The Role and Responsibilities of the School Committee

The Role and Responsibilities of the School Committee Chair Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc. 2016 MASC/MASS JOINT CONFERENCE

Servant of the Assembly o Description in Roberts Rules of Order o Not the Master o Defined Responsibilities o First among Equals

Chair Responsibilities o Ensure access to the work and actions of the Committee o Includes not at the meeting table o Ensure public access

Effective Governance o Select a good leader o Establish and clarify the mission, vision, goals and objectives o Establish policies o Delegate responsibilities and authority o Build community relationships

Chair and the Superintendent o Chair and Superintendent can mentor each other o Chair can assist the Superintendent in building relationships o Set the communication tone

The Chair and Legal Counsel o Legal Counsel is indispensible to the Superintendent o The School Committee is the client Exceptions: Matters related to confidential student info Matters related to personnel, including termination hearings Management has been delegated to Supt.

Meeting Management o Start with the agenda o Chair and Supt meet to develop o School Committee can set a calendar for the year with topics o Timed or not?

Tips to remember o Stick with the procedures o Follow the agenda o Try to declare consensus o Avoid dead air time

Public participation o Schedule presentations, then publish the schedule o Establish guidelines for public comment sessions o Public hearings are not meetings

Parliamentary Procedures o Rules of Order o Efficiency o Fairness o Publish local exceptions

Selecting the Chair o Local tradition o City or Town Charter o Who presides? o Oh NO…. a tie vote!

Convening the Meeting o Was the meeting posted correctly? o Quorum present? o Executive sessions o Adjournment

Motions o Roberts Rules o Main motions o Amendments o Majority or 2/3’s required

Additional references o Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised o Selected General Laws o Parliamentary Procedures at a Glance o District Policy Manual

Cowboy Words of Wisdom “Life is simpler when you plough around the stump. ” “Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled. ” “Forgive your enemies. It messes with their minds. ” “Don’t corner something meaner than you. ” “Remember, silence is sometimes the best answer. ”

Attitude Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it!

James Hardy - Field Director Massachusetts Association of School Committees One Mc. Kinley Square Boston, MA 02109 617 -523 -8454 jhardy@masc. org www. masc. org