What is the role of the school board and the superintendent?

• The school board has a dual role: To represent the concerns of the citizens, taxpayers, and parents to the school administrators, and to represent the needs of the students and school district to the citizens, taxpayers, and parents of the community. They are non-partisan and they receive no pay or benefits for their public service.
• The school board does not operate the district on a day-to-day basis; that is the job of the superintendent, who is the district’s chief executive. Rather, the school board sets the policies, goals, and objectives for the district – and it holds the superintendent responsible for implementing the policies and achieving the goals.
• https://www.njsba.org/news-information/school-board-basics-frequently-asked-questions/

How is the Board of Education selected?

• Members are elected to three-year terms by the local voters. School board elections are in November. Board members elected in November will be sworn in and take their seats at the Reorganization meeting in January.
• If a vacancy occurs between elections, the current Board will appoint a new board member to serve until the next election. Appointed members will be sworn in and take their seats at the next regular public meeting of the Board.

What is the purpose of a board meeting?

• The primary purpose of meetings is for the board to carry out its responsibilities of reviewing, discussing, and acting on a wide range of policy-related issues. The public is allowed to observe the board at work and is invited to participate in specific segments of the meeting with the guidelines set by board policy. 

What is the public's role at board meetings?

• Each meeting requires that the board balance the need to conduct its business within a reasonable time frame and to receive constructive comments and questions from citizens. The board president moderates the discussion with the aims of ensuring that board members have enough discussion to make decisions and that as many different public participants who want to speak have an opportunity to do so.  On certain topics with broad general interest and impact, such as the annual budget, the board may sponsor a special session devoted almost exclusively to public comment and dialogue.

What is the procedure for public participation in board meetings?

• The Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest. To permit the fair and orderly expression of such comment, the Board shall provide a period for public comment at every public meeting.
• In accordance with Board Bylaw No. 0167, public participation shall be governed by the following rules:
• A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his/her name, place of residence, and group affiliation, if appropriate.
• Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes’ duration.
• No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
• All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no participant may address or question Board members individually.

What are the most effective channels for raising and resolving issues?

• The first line of communication for issues related to an individual student, teacher, classroom, or school is the teacher. For issues that cannot be resolved satisfactorily with the teacher, the appropriate chain of command is then through principal, with appropriate central office administrator, the superintendent, and finally the board. Following this sequence improves communication, minimizes misunderstandings, facilitates the most expedient solutions, and keeps the board free to act as final arbiter on issues that have not been resolved by those closest to the situation.

Why can't individual board members respond to my emails?

• The Board of Education can only operate and engage in the discussion of district business with a quorum of the seven members, and therefore cannot reply to an email on behalf of the entire board. If you would like to contact the Board of Education, please email prboe@parkridge.k12.nj.us.