The School Board – How does it work?

    School Boards provide direction and oversight to public education in a community. Historically, school boards have, among other things, approved budgets and contracts, campaigned for local bond issues and dealt with concerns voiced by a school district's constituents.

    With the demands of state and federal accountability policies, like No Child Left Behind, the roles and responsibilities of schools boards are changing.

     For more information, check the web site of the National School Boards Association.  This website outlines the role of school boards as they work with their communities and district professionals to set vision and goals and bring them to fruition.

The Minnetonka School Board consists of:

- 7 voting members: each elected to serve a four-year term, or appointed by vote of the school board to finish a four-year term in the case of a member’s resignation.  A majority vote is 4 votes out of 7.

- Superintendent (no vote)

                       The primary responsibilities of the Minnetonka School Board:

           -  Set policy

                 -  Secure adequate funding and set budget

                        -  Set curriculum, within minimum standards set by the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota
          Legislature and/or federal guidelines; they can vote to go beyond  or differ from these requirements.

                        -  Oversee the superintendent (he/she is their one employee)

                        -  The school board’s charge is to govern, not to manage.  The administration manages.

                        -  The decisions of the school board impact every part of daily life for students and

                    staff.

            Who’s on the Board right now?

• Erin Adams  (Clerk)                              Term expires January 2010
• Pam Langseth (Chair)                          Term expires January 2010     
• Cal Litsey (Vice Chair)                           Term expires January 2012
• Paul Luehr                                           Term expires January 2012
• Cathy Maes (Treasurer)                         Term expires January 2010
• Lisa Wagner                                         Term expires January 2012
• Karen Walkowski                                 Term expires January 2012

How does the Superintendent fit in?

• The School Board is the Superintendent’s “boss”

          – He or she serves at their instruction. 

• The School Board sets goals and policies and asks the Superintendent to research ways to achieve them.  The Superintendent’s suggestions are then discussed and debated by the Board until they’re ready to vote.  If an item is approved or adopted, the Superintendent is charged with implementation.
• The School Board reviews the Superintendent’s performance and makes contract decisions

          -  They have hiring and firing responsibilities within this contract.

When are School Board Meetings held?

 Minnetonka School Board Meeting Schedule, Minutes, and Agendas

 

What goes on at a School Board meeting?

•  

• The School Board sets goals and the Superintendent recommends options to meet them. 
• The Board discusses and debates these options at Study Sessions informally, and at Board meetings, using formal Roberts Rules of Order.  more info
• Often, teachers, staff or administrators present information and answer questions.
• Every action the Board takes should conform to the District’s Vision, Goals, Strategic Plan, Operating Principles and Code of Conduct. 
• Minnetonka is one of the very few metro area districts to have so many written documents to guide their Board.  Whether or not you agree with a decision, you can at least see how it measures against these guidelines.
• The School Board periodically reviews these guidelines and makes adjustments if needed.

Minnetonka School District Strategic Plan

Minnetonka School Board Operating Principles

and

Minnetonka School Board Code of Conduct

Minnetonka School Board Goals  As of September 2007, the Board is in discussion about setting goals for the coming school year.