The Examiner U-46 News FeedBoard agreements in U-46 to remain mostly the same By Seth Hancock
The board agreements for the School District U-46 Board of Education will remain mostly the same, but one change was added.
The agreements, which were approved in February, are determined every year behind closed doors for a closed session, board self-evaluation meeting.
Sue Kerr, the board’s president, said there was one change regarding communications, mostly electronic, with the public.
“Just for the public’s information, boards vary on how they treat emails and communications with the public,” Kerr said. “There are some boards that board members are asked not to reply to emails, anything is referred to the administration.”
Kerr added: “Often we get emails that we really can’t respond to. It’s not in our job description. We really do need to have the administration address them, but we need to be aware of the problems so we should acknowledge them.”
The change came under the board’s fourth agreement regarding speaking with one voice.
The added line: “It is up to individual Board members to decide whether to respond to emails from the public…. Email correspondence should acknowledge concerns without offering specific solutions and note that issues or problems are being communicated to Administration as appropriate.”
Other agreements include unity of purpose, board member protocol, no surprises, affirmation of the governance model, placing items on the agenda, orientation of new board members, board member roles and responsibilities and closed session.
The agreements state that they “are aspirational in nature and intended as a guide for Board members in adhering to the Board’s Code of Conduct and each Board member’s Oath of Office…. The Agreements are not to be construed as binding or limiting any Board member’s First Amendment right to speak.”
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