at the appropriate time.

 

Approved by the Board of Education: 04/19/07
Approved by the Board of Education: 06/14/18

 

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