+

The School Board

Authority and Role

Organization

Meetings

Election Distractions

+Authority

PA Constitution – mandate free public education – Note: only public service mandated!

Legislature – provide for the maintenance and support of a “thorough and efficient” system Art. II, Sec. 14

School district – “unit of local government” Art. IX, Sec. 10

Authority – from collective decisions of boardNOT individual members

+Big Picture

SetPolicy

Evaluate

Plan

+Legislative History 1834Create school districts and boards

Confer legal power

Provide autonomy in many operations

Political subdivision of PA

Purpose – convenient administration of schools

+Legislative Authority

•State Law

•Dept. of Education

• Intermediate Units

•State Agencies

+Roles – Must Dos

Adopt Course of Study

Set school calendar

Adopt textbooks

Elect superintendent/Hire staff

Enter into contracts/agreements

+Roles – Must Dos Adopt annual budget

Levy taxes, appoint tax collector (sometimes)

Provide for buildings and grounds

Provide special education

Prescribe, adopt, and enforce rules and regs re: activities, publications, organizations

+Roles –Can Dos

Elect/appoint asst. superintendent

Appoint solicitor & board employees

Purchase, receive, condemn land

Sell unneeded lands & buildings

Make agreements w/ other districts for attendance/tuition of H.S. students

+Roles –Can Dos

Provide food and milk to poor kids

Create debt (within limits)

Authorize time/ $ to go to meetings

Provide insurance

Suspend/Expel students or send them to juvenile court

+Roles –NOT Dos

Build w/out approval from Dept. of Education & Bureau of Labor/Industry

Exceed budget

Vote to hire your own relative

Accept gifts from teachers or administrators

+Roles –NOT Dos

Require religious or political tests of employees

Discriminate on the basis of race, creed or color

+Organization

President

Vice President

CommitteesChair/Vice

Chair

Signatory

Board Representativ

es

Voting Public

+Organization

Curriculum

Policy

FinanceBuildings

and Grounds

Government

Relations Personnel

+ Meetings (Tuesdays) Township Building* School District Administration Building** 7:00 p.m. 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Business*•Formal•Limited Discussion•Voting•Agenda with recognition, public comment consent items, action items, presentations, reports

Committee**

•Less Formal•Agenda with timed discussion items and presentations•Give and Take format•Public Comment

ExecutiveSession

•Not Public•Litigation or potential litigation•Personnel/Negotiations matters•Required to announce and state nature of meetings

+Special Meetings info: rtsd.org

Organizational Meetings (December)

Budget Workshops (Oct - April)

Other ie. issue centered feedback or special appointment

Watch meetings to keep the “Sunshine” in government! Business meetings live on Channel 10; Radnor Channels (11 or

31) Mon. @ 10 a.m., Wed.@ 2:00 p.m, and Fri. @ 6 p.m. Committee Meetings on Radnor Channels Tues./Thurs. @ 1:00 p.m. Meetings can be viewed on-line @ www.rtsd.org Minutes, Agendas, and Presentations on www.rtsd.org

+Distractions

Party Politics or Factions (SB 443) Imposition of State Mandates and Laws

Programs/Facilities/Paperwork/Testing/Negotiations/Pension System

Act 1 – Set Taxing Parameters• Imposition of Federal Regulations

No Child Left Behind/Race to the TopSpecial EducationInitiatives – Standards/STEM

+School Directors

Form a Legislative Body (School Board)

Agents of the State Legislature

Nine Members

Four-year terms (5-4 rotation)

No Pay

+Eligibility

Pennsylvania Citizen

At least 18 years old

Good moral character

Resident of school district for at least a year prior to election/appointment

Comply with state/federal laws for elected office/service

+Running for Office Delaware County Board of Elections

File a Petition (signed by 10 qualified voters of a given party)

Cross File (proper petition signed by 10 qualified voters of the other party

Cross filers appear on both party ballots for the general election

February 12 – March 19th

Last day to withdraw – March 27th

+Primary Elections – MAY 21st

Statement of Financial Interest Needed for previous year with petition to

Del. County and School Board Secretary)

Note: All Board members provide financial statement by May 1 of each year with school district

All statements open to public for at least five years

+Campaign Expenses

• File by second Friday before primary with Delaware County

• If do not have a committee and do not spend more than $250, an affidavit filed with the petition suffices

• Post election expense report is also required!

+Good Candidates Not focus on one issue!

Need time, thought and effort required

Responsible for attending meetings

Possess general knowledge about schools – mission, goals, objectives

Familiar with school law and follow it

Adhere to Board Code of Conduct

+Good CandidatesFocus on the big picture

Vote impartially for the good of the district

Support will of the majority

Keep superintendent and fellow members advised of feedback

Refer complaints appropriately

+Advice to Candidates and Board Members from Mary Beth Sweeney

Listen, Listen, Listen

Treat public with respect

Stop and Think before you make a choice

Keep confidences

Watch e-mails

Don’t jump to conclusions

+Advice to Candidates and Board Members from Mary Beth Sweeney

Everything is a study – if you do it right

You asked for it – complaints!

Democracy is messy.

Remember – You are there to provide a good education at a reasonable cost and to treat people fairly.

+Advice to the Publicfrom Roberta Winters

Pay attention (Observe.)

Be respectful.

Go through channels.

Do your homework.

Prepare comments in advance.

Bring a friend.

+Advice to the Publicfrom Roberta Winters

Listen actively.

Be patient.

Trust but verify.

Find common ground.

Follow the money.

Don’t kill the messenger with the message!

+Be Informed Voters

and VOTE! League of Women Voters of Radnor

Candidates Night - Public Forum

Monday - April 29th

Radnor Township Municipal Building

7:00 p.m.

Question–and-Answer Format

+Resources

PA School Boards Associationwww.psba.org

PA Education Policy and Leadership Centerwww.eplc.org

PA State Education Associationwww.psea.org

+A Force for CitizensA Voice for Change

www.palwv.org