Foundations of Effective
Board Operation
Nicole L. Mace
Vermont School Boards Association
Foundations of Effective Board Operation

Understanding the role of the board

Conducting lawful and productive meetings

Handling complaints from the public

Ensuring ethical board behavior

Understanding the board’s role in the hiring process
The Role of a School District Board
The school board acts as trustees on behalf of
the community to provide oversight of
public education, assuring:
High quality education for every student
 The public gets good return on its investment
 The system operates efficiently, effectively and
ethically

3
The Role of the Supervisory Union Board
Oversee the functioning of the Supervisory Union,
assuring mutual accountability with the
superintendent on behalf of all member boards
and the supervisory union



Assure every student in the supervisory union receives a
high-quality education.
Assure effective delivery of services, including special
education, transportation, food service, and business
management.
Seek greater student opportunity and operating efficiency.
The Essential Work of School Boards
Monitor
progress
toward
the vision
Adopt a budget
to support the
vision
Engage the
community
Negotiate contracts
that are aligned with
student needs, vision,
and community
expectations
Establish
policy
parameters
Create a
vision
Employ a
superintendent
to lead in achieving
the vision
The Board, the Superintendent,
and the Principal
Board—vision, policy, resources, accountability
Superintendent—systems leader and CEO for the
District, accountable to SU Board and member
boards
Principal—educational leader for school
Conduct Lawful & Productive Meetings
 Build effective agendas

Follow open meeting laws

Facilitate complex community conversations
Build Effective Agendas
Follow Open Meeting Laws

1 V.S.A. §312(a): All meetings of a public body are
declared to be open at all times…No resolution,
rule, regulation, appointment, or formal action shall be
binding except as taken or made at such an open meeting.

1 V.S.A. §310: “Public body” means any board, council,
or commission of the state or instrumentality of the
state, or any committee of any of the foregoing
boards…

1 V.S.A. §310(2): “Meeting” means a gathering of a
quorum of the members of a public body for the
purpose of discussing the business of the public
body or for the purpose of taking action.
Follow Open Meeting Laws

Agendas must be posted to the district’s website (if one
exists), the municipal office and two designated public
places




48 hours prior to regular meeting
24 hours prior to a special meeting
Any addition to or deletion from the agenda must be
made as the first act of business at the meeting
Minutes shall be taken of all meetings, cover all topics and
motions that arise, and give a true indication of the
business of the meeting (1 V.S.A. §312(b)).
Follow Open Meeting Laws

Penalties for failure to follow the law can be significant:

Aggrieved party must allege a specific violation and make a
request for specific actions to cure the violation

Public body has 7 business days to respond


If acknowledge a violation, have 14 calendar days to cure it and take
measures to prevent its reoccurrence
Failure to correct a violation could result in attorney’s fees and
other litigation costs
Facilitate Community Conversations
Board meetings are public meetings, but
they are not a meeting of the public

16 V.S.A. §554(b): a reasonable opportunity to appear
and express views on any matter considered by the
board shall be given to any person in the school
district

1 V.S.A. 312(h): public comment shall be subject to
reasonable rules established by the chair
Handling Complaints

Receive complaint

Follow district complaint policy and procedures

Inform chair and administrator

Follow up later with complainant, if appropriate

Board final level of complaint appeal - not first
Guidelines for Lawful and Ethical
Operations

School board members:
 Assure that schools are well run, but do not
operate the school
 Have no legal powers outside of the board
 Must maintain the confidentiality of executive
session
 Must avoid conflict of interest or perception
 Should recognize the validity of board
decisions, even if don’t agree with them
The Board’s Role in the Hiring Process




Superintendent has the responsibility to nominate candidates
for licensed positions; the board has the responsibility to
approve or disapprove of the superintendent’s
recommendation.
Superintendent has the authority to dismiss licensed staff
subject to protections in the collective bargaining agreement.
Non-licensed staff may be hired and dismissed by the
superintendent without board approval.
Board serves as a quasi-judicial body responsible for hearing
cases that arise due to dismissal or discipline of an employee.
Employees are entitled to a full, fair and impartial hearing
before the board.
Questions?
Contact Information
Nicole L. Mace
General Counsel
VSBA
nmace@vtvsba.org
800-244-8722