BB SCHOOL BOARD LEGAL STATUS
B - SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS
As a body created under laws of Wyoming, a district school board ultimately derives its authority from the people of the state. The law states that:
“The board of trustees of a school district shall be the governing body of the school district…”
The school board is responsible to the voters of its district. It exercises its authority subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Wyoming and state law; the rules and regulations of the State Department of Education; and within budgets for expenditures as prescribed by the Municipal Budget Act or Section 21, Chapter 3 of the Wyoming Education Code of 1969, as amended.
Powers and Duties:
Each board of trustee is charged with the general operation of the public schools in its district.
The board is responsible for carrying out certain mandatory laws relating to schools, and for considering and accepting or rejecting permissive legislation as authorized by Wyoming State Statute § 21-3-110.
The board of trustees shall comply with the Leadership Governance Policies and Board Expectations incorporated herein by reference.
This district’s Board has three main functions:
- Policymaking – that function which plans what shall be done, establishes guidelines for accomplishing the tasks, sets end expectations and provides budgetary requests and support for their achievement. As the policy maker for the district, the board will make all policies in accordance with the Leadership Governance Policies and Board Expectations.
- Executive – that function which is concerned with placing plans and policies into operation. The board customarily delegates this function to its chief executive officer, the superintendent. It is his/her responsibility to establish procedures through which plans and policies are put into practice, to furnish creative leadership to the Board and school staff, and to report progress, problems, and results to the Board. In performing this function, the board and superintendent shall comply with the Leadership Governance Policies and Board Expectations.
- Appraisal – that function which attempts to determine the desires of the public in matters of public education, the results achieved through the educational program, and the efficiency of school operations. This function shall include the monitoring of policies addressing Board governance.
Nothing contained in policy BB shall prohibit or limit the statutory or legal responsibilities of the Board.
BOARD MEMBER COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES
Board members shall receive no compensation for their services. However, upon submitting vouchers and supporting bills for expenses incurred in carrying out specific services previously authorized by the board, board members may be reimbursed from district funds in accordance with board policy on expense reimbursements.
BOARD MEMBER INSURANCE
The Board of Trustees shall provide liability insurance coverage (“errors and omissions”) for its members in order to protect them from financial loss arising from negligence suits or claims.
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERSHIPS
The Board of Trustees may maintain membership in the national and state school boards associations as its interests dictate, and shall take an active part in the activities of these groups.
It may also maintain institutional memberships in other educational organizations, which the superintendent and board find to be of benefit to members and district personnel.
The materials and other benefits of these memberships will be distributed and used to the advantage of the Board and the staff.
BOARD MEMBER CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
Board members shall comply with the Wyoming Ethics and Disclosure Act and all other applicable conflict of interest laws which shall include, but not be limited to the following:
- No board member shall be interested in any contract unless he/she discloses his/her interest, absents himself/herself when the board considers the contract, and refrains from attempting to influence any of the contracting parties and from acting directly or indirectly for the governing body in inspection, operation, administration, or performance of any such contract.
- No board member shall make a profit, directly or indirectly, from the use of public money or from letting public contracts unless he/she discloses his/her interest, absents himself/herself when the Board considers the contract, and refrains from attempting to influence any of the contracting parties and from acting directly or indirectly for the governing body in inspection, operation, administration, or performance of any such contract.
- A board member shall not apply for a position as an employee of the district until he/she has duly resigned his/her position on the board.
- No board member shall participate in discussions, voting or any part of the decision making process when the official decision of the board will involve matters in which the board member has a material interest.
- No board member may use the position or any public funds, time, personnel, facilities or equipment for his/her private benefit or that of another unless the use is authorized by law.
- No board member may participate in the employment, transfer, discipline, or advancement of a family member in the district.
Policy References:
Wyoming Education Code of 1969 as amended (21-3-107; 21-3-110; 21-3-128; 21-3-111(a)(x); 16-4-118
Reorganization Plan of the County Committee for School District Organization, effective 7-1-77, and Uinta County District Boundary Board Plan, 7-1-77; Wyoming Education Policies Reference Manual, codes BB, BBA, BBF, BBFA, BHD and BJPolicy Cross References:
» AA - SCHOOL DISTRICT LEGAL STATUS
» BBA - SCHOOL BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES
» BBAA - BOARD MEMBERS AUTHORITY
» BBB - SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS
» DLC - EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS
» EI - INSURANCE MANAGEMENT