EOCS 7450                                                                                                    Pamela Barnett

Practicum in
Leadership
Planned Standard Activity #4

Board Meetings

In
the past our county board meetings were held during the workday when the
majority of stakeholders could not attend.
Currently the meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. on the 2nd
Monday of each month.  I attended
the board meetings with another teacher who was also observing.  Other than system staff members and
newspaper reporters, we were the only visitors present at the meetings.

The
majority of the meetings were spent on reports and presentations that provided
information on business operations and school trips.  Recommendations were made and approved
related to appointing a vice-chairman and a school board attorney and
scheduling a workshop meeting.  Some
time was spent approving personnel for employment and accepting
resignations.

A
recommendation made by one presenter to consolidate the three middle schools in
the county as a cost saving measure caused a few eyebrows to be raised.  It brought back memories of the
countywide friction caused from consolidating the high schools.  At the meetings, the board also voted to
enter into executive sessions to discuss pending or potential litigation and/or
to discuss matters related to an employee.  The executive sessions lasted about an
hour.

Overall,
the meetings seemed to consume a lot of time in relation to what was actually
accomplished.  The atmosphere is
very relaxed and informal.  I was
concerned about the absence of stakeholders at board meetings where issues are
discussed and decisions are made.