School Board Member Handbook

School Board Member Handbook

In New Mexico, education represents one of the largest, if not the largest, business in any community. The Citizens in the 89 school districts in the state elect five to seven of their fellow citizens to represent the public on a board that has the responsibility of providing the best educational opportunities possible to all the children residing in the school district.
The responsibilities that you have accepted as a board member are awesome. Your decisions will affect, very directly, the lives of every individual in your community. Since education is the base of our form of government, the type of education provided will have an impact on our state and nation.

This handbook has been prepared not to answer all the problems that you may encounter as a board member, but as a frame work that may assist you in carrying out your responsibilities.

The main task the citizens have assigned to you is the education of the children in the community, so all board member activity should focus on good education.

School Board Member Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I -NEW MEXICO SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION

CHAPTER II – LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS
Section A. – School Board Structure & Variations
Section B. – School Board Elections
Section C. – Vacancies on the School Board
Section D. – Organization of the Board
Section E. – Powers and Duties
Section F. – Policy Making
Section G. – Compensation
Section H. – Effective Boardmanship
Section I. – Required Board Member Training

CHAPTER III – SUPERINTENDENT
Section A. – Board-Superintendent Relationship
Section B. – Expectations Placed on the Superintendent
Section C. – Critical Period in Board-Superintendent Relationship

CHAPTER IV – PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCT OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
Section A. – Regular Meeting
Section B. – Special or Emergency Meetings
Section C. – Organizational Meeting
Section D. – Public Notice
Section E. – Agenda
Section F. – Order of Business
Section G. – Public Address to the Board
Section H. – Open and Closed Meetings
Section I. – Presiding Officer
Section J. – Presiding Officer When President is in Active Debate
Section K. – Action by the Board
Section L. – Second not Required
Section M. – One Motion at a Time
Section N. – Substantive Motion
Section O. – Adoption by Majority Vote
Section P. – Debate
Section Q. – Procedural Motions
Section R. – Renewal of Motions
Section S. – Withdrawal of Motion
Section T. – Duty to Vote
Section U. – Public Hearings
Section V. – Minutes
Section W. – Appointments
Section X. – Reference to Robert’s Rules of Order (RRO)

CHAPTER V- EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE IN NEW MEXICO
Section A. – Public Education Commission (PEC)
Section B. – Secretary of Education
Section C. – Public Education Department (PED)
Section D. – School Budget Planning Unit

APPENDIX
Appendix A. – Code of Ethics for New Mexico School Board Members