SJE Board Policy 1220 - Board of Directors

Board Officers And Duties Of Board Members

Chair/President

The chair/president shall preside at all meetings of the board and sign all papers and documents as required by law or as authorized by action of the board. The chair/president shall conduct the meetings in the manner prescribed by the board's policies, provided that the chair/president shall have 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 shall be the responsibility of the board chair/president to manage the board's deliberation so that it shall be clear, concise, and directed to the issue at hand; 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 chair/president shall be the official recipient of correspondence directed to the board and shall provide, or cause to be provided to other board members and the superintendent, copies of the correspondence received on behalf of the board.

When time and circumstance demand an immediate decision from the board, and the board has no opportunity to confer, the chair/president is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the board provided, however, that the decision shall be communicated as soon as practical thereafter to all members of the board for review and ratification.

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

The chair/president shall confer with the superintendent regarding sensitive issues which need immediate attention. When appropriate, he/she will confer with individual board members when other opinions should be sought.

Officers of the Board: Vice Chair/President

The vice chair/president shall preside at board meetings in the absence of the chair/president and shall perform all of the duties of the president in case of his/her absence or disability.

Legislative Representative

A legislative representative shall serve as the board's liaison with the Washington State School Directors' Association Legislative Assembly. The legislative representative shall serve a two-year term. The legislative representative shall attend Washington State School Directors' Association Assemblies, conveying local views and concerns to that body and participating in the formulation of state legislative programs. The legislative representative shall monitor proposed school legislation and inform the board of the issues.

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 shall not assume responsibilities of administrators or other staff members. The board or staff shall 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 shall 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 shall give advance notice to the president or superintendent of his/her inability to attend a board meeting. A majority of the board may excuse a director's absence from a meeting if requested to do so. The board may declare a board member's position vacant after four consecutive unexcused absences from regular board meetings.

Legal References:

RCW 28A.315.520 Directors--Quorum--Failure to attend meetings may result in vacation of office

RCW 28A.320 Provisions applicable to all districts

RCW 28A.330.100 Additional powers of the board

RCW 28A.330.030 Duties of president

RCW 28A.330.080 Payment of Claims--Signing of warrants

RCW 28A.330.200 Organization of the board

RCW 28A.330.040 Duties of vice president

Adoption Date: 11-26-01

St. John - Endicott Cooperative Schools