Policy 1.011

Responsibilities of the District School Board

1. The school board is empowered to determine policies necessary for the effective operation and general improvement of the school district. The school board shall limit its action to establishing policy and fulfilling the requirements of and exercising authority under the appropriate Florida Statutes and state board of education rules.

2. Board members have authority only when the board is meeting in official session and a quorum is present. The school board shall not be bound in any way, by any statement or by any action on the part of any individual school board member or employee except to the extent the statement or action is in compliance with the action of the school board. The school board may designate one or more board member(s) to speak on its behalf to represent its position at specified occasions and/or by consensus or vote upon a duly-made motion taken on particular issues.

3. Under Florida Statutes, school board members serve as representatives of the entire school district. When speaking before individuals or groups, unless designated by the board to speak on its behalf, individual school board members are to declare that they are expressing their own personal view on issues for which there is no adopted school board position or are describing board discussion on items not yet approved. If the school board, in a prior public session, has approved a policy, agenda item or statement of position on the issue or topic being discussed, then individual school board members may notify their audience of the board-approved position or action.

4. The school board members are encouraged to visit the schools and departments in order to be better informed concerning all phases of the school district.

5. Any request for data or other information, from a school board member on topics other than school board agenda items or which requires significant staff work to prepare should have the concurrence by vote or consensus of a majority of school board members before staff time is employed.

Page 1.011