SECTION B: School Board Governance and Operations

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BBSchool Board Legal Status

BBASchool Board Powers and Duties

BBAABoard Member Authority

BBBAQualifications of School Board Members

BBBBStudent Liaison to the School Board

BBBCBoard Member Oath of Office

BBDBoard Member Removal from Office

BBEUnexpired Term Fulfillment

BBFASchool Board Members Conflict of Interest

BCASchool Board Organizational Meeting

BCBSchool Board Officers

BCCSchool Board Clerk

BCESchool Board Committees

BCEADisciplinary Committee

BCFAdvisory Committees to the School Board

BCGSchool Attorney

BDARegular School Board Meetings

BDBSpecial School Board Meetings

BDCClosed Meetings

BDCACalling and Certification of Closed Meetings

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SECTION B: School Board Governance and Operations

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BDDElectronic Participation in Meetings From Remote Locations

BDDANotification of School Board Meetings

BDDCAgenda Preparation and Dissemination

BDDDQuorum

BDDERules of Order

BDDFVoting Method

BDDGMinutes

BDDHPublic Participation at School Board Meetings (Also KD)

BFBoard Policy Manual

BFCPolicy Adoption (Options 1 & 2)

BFEAdministration in Policy Absence (Also CHD)

BGBoardStaff Communications (Also GBD)

BHBSchool Board Member In-Service Activities

BHDSchool Board Member Compensation and Benefits

BHESchool Board Member Liability Insurance

File: BB

SCHOOL BOARD LEGAL STATUS

The School Board of BLANK derives its authority from the Constitution of Virginia, the Code of Virginia, and the regulations of the State Board of Education.

The BLANK School Board members are officers of the Commonwealth.

The BLANK School Board governs the school division.

The School Board is a corporate body whose official title shall be "BLANK".

Adopted:

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Legal Ref.:Constitution of Virginia, article VIII, §7

Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 22.11, 22.12, 22.128, 22.131, 22.171.

Cross Ref.:AA School Division Legal Status

File: BBA

Page 2

SCHOOL BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES

The School Board shall:

1.Adopt policy to provide for the day-to-day supervision of schools;

2.See that the school laws are properly explained, enforced and observed;

3.Secure, by visitation or otherwise, as full information as possible about the conduct of the public schools in the school division and take care that they are conducted according to law and with the utmost efficiency;

4.Care for, manage and control the property of the school division and provide for the erecting, furnishing, equipping, and noninstructional operating of necessary school buildings and appurtenances and the maintenance thereof by purchase, lease, or other contracts;

5.Provide for the consolidation of schools or redistricting of school boundaries or adopt pupil assignment plans whenever such procedure will contribute to the efficiency of the school division;

6.Insofar as not inconsistent with state statutes and regulations of the State Board of Education, operate and maintain the public schools in the school division and determine the length of the school term, the studies to be pursued, the methods of teaching and the government to be employed in the schools; and,

7.Perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by the State Board of Education or as are imposed by law.

8.Obtain public comment through a public hearing not less than ten days after reasonable notice to the public in a newspaper of general circulation in the school division prior to providing (i) for the consolidation of schools; (ii) the transfer from the public school system of the administration of all instructional services for any public school classroom or all noninstructional services in the school division pursuant to a contract with any private entity or organization; or (iii) in school divisions having 15,000 pupils or more in average daily membership, for redistricting of school boundaries or adopting any pupil assignment plan affecting the assignment of fifteen percent or more of the pupils in average daily membership in the affected school. Such public hearing may be held at the same time and place as the meeting of the School Board at which the proposed action is taken if the public hearing is held before the action is taken. If a public hearing has been held prior to the effective date of this provision on a proposed consolidation, redistricting or pupil assignment plan which is to be implemented after the effective date of this provision, an additional public hearing shall not be required.

Survey, at least annually, the school division to identify critical shortages of teachers and administrative personnel by subject matter, and report such critical shortages to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and to the Virginia Retirement System or request the division superintendent to conduct such survey and submit such report to the school board, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Virginia Retirement System.

Ensure that the public schools within the school division are registered with the Department of State Police to receive electronic notice of the registration or reregistration of any sex offender within the school division pursuant to § 9.1-914.

Adopted:

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Legal Ref.:Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 22.1-78, 22.179.

Cross Ref.:AFComprehensive Plan

KNSex Offender Registry Notification

File: BBAA

BOARD MEMBER AUTHORITY

(and Duties)

The School Board is a body corporate, and in its corporate capacity is vested with all the powers and charged with all the duties, obligations, and responsibilities imposed upon School Boards by law and may sue, be sued, contract, be contracted with, and purchase, take, hold, lease and convey school property, both real and personal. School Board members shall have no authority or duties except such as may be assigned to them by the School Board as a whole.

Adopted:

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Legal Ref.:Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, § 22.171.

File: BBBA

QUALIFICATIONS OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS

At the time of appointment or election to office, each member of the School Board must be a qualified voter and bona fide resident of the school division and district which they represent and meet any other criteria set forth in state law. If a board member shall cease to be a resident of the school division or that district which the board member represents, the position on the School Board shall be deemed vacant.

No employee of the School Board shall be eligible to serve on the Board by whom he/she is employed.

Adopted:

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Legal Ref.:Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 22.129, 22.1-30, 22.1-57.3.

Cross Ref:BBEUnexpired Term Fulfillment

File: BBBB

(Optional)

STUDENT LIAISON TO THE SCHOOL BOARD

The opinions and concerns of the students at BLANK School Division are important to the BLANK School Board. Therefore, the School Board shall select a student liaison.

The principal of each high school shall nominate two students from his school to serve as the student liaison to the school board. From these nominations, the Superintendent shall select the student liaison subject to final approval by the School Board. The student liaison shall serve a one year term.

The student liaison shall serve in an advisory capacity and shall not vote. The student liaison shall not attend closed meetings. The School Division shall provide the meeting agenda and other public materials to the student liaison in advance of each open meeting. The student liaison shall not have access to confidential information, including student or personnel records. The student liaison is expected to attend all regular, open meetings and complete assignments for research and data collection when requested by the School Board.

Adopted:

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Legal Refs: Code of Virginia § 22.1-86.1

File: BBBC

Option 1

Elected Boards

BOARD MEMBER OATH OF OFFICE

All new school board members shall qualify by taking the oath prescribed for officers of the Commonwealth on or before the day of the initial meeting of the new school board. Failure to take the oath of office within the time allowed by law renders the office vacant.

Adopted:

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Legal Ref.:Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-1522, 22.131, 49-1, 49-3.

File: BBBC

Option 2

Appointed Boards

BOARD MEMBER OATH OF OFFICE

All new school board members shall qualify by taking the oath prescribed for officers of the Commonwealth on or before the day their term of office begins. Failure to take the oath of office within the time allowed by law renders the office vacant.

Adopted:

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Legal Ref.:Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-1522, 22.131, 49-1, 49-3.

File: BBD

BOARD MEMBER REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

Any School Board member may be removed from office in accordance with the provisions of sections 24.2-230 through 24.2-238 of the Code of Virginia.

Adopted:

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Legal Refs.:Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 24.2-230 through 24.2-238.

File: BBE

UNEXPIRED TERM FULFILLMENT

Vacancies occurring in the membership of the School Board shall be filled as provided by law.

Adopted:

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Legal Ref.:Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-627, 22.139, 22.1-44, 22.1-50, 22.1-57.3, 24.2-226, 24.2-228.

File: BBFA

Page 1

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS CONFLICT OF INTEREST

A.Purpose

The BLANK School Board seeks, through the adoption of this policy, to assure that the judgment of its members, officers and employees will be guided by a policy that defines and prohibits inappropriate conflicts and requires disclosure of economic interests, as defined by the General Assembly in the State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act.

B.Areas of Regulation

The State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act establishes five principal areas of regulation applicable to board members, officers, and employees of the BLANK School Division. They are:

1.Special anti-nepotism rules relating to School Board members and superintendents of schools.

2.General rules governing public conduct by School Board members regarding acceptance of gifts and favors.

3.Prohibited conduct regarding contracts.

4.Required conduct regarding transactions.

5.Disclosure required from certain School Board members

C.Definitions

"Advisory agency" means any board, commission, committee or post which does not exercise any sovereign power or duty, but is appointed by a governmental agency or officer or is created by law for the purpose of making studies or recommendations, or advising or consulting with a governmental agency.

“Affiliated business entity relationship” means a relationship, other than a parent-subsidiary relationship, that exists when

(i)one business entity has a controlling ownership interest in the other business entity,

(ii)a controlling owner in one entity is also a controlling owner in the other entity, or

(iii)there is shared management or control between the business entities.

Factors that may be considered in determining the existence of an affiliated business entity relationship include that the same person or substantially the same person owns or manages the two entities, there are common or commingled funds or assets, the business entities share the use

of the same offices or employees, or otherwise share activities, resources or personnel on a

regular basis, or there is otherwise a close working relationship between the entities.

"Business" means any individual or entity carrying on a business or profession, whether or not for profit.

"Contract" means any agreement to which a governmental agency is a party, or any agreement on behalf of a governmental agency which involves the payment of money appropriated by the General Assembly or political subdivision, whether or not such agreement is executed in the name of the Commonwealth, or some political subdivision of it.

"Dependent" means a son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister or other person, whether or not related by blood or marriage, if such person receives from the officer or employee, or provides to the officer or employee, more than one-half of his financial support.

"Employee" means all persons employed by a governmental or advisory agency.

"Financial institution" means any bank, trust company, savings institution, industrial loan association, consumer finance company, credit union, broker-dealer as defined in Va. Code § 13.1-501, or investment company or advisor registered under the federal Investment Advisors Act or Investment Company Act of 1940.

"Gift" means any gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan forbearance,

or other item having monetary value. It includes services as well as gifts of transportation, local

travel, lodgings, and meals, whether provided in-kind, by purchase of a ticket, payment in advance or reimbursement after the expense has been incurred. "Gift" does not include any offer of a ticket or other admission or pass unless the ticket, admission, or pass is used. "Gift" does not include honorary degrees and presents from relatives. For the purpose of this definition, "relative" means the donee's spouse, child, uncle, aunt, niece, or nephew; a person to whom the donee is engaged to be married; the donee's or his spouse's parent, grandparent, grandchild, brother, or sister; or the donee's brother's or sister's spouse.

"Governmental agency" means each component part of the legislative, executive or judicial branches of state and local government, including each office, department, authority, post, commission, committee, and each institution or board created by law to exercise some regulatory or sovereign power or duty as distinguished from purely advisory powers or duties. Corporations organized or controlled by the Virginia Retirement System are "governmental agencies" for purposes of this policy.

"Immediate family" means (i) a spouse and (ii) any other person residing in the same household as the officer or employee, who is a dependent of the officer or employee or of whom the officer or employee is a dependent.

"Officer" means any person appointed or elected to any governmental or advisory agency including local school boards, whether or not he receives compensation or other emolument of office.

“Parent-subsidiary relationship” means a relationship that exists when one corporation directly or indirectly owns shares possessing more than 50 percent of the voting power of another corporation.

"Personal interest" means a financial benefit or liability accruing to an officer or employee or to a member of his immediate family. Such interest shall exist by reason of:

(i) ownership in a business if the ownership interest exceeds three percent of the total equity of the business;

(ii) annual income that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed, $10,000 from ownership in real or personal property or a business;

(iii)salary, other compensation, fringe benefits, or benefits from the use of property, or any combination thereof, paid or provided by a business or governmental agency that exceeds, or may reasonably be anticipated to exceed $10,000 annually;

(iv)ownership of real or personal property if the interest exceeds $10,000 in value and

excluding ownership in a business, income or salary, other compensation, fringe benefits or benefits from the use of property;

(v)personal liability incurred or assumed on behalf of a business if the liability exceeds three percent of the asset value of the business; or

(vi)an option for ownership of a business or real or personal property if the ownership interest will consist of (i) or (iv) above.

"Personal interest in a contract" means a personal interest which an officer or employee has in a contract with a governmental agency, whether due to his being a party to the contract or due to a personal interest in a business which is a party to the contract.

"Personal interest in a transaction" means a personal interest of an officer or employee in any matter considered by his agency. Such personal interest exists when an officer or employee or a member of his immediate family has a personal interest in property or a business, or governmental agency, or represents or provides services to any individual or business and such property, business, or represented or served individual or business is

(i)the subject of the transaction or

(ii)may realize a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect benefit or detriment as a result of the action of the agency considering the transaction.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, such personal interest in a transaction shall not be deemed to exist where an elected member of a local governing body serves without remuneration as a member of the board of trustees of a not-for-profit entity and such elected member or member of his immediate family has no personal interest related to the not-for-profit entity.

"Transaction" means any matter considered by any governmental or advisory agency, whether in a committee, subcommittee, or other entity of that agency or before the agency itself, on which official action is taken or contemplated.

D.Special Anti-Nepotism Rules Relating to School Board Members and Superintendents

The School Board may not employ or pay, and the superintendent may not

recommend for employment, the father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, or brother-in-law, of the

superintendent or of a School Board member. This provision shall not be

construed to prohibit the employment, promotion, or transfer within the school division, of any person within a relationship described above when such person:

has been employed pursuant to a written contract with the School Board or employed as a substitute teacher or teacher's aide by the School Board prior to the taking of office of any member of the Board or superintendent; or

has been employed pursuant to a written contract with the School Board or employed as a substitute teacher or teacher's aide by the School Board prior to the inception of such relationship; or

was employed by the School Board at any time prior to June 10, 1994, and had been employed at any time as a teacher or other employee of any Virginia school board prior to the taking of office of any member of the School Board or superintendent.

This subsection does not apply to employment by school divisions located in Planning Districts 11, 12, and 13 of the father, mother, brother, sister, spouse, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, or brother-in-law of any member of the school board provided (i) the member certifies that he had no involvement with the hiring decision and (ii) the superintendent certifies to the remaining members of the school board in writing that the employment is based upon merit and fitness and the competitive rating of the qualifications of the individual and that no member of the board had any involvement with the hiring decision.

A person employed as a substitute teacher may not be employed to any greater extent than he was employed by the School Board in the last full school year prior to the taking of office of such board member or superintendent or to the inception of such relationship.