January 2008
Superintendent’s Blog
School Board Recognition
January is designated by the Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) as School Board Recognition Month. This is the one time of the year when the Board is recognized for its diligence and service to the community. In order to recognize this service, we should take a moment to reflect on how many meetings a board member may attend in any given year. With two board meetings every month, with the exception of July when there is only one meeting because of the summer, the typical board meets 23 times during the course of the school year. The meetings times can range anywhere from ½ hour to six or seven (6-7) hours depending on the topics and issues at that particular point in time.
Board members are also assigned to serve on various committees of the board such as Athletic, Education & Personnel, Transportation, Finance, Meet & Discuss and Technology. These various committees will convene depending upon the issues that may take place within the school. Board members may also attend, during any given month, dinner meetings with the Parent/Student Associations, as well as the annual Board retreat in January after the Board Reorganization meeting.
The average board member, according to PSBA statistics, puts in 40 hours per week reviewing materials to prepare themselves for upcoming meetings or educational issues that may need addressed. In Milton, the board members receive weekly email updates on educational issues that have transpired during the week. The goal of these weekly issues is to provide information to the board members so that they can be aware of issues that may involve their constituents.
Some board members will also attend various school events such as athletics, the arts, or student and staff meetings, depending on what is happening that particular month. The information that is provided to board members when first stepping into the position, according to district policy, is a copy of the School Code, the budget, the Strategic Plan, and various policies that may be relevant to the position. A new board member orientation is held once individuals are elected to the position. During that orientation, the above information is provided to them for review prior to them being sworn in at their first official meeting. Sitting board members volunteer to serve as a mentor for new board members.
Board members receive no compensation for the time and effort they put in for the district. During Board Recognition Month, the administrative team, students and teachers try to provide small tokens of appreciation for the board’s effort during the school year.
If you see your board members this month, please take a minute to thank them for the time and effort they put in to assist the district administration, teachers and students, and to provide the community with a high quality educational opportunity for the students so that they can be successful in their future endeavors.
7 responses so far ↓
1
Christine Rantz
// Jan 22, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Dr Clark,
Thank you for posting this information on school board responsibilities. I would like to encourage members of our community to attend a board meeting. I tend to think our taxpayers do not think they are invited to these very important meetings.
Democracy’s strength lies in the ability of people to understand and participate in decisions that affect them, their families and their society. As citizens of the Milton school community, we look to our system of public education to sustain and reflect the promise of democracy by giving all children, regardless of race or class or language ability, access to high-quality education. Educating all of our children to high standards, however, is a collective responsibility and one that requires ongoing engagement and support of our community.
I look forward to seeing you at one of our school board meetings which are held the second and third Tuesday of each month in the Milton High School Library.
2
daz
// Jan 30, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Are the kids going to make up the school day because of the ice on the roads. I do not think they should not make them up. Because of the phone call you made. The staff and the kids are in school when you closed it.:)
thank you,
daz
3
wclark
// Jan 30, 2008 at 12:50 pm
In order for a school day to count, students need to be in school for a ½ day. Therefore the school day will be made up as is outlined in the calendar on March 20th.
4
John
// Jan 31, 2008 at 9:33 am
Why do you went it to be March 20th. Why not Wednesday, February 06. Also why do you have a Teacher In-Sevice day on a Wednesday. People at my work would like it to be Wednesday. Not on March 20th.
Thank you,
John
5
wclark
// Jan 31, 2008 at 9:47 am
When the calendar is developed the previous school year, the snow days are pre-determined in order to allow for families to plan accordingly. The pre-planning also allows district employees to know ahead of time if we are closed due to weather when the make-up day will be. To take next Wednesday would not be appropriate since an in-service is planned for staff and speakers are coming in from various areas to address the staff. Many parents knew this would be a day off and have planned activities or made arrangements with their children.
6
Amber
// Jan 31, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Why do the kids have a day off on a Wednesday. To me that does not make any sense at all.
Thank you,
Amber
7
wclark
// Jan 31, 2008 at 12:55 pm
That is a district in-service day that was placed in the school calendar. This day was set aside last year when the calendar was developed for professional development with teachers.
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