I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to delineate the responsibilities of Moorhead Area Public Schools School Board officer positions, which are charged with the duty of carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to them for the care, management, and control of the public schools in the school district.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT
A. The School Board shall meet annually and organize by selecting a chair, a vice-chair, a clerk, and a treasurer.
B. The School Board shall appoint a Superintendent who will be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the School Board.
III. ORGANIZATION
A. The School Board shall meet annually on the first meeting in January or as soon thereafter as practicable and organize by selecting a chair, a vice-chair, a clerk, and a treasurer.
B. These officers shall hold office for one year and/or until their successors are elected.
C. The duties of the clerk shall be assisted by the School Board secretary, and the duties of the treasurer shall be assisted by the assistant superintendent of business and administrative services or designee.
IV. BOARD OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Chair (or designee)
1. The chair, when present, shall preside and conduct all meetings of the School Board; countersign all orders upon the treasurer for claims allowed by the School Board; represent the school district in all actions; serve as spokesperson for the School Board unless designated otherwise, and perform all duties a chair usually performs including signing School Board approved contracts, agreements, resolutions, communications, forms of recognition, and reports as required.
2. In case of absence or inability of the clerk to draw orders for the payment of money authorized by a vote of the majority of the School Board to be paid, the chair may draw the orders, or the office of the clerk may be declared vacant by the chair and treasurer and filled by appointment.
B. Vice-Chair (or designee)
The vice-chair shall perform the duties of the chair in the event of the chair's temporary absence.
C. Clerk (or designee)
1. The clerk will work with the School Board's secretary to keep records of all meetings and fulfill duties as required by Minnesota Election Law or other applicable laws relating to the conduction of elections. The clerk will countersign claims as required by the treasurer and chair for payment of salaries and wages and sign as needed School Board approved contracts, agreements, resolutions, communications, and reports.
2. The clerk shall perform the duties of the chair in the event of the chair's and the vice-chair's temporary absences.
D. Treasurer (or designee)
The treasurer shall work with the Superintendent and school district's business services department as needed on the fiscal management of the school district and sign claims allowed by the School Board and reports as needed to conduct the financial business of the school district. The treasurer will review the school district's annual audit with the auditors.
E. Assistant School Board Clerk
1. The assistant school board clerk, who shall be a member of the office staff of the Superintendent of Schools and shall act under the Superintendent's general direction. The assistant school board clerk shall:
a. Keep the minutes of the meetings of the School Board and include them in a future school board packet.
b. At least three (3) days before each regular meeting or special meeting, send written notice to the members of School Board and the Superintendent of the meeting.
c. At the request of the Chair, send a notice to members of the School Board and to the Superintendent of any special meeting of the Board at least three (3) days before such meeting.
d. Transmit all notices of the Board through the Superintendent's Office.
e. Prepare agendas and School Board meeting packets for all meetings of the School Board.
f. Fulfill duties as required by Minnesota Election Law or other applicable laws relating to the conduction of elections.
F. Superintendent
1. The Superintendent shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of the School Board.
2. The Superintendent shall perform the duties as defined in Minnesota statute 123B.143 and in Moorhead Schools Board Policy 302 School Superintendent.
Legal References:
Minn. Stat. 123B.12 (Insufficient Funds to Pay Orders)
Minn. Stat. 123B.14 (Officers of Independent School Districts)
Minn. Stat. 123B.143 (Superintendent)
Minn. Stat. 126C.17 (Referendum Revenue)
Minn. Stat. 205A (School District Elections)
Cross References:
Moorhead School Board Policy 101: Name and Legal Status of Moorhead Area Public Schools
Moorhead School Board Policy 201: School Board Legal Status
Moorhead School Board Policy 204: School Board Meeting Minutes
Moorhead School Board Policy 302: Superintendent
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 101 (Legal Status of the School District)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 201 (Legal Status of the School Board)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 202 (School Board Officers)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 302 (Superintendent)