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Category: Board Policy

Published on
  • Effective: 9/25/2012
  • Revision: 11/26/20
  • Reviewed: 2/24/2015

The President assures the integrity of the process of the Board of Education, and when called upon, represents the Board to outside parties.

Accordingly, the President will have the following roles and duties:

  1. To ensure that the Board behaves consistently with its own policies and those legitimately imposed upon it from outside the organization, by enforcing that:
    1. Meeting discussion content will be on those issues, which according to Board policy, clearly belong to the Board to decide or to monitor.
    2. Information, which is neither for monitoring performance nor Board decisions, will be avoided or minimized and always noted as information.
    3. Deliberation will be fair, open, thorough, timely, orderly, and specific to the issue.
    4. The Board be in compliance with its own policies on Governance Process and Board/Superintendent Connection, and advising the Board, particularly in the case of Board behavior that is detrimental to the working relationship between the Board and the Superintendent and/or the Business Administrator.
  2. To make decisions that fall within topics covered by Board policies on Governance Process and Board/Superintendent Connection with the exception of employment or termination of a Superintendent or Business Administrator, and where the Board specifically delegates portions of this authority to others. The President is authorized to use any reasonable interpretation of the provisions in these policies in acting within the following powers and limitations:
    1. The President is empowered to chair Board of Education meetings with all the commonly accepted responsibility of that position (e.g., ruling, recognizing speakers and following Robert’s Rules of Order.)
    2. The President has no authority to make decisions about policies created by the Board within Ends and Executive Limitations policy areas.
    3. The President has no authority to supervise or direct the Superintendent.
    4. The President, in collaboration with the Second Vice President, is responsible for the creation of the annual policy review calendar, which is to be derived from the Board approved perpetual calendar. The President must present the calendar for Board approval by July 1st.
    5. The President may represent the Board to outside parties in announcing Board-stated positions and in stating chair decisions and interpretations within the area delegated to her/him.
    6. The President may delegate this authority but remains accountable for its use.
    7. The President may call special meetings of the Board of Education:
      1. whenever there is sufficient business to come before the Board; or
      2. upon the written requests of three members of the Board; or
      3. with the concurrence of three members of the Board at a regular meeting and in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
    8. The President shall sign all papers and documents as required by law or as authorized by action of the Jordan School District Board of Education.
    9. In the absence of the Second Vice President and the First Vice President, the President may appoint another Board member to assume the Second Vice President ’s duties.
  3. To ensure the delivery of an annual progress report to the public by the Superintendent as delegated by the Board to include the following items:
    1. Student performance data indicating student progress toward accomplishing the Board’s Ends policies;
    2. Information about District strategies, programs, and operations intended to accomplish the Board’s Ends policies; and
    3. Revenues, expenditures, and costs of major programs and elements of District operation.

Published on

Effective: 9/25/2012
Revision: 1/25/2022
Reviewed: 2/24/2015

A Board Advisory Committee is a committee created by the Board of Education to study issues and make recommendations to the Board. This includes any group, which is formed by Board action, whether or not it is called a committee and regardless whether the group includes Board members. It does not apply to committees formed under the authority of the Superintendent.

  1. Accordingly, Board Advisory Committees:
    1. Are to support the Board of Education in doing its job. Committees ordinarily will assist the Board by gathering information, studying issues, preparing policy alternatives and implications for Board deliberation. In keeping with the Board’s broader focus, Board committees will normally not have direct dealings with current staff operations. A committee shall obtain Board approval when requests for information of assistance from staff require a material amount of staff time or funds to fulfill.
    2. May not speak or act for the Board except when formally given such authority for specific and time limited purposes. Expectations and authority will be carefully stated in order not to conflict with authority delegated to the Superintendent. Decisions made by a committee do not carry the authority of the full Board unless it is a Board committee of the whole.
    3. Cannot exercise authority over staff. Because the Superintendent works for the full Board, he or she will not be required to obtain approval of a Board committee before taking executive action.
    4. Will avoid over-identification with organizational parts rather than the whole. Therefore, a Board committee that has helped the Board create policy on some topic will not be used to monitor organizational performance on that same subject.
    5. Will be presided over by the committee chair, who has the responsibility to determine meeting schedules, approve agenda items, facilitate the meeting, direct discussion, delegate assignments to committee members, direct the budget assigned to the committee to meet the objectives of the committee, assign a facilitator in the absence of the chair, work with the President to keep the full Board informed of the committee’s progress, and assume the commonly accepted responsibility of the position.
  2. The President shall collaborate with Board members to make committee assignments and submit them to the Board for approval.
  3. Any Board member can serve as an alternate on any Board Advisory Committee.
  4. A Board Advisory Committee will have no less than two or more than three Board members at all meetings. A Board Advisory Committee will be supported by a District representative.
  5. Recommendations or proposals from Board Advisory Committees can be provided during Committee Reports or processed as outlined in GP109 Construction of the Agenda.
  6. The Board creates Board Advisory Committees that will best serve their needs. Committees and committee membership may change as needs arise. See appendix Jordan School District Board of Education Committee Assignments for a list of current committees and assignments.

Published on
  • Effective: 9/25/2012
  • Revision: 7/30/2019

Continuous monitoring of Superintendent job performance will ensure organizational accomplishment of Board policies on Ends, and organizational operation within the boundaries established in Board policies on Executive Limitations. The purpose of the monitoring is not to criticize or find fault with the Superintendent, but rather to facilitate the success of the Superintendent in accomplishing the Board’s goals.  A Board’s highest responsibility is to complete the evaluation and is the key role as a Board member.

Accordingly, monitoring will be accomplished as follows:

  1. After the conclusion of the school year and prior to the beginning of the following school year, the Superintendent will present to the Board a self-evaluation. This is an informal self-evaluation.
  2. In November/December, the Superintendent will present Executive Limitations and Ends policy interpretations and data showing compliance to each Ends policy.
  3. Each Board member will complete the Superintendent Monitoring Tool (see Appendix Superintendent’s Performance Monitoring Tool). This formative written evaluation document will include areas of strength/commendation as well as areas targeted for improvement/growth.
  4. The Board will meet in closed session to discuss each Board member’s evaluation of the Superintendent. The summative evaluation will be based upon data collected during the previous school year from monitoring Board policies on Ends and Executive Limitations.
  5. The President of the Board will prepare an evaluation summary and present it to the Board for approval.
  6. The Board President will present the approved evaluation summary to the Superintendent.
  7. The Superintendent will be given an opportunity to respond to the Board’s evaluation summary.
  8. The Board will publish a summary of the Superintendent’s compliance to the public. The formal summative evaluation will be included on the Board’s business meeting agenda as part of the open meeting.
  9. The Superintendent and the Board President will sign and date the completed formal summative evaluation following the meeting. (See Appendix Superintendent’s Performance Monitoring Tool)
  10. Any changes to Ends and Executive limitations by which the Superintendent’s performance will be judged for the upcoming year must have been completed by April in accordance with policy GP108, section B.
  11. In an effort to resolve concerns and safeguard the reputation of the Superintendent and the Board, should any difference of opinion arise between the Superintendent and a member of the Board, the following steps will be applied before either of those parties make his or her difference of opinion a matter of public discussion.
    1. The Superintendent and Board member agree to meet privately and commit to keeping efforts positive and constructive.
    2. The Superintendent and Board member will provide sufficient time adequate to remedy any concern that is presented in the initial meeting.
    3. If either party does not feel that the concern has been addressed sufficiently the concern shall be brought to the attention of the Board of Education in closed session or study session, as allowed by the Utah Open and Public Meeting Act.
    4. If discussion with the entire Board of Education is not deemed to have resolved the issue by either the Superintendent or a majority of the Board present, either party is allowed to request further exploration of the issue through continued discussion of the issue, requesting private recommendations from disinterested third parties, or creation of a committee selected by the Board.
    5. The Superintendent or any Board member has the right to invoke B/SC 204 section K. in closed session or study session and request that the Board instruct the affected parties to follow the steps as outlined.

Revision history:  4/23/13, 6/10/14, 3/31/15, 2/21/17

Published on

Effective: 09/25/2012
Revision:
Reviewed: 4/28/2015

The Board serves as a policy-making body and employs a Superintendent to serve as executive officer. In accordance with its Board governance model, the Board shall adopt general policies and regulations that provide authorization and guidelines for the Board, Superintendent, and staff to take action. Application of such policies is an administrative function of the Superintendent.

  1. All District policies and regulations, as well as the policies of the Board, shall be approved in an open meeting with notice as established by law. Any Board member or the Superintendent may ask for policies and regulations to be reviewed, revised or developed.
  2. In accordance with its governance model, the Board delegates to the Superintendent the function of formulating administrative guidelines and District procedures designed to interpret and carry out District policies and Board policies. The administrative guidelines and procedures will specify required actions and detail the arrangements under which the District will operate. These rules and procedures must be consistent with the policies adopted by the Board.
  3. The Board retains the function of formulating Board governance policies. The Board policies will be ratified at an open meeting.
  4. The Board is responsible for final approval on all policies.
    1. New Policies: New policies will be brought to the Board to review and discuss in a study session. In a public meeting, public input will be taken and the Board will vote on final approval.
    2. Policy Revisions: If a policy is revised to the extent that the intent of the policy is changed, or if revisions are needed to be in compliance with the law, the policy will be presented in an open meeting for public input, and consideration and action by the Board.
    3. Policy Corrections: When corrections to a policy are necessary to update references to sections of the law, dates, personnel title changes, or other minor corrections, the Superintendent or designee is authorized to make the changes, advise the Board of the modifications, and present the policy on the consent agenda for approval.
  5. The Board will honor current negotiated policies, designated as NEG, during the applicable terms of the policies.

Published on

Effective: 9/25/2012
Revision: 3/28/2017
Reviewed: 2/28/2018

In compliance with Utah Code 52-4-205, closed sessions of the Board of Education are not open to the public or news media and may be conducted only to deliberate (a) personnel, (b) negotiations, (c) student appeals, (d) property, (e) potential litigation,(f) employee appeals or (g) security.

Accordingly, all closed sessions shall comply with the following:

  1. All meetings of the Jordan School District and committees of the Board shall be conducted in compliance with the requirements of the Utah Open Meeting Law. All Board members shall familiarize themselves with the Utah Open Meeting Law and complete Utah School Board Association training. Any question regarding open meeting compliance shall be immediately brought to the attention of Board legal counsel.
  2. A person requesting a closed session shall inform the President of the Board regarding the reason for and the scope of the requested closed session. If necessary, ascertain from Board legal counsel whether the proposed reason and scope comply with the Utah Open Meeting Law .
  3. Board meetings conducted in closed sessions shall, as required by law, be audio recorded. The Board’s Business Administrator shall retain the audio recording for a period of ten years from the date of the closed session, or longer if needed for resolution of any related litigation.
  4. Minutes may be released only as provided by statute or court order, or with the prior approval of the Board President and Board legal counsel, when the Board determines that the matters discussed no longer require confidentiality, and the person whose character, conduct, competence, or health was discussed has consented to such release. The person discussed is entitled to a copy of that portion of the minutes relating to him/her upon request, whether or not the minutes become public records.
  5. Voting is permitted in closed session to give direction but not to finalize any action.   A resolution, policy, contract, or appointment may not be finalized in a closed meeting in accordance with Utah Code 52-4-204.
  6. If a dispute arises regarding the scope of a closed session, the Board shall consult Board legal counsel.

Published on
  • Effective: 9/25/2012
  • Revision: 4/23/2013
  • Reviewed: 11/28/2017

The Board of Education will govern lawfully by policy on behalf of students with an emphasis on strategic leadership for the future of Jordan School District.

The Board of Education is accountable to the people of the Jordan School District for competent, conscientious, and effective accomplishments of its objectives.

Accordingly:

  1. The Board is responsible for excellence in governing. The Board of Education is the initiator of policy, not merely a reactor to staff initiatives. The Board honors diverse viewpoints but does not use the expertise of individual members to substitute for the judgment of the Board, although the expertise of individual members may be used to enhance the understanding of the Board as a body.
  2. The Board of Education directs, controls, and inspires the organization through the careful establishment of broad written policies reflecting the Board’s values and perspectives. The Board’s major policy focus is on the intended long-term impacts outside the staff organization, not on the administrative or programmatic means of attaining those effects.
  3. The Board of Education accepts information, which reflects the need for improvement, as well as success in order to gain a clear understanding of the District.
  4. The Board of Education maintains a professional relationship with all of its advisory committees in communicating requests, receiving information, and requesting staff assistance when necessary.
  5. The Board of Education governs with excellence in matters such as attendance, preparation for meetings, policymaking principles, respect of roles, and ensuring the continuance of governing capability. Although the Board can change its governance process policies at any time, it will observe them scrupulously while they are in force.
  6. New Board member orientation shall occur between the election of new Board members and January 1 and will be delivered by the sitting Board president or designee. Refer to the Appendix “Guidelines for New Board Member Orientation.”
  7. The Board of Education monitors and discusses the Board’s process and performance at a regular monthly meeting. This brief assessment will include review of Board activity and adherence to policies in the Governance Process and Board/Superintendent Connection categories.
  8. The Board will allow no officer, individual Board member, or committee of the Board to be a reason for not fulfilling its commitments.

Published on

Effective: 9/25/2012
Revision: 1/23/2024
Reviewed: 2/24/2015

A Board of Education recognizes that its deliberative process benefits greatly from public input and perspective. At the same time, it wishes to organize its agendas and use its meeting time effectively, ensure an equitable allocation of time to speakers, and establish an orderly process for receiving public comment.

Additionally, in order to be responsive to the public, the Board desires that appropriate staff members be present and prepared to respond to general areas of concern identified by potential speakers; therefore, it is the policy of the Board that members of the public shall have the right and shall be encouraged to be heard at certain Board meetings. This right may be exercised in the following way:

  1. Prior to each special business item being brought to a vote, members of the public are allowed to speak on the item after the Board’s discussion. Since approval of the consent agenda may be approved in one motion, members of the public wishing to speak on a consent agenda item may speak prior to the vote. No person may yield his or her time to another person. Generally, a person wishing to speak on agenda items will be allowed three minutes to address the Board.
  2. Those wishing to address the Board may utilize one of three options to speak:
    1. Call the Office of the Superintendent during regular business hours.
    2. Sign up immediately prior to the beginning of the meeting.
    3. Volunteer to speak if the Board President invites additional patron input.

    Patrons must list their name and agenda item or topic they wish to address prior to speaking. The Board may elect to hear patron comments in any order or sequence and is not limited by the arrangement shown on the sign-up sheets.

  3. Should a member of the public wish to speak on matters not listed on the agenda, they may speak during the Patron Comment period.
    1. Patron comment time is allotted first to residents of Jordan District, students, parents/guardians of current students, and current employees of the District. All others may address the Board if time permits.
    2. No more than 45 minutes will be allocated to patron comments in a Board meeting. This does not apply to advertised public hearings (e.g. boundary changes, truth-in-taxation).
    3. Speakers will be given up to three minutes to address the Board. The public should be aware that the Board is unable, by law, to take action on items not on the agenda.
    4. In those situations where large groups of people desire to address the Board on the same subject, the President may request that those groups select only one or two speakers from the group to address the Board on behalf of the group and shall be allocated up to six minutes to speak.
    5. Patrons may submit a comment electronically to be read during the Patron Comment period if time permits. Comments will be heard from those attending in-person prior to those received electronically. Electronic comments should be submitted to boardcomments@jordandistrict.org by 3:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. A comment or portion of a comment will not be read if it (a)is not germane to the authority of the Board, (b) regards the character, professional competence, or the physical or mental health of the an individual, (c) or is not appropriate for all ages. Comments not read in the meeting will be forwarded to the Board.
    6. Patrons presenting highly detailed or complex information are asked to provide a written outline of their comments for the Board.
    7. Silence by the Board on an issue does not suggest support or opposition to the message given.
    8. The Board will not take public comment on personnel issues or statements regarding the character, professional competence, and the physical or mental health of an individual during Board meetings. Similar comments about a group whose members could be identified individually are not allowed. Communications regarding such comments or
      statements should be sent in writing to the attention of the Board of Education, 7387 S. Campus View Drive, West Jordan, UT 84084 or email individual Board members.
    9. The Board will only take comments on issues that are germane to the authority of the Board.
    10. Comments should be appropriate for all ages.
    11. Persons who disrupt Board meetings or the business of the Board by applause, cheering, jeering, or personal outbursts may be removed from the meeting by appropriate legal means.
    12. Speech that defames individuals or interrupts the public business of the Board will not be tolerated and may be cause for removal from the meeting. The Board may adjourn the meeting at any time.
    13. Board meeting attendance cannot exceed the seating capacity of the room in which the meeting is scheduled to be held. Whenever possible, the Board will accommodate overflow seating and provide audio for the meeting.
    14. A mayor or the mayor’s designee of a municipality, the county commission chair, county executive or county manager or their designees of a county with unincorporated area that is partly or entirely with the boundaries of Jordan School District, shall be notified of Board meetings and may attend and may participate in discussions at Board meetings. (Utah Code 53G-7-208)
  4. At its discretion, the Board may schedule public hearings for the purpose of receiving public comment on topics of high public interest and/or as required by Utah state law.
    1. Each speaker shall be heard only once during the hearing. If more than one hearing is held on the same issue, patrons may speak at only one of the hearings.
    2. If a large number of patrons have signed up to speak, the Board may elect to adjust the time allocated to each speaker to allow more patrons the opportunity to be heard.
    3. Policy GP110, Sections B and C shall also apply to public hearings.
  5. The Board reserves the right to waive or alter this procedure if in the opinion of the Board it is warranted by the circumstances of any particular meeting.
  6. Study sessions shall be open to the public, but time shall not be provided for patron comments unless invited by the Board president.
  7. At each meeting, the Board President may read speaker guidelines prior to receiving public input.

Published on
  • Effective: 9/25/2012
  • Revision:

The purpose of the Board of Education, on behalf of the people of Jordan School District, is to ensure that Jordan School District achieves appropriate results for students at a cost comparable to like school districts and avoids unacceptable actions and situations. Accountability for the effectiveness of the District rests ultimately with the Board of Education. Consequently, the determination of policy is the responsibility as well as the prerogative of the Board. The Board acknowledges its responsibility to provide leadership in the achievement of District objectives.

Published on

Effective: 9/25/2012
Revision: 10/26/2021
Reviewed: 2/24/2015

The Board of Education shall meet at least once each month and may act as a group only within the confines of a meeting that complies with the requirements of the Utah Open Meeting Law.

  1. The Board shall hold a Board meeting at least once each month to conduct business.
  2. Recessed/reconvened meetings may be held at the discretion of the Board, since any legal meeting may be recessed to a specific time and place subject to statutory notice requirements. Only items on the agenda of the meeting recessed may be acted upon at the recessed meeting.
  3. Special Board meetings may be called by the President or at the written request of three members of the Board at any time. Special Board meetings are meetings at which action may be taken and business conducted. The time and date of a special Board meeting may be set during a regularly convened Board meeting.
  4. Closed sessions shall be held as needed or requested by Board members or staff concerning permissible issues including those of (a) character, competence or health of an individual, (b) student appeals, (c) employee appeals, (d) negotiations, (e) property, (f) pending or potential litigation, or (g) security.  A closed session shall appear as an agenda item and be publicly noticed as required.  Rules governing closed sessions are outlined in GP112 Closed Sessions of the Board.
  5. Study sessions will be scheduled as needed for the Board to review and discuss pending issues.  A study session shall appear as an agenda item and be publicly noticed as required.  Board action may be taken during a study session.  Study sessions shall be open to the public, and time may be provided for public comment if invited by the Board president.
  6. At its discretion or as required by state law, the Board may schedule public hearings where the Board shall receive public comment on specific topics.  Minutes of public hearings shall be prepared in summary form.  After official approval by the Board, summary minutes are open to the public.  A verbatim transcript of the proceedings will not be prepared.
  7. Board members may attend and participate by electronic means in meetings of the Board in accordance with this policy and Utah Code 52-4-207.
    1. “Electronic means” is defined as attendance via telephone, video, or audio conferencing, or other electronic communication.
    2. When a Board meeting is conducted by electronic means without a quorum of the Board physically assembled, a means by which members of the public may electronically attend the meeting remotely shall be provided. An anchor location for the public to attend the Board meeting shall be provided, unless the Board President determines that an anchor location would present a substantial risk to the health or safety of those present at the anchor location.
    3. The electronic means used shall allow the public to hear any comments made by the Board member(s) participating by electronic means and allow the Board member(s) to hear the comments made by the public.
    4. A Board member participating by electronic means will be included in the recording of the Board meeting.
    5. Board members may attend and participate by electronic means in a Board meeting only when extenuating circumstances prevent a Board member from physically attending the meeting.
    6. A Board member who seeks to attend and participate by electronic means in a Board meeting shall notify the Board President at least 24 hours prior to a meeting and shall explain the extenuating circumstances that prevent the Board member from physically attending the meeting.  If such notification is not possible under the circumstances, the Board member shall notify the Board President as soon as is reasonably possible of the request to attend by electronic means.
    7. At the commencement of the meeting, or at such time as any Board member initially joins electronically, the Board president shall identify for the record all those who are participating electronically.
    8. A Board meeting at which one or more Board members attend and participate by electronic means shall be open to the public, except for periods in which the Board is in closed session.
      If the Board convenes in closed session, the Board member attending and participating by electronic means shall ensure confidentiality during that portion of the meeting.