Board of Education
December 12, 2005
Board of Education Members
Contact information for our Board of Education can be found here.
The Board of Education of the School District of Seward, the governing body of the school district, is composed of six members elected to staggered four-year terms who serve without pay. The main role of the board is to set policy for the district. They delegate the execution of these policies to the district administration. The board/administrator team will provide effective leadership to direct all district operations such as, curriculum management, personnel, facilities, and finance.
Board of Education Meetings
This board conducts regular board meetings on the second Monday of each month in the district central office building located at 410 South Street. The meetings begin with a study session at 5:30 p.m. No action is taken at these sessions, unless a need for executive session develops. The study sessions allow the board to review items in depth as a 'committee of the whole.' The regular business meeting of the board begins at 7:00 p.m. Both parts of the meeting are open to the public and an agenda is posted at the central office, the courthouse, city hall, and the library prior to the board meetings. Copies are also available at the meeting.
Members of the public are typically provided an opportunity for input at the start of the board meeting. Anyone wishing to have an item placed on the board agenda, or having a question about an agenda item, may contact the office of the superintendent. To have an item placed on the agenda, a written request must be submitted to the superintendent on a form provided by the district office, by the Wednesday preceding the board meeting. The written request shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the person making the request; the name of the organization or group represented, if any; a statement of action to be requested of the board; and any pertinent background information related to the request. For an individual to be on the agenda, the appropriate lines of communication must be followed to allow the settlement of issues by the proper administrator before board involvement.
Opportunities for Public Participation:
1. The purpose of a board meeting is to conduct the business of the district -- in other words "a meeting conducted in public," distinguishing it from an open citizen forum or hearing. Nevertheless, the board does offer opportunities for the public to make statements or ask questions close to the beginning of each meeting, both in regard to agenda items or school business in general.
- a. Patrons will be asked to sign up if they will be addressing the board.
- b. The Board President may make a determination to move input to the time of an agenda item, if he/she feels it is warranted and appropriate.
2. Patrons may have an item placed on the agenda by submitting a written form obtained from the district office. The Board President will then allow the patron(s) to address the board at the time of the agenda item.
3. The board may at times during the year conduct open forums/hearings:
- a. These forums are typically held to provide input and questions regarding topics of public interest, or when the board wishes to obtain public input on a specific issue.
- b. Examples of forums in the recent past include: an annual budget hearing open to public comment and questions; hearings on student fees; and hearings on Internet safety.
4. Patrons are encouraged to contact school administrators and board members to ask questions, obtain information, or express opinions and concerns.
5. From time to time the board may establish working groups or ad hoc committees of the board to obtain public input into school district practices and programs. Recent examples would include: an ad hoc committee on school finance; Good to Great Committee on graduate expectations and school programs; and community focus groups related to programs in each of the school buildings.
6. From time to time, surveys are conducted to obtain public opinion on school issues. District administrators and staff also conduct parent meetings in their buildings.
The board welcomes visitors to all regular meetings of the board, including the board study sessions. The goal of board policy on public input is to protect the rights of the public, while allowing the board to efficiently and effectively conduct the business of the board of education.
