Board of Trustees

Meeting Information

Board meetings are held for the purpose of setting or amending District policies; acting on recommendations by the Superintendent on matters ranging from personnel to maintenance of facilities; adopting an operating budget and tax rate for the District; and authorizing the spending of budgeted funds.

Preparation for each meeting is of great importance and occurs over periods of time. Study materials, public discussion, advisory group/task force meetings and personal observations are a few of the many sources Board members draw upon to help in the decision making process.

From input by Board Trustees, an agenda is prepared by the Board President and Superintendent before each meeting. All votes are recorded and minutes are kept on permanent record. Because Board members actively seek the advice and counsel of District residents, citizens are encouraged to regularly attend Board meetings.

The Agenda

The standard agenda format used for most Boise School District Board Meetings is as follows:

1. Executive Session (if necessary)
2. Work Session (if necessary)
3. Regular Session
   1. Pledge of Allegiance
   2. Recognitions and Resolutions
   3. School Reports
   4. Consent Agenda
   5. Reports and Recommendations
   6. Other Business
   7. Comments by Trustees
   8. Executive Session (if necessary)

Regular Board meeting sessions may be preceded by an Executive Session (usually scheduled for 5:30-6:30 p.m.) and/or Work Session (usually scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m.).

Consent Agenda

Typical of any large organization, the Boise School District faces numerous routine tasks at each meeting. The Consent Agenda portion of the agenda allows for a single vote resolution of matters such as approval of minutes from previous meetings, purchases, routine personnel matters and other detail work.

Use of the Consent Agenda is not intended to remove items from public review. Board members have the right to have any item removed from the Consent Agenda and placed in a different portion of the Agenda if they feel more public discussion is necessary.

The Consent Agenda makes for a more efficient and effective meeting, permitting Trustees to focus more time and attention on matters not already covered by specific policies and procedures.

How to Address the Board

The Board of Trustees works for the students, parents and patrons of the District and community input is always welcome. Ideas and suggestions can help the District meet the challenge of becoming the best school system possible.

Those wishing to address the Board must reside within the boundaries of the District, be a student, be a parent/guardian of a student, be an employee of the District, or be a representative of a firm eligible to bid on materials or services solicited by the Board. Other people who wish to speak, but do not meet the above criteria, must receive permission from the Board President.

Citizens may speak during the public discussion time set aside for any agenda item. This is the time to make views known about specific item(s) being discussed previous to any action taken by the Board. The Clerk of the Board maintains a sign-up sheet that is filled out prior to the start of the meeting. If written testimony or a handout is submitted, presenters are asked to supply 10 copies to the Clerk of the Board.

Speakers are asked to give their name, address and, at the discretion of the President, time will be limited to three to five minutes. This ensures that all who want to speak will have time and that the Board will be able to complete all of its business. Groups representing a consistent viewpoint are encouraged to select one spokesperson to address the Board.

Board Responses to Issues

Many issues require review and deliberation by the Board if good decisions are to be made. Immediate answers usually cannot be rendered. The Board will listen to citizens and answer questions or make a decision on concerns as soon as possible, but Trustees need to review all available information regarding the matter. The public will be notified through the local media and various District publications as to when Board meetings will be held to decide issues of concern.

Online Documents

Our current Board Meeting Packet is available on line, usually the Friday before the scheduled meeting. Meeting Packets and Approved Minutes are archived online as well.