|
What is the Board of
Education?
In Illinois, public
education is the State’s constitutional responsibility. The State delegates to
local school boards the authority to govern school districts within the
parameters set by state law. Boards are made up of seven school district
residents elected to serve terms of four years without pay. Although the Board
is politically responsible to district voters, it is legally responsible to the
state.
What is the Board’s
role?
-
Developing and adopting goals and
policies that meet state and local requirements.
-
Providing the resources necessary
to pursue its goals according to its policies.
-
Monitoring District performance to
see that results are consistent with goals and policies.
What are the Board’s
duties?
-
Approving curriculum and textbook
selection
-
Hiring personnel and setting their
salaries
-
Providing and maintaining school
buildings
-
Awarding all contracts and paying
all bills
-
Arranging for the revenue necessary
to operate the District
When are regular meetings of the Board of Education
scheduled?
Meetings of the Board of Education are normally scheduled on the second and
fourth Monday of each month. However, the schedule is sometimes altered to
avoid conflicts with legal holidays or school vacations. The schedule for
Board
meetings and the agendas are posted on the District website
www.oswego308.org. Meetings
convene at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room at Oswego East High School, 1525
Harvey Rd,
Oswego, Illinois.
How are the Board of
Education meetings conducted?
Each meeting follows an agenda, which establishes a sequence of events for the
meetings. The meeting is conducted by the Board President based on a combination
of Robert’s Rules of Order, common sense, and common courtesy. Meetings can last
up to several hours, depending on the contents of the agenda.
What’s listed on the
agenda?
-
The order of business is as follows:
-
Roll Call
-
Pledge of Allegiance
-
Recognition
-
Open Session (Public Comment)
-
Notification and Announcements
-
Approval of Consent Agenda
-
Information and Discussion Items
-
Action Items
-
Reports and Other Communications
-
Executive Session
-
Adjournment
Copies of the agenda and supporting material are available at each meeting and
located on the table inside the door.
Are Board of Education
meetings public?
Board meetings are not “public” meetings but rather are
meetings, which are held in public. By law, all Board discussion and
deliberations must be conducted in public, except for certain matters, such as
personnel, negotiations, and legal matters, which must be discussed in closed
session. However, all official Board action (voting) must occur in public.
Are District residents
allowed to participate in the meeting?
There are specific times noted on the Agenda when public comments are received.
The tradition has been to allow any visitor the opportunity to comment or ask
questions of the Board during the Open Session of the meeting. The Board
President recognizes visitors who wish to comment, maintains order during the
meeting, and calls an end to comments and discussion when this seems
appropriate.
When Speaking to the Board Remember to:
-
State your name and address at the start of your comments. Identify the
organization, if any, that you represent.
-
Keep your remarks brief. A good rule of thumb is to try to keep your comments
under three minutes.
May I ask other non-Board item questions related
to the District?
Generally, questions should be referred to the teacher,
principal, or administrator who is closest to the situation. If you have
questions about the Board of Education, its role and the operation of the school
district, please feel free to contact the Superintendent at 630.636.3080 or members
of the Board of Education.
Will the Board resolve my concern at this meeting?
The Board rarely can be expected to act immediately on an issue brought before
it for the first time. Even with more familiar issues, the Board takes action
only after it thoroughly has examined all aspects of a matter. You may, however,
expect the Board to act as promptly as circumstances allow and notify you when
it arrives at a decision.
Oswego Community Unit School District Strategic Initiatives
-
Immediately acquire the
resources needed to match facilities with high enrollment growth
-
Create an organizational
structure and staff that are committed to and focused on the district’s mission,
vision and beliefs
-
Establish coordinated and
integrated systems of data and planning
-
Develop ownership, trust,
and leadership by board and community
| Board
of Education Members |
Term Expires |
| Andrew Young, President
Lynn
Cullick, Vice President
John Graff, Secretary
David Behrens
Andrea Schweda
Steven Wolf
Andrew Wood
|
2009 2009
2011
2009
2011
2011
2009
|
|
