Policy: 1220

Section: 1000 - Board of Directors

Title: Board Officers and Duties of Board Members

Status: Active

Adopted: April 29, 2014

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Board Officers and Duties of Board Members

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’s 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’s 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 his/her 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.

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 incase of his/her absence or disability.

Legislative Representative

A legislative representative serves as the board’s liaison with the Washington State School Directors’ Association Legislative Assembly. The legislative representative will assume office July 1st in an even year fora two-year period. The legislative representative or his/her designee should 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 will 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 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 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.

 

Cross References:
Policy 1450	Absence of a Board Member
Legal References:
RCW28A.330.030	Duties of president
RCW28A.330.040	Duties of vice-president
RCW28A.330.080	Payment of Claims —Signing of warrants
RCW28A.330.100	Additional powers of the board
RCW28A.330.200	Organization of the board— Assumption of superintendent’s duties by board member, when
RCW28A.343.390	Directors — Quorum —Failure to attend meetings

 

Management Resources:

Policy News,December 2007 Role of the School Board President

 

Adoption Date: 04.29.14

Ferndale School District

Revised: