School Board Communication Protocol
Due to Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law, School Board members must avoid discussions with other Board members and citizens regarding District matters outside of properly posted meetings. Individual Board members have no authority over District policies, operations or decisions. Only the School Board, at a properly noticed meeting, can discuss and take official action on matters affecting the District. For this reason, School Boardmembers are generally not involved in the day-to-day decisions that occur within the schools and the District.
The Board desires that District citizens receive high quality educational services and prompt attention to issues and concerns. In order to establish an efficient and effective organizational model, a chain of command process is in place for handling matters involving the District. Questions and concerns about individual students or school-related activities should be raised with the involved teacher(s) or school principal. For questions about athletics or other extra-curricular activities, the coach or advisor is the appropriate person to contact. If for some reason an issue cannot be resolved with the teacher, coach or advisor, it is appropriate to then contact an assistant principal, athletic director or principal.
District Administrators should be contacted with questions and concerns related to district operations, or if an issue could not be resolved at the school building level. Questions or concerns about the District’s administration or policies should be directed to the Superintendent of Schools. The Superintendent will address any questions or concerns with the School Board that require the Board’s determination. The School Board President can also be contacted with questions or concerns if matters could not be satisfactorily addressed by the Superintendent.
Board policy discourages email use by School Board members so Board members do not have District e-mail accounts. The addresses and phone numbers for School Board members are provided to the public with the understanding that citizen matters requiring pertinent attention by the District should not be communicated to individual Board members. The chain of command outlined above is the best way address day-to-day issues and provides the greatest assurance that concerns will be addressed promptly.
Citizens are also welcome to attend all School Board meetings and to address the Board at those meetings. Board meetings are normally scheduled for the fourth Monday of each month. Citizens may speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. Board Members generally do not respond to citizen comments during a public comment period as only items identified on a properly posted agenda can be addressed at a meeting of the Board.
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