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Series B - SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS » BBA SCHOOL BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES

BBA SCHOOL BOARD POWERS AND DUTIES

Adoption Date: 11/11/1975, Revised: 2/8/2000; 02/12/2013
B - SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONS
 

Each board of trustee is charged with the general operation of the public schools of its district. It is responsible for carrying out certain mandatory laws relating to schools, and for considering and accepting or rejecting permissive legislation. 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 policy governance model contained in the Leadership Governance Policies and Board Expectations.

 

This district’s Board has three main functions:

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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.

 

  1. 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 BBA shall prohibit or limit the statutory or legal responsibilities of the Board.

 

Board Duties

 

In carrying out its three main functions, the Board of Trustees shall also perform those mandatory and permissive duties established by Wyoming State Statute §21-3-110.

 

Board Powers

 

Additionally, the Board of Trustees may:

 

  1. Sue and be sued in the name by which the district is designated. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(i)]

 

  1. Acquire, hold, convey, lease, rent, and manage both real and personal property for the district’s benefit and in the district’s designated name, either along or jointly with another public or private agency, institution, person, or corporation. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(ii)]

 

  1. Enter into agreements with any public or private agency, institution, person, or corporation for the performance of acts or furnishing of services or facilities by or for the school district. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(iii)]

 

  1. Employ legal counsel and bear the cost of litigation. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(iv]

 

  1. Accept or reject any federal or other gift, grant, bequest, or devise. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(v)]

 

  1. Employ and determine the salaries of a superintendent of schools, teachers, principals, other certified professional employees, and other personnel. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(vi)(A)(B)(C)(D)(E)]

 

  1. Discharge any employee subject to the provisions of any applicable law. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(vii)]

 

  1. Insure against loss of property. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(viii)]

 

  1. Join and pay dues to county, state, and national schools boards associations. A board may also, at is discretion pay necessary travel expenses and per diem of members and personnel attending meetings of such associations at a rate not to exceed that paid to state employees. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(x)]

 

  1. Provide for the operation of school lunch programs. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(xi)]

 

  1. Require any officer or employee whose duty it is to handle district funds or property, including activity accounts, to be bonded. [W.S. 21-3-111(a)(xii)]

 

  1. Acquire real estate for the district by condemnation in a manner as prescribed by law. [W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xiii)]

 

  1. Subject to Wyoming Statute, convey, with or without consideration, title to real property that is not being used and will not be used by the district to the state or its political subdivisions for public use. [W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xiv)]

 

  1. Convey or otherwise divest, with or without consideration, title to personal property that is not being used and will not be used by the district to the extent not prohibited by Article 16, Section 6, Wyoming Constitution. [W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xv)]

 

  1. Define “unexcused absence” and “habitual truancy” for all students who are attending public schools and who have met compulsory attendance requirements, and establish rules and regulations regarding their attendance. [W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xvi)]

 

  1. Establish a school bus driver training program in accordance with Wyoming Statute 21-3-131(a). [W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xvii)]

 

  1. Establish and maintain a program of adult education. [W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxviii)]

 

  1. Develop policies and pest control methods, including emergency policies, to minimize any potential risk to students and employees, school property and the environment. [W.S. §21-3-110(a)(xix)]

 

  1. Enter into school building construction and renovation project agreements with the school facilities commission as authorized under W.S. 21-15-114 (a)(viii). [W.S. §21-3-110 (a) (xx)]

 

  1.   Request the fingerprints of any employee initially hired by the district on or after July 1, 1996, who may have access to minors in the course of the employee's employment, as provided by W.S. 7-19-106(a)(xxvi) and 7-19-210(a)(iii). The school district shall pay for the costs associated with the request. [W.S. §21-3-110 (a) (xxi)]

 

Board Member Responsibility

 

Members of the local boards of trustees are to read the Wyoming Education Code of 1969 as amended and supplements thereto and abide by the statutory requirements placed upon the local boards as set forth in the Code.   Members are also to read the current Wyoming State Board of Education Regulations and abide by the requirements placed upon the local school boards as set forth in the regulations.

 

Neglect of Duty

 

Any school board member

 

“who willfully fails, refuses, or neglects to perform any duty imposed upon him/her by the provisions of the Wyoming Education Code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine or imprisonment…or both…”

[W.S. 21-3-124]

 

Policy References:
Wyoming Education Policies Reference Manual, code BBA, and all Wyoming Statutes. 21-3-110, 21-3-124