The president shall preside at all
meetings of the board and sign all papers and documents as required by law or
as authorized by action of the board. The president shall conduct the meetings
in the manner prescribed by the board's policies, provided that the president
shall have the full right to participate in all aspects of board action without
relinquishing the chair, including the right to vote on all matters put to a
vote.
It shall be the responsibility of
the board president to manage the
board's deliberation so that it shall be clear, concise, and directed to the
issue at hand; summarize discussion and/or action before moving on to the next
agenda item; and to generally manage the meeting so that the agenda is treated
in an expeditious manner.
The president shall be the
official recipient of correspondence directed to the board and shall provide,
or cause to be provided to other board members and the superintendent, copies
of the correspondence received on behalf of the board.
When time and circumstance demand
an immediate decision from the board, and the board has no opportunity to
confer, the president is authorized to make decisions on behalf of the board
provided, however, that the decision shall be communicated as soon as practical
thereafter to all members of the board for review and ratification.
In dealing with the media and the
public in general, the president or his/her designee will serve as the
spokesperson of the board. The president is authorized to report and discuss
those actions which have been taken and those decisions made by the board as a
body. The president shall avoid speculating upon actions or decisions which the
board may take but has not yet taken.
The president shall confer with the superintendent regarding sensitive
issues which need immediate attention. When appropriate, he/she will confer
with individual board members when other opinions should be sought.
The vice president shall preside
at board meetings in the absence of the president and shall perform all of the
duties of the president in case of his/her absence or disability.
A legislative representative shall
serve as the board's liaison with the Washington State School Directors'
Association Legislative Assembly. The legislative representative shall assume
office July 1st in an even year for a two-year period. The legislative
representative shall attend Washington State School Directors' Association
Assemblies, conveying local views and concerns to that body and participating
in the formulation of state legislative programs. The legislative
representative shall monitor proposed school legislation and inform the board
of the issues.
The authority of individual board
members is limited to participating in actions taken by the board as a whole
when legally in session. Board members shall not assume responsibilities of
administrators or other staff members. The board or staff shall not be bound in
any way by any action taken or statement made by any individual board member
except when such statement or action is pursuant to specific instructions and
official action taken by the board.
Each board member shall review the
agenda and any study materials distributed prior to the meeting and be prepared
to participate in the discussion and decision-making for each agenda item.
Each member is obligated to attend
board meetings regularly. Whenever possible, each director shall give advance
notice to the president or superintendent of his/her inability to attend a
board meeting. A majority of the board may excuse a director's absence from a
meeting if requested to do so. The board may declare a board member's position
vacant after four consecutive unexcused absences from regular board meetings.
Legal References: RCW 28A.343.390 Directors — Quorum — Failure to attend meetings may
result in vacation of office
RCW 28A.320 Provisions applicable to all districts
RCW 28A.330.100 Additional powers of the board
RCW 28A.330.030 Duties of president
RCW 28A.330.080 Payment of claims — Signing of warrants
RCW 28A.330.200 Organization of the board
RCW 28A.330.040 Duties of vice-president
Adoption Date: January, 2005