Leonia Board of Education

Q & A - Board of Education

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
About Leonia Board of Education


 

How many people serve on the Board and for how long?
Why are the powers of the Leonia Board of Education described as “delegated powers?”
What are the key responsibilities of the Leonia Board of Education?
What is the role of the individual Board member?
What is the "Code of Ethics for School Board Members"?
What is a Board member's salary?
How often do Board members meet and where? Where can I review meeting agendas?
Is the public able to speak at Board meetings?
What about meeting minutes?
What is the "Chain of Command"?
    
How many people serve on the Board and for how long?
 
The Leonia Board of Education consists of nine elected members plus one representative from the Edgewater Board of Education. Members are elected for three year terms and may serve an indefinite number of terms.
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Why are the powers of the Leonia Board of Education described as "delegated powers?"
 
Our state constitution states that "the Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all the children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen years." The legislature meets this obligation through the State Board of Education which, in turn, delegates its authority to local boards of education throughout the state. Under this arrangement, local boards of education are state agents, charged with enforcing state law and rules. Nonetheless, local boards have significant autonomy to operate their schools so long as they comply with state (and federal) law.
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What are the key responsibilities of the Leonia Board of Education?
 
Our policy bylaws identify five key functions as follows:
 
A. Legislative or policymaking
The Board is responsible for developing policies and for employing a Superintendent who carries out those policies. Policymaking is different from day to day administration. The Board charges the Superintendent managing the District in keeping with its policies, while seeing to it that the schools are "well run" through that management.
   
B. Appraisal
The Board is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of its policies and regulations.
 
C. Planning
The Board is responsible for requiring and acquiring reliable information for the purpose of continuous improvement of the educational program.
 
D. Provision of Financial Resources
The Board has major responsibilities for the adoption of a budget which will support school district operations.
 
E. Interpretation
The Board is responsible for informing the community about school operations and for keeping itself and the Superintendent informed about the wishes of the public.
The Board fulfills these responsibilities through its deliberations as a whole Board or in committee. With the exception of issues related to personnel, actual or potential litigation, and/or employee negotiations, whole Board deliberations are conducted in public session.
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What is the role of the individual Board member?
 
The role of an individual Board member is defined by what is excluded as much as for what is included. For example, individual members have no authority to make decisions apart from their participation in meetings of the whole Board. No member can exercise any administrative responsibility for District operations. Apart from the Board president acting in his/her official capacity, no individual member can speak for or in the name of the whole Board.  
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What is the "Code of Ethics for School Board Members"?
 
State law includes a "Code of Ethics for School Board Members." Based on that Code, a member is expected to comply with the following rules of conduct:
  1. When making decisions, to uphold and enforce all laws, state board rules and regulations, court orders and local board policy. This means that he/she should not bend the rules, or ask others to bend the rules.
  2. To make decisions in keeping with the educational welfare of all children regardless of ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing. This means that he/she should not base decisions on special interest or personal agendas.
  3. To confine actions to policymaking, planning and appraisal. This means that he/she should not become involved in the administration, organization or implementation of policy and goals.
  4. To work as a Board to see that the schools are well run. This means that he/she should not become involved in the day to day running of the schools.
  5. To understand that only the full Board has the authority to make decisions. This means that he/she should not make any personal promises or take any private action which may compromise the Board.
  6. To make decisions based upon District goals and policies. This means that he/she should not be swayed by special interest or partisan political groups.
  7. To provide accurate information to the community about District progress and needs. This means that he/she should not discuss confidential matters with members of the public.
  8. To appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the Superintendent's recommendations. This means that he/she should not obstruct board decisions because of personal disagreement with them.
  9. To support and protect school personnel in the proper performance of their duties. This means that he/she should not violate the chain of command or publicly criticize staff members.
To refer all complaints to the Superintendent and to act on complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution. This means that he/she should not make any promises to "help" or act on citizen complaints until they reach the level of the whole Board.
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What is a Board member's salary?
  
Board members are volunteers who receive no salary or any other remuneration for their many hours of community service.
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How often do Board members meet and where? Where can I review meeting agendas?
  
The Board's Agenda meeting is held on the third Monday of each month and the Regular Meeting is held on the fourth Monday of each month. All public meetings will be held in the Anna C. Scott School cafeteria at times posted. Action on all items will be taken at the Regular Meetings unless extraordinary circumstances make it necessary to take action at an Agenda meeting. Agendas are posted no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting at the Leonia Public Library, the Community Bulletin Board at the corner of Fort Lee Rd. and Broad Ave., at Borough Hall, and at each of our three school buildings. Agendas are also posted on our web site --- www.leoniaschools.org.
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Is the public able to speak at Board meetings?
 
The Leonia Board of Education values citizen participation in the affairs of the District. For this reason, the Agenda and Regular meetings include provisions for public comment. Citizens are reminded that certain topics and problems may not be appropriate for public session and/or should best be approached through the District Chain of Command. Citizens can expect that Board members will listen respectfully to public comments and that Board members may choose to respond during time set aside for Board member comments.
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What about meeting minutes?
 
The Board usually approves minutes of one meeting at the following meeting. Members of the public who wish to read the minutes should contact the Board Office. Meeting summaries are posted on our web site.
    
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What is the "Chain of Command"?
 
Parents and citizens may be uncertain about whom they should contact within the school system to resolve a problem or address a concern. As a rule of thumb, problems are best resolved nearest to the level where the problem resides. So, if the concern is based in the classroom, the teacher and/or the guidance counselor should be allowed to address it. If there is no resolution at that level, building administration may be approached. Central Office administrators --- Special Education Coordinator, the Assistant Superintendent and/or the Superintendent ­ comprise the next level. If the problem remains unresolved, the parent/citizen may request a meeting with the Board or one of the Board Committees. For a building wide problem or concern, building administrators comprise the first level; for a system wide problem, Central Office administrators should be contacted first. When going through the chain of command, it may be useful to document the problem or concern clearly and concisely in a letter to the most appropriate level, and copy the letter to the next highest level.
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