Board Operating Principles

Student Success

• We believe students are the highest priority.
• We commit to a vision of high expectations in student achievement and quality instruction.
• We define clear achievement goals.
• We believe in teaching all students at high levels.
• We focus on policies to improve student achievement.
• We will strive to include informational presentation(s) or agenda item(s) related to students or instructional topics at each regular meeting during the school year.
• We will develop an ongoing review of curriculum to determine its effectiveness.

Advocate for Excellence

• We are led by our District’s mission statement: The Shenandoah Community School District, in partnership with families and the community, will provide each student an educational environment that maximizes his or her potential to become responsible, successful citizens and lifelong learners in an ever-changing world.
• We will utilize staff, community members, and students to develop a shared vision for high quality education for all students.
• We will communicate the importance of education within the community.
• We require accountability of the Board of Education and all District personnel.
• We use data to guide continuous improvement.
• We will seek out opportunities and actively participate in board development learning opportunities through groups such as IASB.

Effective Support & Processes

• We will allocate the resources necessary to provide high-quality education, including continuing to recruit and retain high-quality staff, providing efficient and effective support programs, and maintaining excellent facilities.  Resources will be provided to for safe schools.
• We will ensure fiscally responsible budgeting and financial planning to support our mission, vision, values, goals, and principles.
• We will develop comprehensive instructional programs to meet district, state, and federal standards and requirements.
• We support an extensive professional development program.

Leadership & Governance

• We will obtain necessary information on education issues needed to make informed decisions.
• We listen and encourage submission of ideas and opinions throughout the decision-making process.
• We ensure individuals who have expressed concern receive communication after the concerns have been addressed, understanding that due to confidentiality requirements, sometimes the extent of the resolution cannot be discussed.
• We will use appropriate strategies for dealing with disagreements among ourselves and with the superintendent.
• We will ensure that communication between Board members outside Board meetings is not construed as making decisions for the Board.
• We will follow Board policy and statutes regulating all meetings of the Board of Education.
• We will develop meeting agendas cooperatively between the superintendent and Board chair.
• We convey our requests to the Board chair or Superintendent for agenda items for consideration.
• We will review policy periodically.
• We will be role models for positive leadership.

Communicate & Connect

• We will follow proper policy and communication channels for employee and community concerns.
• We encourage stakeholders to follow the chain-of-communication in resolving concerns.
  • The Board is primarily a policymaking body; it is the administrators who implement those policies. The Board will deal with complaints concerning specific schools, programs, or procedures only after the usual channels have been exhausted. Complaints regarding employees or complaints by students will follow the more specific policies that are consistent with policy, rule, regulation and statute. 
• It is important that concerns be addressed by the person closest to the source before going to the Board. The chain of command in is outlined as follows:
  • Teacher/Coach/Employee
  • Activities Director
  • Principal or Supervisor
  • Central office administrator in charge of area [Curriculum Director, Business Manager]
  • Superintendent
  • Board of Education 
• We will encourage community members to attend Board meetings to provide input during public forums and public hearings so they can make suggestions regarding District initiatives and other items in which they may have interests that are on the current board agenda.
  • Public comments are limited to three (3) minutes per person speaking. 
  • Organized groups who desire to speak on the same topic should identify one (1) speaker from the group to address the board. 
  • The Board will listen to the comments made but is not able to take action on issues raised and does not intend to make an immediate response.
  • Speakers recognized by the board president will be allowed to speak.  Comments by others are out of order. If disruptive, the individual making the comments or another individual causing disruption may be asked to leave the board meeting.
  • The Board President has the authority to end the public forum at any time.
• We seek information from the superintendent and provide information to the superintendent when necessary.
• We provide information to the superintendent so that s/he is aware of concerns and expect the concerns to be addressed.