THE ROLE OF SCHOOL BOARDS

The primary function of a school board is the determination of policy. These policies are, in effect, the laws under which a division or district operates. Implementation of that policy--that is, the day-to-day management of school business--is the role of the administrative staff hired by a school board.

A school board sets policy through the decisions it makes at public meetings. The Public Schools Act provides that "An act or proceeding of a school board that is not done or taken at a regular or special meeting of the school board, is not valid or binding on any person affected thereby" (Section 35). Combined with the requirement that "Every school board shall hold its meetings openly, and no person shall be excluded or removed from any meeting except for improper conduct" [Section 30(3)], legislation assures that school board business is conducted in an open manner.

In addition to full school board meetings, trustees also attend the meetings of any committees on which they serve. Most school boards have a number of standing committees that deal with areas such as finance, personnel, curriculum, and facilities. Special or ad hoc committees may also be appointed from time to time to deal with special projects or emerging issues. Unlike regular or special school board meetings, committee meetings do not have to be held in public, but may be held in camera. These committees rarely make final decisions themselves. Their role generally is to investigate, deliberate, and report back to the full board. The board then has the option of adopting the recommendations of the committee at its public meeting, modifying any proposed course of action, or rejecting a committee report outright.

The decisions made by a school board at its meetings set the direction for the school division and district. The school board employs administrators to see that this direction is implemented in an effective and efficient manner. The two most senior administrators of a school division or district are the superintendent and the secretary-treasurer. By law, all school boards must employ a secretary-treasurer; he or she is a chief financial officer of the division or district. In addition, most school boards employ a superintendent, who is the division or district's chief educational officer. In some instances, both positions are held by the same individual. The Public Schools Act lists those responsibilities which a school board may delegate to its secretary-treasurer or superintendent. An effectively managed school division or district is one in which the senior administrators and school board work closely together, each respecting and drawing upon the other's areas of expertise.

Preparing for and participating in school board and committee meetings are the main functions of a school trustee. Although school trustees do not receive a salary for time spent on school board business, they do receive a payment referred to as an indemnity. This indemnity varies in amount from several hundred to several thousand dollars a year. Along with reimbursement for out of pocket expenses incurred by trustees in the course of school board business, this indemnity ensures that trustees are able to serve in that capacity without causing them undue financial hardship.