Board Candidate Orientation
The Board of Trustees desires to provide Board candidates with orientation that will enable them to understand the responsibilities and expectations of Board membership. The Superintendent or designee shall provide all candidates with general information about school programs, district operations, and Board responsibilities. He/she may also provide candidates with information about the election process, including, but not limited to, information about campaign conduct and ballot statement information.
(cf. 9200 - Limits of Board Member Authority)
(cf. 9220 - Board of Trustees Elections)
(cf. 9270 - Conflict of Interest)
The Board encourages all candidates to attend public Board meetings during the period of their candidacy. Candidates shall have the same access as members of the public to district staff and information.
(cf. 1340 - Access to District Records)
(cf. 9011 - Disclosure of Confidential/Privileged Information)
New Board Member Orientation
The Board shall convene a meeting to provide an orientation and information to incoming Board members to assist them in understanding the Board's functions, policies, procedures, protocols, and agreed-upon standards of conduct. Incoming Board members shall receive the district's policy manual and other materials related to the district and Board member responsibilities.
(cf. 9000 - Role of the Board)
(cf. 9005 - Governance Standards)
Upon their election, incoming Board members shall be provided a copy of the Brown Act and informed that, pursuant to Government Code 54952.1, they must conform to the Act's requirements as if they had already assumed office.
The Superintendent shall provide incoming Board members with additional background and information regarding the district's vision and goals, operations, and current challenges in areas that include, but are not limited to, student achievement, curriculum, finance, facilities, policy, human resources, and collective bargaining.
(cf. 0000 - Vision)
(cf. 0200 - Goals for the School District)
Incoming members are encouraged to attend Board meetings and review agenda materials available to the public in order to become familiar with current issues facing the district. Incoming members also may, at district expense and with approval of the Board, attend workshops and conferences relevant to their individual needs or to the needs of the Board as a whole or the district.
(cf. 9240 - Board Development)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
33360 Department of Education and statewide association of school district boards; annual workshops
33362-33363 Reimbursement of expenses; board member or member-elect
ELECTIONS CODE
13307 Candidate's statement
20440 Code of Fair Campaign Practices
GOVERNMENT CODE
54950-54963 The Ralph M. Brown Act, especially:
54952.1 Member of a legislative body
54952.7 Copies of Brown Act to board members
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
School Board Leadership, 2007
The Brown Act: School Boards and Open Meeting Laws, rev. 2007
Guide to Effective Meetings, 2007
Professional Governance Standards, 2000
Maximizing School Board Leadership, 1996
NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS
Becoming a Better Board Member: A Guide to Effective School Board Service, 2006
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
Fair Political Practices Commission: http://www.fppc.ca.gov
National School Boards Association: http://www.nsba.org
Bylaw HART-RANSOM UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: January 14, 2016 Modesto, California