Number: 005
Section: Local Board Procedures
Title: Organization
Date Adopted: October 9, 1978
Date Reviewed: February 25, 2003

Organization Meeting
The school directors shall meet and organize annually during the first week in December. Notice of the time and place of the organization meeting shall be given to all members of the Board of School Directors by mail at least five days before the proposed meeting by the Secretary of the Board. The organization meeting shall be a regular meeting.

Order
The organization meeting shall be called to order by one of the hold-over members of the Board who shall preside over the election of a temporary President from among the hold-over members of the Board. The Secretary of the Board shall be secretary of the meeting. The certificates of the election or appointment of all new school directors shall be read, and a list of the legally elected or appointed and qualified school directors prepared by the Secretary of the Board.The temporary President shall arrange for the administration of the oath or affirmation of office to such school directors as have not previously taken and subscribed the same.OfficersElection of officers shall be by a majority of those present and voting. Where no such majority is achieved on the first ballot, a second ballot shall be cast for the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes.

  • The school directors shall annually, during the first week in December, elect from their members a President and Vice-President who shall serve for one year.
  • The school directors shall annually, during the month of May, elect a treasurer who shall serve for one-year beginning the first day of July after such election. The treasurer may be a corporation duly qualified and legally authorized to transact a fiduciary business in the Commonwealth, and he or she may be a member of the Board.
The school treasurer shall not enter upon his or her duties until he or she has furnished bond in accordance with law and with the approval of the Board. The school treasurer shall be compensated in such a manner and at a rate as the Board shall determine.
  • The school directors shall, during the month of May in every fourth year, elect a secretary who shall serve a term of four years beginning the first day of July following such election.

Vacancies in any office shall be filled by the school directors and such officers appointed by the Board shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.The same school director may not hold more than one office of the Board. No superintendent, assistant superintendent, supervising principal, or teacher shall serve, either temporarily or permanently as an officer of the school board by which he is employed. Officers of the Board may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the full number of school directors.

Appointments
The Board shall appoint:

  • a tax collector, where a tax collector is not elected to collect taxes, or where there is a vacancy or where an elected tax collector refuses to qualify
  • school physician
  • school dentist

And the Board may appoint:

  • a school solicitor
  • an assistant secretary
  • delegates to a State convention or association of school directors
  • such other assistants, clerks, and employees as the Board deems proper
Resolutions
The Board may at the organization meeting but prior to July 1 next following:
  • designate a depository for school funds
  • designate a newspaper printed in the district
  • designate a day, place, and time for regular meetings
Committees
Committees of school directors shall, when specifically charged to do so by the Board, conduct studies, make recommendations to the Board, and act in an advisory capacity, but shall not take action on behalf of the Board.Members shall be appointed by the President who shall serve as an ex-officio member on all committees.Each Board committee shall be convened by a chairperson who shall report for the committee and shall be appointed by the President.The President may appoint, as soon after the organization meeting as practical, members of the Board to standing committees where they shall serve a term of one year.Ad hoc committees may be created, charged, and assigned a fixed termination date, which may be extended from time to time by the President. Members of committees shall serve until the committee is discharged.

Committees
Committees of school directors shall, when specifically charged to do so by the Board, conduct studies, make recommendations to the Board, and act in an advisory capacity, but shall not take action on behalf of the Board.Members shall be appointed by the President who shall serve as an ex-officio member on all committees.Each Board committee shall be convened by a chairperson who shall report for the committee and shall be appointed by the President.The President may appoint, as soon after the organization meeting as practical, members of the Board to standing committees where they shall serve a term of one year.Ad hoc committees may be created, charged, and assigned a fixed termination date, which may be extended from time to time by the President. Members of committees shall serve until the committee is discharged.