FAQ

The school board is a policymaking body that oversees the School Director. It is the School

Director who is responsible for the operation of the school district and its employees.

The RACS Board of Trustees holds different kinds of meetings: Regular Meetings, Special

Meetings, and an annual Reorganizational Meeting. Each is described below. During any of

these meetings, a segment of the meeting may be devoted to a Public Hearing, or the Board

may opt to go into Executive Session. These are described below as well.

These meetings are the meetings during which most of the school's business is conducted. The

Board takes action on items listed on a consent agenda. These items include actions such as

accepting resignations, appointing employees, accepting minutes of previous meetings,

approving business reports, approving employee contracts, etc. The Board has several weeks to

review agenda items before they go to a meeting and vote on them. Supporting documentation is

provided and questions are asked of the administration in advance of the meeting so that Board

members are prepared to take action at the meeting.

The Board hears presentations about school programs and events and/or engages in

discussions about school matters. As the name implies, it is also sometimes necessary to call a

special meeting to address a time­sensitive issue or to deal with a circumstance that has arisen.

This meeting is when the school board elects and appoints its officers and committees for the

coming year, and board members take or renew their oaths of office. The Reorganizational

meeting must be held each year in July.

An executive session is a portion of a school board meeting that is not open to the public. It is

permitted only for a limited number of specific purposes that include the following subjects:

Matters that will imperil the public safety if disclosed.

Any matter that may disclose the identity of a law enforcement agent or informer.

Information relating to current or future investigation or prosecution of a criminal offense that

would imperil effective law enforcement if disclosed.Discussions involving proposed, pending, or current litigation.

Collective negotiations pursuant to article 14 of the Civil Service Law.

The medical, financial credit, or employment history of a particular person or corporation, or

matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension,

dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation

The preparation, grading, or administration of exams.

The proposed acquisition, sale, or lease of real property or the proposed acquisition, sale, or

exchange of securities, but only when publicity would substantially affect the value of these

things (Pub. Off. Law Section 105 [a­h]).

Board meeting agendas are available to the public on the Wednesday before a Board meeting.

Following the Board meeting, any presentations made at the meeting become available to the

public as well. This is an excellent way for people who cannot attend meetings to be aware of

what is going on in the district.

The Board has several weeks to review many of these agenda items before they go to a meeting

and vote on them. Supporting documentation is provided and questions are asked of the

administration in advance of the meeting so that Board members are prepared to take action at

the meeting. Because Board Members “do their homework,” in advance of the meeting, most

times, discussion on items is not required.

As stated previously, the Board is primarily a policymaking body; it is the administrators who

implement those policies. A chain of command exists in school districts as it does in many

organizations. It is important that concerns be addressed by the person closest to the source

before going to the Board. Typically, the chain of command in a school district would be as

follows:

Teacher/Employee

Dean of Students

Principal

Board of Trustees

Charter School OfficeThe Comissioner

Each of our Board members is truly passionate about their role [for which they volunteer]. Each

has attended meetings or conferences of the New York State Charter School Association and

National Charter School Association to obtain training, see the best practices of other districts,

give input to the legislative agenda, and meet with the vendors. To do this, most Board members

use vacation days that they would otherwise have spent with their families.

Additionally, Board members participate on committees, such as the Educational Excellence

Committee and the Finacial Comittee.