INSIDE INFORMATION
2022 EDUCATION EDITION
HOW A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD
GETTING INVOLVED
II. ADOPT POLICIES AND REVIEW FOR EFFECTIVENESS
STATE BOARD DUTIES The Texas Open Meetings Act requires government entities to conduct public business responsibly, transparently and in compliance with the law. ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING Residents can attend school board meetings except when policy permits trustees to meet in closed session. SPEAK BEFORE THE BOARD Most school boards dedicate time in their public meeting agendas to hear input from community members. REQUEST PUBLIC RECORDS SOURCES: TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS, TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER Citizens have access to information about government activity through the Texas Public Information Act. The State Board of Education includes 15 individuals elected to four-year terms. This board sets policies and standards for public schools statewide. THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: • establishes curriculum standards; • reviews and adopts instructional materials; • determines graduation requirements; • oversees the Texas Permanent School Fund; and • reviews and potentially vetoes the commissioner’s proposed award of new charter schools.
Trustees adopt local policies that guide district operations, such as citizen participation at public meetings and the board’s evaluation of the superintendent. State and federal law also regulate policies, such as campaign ethics and when closed meetings can take place.
FUNCTIONS
DESIGNED BY TAYLOR WHITE
COMPILED BY DANICA LLOYD
III. HIRE AND EVALUATE THE SUPERINTENDENT
Public school board members in Texas are unpaid volunteers elected to their positions by voters living in the communities they serve. School boards provide local governance of their school districts and can only take action by a majority vote at public meetings. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES School boards oversee management, policymaking, planning and evaluation while the superintendent implements these matters and manages the district’s day-to-day operations, according to the Texas Association of School Boards.
School boards are responsible for hiring and evaluating the superintendent, who manages the district’s day-to-day operations and advises the board on governance decisions. The superintendent also ensures the board’s policies are implemented appropriately.
IV. ADOPT A BUDGET AND SET A TAX RATE
The board adopts the district’s budget and tax rate each year. Trustees ensure the administration’s budget proposal aligns with their goals and priorities, amend the budget throughout the year as needed and approve an annual nancial report by an independent auditor.
SOURCE: TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
I. ADOPT GOALS AND MONITOR SUCCESS
V. COMMUNICATE WITH THE COMMUNITY
One of the functions of a local school board is to develop goals and priorities for the district. Administration regularly presents reports on district
According to the TASB, school boards serve as the link between the district and the community. Trustees inform residents, students, sta , parents and the media about district plans, actions and accomplishments.
operations and progress toward those goals. State data can also help trustees compare performance to other districts.
SOURCE: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Cy-Fair ISD MEET THE BOARD
Each of the seven school board members in Cy-Fair ISD is elected to a four-year term. The newest trustees joined the board in late 2021. Texas law does not dictate term limits for local school board members. The board’s meeting schedule can be found online at www.c sd.net. SOURCES: CY FAIR ISD, TEXAS ELECTION CODE COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Natalie Blasingame Position 5 (elected in 2021) natalie.blasingame @c sd.net
Gilbert Sarabia Position 3, secretary (elected in 2019) gilbert.sarabia@c sd.net
Lucas Scanlon Position 7 (elected in 2021) lucas.scanlon@c sd.net
Tom Jackson Position 1, president (elected in 2011) tom.jackson@c sd.net
Debbie Blackshear Position 4 (elected in 2015) debbie.blackshear@c sd.net
Julie Hinaman Position 2, vice president (elected in 2019) julie.hinaman@c sd.net
Scott Henry Position 6 (elected in 2021) scott.henry@c sd.net
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CYPRESS EDITION • AUGUST 2022
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