PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF BOARD MEMBERS

PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF BOARD MEMBERS

po0143.1Adopted November 10, 2008Revised December 10, 2018

0143.1 - PUBLIC EXPRESSION OF BOARD MEMBERS

The Board of Education President functions as the official spokesperson for the Board.

From time-to-time, however, individual Board members will make public statements on school matters.

If the statements imply, or if the readers (listeners) could infer that the opinions expressed or statements made are the official positions of the Board, the Board members shall, when writing or speaking on school matters, make it clear that their views do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board or of their colleagues on the Board.

  1. This bylaw shall apply to all statements and/or writings by individual Board members not explicitly sanctioned by a majority of its members, except as follows:

    1. correspondence, such as legislative proposals, when the Board member has received official guidance from the Board on the matters discussed in the letter

    2. routine, not for publication, correspondence of the Superintendent and other Board employees

    3. routine "thank you" letters of the Board

    4. statements by Board members on nonschool matters (providing the statements do not identify the author as a member of the Board)

    5. personal statements not intended for publication

  2. Copies of this bylaw shall be sent annually to local media by the Board President.

A Board member's personal or private use of social media may have unintended, negative consequences to the Board member and/or the District, including possible violations of the Open Meetings Act and issues relating to the creation of a public record. Postings to social media should be done in a manner sensitive to the Board member's responsibilities, applicable District policies, and legal obligations.

Revised 7/9/18

© Neola 2018