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EASTON AREA
SCHOOL DISTRICT
No. 005
SECTION:
LOCAL BOARD PROCEDURES
TITLE:
ORGANIZATION
ADOPTED:
AUGUST 23, 2004
REVISED:
SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
005. ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Organization Meeting
SC 401, 404, 421
The Board members shall meet and organize annually during the first week of
December. Notice of the time and place of the organization meeting shall be given to
all Board members by mail at least five (5) days before the proposed meeting by the
Board Secretary. The organization meeting shall be a regular meeting.
Section 2. Order
SC 426
The organization meeting shall be called to order by the past President, who shall
preside over the election of a temporary President from among the hold-over
Board members. The Board Secretary shall be secretary of the meeting. In an
election year, the certificates of election or appointment of all new Board members
shall be read, and a list shall be prepared of the legally elected or appointed and
qualified Board members.
SC 402
The temporary President may administer the oath or affirmation of office to those
Board members who have not previously taken and subscribed to the same.
Section 3. Officers
Election of officers shall be by a majority vote of those present and voting. Where
no such majority is achieved on the first ballot, a second ballot shall be cast for the
two (2) candidates who received the greatest number of votes.
SC 404
a.
The school directors shall annually, during the first week of December, elect
from their members a President and Vice-President who shall serve for one
(1) year.
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SC 404
b.
The school directors shall annually, during the month of May, elect a Treasurer
who shall serve for one (1) year beginning the first day of July after such
election. The Treasurer may be a corporation duly qualified and legally
authorized to transact a fiduciary business in the Commonwealth, and
may be a member of the Board.
SC 436, 438
Pol. 811
The Treasurer shall not enter upon his/her duties until furnishing bond in
accordance with law and with Board approval.
SC 404
c.
The school directors shall, during the month of May in every fourth year,
elect a Secretary who shall serve a term of four (4) years beginning the first
day of July following such election, and shall not be a member of the Board.
SC 431, 432
Pol. 811
The Secretary shall not enter upon his/her duties until furnishing bond in
accordance with law and with Board approval. The Secretary shall be
compensated in the manner and at the rate determined by the Board.
Vacancies in any office shall be filled by Board action, and such appointed officers
shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
SC 404
SC 514
Pol. 006
The same school director may not hold more than one (1) office of the Board. No
commissioned officer or professional employee of the Board shall serve, temporarily
or permanently, as an officer of the Board.
Officers of the Board may be removed from office for incompetency, intemperance,
neglect of duty, violation of the school laws of the Commonwealth, or other
improper conduct, provided that the officer charged shall have been given due notice
of the reasons and an opportunity for a hearing. Removal shall be approved by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the full number of school directors.
Section 4. Appointments
The Board shall have the authority to appoint:
SC 508, 683
a.
A tax collector, where a tax collector is not elected to collect taxes, there is a
vacancy, or an elected tax collector refuses to qualify.
SC 1410
b.
School physician(s).
SC 1410
c.
School dentist(s).
SC 324, 406
d.
Solicitor.
005. ORGANIZATION - Pg. 3
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SC 2401
e.
Independent auditor.
SC 516
f.
Delegates to a state convention or association of school directors.
SC 406, 1089
g.
Assistants, clerks and other employees the Board deems necessary.
SC 514
Pol. 006
Appointees of the Board may be removed from office for incompetency,
intemperance, neglect of duty, violation of the school laws of the Commonwealth, or
other improper conduct, provided that the appointee charged has been given due
notice of the reasons and an opportunity for a hearing. Removal shall be approved by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the full number of school directors.
Section 5. Professional Services
The Board will provide the administration with capable and qualified consultant
resources in areas requiring professional expertise, as per the following:
a.
The Board shall publicly advertise the opportunity for interested and qualified
individuals or firms.
b.
Interested parties shall submit their names through a letter of interest to the
Board Secretary by a specified deadline.
c.
The Board shall review and may schedule and interview interested parties who
have submitted letters of interest.
d.
The Board shall appoint the appropriate individuals or firms for a period of three
(3) years.
The Board reserves the right to withdraw this appointment at any time.
Services to be covered by this policy may include but not be limited to:
a.
Architect.
b.
Engineer.
c.
Financial advisor.
d.
Insurance broker.
Section 6. Duties
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President –
SC 426, 427
The President shall preside at Board meetings, shall perform all duties imposed by
the statutes, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or by
action of the Board.
The President shall decide, at Board meetings, questions of order.
The President may vote on any issue, and by vacating the chair, shall have the same
right as other members to offer resolutions, to make motions or second motions, or
to discuss questions.
The President shall appoint or provide for the election of all committees of the Board
unless otherwise directed by the Board, and shall be the ex-officio member of all
such committees.
The President shall call special meetings of the Board.
The President shall sign official district documents that require the signature of the
President's office.
Board Action
10/18/07
The term of office for the President shall be limited to no more than two (2)
consecutive years.
Vice-President –
SC 428
In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall have the powers and duties
of the President, and shall have such other powers and duties as the Board may from
time to time determine.
Board Action
10/18/07
The term of office for the Vice President shall be limited to no more than two (2)
consecutive years.
Treasurer –
The Treasurer shall be the official custodian of all funds of the district and shall be
responsible for the proper safeguarding and accounting for all funds as required by
law.
SC 439, 440
The Treasurer shall issue a receipt for any monies received by the district and
deposit such monies in accordance with law.
The Treasurer shall issue all warrants in payment of expenses lawfully incurred on
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behalf of the district but, except as otherwise provided by law, shall issue such
warrants only after proper allowance or approval by the Board. No allowance or
approval shall be required by the Board for amounts lawfully due in payment of
indebtedness or payments due the Commonwealth, the United States government, or
other agencies and instrumentalities.
SC 440.1
Pol. 609
The Treasurer, upon authorization of the Board, shall make temporary investments
of district funds as provided by law when, in the Treasurer's judgment, the interests
of the district will be enhanced.
SC 436, 438
Pol. 811
For each school year commencing July 1, the Treasurer shall furnish a bond for the
faithful performance of duties, which shall be written by an insurance company
licensed to do business in the Commonwealth and in an amount to be determined by
the Board.
Secretary –
SC 433
The Secretary shall perform the following duties:
a.
The Secretary shall keep a correct and proper record of all the proceedings of the
Board, and shall prepare such reports and keep such accounts as are required by
the provisions of law.
b.
The Secretary shall, after the Board has acted on and approved any bill or
account for the payment of money authorized by law, prepare and sign an order
on the Treasurer for the payment of same. The Secretary may prepare and sign
orders on the Treasurer for the payment of amounts owing under any contract
which shall previously have been approved by the Board, and by the prompt
payment of which the district will receive a discount or other advantage, without
the approval of the Board first having been secured.
c.
The Secretary shall attest, in writing, the execution of all deeds, contracts,
reports, and other instruments that are to be executed by the Board.
d.
The Secretary shall furnish, whenever requested, any and all reports concerning
the school affairs of the district, on such form, and in such manner, as may be
required.
e.
The Secretary shall have general supervision of all the business affairs of the
district, subject to the instructions and direction of the Board.
f.
The Secretary shall be the custodian of all the records, papers, office property,
and official seal of the district, and at the expiration of the term of office shall
turn the same over to the successor.
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g.
The Secretary shall keep correct accounts with each receiver of taxes, school
treasurer, or school collector of the district, reporting a statement of the same,
together with a statement of the finances of the district, at each regular meeting
of the Board, which shall be entered in full upon the minutes.
h.
The Secretary shall perform such other duties pertaining to the business of the
district as are required by law or as the Board may direct.
Solicitor –
SC 406
The Board shall retain an attorney for legal counsel and service in the affairs of the
district. The solicitor shall be compensated in a manner determined annually by the
Board.
Such compensation shall cover the following services:
a.
Attendance at all regular and special meetings, workshops, and executive
sessions of the Board, unless excused by Board action or agreement of a
committee of the Board.
b.
Routine legal consultation, including written opinions where necessary, with the
Board, Superintendent, Secretary, Business Manager, and other appropriate
individuals.
c.
Routine legal business of the Easton Public Library Board.
d.
Routine legal business of the Easton Area Earned Income Tax Office.
Compensation for extraordinary items such as expulsions, labor and personnel
matters, contract negotiations, hearings and hearing preparation, and research for
litigation and litigation matters, shall be set by the Board.
The solicitor shall not be a member of the Board and shall be appointed at the annual
organization meeting for a term of one (1) year.
Section 7. Resolutions
The Board may at the organization meeting, but shall prior to July 1 next following,
designate:
SC 621
a.
Depositories for school funds.
SC 106
b.
Newspaper(s) of general circulation as defined in law.
SC 421
c.
Normal day, place and time for regular meetings.
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d.
Normal day, place and time for open committee meetings.
Section 8. Committees
When specifically charged to do so by the Board, committees of Board members
shall conduct studies, make recommendations, and act in an advisory capacity, but
shall not take action on behalf of the Board.
Committees shall not include a majority of the membership of the Board.
Members shall be appointed by the President who shall serve as an ex-officio
member on all committees.
A member may request or refuse appointment to a committee.
Refusal to serve on any one committee shall not be grounds for failure to appoint a
member to another committee.
Each Board committee shall be convened by a chairperson, who shall report for the
committee, prepare minutes of open committee meetings, and be appointed by the
President.
The President may appoint at the organization meeting as soon after the organization
meeting as practicable members of the Board to the following standing committees,
where they shall serve a term of one (1) year:
a.
Buildings and Grounds Committee.
b.
Finance Committee.
c.
Academics In Education Committee.
d.
Policy Committee
Ad hoc committees may be created, charged, and assigned a fixed termination date,
which may be extended by the President.
Members of committees shall serve until the committee is discharged.