Resources

Ask Betsy's Team - Committees Questions

OSBA staff answers some common (and not so common) questions about board governance, board members' roles and responsibilities, good practices, running board meetings and board conflict. Don't see the answer to your question? Ask Betsy's Team!

Dear members:

Your Ask Betsy Team is dedicated to assisting you by responding to all of your questions. Additionally, we are committed to providing you with the best possible information, tools, and practices in a timely manner. There are times when we must research, or consult with other OSBA staff members to provide an answer to your questions. In these circumstances, we ask for your patience as the normal response time could potentially be delayed. Please expect an initial response, by phone or email, within 24-48 hours of submitting your question, and be aware that additional follow-up could take more time. If your question is time sensitive, please be sure to specify your deadlines in your initial request.

Thank you, we look forward to hearing from you!

Legal Disclaimer: The information contained on this site should not be construed as legal advice. If you need legal advice regarding your particular situation, please seek the advice of OSBA’s legal services or independent counsel.

What is a ‘360 degree evaluation’ of a chief executive (superintendent or college president) and how is it used? - 5/02/11

We are in the process of forming our “Achievement Compact Advisory Committees.” Can you tell me a little bit more about these committees? Who can attend these meetings? Are they open to the public? Are board members allowed or required to attend? - 8/22/12

An individual board member has expressed an interest in spending time working in the district office on the development of the budget with the business official and superintendent, looking for areas to cut and providing direction on individual programs and line items. Is this within the role of the board member? - 3/18/11

Should school board members sit on district interview and hiring committees when the district is hiring employees other than the superintendent? - 11/01/10

Unfortunately, our board is now at 6 members. Do I have to consider changing committees that are composed of three members? - 5/04/12

Once the budget committee and board have approved the budget, does the superintendent have to bring any change to any of the line items to the board for approval before the expense can be made? - 4/06/12

Can a budget committee member be appointed at a budget committee meeting or does the appointment have to be made at a board meeting? - 2/10/12

Does the budget committee have to approve their own minutes? Can the board approve them? Since the budget committee is done after the final budget meeting in which they approve the proposed budget amount, it seems like the board would have to approve at least the final minutes. - 6/18/12

What are the roles and the responsibilities of the budget committee? - 3/16/12

Can a member of the school board be the chair of the budget committee? - 9/18/08

Can the school board employ someone as an internal auditor, where the person does not report to the superintendent but directly to the board of directors? - 1/21/11

The superintendent invited the board to select a board member to sit as an ex-officio member on a newly-formed Achievement Compact committee. What parts of the public meetings laws are applicable to the meetings held by the Achievement Compact committee? Are there any specific concerns if there is a quorum of the Board present at these meetings? - 10/26/12

What level of detail does the budget committee approve? Does it have authority over staffing levels, salaries and labor contracts? - 3/23/12

Do committee meetings have to follow public meetings laws if there are less than a quorum of board members on the committee? - 4/12/10

Our budget committee completed their work and was dismissed before the new lower revenue forecast from the Governor. Does the board have to adjust the budget to the new revenue estimate before adopting it? - 6/04/10

Our board is filling several seats on the budget committee. We have more applicants than seats. How do we go about voting to fill those seats? - 3/09/12

Does a meeting of the superintendent, chair and vice-chair to set the agenda have to be posted as a committee meeting? - 6/19/08

Are we required to take public input at every meeting and if so what restrictions can we put on the public input? - 10/12/12

What is the posting requirement for the first budget committee meeting and how is it different than the notice requirements for regular board meetings? - 2/24/12

Can the administration make transfers between budget functions during the year without seeking board approval? - 5/10/10

How can the board use sub-committees to improve the way it does business? - 3/08/10