San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Bylaw 9230
Orientation
This Rule and Procedure applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
Board Candidate Orientation
The Board of Education desires to provide the opportunity for all Board candidates to receive an orientation and/or information that will enable them to understand the responsibilities of Board membership. The Superintendent or designee shall provide the opportunity for all candidates to receive general information about school programs, district operations, and Board responsibilities.
(cf. 9200 – Limits of Board Member Authority)
(cf. 9220 – Governing Board Elections)
(cf. 9270 – Conflict of Interest)
The Board encourages all candidates to attend public Board meetings during the period of their candidacy. Candidates shall have the same access as members of the public to district staff and information.
(cf. 1340 – Access to District Records)
(cf. 9011 – Disclosure of Confidential/Privileged Information)
New Board Member Orientation
In order to provide an orientation and information to Board members-elect, individual meetings shall be arranged for each Board member-elect with senior staff, and the Executive Assistant to the Board of Education shall provide each Board member-elect with an orientation binder.
Incoming Board members shall receive access to the district’s policy manual and other materials related to the district and Board member responsibilities.
(cf. 9000 – Role of the Board)
(cf. 9005 – Governance Standards)
Board members-elect shall be provided a copy of the Brown Act and informed that, pursuant to Government Code 54952.1, they must conform to the Act’s requirements as if they had already assumed office.
The Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee may provide Board members-elect with additional background and information regarding the district’s vision and goals, operations, and current challenges in areas that include, but are not be limited to, student achievement, curriculum, finance, facilities, policy, human resources, and collective bargaining.
(cf. 0000 – Vision)
(cf. 0200 – Goals for the School District)
Board members-elect are encouraged to attend Board meetings and review agenda materials available to the public in order to become familiar with current issues facing the district. Board members-elect also may, at district expense and with approval of the Board, attend the CSBA new Board Member Institute and/or other workshops and conferences relevant to their individual needs or to the needs of the Board as a whole or the district.
(cf. 9240 – Board Development)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
33360 Department of Education and statewide association of school district boards; annual workshops
33362-33363 Reimbursement of expenses; board member or member-elect
ELECTIONS CODE
13307 Candidate’s statement
20440 Code of Fair Campaign Practices
GOVERNMENT CODE
54950-54963 The Ralph M. Brown Act, especially:
54952.1 Member of a legislative body
54952.7 Copies of Brown Act to board members
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
School Board Leadership, 2007
The Brown Act: School Boards and Open Meeting Laws, rev. 2007
Guide to Effective Meetings, 2007
Professional Governance Standards, 2000
Maximizing School Board Leadership, 1996
NATIONAL SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION PUBLICATIONS
Becoming a Better Board Member: A Guide to Effective School Board Service, 2006
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
Fair Political Practices Commission: http://www.fppc.ca.gov
National School Boards Association: http://www.nsba.org
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.