Recognizing that persons
holding a position of public trust are under constant observation by the media
and interested county residents, and recognizing that maintaining the integrity
and dignity of the public office is essential for maintaining high levels of
public confidence in institutions of government, every member of the Montgomery
County School Board should adhere to the following procedures and standards of
conduct.
1. While attending meetings and otherwise conducting the
business of the School Board, every member should conduct himself/herself in a
professional, courteous manner and encourage community involvement, including:
a. Avoiding, during public meetings and during the
performance of public duties, the use of abusive, threatening or intimidating
language or gestures directed at colleagues, citizens or personnel.
b. Working to create a positive environment in
public meetings where citizens feel comfortable in their roles as observers or
participants.
c. Maintaining an attitude of courtesy and consideration toward all
colleagues.
d. Being tolerant, by allowing citizens, employees
or colleagues sufficient opportunity to present their views.
e. Being respectful and attentive, and avoiding
comments, body language or distracting activity that conveys a message of
disrespect for the presentations from citizens, personnel or colleagues.
2. In responding to questions,
School Board members should:
a. Realize that they are not speaking for the entire
School Board.
b. Realize that any comments they make might be
interpreted as an official position of the School Board. Therefore, they should refer to 2(a), above,
and emphasize that they are not speaking for the entire School Board. School Board members should feel free to
clarify their positions on any publicly discussed matter that has come before
the School Board. Furthermore, any
School Board member should feel free to openly discuss any aspect of programs,
policies or procedures of the school division so long as they are not making
any commitment on behalf of the School Board or making judgments about
personnel whose rights are protected by the law.
c. Protect confidential discussions that occur in
closed session. Only matters permitted
under the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, pursuant to Section
2.2-3700, et seq., shall be discussed in closed meeting.
3. The School Board recognizes that
discussion of personnel matters is to remain confidential, must be discussed
through appropriate channel processes, and that it is the obligation of each
School Board member (and the entire School Board) to protect the privacy of the
individual. School Board members should
offer criticism of school employees only in private meetings with appropriate
individuals or in closed meetings.
4. The School Board recognizes that
its primary role is to make policy and therefore will focus on issues
pertaining to programs and operations.
5. The School Board will follow the
procedure for taking no action on items introduced at the table under the
category of new business by School Board members. If an item is presented for the first time during the course of
new business by School Board members, any action should be deferred until the
next meeting of the School Board. Any
exception to deferring action should be of an emergency significance.
6. The School Board will follow the procedure of directing administrative action in response to items introduced under business by School Board members after a specific School Board vote on said item. School Board members should not feel reluctant or restrained in requesting information to help in their decision-making. However, directives to the administration can only come from authorized School Board action.
7. The School Board will follow the
procedure of communicating directly with the division superintendent and/or the
Chair of the School Board regarding all issues to include personnel matters,
incidents, problems, questions, etc. This is especially true in situations
where School Board members might conceivably be construed as attempting to
supervise, direct, or interfere with school personnel and the performance of
their duties.
8. School Board members shall not
contact the School Board Attorney without the authorization of the Chair. Likewise, school personnel shall not contact
the attorney unless authorized by the division superintendent.
9. School Board meetings will
adjourn no later than 11:30 p.m. unless a vote is taken to continue the meeting
and with an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those members present. However, a meeting shall not be adjourned in
the midst of discussion on an agenda item.
10. The School Board will adopt the
School Board Procedures for the current year at its January reorganization
meeting.
Evaluation of School Board Operational Procedures
The Montgomery County School
Board will review its performance annually to ensure its proper discharge of
responsibilities to the community.
Evaluation will be based on a positive approach, which will indicate the
strengths of the School Board and the areas that need improvement.
To
help the School Board meet this goal, the following conditions shall apply to
the self-evaluation process:
1. School Board members shall be involved
in the development of an evaluation instrument and procedure.
2. The School Board evaluation
instrument will be completed by individual School Board members on a
confidential basis and submitted to the School Board Chair, or his/her
designee, for compilation.
3. The School Board shall meet, with
all members present, to review and discuss the composite results.
4. Each judgment shall be supported
with as much rational and objective evidence as possible. Upon final discussion of the results, the
School Board will develop both short- and long-range goals and objectives to
ensure continued proficiency in its areas of excellence, to strengthen weak
areas, and to eliminate those activities no longer applicable.
LEGAL
REFERENCE: Code
of Virginia,
1950, as amended, §§ 22.1-78, 22.1-79, 22.1-253.13:7 (D)(4).
Adopted: April 2004
Revised:
January 2005
Reaffirmed:
January 2006