Policy 2:20
Powers and Duties of The Board of Education
The Board’s powers and duties include the broad authority to adopt
and enforce all necessary policies for the management and governance of
public schools and generally include:
-
Formulating, adopting, and modifying District policies, at its sole discretion,
subject only to mandatory collective bargaining agreements and State and
federal law;
- Employing a superintendent and other personnel, making employment
decisions, dismissing personnel, and establishing an equal employment
opportunity policy that prohibits unlawful discrimination;
- Approving the annual budget, tax levies, major expenditures, payment of
obligations, annual audit, and other aspects of the District’s financial
operation; and making available a statement of financial affairs as provided
in State law;
- Entering contracts utilizing the public bidding procedure when required;
- Providing, constructing, controlling, and maintaining adequate physical
facilities;
- Approving the curriculum, educational materials and educational services;
- Evaluating the educational program and approving School Improvement
and District Improvement Plans as legally required, as well as School/District
Implementation Plans;
- Establishing and supporting student discipline policies to maintain an
environment conducive to learning, as well as deciding individual student
expulsion and suspension appeal cases brought before it;
- Establishing attendance units within the District and assigning students to
the schools;
- Establishing the school year;
- Maintaining the public schools under their jurisdiction;
- Providing student transportation services pursuant to State law;
- Entering into joint agreements with other boards to establish cooperative
educational programs or provide educational facilities;
- Communicating the schools’ activities and operations to the community and
representing the needs and desires of the community in educational matters;
- Complying with requirements in the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting
Act. Specifically, each individual member of the Board of Education must, if
an allegation is raised to the member during an open or closed Board of
Education meeting that a student is an abused child as defined in the Act,
direct or cause the Board to direct the Superintendent or other equivalent
school administrator to comply with the Act’s requirements concerning the
reporting of child abuse;
- Organizing the Board annually by electing officers, if needed, and
establishing its regular meeting schedule and, thereafter, taking action
during lawfully called meetings to faithfully fulfill the Board’s
responsibilities in accordance with State and federal law;
- Directing, through policy, the Superintendent, in his or her charge of the
District’s administration;
- Presenting the District report card and School report card(s) to
parents/guardians and the community; these documents report District,
School, and student performance;
Indemnification
To the extent allowed by law, the Board shall defend, indemnify, and hold
harmless members of the Board of Education, employees, volunteer personnel
(pursuant to 105ILCS 5/10-22.34, 10-22.34a and 10-22.34b), mentors of certified
staff (pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/2-3.5a, 2-3.53b, and 105 ILCS 5/21A-5 et. seq.), and
student teachers who, in the course of discharging their official duties imposed or
authorized by law, are sued as parties in a legal proceeding. Nothing herein,
however, shall be construed as obligating the Board to defend, indemnify, or hold
harmless any person who engages in criminal activity, official misconduct, fraud,
intentional or willful and wanton misconduct, or acts beyond the authority
properly vested in the individual.
Adopted: November 8, 1999
Revised: February 20, 2007; November 16, 2015; June 27, 2016