Meeting Information
There are twelve regularly scheduled meetings each year, held the second
Thursday of the month at 7:00 P.M. in the board room of the Administrative Offices. Meetings of the board are open to the public, except for executive sessions during which Board members may discuss only three types of business as defined by the Ohio law. These are personnel matters, sale or purchase of property, and legal matters. Since Ohio law states that all school board voting must be done in public, executive sessions are for discussion purposes only.
Board Agenda
Copies of the board’s agenda are available at the Administrative Offices. The agendas also are located near the entrance to the board meeting and contain the following:
- Information about last month’s meeting
- Monthly school reports
- Items for action
- Approved board minutes also are available at online.
Citizen Input at Meetings
The Mad River Board of Education welcomes public participation at its board meetings. The intent of allowing citizens to speak at Board meetings is to provide Board members with information that will assist them in making better decisions. Following the end of the board meeting, the President may ask for public comment. This is the time for the public to provide opinion or information about an item. The following rules of order must be followed by anyone addressing the Board:
- The speaker must state their name, address and organization if representing one
- A maximum of three (3) minutes will be allowed each speaker; (15) minutes per group
- No person may speak more than once on the same issue
- Speakers must refrain from personal remarks which might be construed as slanderous, defamation of character, or the invasion of personal rights
- The Board may ask questions of the speaker
The Role of the School Board
The Mad River Board of Education consists of five citizens elected to serve four-year terms. The public nominates Board of Education candidates by petition. They are elected at the November general election in odd-numbered years. The Board meets during the first 15 days of January and elects a president and vice president to serve for the coming year. Each Board member represents citizens in the Mad River School District, while keeping their focus on what is best for the students of the district. They are the official policy-making body of the school district. As elected officials, they are responsible for the scope, depth and quality of education in the Mad River School District.
Board Responsibilities:
- defining the philosophy of the district
- setting goals and objectives to achieve desired educational progress
- employing professional educators to meet those goals
- establishing policies for the operation of the school district
- establishing the effectiveness of district programs and services
- developing a budget consistent with educational needs and community resources
- communicating the needs and progress of the district to the community, educational governing boards and legislators
Superintendent’s Role
The Superintendent of Schools is employed by the Board to carry out Board policies and to administer the schools on a day-to-day basis. He/she is not a member of the board. The Superintendent is responsible to the Board while all other employees of the district, either directly or indirectly, are responsible to the Superintendent. The one exception is the Treasurer.
Treasurer's Role
The Treasurer is employed by the Board to administer, in cooperation with the Superintendent, the financial, legal and contractual business of the school district. He/she is not a member of the Board. The Treasurer reports directly to the Board.