• File: BBAA

    SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER AUTHORITY

    Authority

    Because all powers of the Greater Fall River Vocational School District Committee derived from state laws are granted in terms of action as a group, members of the District School Committee have authority only when acting as a committee legally in session.

    The District School Committee will not be bound in any way by any statement or action on the part of an individual member except when such statement or action is a result of specific instructions of the Committee.

    No member of the Committee, by virtue of his/her office, will exercise any administrative responsibility with respect to the schools or command the services of any school employee.

    The District School Committee will function as a body and all policy deci­sions and other matters, as required by law, will be settled by an official vote of the Committee sitting in formal session.

    Duties

    The duties and obligations of the individual Committee member may be enumerated as follows:

    1. To become familiar with the General Laws of the Commonwealth relating to education and District School Committee operations, regulations of the Massachusetts Board of Education, policies and procedures of this District School Committee and school department.
    2. To keep abreast of new laws and the latest trends in education.
    3. To have a general knowledge of the goals, objectives, and programs of the school.            
    4. To work effectively with other Committee members without trying either to dominate the Committee or neglect his/her share of the work.
    5. To respect the privileged communication that exists in executive sessions by maintaining strict confidentiality on matters discussed in these sessions, except that which becomes part of the public record, once it has been approved for release.
    6. To vote and act in Committee impartially for the good of the students.
    7. To accept the will of the majority vote in all cases, and to remember that he/she is one of a team and must abide by, and carry out, all Committee decisions once they are  made.
    8. To represent the Committee and the schools to the public in a way that promotes interest and support.
    9. To refer questions and complaints to the proper school authorities.
    10. To comply with the accepted code of ethics for District School Committee members.