1220 Policy – Board Officers and Duties of Board Members

Chair/President

The president presides at all meetings of the board and signs all papers and documents as required by law or as authorized by action of the board. The president conducts the meetings in the manner prescribed by the board鈥檚 policies. The president has the full right to participate in all aspects of board action without relinquishing the chair, including the right to vote on all matters put to a vote.

 

It is the responsibility of the board president to manage the board鈥檚 deliberation so that it will be clear, concise, and directed to the issue at hand; to summarize discussion and/or action before moving on to the next agenda item; and to generally manage the meeting so that the agenda is treated in an expeditious manner.

 

The president will be the official recipient of correspondence directed to the board and will provide, or cause to be provided to other board members and the superintendent, copies of the correspondence received on behalf of the board.

 

The president is authorized to consult with the superintendent on issues such as board meeting, study session and board retreat planning prior to presentation to the full board and perform tasks to facilitate board meetings.

 

In dealing with the media and the public in general, the president or designee will serve as the spokesperson of the board. The president is authorized to report and discuss those actions which have been taken and those decisions made by the board as a body. The president will avoid speculating upon actions or decisions which the board may take but has not yet taken.

 

Officers of the Board: Vice President

The vice president will preside at board meetings in the absence of the president and will perform all of the duties of the president in case of the president鈥檚 absence or disability.

Legislative Representative

The听legislative representative serves as the board鈥檚 liaison with the Washington State School Directors鈥 Association (WSSDA) on legislative issues. In odd numbered years a legislative representative will be elected from among its members prior to August and will serve for a period of two years. The legislative representative will represent the board at WSSDA鈥檚 Legislative Assembly, conveying local views and concerns to that body and, when appropriate, obtaining their board鈥檚 support for a legislative proposal to be submitted to the Assembly and supporting it at the Assembly. The legislative representative will monitor proposed school legislation, 听and provide legislative updates periodically at board meetings. Additionally, the representative will build relationships with local policy makers regarding WSSDA鈥檚 legislative positions and priorities.

 

Duties of Individual Board Members

The authority of individual board members is limited to participating in actions taken by the board as a whole when legally in session. Board members will not assume responsibilities of administrators or other staff members. The board or staff will not be bound in any way by any action taken or statement made by any individual board member except when such statement or action is pursuant to specific instructions and official action taken by the board.

 

Each board member will review the agenda and any study materials distributed prior to the meeting and be prepared to participate in the discussion and decision-making for each agenda item.

 

Each member is obligated to attend board meetings regularly. Whenever possible, each director will give advance notice to the chair/president or superintendent of the director鈥檚 inability to attend a board meeting. A majority of the board may excuse a director鈥檚 absence from a meeting if requested to do so. The board may declare a board member鈥檚 position vacant after four consecutive unexcused absences from regular board meetings.

Adopted/Revised: 08/25/16; 9/14/17
Updated: 8/14/2019
Superintendent or Board Approved: Board Approved
Cross References: Content
 

Policy 1225 – School Director Legislative Program

Policy 1450 – Absence of a Board Member


Legal References: Content
 

RCW 28A.330.030 Duties of president

RCW 28A.330.040 Duties of vice-president

RCW 28A.330.080 Payment of claims 鈥 Signing of warrants

RCW 28A.330.200 Organization of the board 鈥 Assumption of superintendent鈥檚 duties by board member, when

RCW 28A.343.390 Quorum 鈥 Failure to attend meetings


Management Resources: Content
 

2017 – April Issue

Policy News, December 2007 Role of the School Board President