Board of Education

Questions about the Board of Education, its role and the operation of the school district may be directed to the superintendent or members of the Board. Contact information can be found online. Click here to download the Board of Education meeting brochure.
 

What is the Board of Education?

In Illinois, public education is the state’s constitutional responsibility. The state delegates to local school boards the authority to govern school districts within the parameters set by state law. Boards of Education consist of seven school district residents elected to serve four-year terms without pay. Although the Board is politically responsible to district voters, it is legally responsible to the state.
 

What is the Board’s role?

• Develop and adopt goals and policies that meet state and local requirements
• Provide the resources necessary to pursue its goals according to its policies
• Monitor district performance to see that results are consistent with goals and policies 

• Approve curriculum and textbook selection
• Approve new personnel and salaries
• Provide and maintain school buildings
• Award contracts and approve bills
• Arrange for the revenue necessary to operate the district
   

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION


When are regular meetings of the Board of Education scheduled?

Meetings of the Board of Education are typically scheduled on Mondays during the second and fourth weeks of each month. However, the schedule is sometimes altered to avoid conflicts with legal holidays or school vacations. The schedule for Board meetings and the agendas are posted on the district website. Meetings convene at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at Oswego East High School, 1525 Harvey Road, Oswego, Illinois, 60543.

How are the Board of Education meetings conducted?

Each meeting follows an agenda, which establishes a sequence of events for the meetings. The meeting is conducted by the Board president based on a combination of Robert’s Rules of Order and common sense and courtesy. Meetings can be several hours depending on the contents of the agenda.

What is listed on the agenda?

A typical agenda may include the following:

Agendas and supporting materials are available online through BoardDocs, which can be accessed through the district’s website at oswego308.org.


Are Board of Education meetings public?

Board meetings are not “public” meetings but rather meetings held in public. By law, all Board discussion and deliberations must be conducted in public except for certain matters—personnel, negotiations, and legal matters—that must be discussed in closed session. However, all official Board action (voting) must occur in public.

Are District 308 residents allowed to comment during the meeting?

There are specific times noted on the agenda when public comments are received. Comments are not restricted to items on the agenda, however, not all comments are appropriate for Open Session. Comments regarding specific student discipline cases or personnel issues, for example, are not allowed during Open Session. Generally, these types of comments should be referred to the teacher, principal, or administrator who is closest to the situation

Can the public ask questions of the Board during public comment?

Typically Board members do not engage in dialogue with the public during its meetings. If the question is in regard to an item on the agenda, the Board may answer the question while that agenda item is being discussed. The Board may also direct administration to follow-up on individual questions outside of the Board meeting.

Will the Board resolve the concerns brought before it at the meeting?

The Board rarely can be expected to act immediately on an issue brought before it for the first time. Even with more familiar issues, the Board takes action only after it thoroughly examines all aspects of a matter. Individuals may, however, expect the Board to act as promptly as circumstances allow and notify them when it arrives at a decision.

• A Public Comment information card should be completed and presented to the Board Secretary prior to the meeting.
  
• After being recognized to speak, the individual may be seated at the presentation table.
  
• Individuals addressing the Board should state their names and addresses, along with the organizations, if any, that they represent.
  
• Comments are limited to five minutes per person. Written comments may be given to the Board secretary for distribution to Board members. 
  
• The Board president maintains order during the meeting and calls an end to comments and discussion when appropriate.