The board is authorized to govern the school district which it oversees. As the governing board of the school district, the board has three duties to perform: legislative duty, executive duty and evaluative duty.
As a representative of the citizens of the school district community, the board is responsible for legislating policy for the school district. As a policy making body, the board has jurisdiction to enact policy with the force and effect of law for the management and operation of the school district.
It is the responsibility of the board, under the board’s executive duty, to select its chief executive officer, the superintendent, to operate the school district on the board’s behalf. The board delegates to the superintendent its authority to carry out board policy, to formulate and carry out rules and regulations and to handle the administrative details in a manner which supports and is consistent with board policy.
The board has a responsibility to review the education program’s performance under its evaluative duty. The board regularly reviews the education program and ancillary services. The review includes a careful study and examination of the facts, conditions and circumstances surrounding the amount of funds received or expended and the education program’s ability to achieve the board’s educational philosophy and goals for the school district.
The duties and obligations of an individual member of the Board of Directors are:
- To become familiar with the School Laws of Iowa, The School Rules of Iowa, the Regulations of the Department of Education, and the Policies, Rules, and Regulations of the District.
- To have a general knowledge of educational aims and objectives of the District.
- Insist that all members of the board participate fully in board action, and recommend that when special committees are appointed, they serve only in an investigating and advisory capacity.
- To vote and act at meetings of the Board of Directors impartially for the good of the District.
- Abide by majority decisions of the board.
- Respect the opinion of others.
- To refer complaints to proper District authorities and to abstain from individual counsel and action.
(April 23, 1980; September 18, 1991; June 15, 1992; September 20, 2010; November 15, 2010; June 18, 2012, June 20, 2016, March 4, 2019)