About the Board
The Board of Education is a policy-making body comprised of elected local residents created to govern the public schools. There are nine members on the Beacon Board of Education. who are elected to serve three year terms. The terms are staggered in order to provide continuity to the Board. Members of the Beacon Board of Education receive no pay for serving the school district. The Board of Education sets the policies by which the schools operate. It has the final control over all local school matters, subject to the limitations placed on it by the State Board of Regents, the Commissioner of Education’s Regulations and Federal and State laws. The power of the Board of Education is as a group. No individual on the Board may speak or act for the Board unless specifically designated to do so.
Meetings
Regular meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of every month. The Board holds meetings throughout the district on a rotating schedule. These meetings are help in the Large Group Instruction Room on the first floor of Beacon High School, and on a rotating basis at South Avenue, J.V Forrestal School, Glenham School, Sargent School, and the Rombout Middle School. Please check the school district calendar, or the Beacon City School District website for dates and locations. Special meetings may be called when the need arises. The procedure followed is in accordance with the Education Law and the Board of Education By-Laws
Executive Session
Executive sessions are not open to the public. They are held during a regular or special meeting as provided for in the Open Meeting Law, for the purpose of discussing the buying or selling of real estate, employment history of a particular individual or matters related to appointment, promotion, suspension or dismissals, litigation, collective negotiation, and individual student matters. Official business is not transacted and any consensus reached in the Executive Session must be acted upon in a public meeting to become an official act of the Board.
The Superintendent
The Superintendent of Schools is a professional educator employed by the Board of Education. He is by law the Chief School Officer of the District, who carries out the daily operations of the schools. The Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, the Assistant Superintendent for Media and Operational Services, the Business Manager, the Director of Pupil Personnel Services, the Principals and other staff members assist the Superintendent in these tasks.
Agenda
The Agenda is prepared by the Superintendent of Schools and the Board President, and is available on the day of the meeting at the Board Office and at public meetings. Each agenda provides an opportunity for members of the community to address the Board. Up to 60 minutes is set aside for public comment, and each speaker is allotted up to three minutes. People are encouraged to express their ideas and views during the public forum. The Board welcomes community presence and comment during all Board meetings. Should comments involve questions that require research, it is a good idea to advise the Superintendent prior to the meeting so that the related materials and information may be prepared as appropriate.
Concerns About Students /Staff
It should be noted that the Board of Education has a legal and moral responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of all students and personnel records. Therefore, questions and concerns that deal with individual students and staff matters should be handled in the following manner:
- Contact the teacher and/or administrator closest to the situation.
- Call the Superintendent at the Central Office only if the question remains unresolved.
- If the situation remains unresolved, the resident should contact the Board of Education in writing.
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