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Revised (Nov 20 2008)
Committee meetings
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Questions to consider:
- Is the current committee structure effective?
- Do the members on each committee adequately reflect the various groups that the board deals with and provide the necessary expertise to address issues?
- Do committee members feel that their contributions are valued?
- Is meeting time used effectively and efficiently?
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Some districts have as many as 30 standing committees, with each trustee required to chair up to four of them.
It is in the standing, consultative, advisory and private session (in-camera) committee meetings that the hard work of the board takes place. This is where issues are raised, discussed and debated, delegations are heard and staff reports are presented. One month, the board may be dealing with developing a policy regarding what types of vehicles are allowed to transport students on field trips and the next on a school closure.
There should be a firm understanding that items referred for consideration in private session are done so for appropriate reasons and that resulting recommendations or decisions will be brought back to public session whenever possible. Items reserved for private session meetings include personal matters regarding staff or students, union negotiations and the sale or purchase of property.
Most school districts also have numerous ad hoc and working committees that require trustee representation. Additional, and sometimes intense, meeting work could be required for changing circumstances (i.e., declining enrollment, moving to a middle school configuration, etc.).
Trustee representation is also often requested for committees struck by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Children and Family Development, BC Teachers’ Federation and the BC College of Teachers. Outside agencies with links to public education also call for trustee representation.
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Time efficiency
