Number: 004
Section: Local Board Procedures
Title: Membership
Date Adopted: October 9, 1978
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003

Number
The Board of School Directors does consist of nine (9) members.

Qualifications
Each member of the Board shall meet the following qualifications:

  • He or she shall be of good moral character, must be at least eighteen years of age, shall have been a resident of the district for at least one year prior to the date of his/her election or appointment, and shall not be a holder of any office or position of profit under any government in the School District of Upper Moreland Township, nor shall he or she be a member of the municipal council.
  • He or she shall not have been removed from any office of trust under federal, state or local laws for any malfeasance in such office.
  • Except as provided by law, he or she shall not be engaged in a business transaction with the school district, be employed by the school district, or receive pay for services from the school district.
  • He or she shall, before entering the duties of the office, take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation prescribed by statute.

Election
Election of members of the Board of School Directors shall be in accordance with law.

Vacancies
A vacancy shall occur by reason of death, resignation, removal from a district, or otherwise.  Any such vacancy shall be filled by the appointment, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy, of a person who shall serve until the first Monday in December after the first municipal election occurring more than 60 days following his or her appointment, except that when a majority of the memberships are vacant, such vacancies shall be filled by the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County.

Term
The term of office of each school director shall be in accordance with law.

Removal
Whenever a school director shall cease to be a resident of the School District of Upper Moreland Township, his or her membership on the Board shall cease forthwith. The removal of a school director who resigns shall become effective upon the presentation of the resignation to the Board President and upon such date specified therein. A school director who neglects or refuses to attend two successive regular meetings of the Board, unless detained by sickness or prevented by necessary absence from the district, or if in attendance at any meeting, neglects or refuses to act in his or her official capacity as a school director, may be removed from his or her office on the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board. If a person elected or appointed as school director, having been notified, shall refuse or neglect to qualify as such director, the remaining members may, within ten days following the beginning of his or her term of office, declare said office vacant on the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board.

Expenses
A school director shall be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses actually incurred for attendance at any convention or meeting for school district-related matters in accordance with Sections 516 and 516.1 of the Public School Code, as authorized by the Board.  No member shall be reimbursed for more than two out-of-state meetings in one school year.  Such expenses shall be reimbursed only upon presentation of an itemized, verified statement, except that advance payments may be made upon presentation of estimated expenses to be incurred. The request for reimbursement should be submitted on the proper forms with accompanying receipts in a timely manner.

Orientation
The Board believes that the preparation of each school director for the performance of Board duties is essential to the effectiveness of the Board's functioning.  The Board shall encourage each new school director to understand the functions of the Board, acquire knowledge of matters related to the operation of the schools and learn Board procedures.  Accordingly, the Board shall give to each new school director for his or her use and possession during the term on the Board the following items:

  • a copy of the school code
  • a copy of the Board policy manual
  • the current budget statement, audit report and related fiscal materials
  • the most recent District Long Range Plan
  • other materials deemed pertinent by the Superintendent

Each new Board member shall be invited to meet with:

  • the Board President.
  • the Superintendent.to discuss Board functions, policy and procedure.