The role of the board of education is to oversee the management of the school district, not to manage it. The management is the responsibility of the superintendent. 

What is the role of the Board of Education?

1) Setting district policies and goals

2) Communicating policies and goals to the superintendent

3) Overseeing the budget

4) Hiring and evaluating the superintendent

5) Serving as the communications link between the community and the school district.

What is the role of the superintendent?

The Superintendent’s responsibilities fall into three areas:

1) Primary advisor to the Board of Education

The superintendent briefs the board on district issues and provides updates on district operations as well as background information, alternatives, suggestions, and recommendations before Board decisions are made. The superintendent may ask other district staff to attend board meetings to give reports on particular items.

2) Chief Executive Officer of the school district

Responsible for administering the policies adopted by the school board and for running the school system on a daily basis. The superintendent is accountable to the board regarding how well the district is run.

3) Educational leader of the community

It’s the superintendent’s job to evaluate and assess how district policies are being implemented at all levels. The superintendent ensures that all issues on an agenda for board action are accompanied by his/her recommendation, including staff input and study when necessary. The superintendent also acts as the liaison to the Board for all district employees.

 

What happens at Board of Education meetings?

At public meetings, the Board of Education takes official action on school business, discusses policy and confirms personnel appointments recommended by the superintendent. Board members have the opportunity to discuss items prior to voting on official agenda items. At every public meeting of the Board, there are two opportunities for the public to address the Board.

Where and when can I get minutes from a previous Board of Education meeting?

Minutes of public Board of Education meetings are available on the district website. Board minutes are presented for approval at subsequent Board meetings, in order to be voted into the public record.

Where can I get a copy of an upcoming Board of Education meeting agenda?

Board of Ed agendas are available on the district website on Friday afternoon prior to the meeting. 

How and when may I address the Board during a Board of Education meeting?

The Board seeks public comment twice during each regular public meeting. The first opportunity for comment is under the agenda item “Public Comments on Action Items.”  Members of the community may comment on any action item prior to Board discussion. They are required to state their name and address for the record. All comments must be respectfully presented. Abusive or obscene comments will not be tolerated.

Later in the meeting, there is a second opportunity for public comment under the agenda item “Public Comments” The second public comments allows students, parents, employees, and community members to comment on any item of interest pertaining to the Mount Olive School District. The public member must state their name and address for the record. All comments must be respectfully presented. Abusive or obscene comments will not be tolerated.

Why does the Board go into closed Executive Session?

The Mount Olive Township Board of Education may meet in closed Executive Session prior to, or at the end of, a regular public meeting. In accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act (aka the “Sunshine Law”), closed Executive Sessions are not open to the public. Although debate may be private, any action taken must be in public session. The Board will indicate that “action may be taken” when they return to public session and before the meeting is adjourned.

Only items that fall under the following topics may be discussed during closed Executive Session:

• Collective bargaining agreements/proposals or other contracts
  Personnel issues

• Matters confidential by law

• Items protected by attorney-client privilege

• Matters of individual privacy

• Specific pending or anticipated litigation

• Purchase or lease of real estate

• Protecting public safety

It seems the school board rapidly works through the agenda, without much debate. Why is that? 

The school board has committee meetings where certain members of the board, often working with the superintendent or key administrators, study a specific issue and make recommendations to the full board for a vote. By the time the board has a meeting where it votes on issues, the agenda items have usually been vetted or studied already.

What is the difference between the school board's policy and state regulations and statutes?

Statutes are the laws that are enacted by legislators in Trenton. Usually the law will contain broad language on an issue, and it will authorize the appropriate state agency (which would be the New Jersey Department of Education, or NJDOE, in the case of school law) to write regulations, also called "administrative code," that detail how the law will be carried out. Local public schools must adhere to state statute and regulations. There are many aspects of school management that the state does not manage. Those are covered by the local school board's policies, which are the school board's rules and guidelines that detail how the district will operate. Policies address many issues ranging from student discipline and dress codes to whether the district will rent the gym to community groups after school hours. The state generally does not delve into the oversight of local board policies unless there is a specific law requiring boards to have policies on an issue (such as school bullying), or if the local board's policies are found to be arbitrary or capricious, or have otherwise run afoul of state laws and regulations.

 

How is the Board of Education selected?

Members are elected to three-year terms by the local voters. School board elections are in November. Board members elected in November will be sworn in and take their seats at the Reorganization meeting in January.

If a vacancy occurs between elections, the current Board will appoint a new board member to serve until the next election. Appointed members will be sworn in and take their seats at the next regular public meeting of the Board.

What are the legal requirements to become a Board member?

To become a member of a local Board of Education in New Jersey, you must:

• Be able to read and write

• Hold U.S. citizenship and one year’s residency in the school district

• Have no interest in any contract with, or claim against the Board

• Not hold office as mayor or member of the municipal government body, or in the case of county school districts, the county governing body

• Be registered to vote in the district

What is the Board member’s Code of Ethics?

All school board members in New Jersey are required to abide by the following Code of Ethics for School Board Members:

a. I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures.

b. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex, or social standing.

c. I will confine my board action to policy making, planning, and appraisal, and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them.

d. I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run.

e. I will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board.

f. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends.

g. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which, if disclosed, would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and, in concert with my fellow board members, interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school.

h. I will vote to appoint the best-qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer.

i. I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties.

j. I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution.

L18A:12-24.1

 

If I have a question or concern about something in the district, whom should I contact?

If you have a concern, we encourage you to talk first with the teacher or principal, next the department supervisor, then the assistant superintendent, and finally the superintendent. Should the superintendent be unable to resolve a problem, and it involves district policy, school board meetings and agenda items, the budget or requests for specific courses or programs, the Board of Education is the final step in the process. Please remember that all personnel items should be referred directly to the administration. Refer to our chain of communication page on our district website for who to contact with regard to your specific needs.  

What are the best ways to communicate with the Board of Education?

To communicate with the Board as a whole, we invite members of the public to attend a regular public meeting and share your ideas and thoughts during the public comments period. You may also write a letter to the Board President, which will be shared with other Board members. Individual Board members can be reached via email.