The Role of the Board of Education

The Role of the Board of Education is to establish goals, objectives, and policies for the school district.

Duties
It is the general policy of the Board to perform its work, as far as practicable, as a committee of the whole. Among its more important duties, the Board shall:

  1. Establish policies to guide the operation of the school program consistent with the Oklahoma School Code and Federal regulations for governing the public schools.

  2. Appoint a Superintendent of Schools to administer the policies of the Board of Education.

  3. Adopt an annual budget to finance the operation of the schools in accordance with legal requirements.

  4. Assume the responsibility for providing for such capital outlay expenditures as are necessary to maintain an adequate school plant.

  5. Inform the public concerning the progress and needs of the schools, the instructional program, and the financial status of the School District.

  6. Accurately account for receipts and expenditures through the financial employees and custodians of funds and financial recording of all funds, including activity and lunchroom funds.

  7. Consider and take action upon all recommendations of the Superintendent of Schools in matters of policy, legislation, salary schedules, personnel employment, and other personnel regulations, courses of study, and school activities.

Guidelines for Visitors
In order to bring about visitor participation so that school patrons and other visitors may fully enjoy the meeting without disturbing the work of the Board, the following guidelines have been approved:

  1. It is to be remembered at all times that the school board is a statutorily constituted body engaged in the transaction of public business. The Board acts in accordance with the authority and responsibility vested in it by law in behalf of citizens not present at the meeting as well as those who are present. The Board may seek advice and suggestions but it may never abdicate its own responsibility to make decisions except as provided in laws relating to referral to the electorate.

  2. The Board will not tolerate disruptive, disrespectful or abusive behavior nor will it permit visitor participation in matters irrelevant to the business at hand. The business of the Board must be conducted by the Board and visitors will participate only at the invitation of the Board.

  3. Whenever a visitor wishes to present a petition, statement, or other communication to the Board, he/she shall notify the Superintendent or Board President in writing at least five (5) working days prior to the next scheduled Board meeting. Otherwise, such items shall not appear on the agenda but may be considered after the agenda has been completed if the Board agrees to accept the unscheduled item.

  4. The Board does not normally conduct a public hearing in the transaction of each item of its business. When a public hearing is to be held, it will be announced in advance of the meeting and that fact will be noted on the agenda

  5. Board meeting is not a public forum. Although permission may be given to visitors to ask relevant questions, the Board meeting is not a place to make speeches. Each meeting is scheduled to consider and act upon specific items of business as listed on the agenda. Board members have received in advance and have carefully studied extensive and comprehensive reports and data related to each item of business. Their concentration on these matters should not be distracted.

Addressing the Board
Directing Inquiries or Complaints to the Board of Education
The School Board members know that there may be times when school patrons will have complaints and inquiries. It is not reasonable to expect that such matters can be adequately accommodated at Board meetings. Inquiries and complaints should be taken initially to those persons who are closest to the problem.

    1. After talking to a teacher and/or principal, the patron may wish to carry his/her concern to the Superintendent of Schools.

    2. The Superintendent will ask for a summary statement of the previous investigation with the teacher or principal. He/She will then investigate the matter and report the findings and conclusions to the patron.

    3. A patron always has the right to appeal to the School Board but should first take the steps outlined above. Even in matters directly related to acts of the Board itself, it is proper to first present the matter to the Superintendent of Schools whose duty it is to interpret and administer school board policy.

    4. Board members are busy people and the time allotted for board meetings is usually rigidly scheduled to accommodate the necessary business at hand which has been carefully researched and thoroughly studied by board members and administrators

footer State Department of Education

Reasonable effort has been made to ensure that the Eufaula Public Schools web site and its internal links are accurate and current. Eufaula Public Schools shall not be liable for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions, or out-of-date information contained herein. If any part of this web site is used for research or otherwise, verify results with the actual printed materials available at Eufaula Public Schools. Eufaula Public Schools, District No.I001, is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital, veteran status or disability.

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