The Board desires to maintain open channels of communication between itself and
the Superintendent and Executive Staff. The basic line of communication will,
however, be through the Superintendent or Deputy Superintendent.
Staff Communications to the Board
All communications or reports to the Board or any Board committee from principals,
supervisors, teachers, or other staff members shall be submitted through the
Superintendent. This necessary procedure shall not be construed as denying the
right of any employee to appeal to the Board from administrative decisions or
important matters, provided that the superintendent shall have been notified
of the forthcoming appeal and that it is processed in accordance with the Board's
policy on complaints and grievances. Staff members are also reminded that Board
meetings are public meetings. As such, they provide an excellent opportunity
to observe at first hand the Board's deliberations on problems of staff concern.
Board Communications to Staff
All official communications, requests for information, suggestions, and concerns
will be communicated to staff members through the Superintendent or Executive
Staff depending on the request. Any problem of a serious nature shall be directed
to the superintendent. The superintendent will employ all such media as are appropriate
to keep staff fully informed of the Board's problems, concerns, and actions.
The superintendent shall annually provide Board members with a list and primary
duties of the Superintendent’s Executive Staff designated to directly communicate
with and respond to Board Member’s requests.
Visits to Schools
Visits to the schools will be made whenever, in the judgment of the board, such visits are necessary.1 Official
visits by Board members will be carried on only under Board authorization and
with the full knowledge of staff, including the superintendent, principals, and
other supervisors.
Individual Board members interested in visiting schools will inform the principal
of such visits and make arrangement for visitations. Individual Board member's
visits shall be regarded as informal expressions of interest in school affairs
and not as "inspections" or visits for supervisory or administrative
purposes.
Social Interaction
Staff and Board members share a keen interest in the schools and in education
generally, and it is to be expected that when they meet at social affairs and
other functions, they will informally discuss such matters as educational trends,
issues, and innovations and general school problems. However, staff members are
reminded that individual Board members’ legal authority exists only when
they are convened at a designated meeting of the Board of Education or when they
are vested with special authority by Board action.