ROLE OF BOARD AND MEMBERS

1. General Duties

A. The Board of Education is an agent of the State of Connecticut to implement the educational interests of the State, and is the governing body of the Meriden Public Schools, with powers delegated to it pursuant to the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut. The Board of Education represents the residents of the City in carrying out the mandates of the General Statutes pertaining to education.

B. The Board of Education shall determine all questions of general policy to be employed in the conduct of the schools.

C. In determining school policy it shall:

(1) hear and consider facts and recommendations,
(2) adopt a plan, policy or course of action, and
(3) authorize the Superintendent of Schools, its chief executive officer, to carry out its policy.

2. Specific Powers and Duties

The Board of Education shall have authority to take all action necessary or advisable to meet its responsibilities under state statute including but not limited to the following:

A. Create, abolish, modify and maintain such positions, schools, divisions and classifications as may be necessary for the efficient administration of the educational enterprise.

B. To hire a Superintendent of Schools in accordance with state statutes.

C. To consider and adopt an annual budget, prepared by the Superintendent of Schools.

D. To determine the number, classification, duties and remuneration of employees.

E. To establish policies for employment, promotion and dismissal of personnel in accordance with the state statutes.

F. To provide for the appraisal of the efficiency of personnel.

G. To initiate and approve the acquisition and disposition of school sites, to initiate and approve plans for school buildings.

H. To consider any specific recommendations made by the Superintendent of Schools.

I. To keep the citizenry informed of purposes, values, conditions and needs of public education in the City.

J. To consider, revise and adopt any changes in the curriculum.

K. To take any other actions required or permitted by law.

L. To make reasonable provision to implement the educational interests of the State, as defined by law, so that

(1) each child shall have for the period prescribed in the General Statutes equal opportunity to receive a suitable program of educational experiences;

(2) the school district shall finance at a reasonable level an educational program designed to achieve this end;

(3) the school district shall provide educational opportunities for its students to interact with students and teachers from other racial, ethnic and economic backgrounds;

(4) the mandates in the General Statutes pertaining to education within the jurisdiction of the State Board of Education shall be implemented.

3. Authority of Board Members
Because all school board power resides in the Board acting as a body, individual board members exercise authority over school district affairs only when they act as Board members at duly called meetings of the Board or when delegated specific authority by a vote of the Board.

Legal References:
Connecticut General Statutes
     1-200   Definitions (public agency)
     10-4a   Educational interest of the State identified
     10-4b   Failure of local or regional board to implement educational interests
    10-220   Duties of Boards of Education
    10-221   Board of education to prescribe rules
    10-241   Powers of school district

Policy Adopted: April 28, 1981