Board Policies9000 Bylaws Of The Board
Limits of Board Members Authority
The Board has broad but clearly limited powers. The exercise of its authority is restricted to the functions required or permitted by law, and then only when it acts in a legally constituted meeting. Board members have authority only in regularly called meetings of the Board, or when delegated specific tasks by Board action.
The Board is the unit of authority. A Board member is a part of the governing body which represents and acts for the community as a whole. Apart from the normal function as part of the unit, the Board member has no individual authority. No individual member of the Board, by virtue of holding office, will exercise any administrative responsibility with respect to the schools; nor, as an individual, command the services of any school employee. Individually, the Board member may not commit the District to any policy, act or expenditure.
A Board member must resign from the Board before formally applying for District employment.
Board member participation as an officer in organizations supporting student activity should have approval of the Board.
School visits by Board members are encouraged. Principals should receive a courtesy call in advance of a visit. Board members, as with all visitors, must check in with the school office. Board members who visit schools of their own volition have no more authority than any other citizen.
Board Member Requests for Information
Board members should make informed decisions on matters before them for a vote. The Superintendent or designee is responsible for providing the Board with relevant materials to inform the Board on those matters on which it is to act. If Board members desire further information, a request for information will be directed to the Superintendent, pursuant to the following guidelines:
Obligations of Members
Members of the Board must endeavor to attend all meetings, study all materials presented with the agenda prior to attending the meeting, participate in the discussion of any items which come before the Board, and vote on all motions and resolutions, abstaining only for compelling reasons. If no compelling reason requires abstention, members of the Board will not abstain.
The Board member should not subordinate the education of children and youth to any partisan principle, group interest, or the member's own personal interest.
The Board member should be prepared and willing to devote a sufficient amount of time to study the topics surrounding education in the district, the state, and the nation in order to interpret them to the people of the district.
Legal Reference:
ALASKA STATUTES
14.14.140 Restrictions on employment