• Adopt goals and policies that meet state requirements and reflect community needs
• Provide the resources necessary to pursue board goals according to board policies
• Monitor district performance to see that results are consistent with goals and policies

• Deciding what shall be taught in the schools and which textbooks will be used
• Hiring necessary personnel and setting their salaries
• Providing and maintaining school buildings
• Arranging for the revenue necessary to operate the district
• Individual board members may not act alone or make decisions binding upon the board or the district
• Binding decisions are made only upon a vote taken by the school board

Open & Closed Session Board Meetings

Board meetings are held in public. The district, by law, must conduct all board discussion and deliberation in public or open session, except for specific matters that the Illinois School Code allows discussion in closed (Executive) session.

There are 23 sections allowing discussion in closed session by the Illinois School Code. Some of the possible subjects related are:

• Appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal
  of specific employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity.
  

• Student disciplinary procedures.
  

• The placement of individual students in special education programs, and other matters related to individual students.

Public Comment Guidelines

If you wish to address the board, please sign in for Public Comment prior to the board meeting being called to order.  You must be present when your name is called.  If your concerns are regarding individual student or personnel matters, please request to speak to the board in closed session.

Board Policy 2:230

Public Participation at Board of Education Meetings and Petitions to the Board

At each regular and special open meeting, the members of the public and District employees may comment to or ask questions of the Board, subject to reasonable constraints.  The individuals appearing before the Board are expected to follow these guidelines:

1. Address the Board only at the appropriate time as indicated on the agenda and when recognized by the Board President. 

2. Identify oneself and be brief. Ordinarily, comments shall be limited to 5 minutes. In unusual circumstances, and when an individual has made a request in advance to speak for a longer period of time, the individual may be allowed to speak for more than 5 minutes.

3. The Board President may shorten or lengthen an individual’s opportunity to speak. The President may also deny an individual the opportunity if the individual has previously addressed the Board on the same subject within the past 2 months.

4.  The Board President shall have the authority to determine procedural matters regarding public participation not otherwise defined in Board of Education policy. 

5. Conduct oneself with respect and civility toward others and otherwise abide by Board policy 8:30, Visitors to and Conduct on School Property. 

6. Petitions or written correspondence shall be given to the Board and Superintendent as soon as practicable.

Can I expect the board to resolve a complaint immediately after I have addressed the board during the Public Comment portion of the agenda?

The board rarely can be expected to act immediately on any issue discussed for the first time. The board takes action only after it has an opportunity to examine all aspects of the issue or issues. Usually the board will direct the administration to investigate the issue/complaint and then report their findings back to the board. Once a decision of the board has been reached, you may expect the board to act promptly, and to notify the resident of their decision.