Maine Township High School District 207

Board Operation Guidelines

Revised November, 2024

The Board held a special Board governance training meeting on August 15, 2024. During that meeting, the Board discussed a variety of issues relating to the roles and responsibilities of Board members. The following guidelines were prepared to memorialize what was agreed to in that meeting, for the benefit of both current and future Board members:

Board Member Collaboration and Engagement 

• Start with the common belief that everyone has good intentions.

• Create a safe environment for the productive exchange of ideas. 
• Sincerely listen and seek to understand the viewpoints of others.
• Solve problems through a collaborative process where all participants support the decision and actively work toward its implementation. 

Addressing concerns from the school community 

• Board members should listen carefully to concerns, mindful of the fact that the views expressed may represent only one side of the story.
• Board members should direct those concerns to the person in the district most appropriate to help them resolve their concern (teacher, department head, principal, etc.)
• Board members should make clear that one board member has no individual authority to fix a problem.
• Board members should contact the superintendent if they think the concerns warrant the superintendent’s involvement.

Abiding by the majority decisions

• Individual board members do not generally have the authority to act or speak on behalf of the board without the consent of the board president or designee.
• Board members should express their opinions and should respect others’ opinions when discussing issues so that all views can be considered.
• Board members have the right to disagree with the decision of the board. That being said, Board members should support the board in its decisions by recognizing and abiding by the will of the majority.

Board preparations relating to meetings and issues on upcoming meeting agendas

• Board members should come prepared for board meetings having read their agenda and board packet in advance.
• Out of respect for all participants and the board governance process, board members should, whenever possible, contact the superintendent or an appropriate cabinet member with any questions on the agenda prior to the board meeting. 
• Board members understand that although they may ask questions prior to the meeting, they have a right to ask those same or other questions at the meeting as well.
• Board member reports should be shared with both the superintendent and the board president or designee prior to the meeting.

Board member requests 

• When an individual board member requests information, it will be provided to all board members 
• Board members should self-monitor to ensure one person’s request for information does not divert an inappropriate amount of time from staff efforts to achieve district goals.

Board member requests for action

• Requests for action will be directed to the board president or designee, who will then make the decision whether the request will be shared with the superintendent. 
• Actions on the request must be shared with the board in a timely manner. 

Closed sessions meetings

• Board members should respect the confidentiality of privileged information shared during a closed session meeting.

Board members should understand that to divulge closed session information may not only damage the relationship of the team, but has the potential for far reaching consequences which may impact future district operations.

Agreed to November 2024.