Development Opportunities: Board Members

The school board in modern America faces a difficult set of challenges. It must fashion a quality educational program to prepare children for an unpredictable tomorrow. It must decide complex issues of policy and principle. It must oversee the prudent management of our community's extensive school facility. It is right and proper for the public to expect its elected and/or appointed board members to demonstrate high qualities of leadership as they deal with affairs of the public schools.

The board of education places a high priority on the importance of a planned and continuing program of in-service education for its members. The central purpose of the program is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of public school governance in our community. The board shall plan specific in-service activities designed to assist board members in their efforts to improve their skills as members of the policy-making body; to expand their knowledge about trends, issues, and new laws and ideas affecting the continued welfare of our local schools; and to deepen their insights into the nature of leadership in a modern democratic society.

Funds may be budgeted annually to support the program. Individual board members shall be reimbursed for out-ofpocket expenses incurred through participation in approved activities. The board, as a whole, shall retain the authority to approve or disapprove the participation of members in planned activities.

The board regards the following as the kinds of activities and services appropriate for implementing this policy:

1. Participation in school board conferences, workshops, and conventions held by the state and national school boards associations.
2. District-sponsored training sessions for board members.
3. Subscriptions to publications addressed to the concerns of board members.

In order to control both the investment of time and funds necessary to implement this policy, the board establishes these principles and procedures for its guidelines:

1. A calendar of school board conferences, conventions, and workshops shall be maintained by the superintendent. The board will periodically decide which meetings appear to be most promising in terms of producing direct and indirect benefits to the school district.
2. Funds for participation at such meetings will be budgeted on an annual basis. When funds are limited, the board will designate which of its members would be the most appropriate to participate at a given meeting.
3. Reimbursement to board members for their travel expenses will be in accordance with the travel expense policy for staff members. (See policy DEE and DEE-R.)
4. When a conference, convention, or workshop is not attended by the full board, those who do participate will be requested to share information, recommendations, and materials acquired at the meeting.

School board members are encouraged to attend virtual and in-person workshops. The Superintendent shall provide information to the full school board as to the status of school board member training credits under an appropriately worded agenda item. The report shall include the number of new or incumbent credits, as well as the number of continuing education credits each board member has earned. This report shall be provided to the members of the board of education at the August, November, February, and May regular meetings of the board of education.

By March 1, the Oklahoma State Department of Education will notify school board members who have not yet completed training requirements that they are required to do so. If the board member fails to earn training credits in the timeline set by statute, the Oklahoma State Department of Education will notify by certified mail the school boards and the superintendent that a board member has failed to earn the required training credits. The board of education will then have sixty (60) days from the final date that the member has to complete the requirements as indicated by receipt of the certified notice from the State Board of Education to declare the seat vacant.

Legal Citations

The qualifications and procedures outlined in this policy are based upon the following Oklahoma Statutes (O.S.):

• 70 O.S. §5-110
• 70 O.S. §5-110.1