The Board of Trustees recognizes that the Board is the unit of authority over the district and that a Board member has no individual authority. Board members shall hold the education of students above any partisan principle, group interest, or personal interest.
(cf. 1160 - Political Processes)
(cf. 9000 - Role of the Board)
(cf. 9005 - Governance Standards)
(cf. 9270 - Conflict of Interest)
(cf. 9323 - Meeting Conduct)
Unless agreed to by the Board as a whole, individual members of the Board shall not exercise any administrative responsibility with respect to the schools or command the services of any school employee. Individual Board members shall submit requests for information to the Superintendent. Board members shall refer Board-related correspondence to the Superintendent for forwarding to the Board or for placement on the Board's agenda, as appropriate.
(cf. 1340 - Access to District Records)
(cf. 4112.6/4212.6/4312.6 - Personnel Files)
(cf. 9011 - Disclosure of Confidential/Privileged Information)
(cf. 9322 - Agenda/Meeting Materials)
Individual Board members do not have the authority to resolve complaints. Any Board member approached directly by a person with a complaint should refer the complainant to the Superintendent or designee so that the problem may receive proper consideration and be handled through the appropriate district process.
(cf. 1312.1 - Complaints Concerning District Employees)
(cf. 1312.2 - Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials)
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
(cf. 1312.4 - Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures)
(cf. 3320 - Claims and Actions Against the District)
(cf. 4031 - Complaints Concerning Discrimination in Employment)
(cf. 6159.1 - Procedural Safeguards and Complaints for Special Education)
A Board member whose child is attending a district school should be aware of his/her role as a Board member when interacting with district employees about his/her child. Because his/her position as a Board member may inhibit the performance of school personnel, the Board member should inform the Superintendent or designee before volunteering in his/her child's classroom.
(cf. 1240 - Volunteer Assistance)
(cf. 5020 - Parent Rights and Responsibilities)
(cf. 6020 - Parent Involvement)
The Superintendent or designee shall provide a copy of the state's open meeting laws (Brown Act) to each Board member and to anyone who is elected to the Board but has not yet assumed office.
Board members and persons elected to the Board who have not yet assumed office are responsible for complying with the requirements of the Brown Act. (Government Code 54952.1)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
200-262.4 Prohibition of discrimination
7054 Use of district property
35010 Control of district; prescription and enforcement of rules
35100-35351 Governing boards, especially:
35291 Rules
35292 Visits to schools (Board members)
51101 Rights of parents/guardians
GOVERNMENT CODE
54950-54962 The Ralph M. Brown Act, especially:
54952.1 Member of a legislative body of a local agency
54952.7 Copies of chapter to members of legislative body
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
CSBA Professional Governance Standards, 2000
Maximizing School Board Leadership: Boardsmanship, 1996
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
Bylaw MONTECITO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: April 19, 2016 Santa Barbara, California