What do school boards do?

Local school boards (also known as boards of education, school committees, school directors, or trustees) are elected—or occasionally appointed—to be leaders and champions for public education in their states and communities.

 

What is a school board’s most important responsibility?

The most important responsibility of school boards is to work with their communities to improve student achievement in their local public schools. School boards derive their power and authority from the voters of the district. In compliance with state and federal laws, school boards establish policies and regulations by which their local schools are governed.

 

The Lakeside Joint School District Board of Trustees is responsible for:

• Setting the vision and goals for the district

• Hiring and evaluating the Superintendent

• Maintaining the long-term fiscal health of the district

• Developing and adopting policies, curriculum, expenditures and the budget;

• Overseeing facilities issues; and

• Adopting collective bargaining agreements

 

Do school board members receive pay?

• The Lakeside Joint School District trustees are dedicated volunteers, they do not get paid for their service

• They spend an average of 4 to 20 hours a month on board related work

 

How is Board business conducted?

• A California law called the Brown Act mandates that school boards, like most public bodies, conduct their business in meetings that are open to the public, with agendas published in advance

• School boards are allowed to meet in sessions closed to the public only for specific purposes, such as contract negotiations, that are defined by law.  With very few exceptions, these closed sessions will also have published agendas and any actions taken will be reported in open session

• School boards are not allowed to conduct business outside of the above framework, including conversations about school business even though no action is taken

 

Why don’t board members respond at board meetings?

• The Brown Act limits the board members’ response to public comments at any public meeting. They hear and appreciate the comments but by law are not allowed to respond.

• Below are the guidelines for public speaking at Lakeside board meetings:

 

“ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA:  Members of the audience are welcome to address the Board at this time regarding items not listed on this agenda for a period of not more than 3 minutes per individual and 15 minutes per subject. For the record, please state your name at the beginning of your statement. The trustees may ask the speaker(s) questions for clarity but according to law, cannot discuss or take action on these matters until such matters are appropriately placed on a future agenda.”

 

“ITEMS ON THE AGENDA: Members of the audience may address the Board during the Board’s consideration of each item on the agenda. Speakers are allowed 3 minutes per individual and are asked to state their names. The Board shall limit the total time for public input on each agenda item to 20 minutes per subject unless the board president increases or decreases the time depending on the topic and the number of persons wishing to be heard.”