The role of the trustees who sit on a locally elected school board is to ensure that school districts are responsive to the values, beliefs and priorities of their communities. The board fulfills this role by performing three major responsibilities. These are setting direction; balancing and approving a district budget; and hiring and being the direct report of their sole employee - the superintendent. Authority is granted to the board as a whole, not each member individually. Therefore, board members fulfill these responsibilities by working together as a governance team with the superintendent to make decisions that will best serve all the students in the community. (Source:  California School Boards Association)

Regular Meeting (normal, scheduled business meetings of the Board):

• The agenda must be posted at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
• Items not on the agenda may be considered under special circumstances.
• The public is allowed to address the Board, but the Board may set time limits.

Special Meeting (called before the next regularly scheduled board meeting, usually to meet time deadlines):

• The agenda must be posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
• Only items on the agenda may be considered.
• The public is allowed to address the Board, but only concerning items on the agenda for consideration.

Emergency Meeting (in the case of work stoppage or crippling disaster):

• A one-hour notice must be given by phone to local media.
• Only items listed on the agenda may be considered.
• Minutes should be taken and must be posted in public within 10 days.

Discussion/Action

• Presented for review prior to Board action.  The Board addresses these items during the meeting unless they are continued to a future meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Items that are considered to be routine and will be enacted in one motion.  No discussion of these items will be held prior to the time the Board considers the motion unless an item is requested to be discussed or removed. 

Information/Proposal

• Items presented to the Board for informational purposes or discussion. 

Board/Superintendent Comments

• Allows individual Board members to share comments, concerns, observations, or request items be scheduled on a future agenda.  The superintendent may also have information to present to the Board.

Resolution

• Expresses Board policy or directs certain types of administrative action.

Public Hearings

• A public hearing is designed to protect personal interests by permitting citizens to voice their position on an issue at hand.  The Government Code prescribes the manner in which the hearing is to be conducted.