|
|
 |
|
|
Welcome
to a Meeting of the Board of Trustees
|
|
We are pleased you could be with us at
this meeting and hope you will return
often. Your visit assures us of continuing
community interest in our schools. Agendas
are available at the reception counter
in the lobby. Beginning August 13, 2007, all open session board meetings will be recorded.
|
| About
The Board of Trustees |
|
The Capistrano Unified School District
has a seven-member Board of Trustees,
with each trustee representing one of
seven geographic areas within the school
district. Each trustee is elected at large
and serves a four-year term of office.
The Board of Trustees is the policymaking
body for the school district. It is charged
with providing a quality educational program
for students in grades kindergarten through
12 in accordance with the California Constitution,
the laws of the state, adopted Board policies,
and the desires of the community.
In addition to elected trustees, a student
representative to the Board of Trustees
is selected from one of the school district’s
five high schools and serves for one school
year. This representative sits with the Board
of Trustees at public meetings and casts
an advisory vote on each agenda item.
|
| Functions
of The Board |
|
As elected officials, trustees are state
officers responsible for the governance
of a political subdivision of the state.
The school district is independent of
city and county governments, but cooperates
with them.
In addition to establishing school district
policies, the Board adopts an annual budget
and approves all expenditures, employs
personnel, approves curriculum, textbooks
and courses of study, and makes decisions
on school sites, building plans and construction
contracts.
Trustees have no power to act individually
in the name of the Board. Action can be
taken only when the Board is in formal
session with a majority of its members
present.
|
| Addressing
The Board |
|
The Board of Trustees encourages citizens
to participate in the operation of the
school district and, in turn, desires
to be responsive to the needs of the school
community.
For Items on the Agenda: If you wish to
address the Board of Trustees regarding
an item on the Board agenda, please complete
a speaker card and give the card to the
Board President or Recording Secretary
prior to the beginning of an agenda item.
Please indicate on the card the specific
Board item you wish to address, and the
Board President will call upon you to
speak when the agenda item is being discussed.
Once an item has been opened for public
comment, no additional “Request
to Address the Board of Trustee”
cards shall be accepted on that topic.
Board policy limits individual speakers
on agenda items to three minutes, and
limits oral presentations on each agenda
item to 20 minutes. However, the time
assigned for individual presentations
could be less than three minutes depending
upon the total number of speakers who
wish to address a specific agenda topic.
The Board President may exercise judgment
as to the time allotted to each speaker
or on each subject.
For Items Not on the Agenda: If you wish
to address the Board of Trustees regarding
a matter which is not included on the
meeting agenda but which is within Board
jurisdiction, please complete a speaker
card and give the card to the Board President
or Recording Secretary prior to the beginning
of Oral Communications. Please indicate
on the card the specific subject you wish
to address. The Board President will call
upon you to speak at the appropriate time.
Board policy limits individual speakers
on non-agenda items to three minutes,
but that time could be less if there are
a large number of speakers during Oral
Communications. The total time for oral
presentations on non-agenda items is limited
to 20 minutes per regular Board meeting.
The Board is prohibited from taking action
at the meeting on any matter not included
on the posted agenda.
The Board of Trustees encourages citizens
to participate in public school matters,
and there is a professional staff of school
administrators available to handle most
matters of public concern. It is expected
that all matters will be presented to
the administrative staff prior to the
Board’s involvement. It is also
expected that individuals who speak during
the public meeting will be courteous and
avoid remarks which reflect adversely
on the character or motives of any person,
or on race, religion, political views
or economic status.
|
| The
Superintendent |
|
The chief administrative officer of the
Capistrano Unified School District executes
the policies established by the Board
of Trustees. He or sheis responsible for the
effective operation of the school program,
as well as for the development of plans,
programs and policies for Board action.
The Superintendent acts as Secretary to
the Board of Trustees.
The
administration of the school district
is delegated by Trustees to a professional
administrative staff headed by the Superintendent.
|
| The
Agenda |
|
The agenda is posted at the CUSD Education Center 72 hours in
advance of each regular Board meeting
and 24 hours before a special meeting.
The agenda is also placed on the district
web site, www.capousd.org,
and sent to school sites for posting on
the Friday before a regular Monday meeting.
Agendas are available at the lobby reception
center for individuals attending the Board
meetings.
Background materials related to agenda
items are provided to Trustees for study
four days prior to a meeting. Many items
on the agenda have been discussed by the
Board during previous meetings. The advance
review of materials enables Trustees to
act more effectively on agenda items.
The background materials are available
for public review at school sites and
at the education center.
|
| Closed
Session |
|
In accordance with Education Code Section
35146 and Government Code Section 54957,
the Board may recess to Closed Session
to discuss personnel matters, litigation,
expulsions, employee negotiations, property
negotiations, liability claims, and related
matters. Items to be discussed in Closed
Session are announced by the Board President
prior to the end of the regular public
meeting.
Actions taken in Closed Session are reported
during the public meeting as required
by law.
|
|
|
|
|
