School Committee
Meetings
|
HOW MEETINGS ARE RUN: Notification of School Committee Meetings
|
The Franklin School Committee will transact all business at official meetings of the Committee. These may be either regular or special meetings, defined as follows:
1. Regular meeting: the usual official legal action meeting, held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at a time and place to be determined by the Committee.
2. Special meeting: an official legal action meeting called between scheduled regular meetings to consider specific topics. Special meetings may be called by the chairman or by a majority of the members.
Every meeting of the Franklin School Committee, regular or special, will be open to the public unless an executive session is held in accordance with state law.
NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
As required by law, a minimum of 48 hours advance notice will be given for any meeting of the Franklin School Committee, including all subcommittee meetings,. The only exception permitted is in case of emergency, which the law defines as "a sudden, generally unexpected occurrence or set of circumstances demanding immediate action." Notification of the dates, times, and places of regular meetings will be accomplished by periodic publication of the schedule for the ensuing months. Notification of a change in a regular meeting time or place and notification of a special meeting will be filed with the town clerk at least 48 hours in advance, as required by law.
On the appearance of a quorum the chairman will proceed to business according to the following order:
1. Routine Business
A. Citizen's Comments
B. Review of agenda
C. Minutes
D. Payment of Bills
E. Payroll
F. FHS Student Representative
G. Correspondence
2. Guests/Presentations
3. Discussion Items
4. Discussion/Action Items
5. Action Items (2 readings for major policy changes)
6. Information Matters
A. Superintendent's Report
B. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
C. School Committee Liaison Reports
7. New Business
8. Adjournment
The content of agendas for regular and special meetings shall be developed by the chairman in consultation with the Superintendent of Schools at least 72 hours prior to preparation of the final agenda. Members wishing to submit items for the agenda shall notify the chairman or Superintendent during the New Business section of a regular School Committee meeting or no later than five days preceding the next scheduled meeting. The mechanics of the agenda are at the discretion of the chairman and Superintendent. The agenda and all supporting material will be delivered to each member at least four days prior to the scheduled meeting.
A simple majority of Franklin School Committee members will constitute a quorum at business and subcommittee meetings unless otherwise provided by law.
All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of parliamentary practice as laid down in "Roberts Rules of Order."
A majority vote of all members present is required for any action, unless otherwise indicated in state laws, Robert's Rules of Order or policies of the School Committee which require a larger majority. The Ayes and Nays on any vote shall be recorded. Any vote passed by the majority, although not unanimous thereby becomes the will of the committee.
All meetings of the Franklin School Committee are open to attendance by the public and media representatives. However, the Committee has the right to convene in a closed executive session when it meets the following procedural conditions imposed by state law:
1. The Committee will first convene in an open session for which due notice has been given.
2. The chairman (or, in his/hers absence, the presiding member) will state the purpose for the executive session.
3. A majority of the members must vote to enter the executive session, with the vote taken by roll call and recorded in the official minutes.
4. The chairman or presiding member will state before entering the executive session whether the Committee will reconvene in open session after the executive session. The law puts specific limitations on the purposes for which executive sessions may be convened, The Committee may enter executive sessions only to deliberate:
1. The reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than the professional competence, of a single individual.
2. The discipline or dismissal, including the hearing of charges against, a member of the committee, a school department employee or student, or other individual.
3. Strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation, if an open meeting might have a detrimental effect. Collective bargaining may also be conducted.
4. The deployment of security personnel or devices.
5. Allegations of criminal misconduct or to discuss the filing of criminal complaints.
6. Transactions of real estate, if an open meeting might be detrimental to the negotiating position of the committee or another party.
7. To comply with the provisions of any general or specific law of federal grant-in-aid requirements.
8. And to consider and interview applicants for employment (The only position that the School Committee would be involved in that might qualify would be for the position of Superintendent) This exemption only applies if it can be determined that an open meeting will have a detrimental affect in obtaining qualified applicants.
9. To meet or confer with a mediator with respect to any litigation or public business. Accurate records of the proceedings conducted in executive session will be kept and may remain classified only so long as their publication would defeat the purpose of the session. The Committee will review executive session minutes for possible declassification at least once each year. All votes taken in executive session will be recorded roll call votes, and will become part of the minutes of executive sessions.