Comments on: Who knew board members were so sensitive? http://www.texasedspectator.com/2007/06/28/who-knew-board-members-were-so-sensitive/ Comments on the state of education in Texas Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:53:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: texased http://www.texasedspectator.com/2007/06/28/who-knew-board-members-were-so-sensitive/comment-page-1/#comment-444 texased Sun, 01 Jul 2007 20:46:21 +0000 http://www.texasedspectator.com/2007/06/28/who-knew-board-members-were-so-sensitive/#comment-444 I understand the problem with defining the actual role of the board members. And the law does explicitly exclude personnel issues such as employee grievance issues. But it sounds like some superintendents were using these legitimate concerns to prevent school employees from approaching board members about policy issues. Furthermore, ultimately the board hires the superintendent so it would seem that board members will need to be prepared to hear how the superintendent is failing to carry out his job on a day to day to basis. I understand the problem with defining the actual role of the board members. And the law does explicitly exclude personnel issues such as employee grievance issues. But it sounds like some superintendents were using these legitimate concerns to prevent school employees from approaching board members about policy issues. Furthermore, ultimately the board hires the superintendent so it would seem that board members will need to be prepared to hear how the superintendent is failing to carry out his job on a day to day to basis.

]]> By: Pam Parker http://www.texasedspectator.com/2007/06/28/who-knew-board-members-were-so-sensitive/comment-page-1/#comment-445 Pam Parker Fri, 29 Jun 2007 00:39:12 +0000 http://www.texasedspectator.com/2007/06/28/who-knew-board-members-were-so-sensitive/#comment-445 It's not as outlandish as it seems at first glance, although I agree that contact info for board members should be easily available to the public. The problem comes in when neither board members nor school employees fully understand the position of a board member. Individual board members cannot act on behalf of the school district. They can only take action on policy level items as part of a properly convened board meeting. But there are board members who misunderstand their role, and misuse it, by attempting to participate in the day to day operations of the district. Similarly, some employees view board members as top level managers who can intervene in work-related problems - an incorrect belief. All school employees have a right to talk to board members. When they want to discuss issues of public relevance, as distinguished from individual job-related matters, an employee can contact a board member any way they wish. But when an employee is making a complaint or request related to their employment situation, then they must do that through the chain of command and in compliance with the employee grievance policy. It’s not as outlandish as it seems at first glance, although I agree that contact info for board members should be easily available to the public. The problem comes in when neither board members nor school employees fully understand the position of a board member. Individual board members cannot act on behalf of the school district. They can only take action on policy level items as part of a properly convened board meeting. But there are board members who misunderstand their role, and misuse it, by attempting to participate in the day to day operations of the district. Similarly, some employees view board members as top level managers who can intervene in work-related problems – an incorrect belief.

All school employees have a right to talk to board members. When they want to discuss issues of public relevance, as distinguished from individual job-related matters, an employee can contact a board member any way they wish.

But when an employee is making a complaint or request related to their employment situation, then they must do that through the chain of command and in compliance with the employee grievance policy.

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