Board of Education Meeting Procedures
The Saratoga Springs City School District’s Board of Education is composed of nine unsalaried citizens elected to serve overlapping terms of three years each. At the end of a term, a Board member wishing to continue public service must be re-elected to another term. New York State Law does not limit the number of terms a member may serve.
Board meeting dates and locations
Meetings of the Board of Education are generally held on the
second Tuesday and last Thursday of each month. The schedule of
regular meetings is established and published prior to the
beginning of each school year. Copies of the meeting date
calendar are available at the Central Administration offices, 3
Blue Streak Boulevard. Most meetings are held in the Meade
Auditorium at the Senior High School, but the six elementary
schools and the middle school each host one meeting during the
school year. By conducting meetings in various locations within
the district, the board encourages citizens to attend and become
more involved in their schools. Board meetings begin at 7:30
p.m. and are chaired by the President of the Board of Education
or, if absent, the Vice President. The Superintendent of Schools
joins the board members at the meeting table. Central office
administrators are also in attendance at board meetings.
Board Actions
The Board of Education is an agency of the State of New York and
is charged with governing the School District, not with
day-to-day administration. Within the powers delegated by law,
the Board is the policy-making, or legislative branch of the
School District. The Superintendent of Schools is the executive
officer charged with responsibility for administering the
schools within Board policy.
The Board of Education is responsible for the general
supervision of the schools. Although its members may not act
individually, collectively they are responsible for all things
done in the District. The Board exercises this responsibility by
proper organization, delegation, and direction through policies
adopted.
Board Meetings
A meeting of the Board of Education must be conducted in a
specified manner because laws and regulations require legal
actions and the following of formal procedures. Meetings are for
the transaction of the business of your school district. Board
members, as your elected officials, exercise their legislative
authority. All formal actions of the Board must be conducted at
a regular or special meeting. A vote of the majority of the
Board is needed to pass resolutions.
Meeting Agenda
An advance agenda is prepared and submitted to the Board, local
media, and school personnel. On the Friday preceding a Board
meeting, Board members receive an explanation of the items on
the agenda. This gives members time to study items before they
have to make a voting decision at the meeting.
The order of business at the Regular meeting is:
• Roll Call
• Approval of Minutes
• Communications
• Public Hearing
• Administrative Reports
• Old Business
• New Business
• Personnel
• Financial
• Public Hearing
• Executive Session (when needed)
• Adjournment
Public Involvement
The public is encouraged to make its views known to the Board
during the public hearing portions of the agenda. It should be
pointed out that there is no legal requirement that the public
be given this opportunity to speak at Board meetings. It is a
procedure of the present Board of Education.
Citizens wishing to speak are requested to identify themselves
and then make a short statement. The Board of Education’s
function is decision-making. It wants to hear the sentiments of
the public to assist in these decisions, but questions about the
operation of the schools should be directed to the teacher or
administrator closest to the situation. Experience has shown
this procedure works best.
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS/ BUDGET VOTE PROCEDURES
School district residents vote on the school district budget and
elect candidates to the Board of Education on the third Tuesday
in May. Voting qualifications are as follows:
You may vote if:
1. You are a United States citizen;
2. You are at least 18 years of age;
3. You have been duly registered to vote.
You may register to vote if:
1. You are a United States citizen;
2. You are at least 18 years of age;
3. You are a resident of the School District for thirty days
preceding the date of the election.
Voters may cast their ballots at the annual school election, and
other special referendums, at a polling location near their
homes. Voting takes place at each of the following schools.
1. Caroline Street Elementary School
2. Division Street Elementary School
3. Dorothy Nolan Elementary School
4. Geyser Road Elementary School
5. Greenfield Elementary School
6. Lake Avenue Elementary School
Any Questions?
If you have any questions concerning specific aspects of your
school’s program, you will get the best answers by talking
directly to the teacher serving your child, or to the Building
Principal. When you want information on a Districtwide program,
or if you have special concerns regarding the School District,
you should feel free to contact any of the administrators listed
below. For referral information or phone numbers for the person
you wish to reach, call 583-4700.
Superintendent of Schools (583-4709)
The Superintendent of Schools is the Chief Administrative
Officer of the School District and oversees the entire school
operation. Questions related particularly to School Board
procedures and policy should be directed to this office.
Deputy Superintendent (583-4714)
This office is responsible for the school district’s program of
instruction and supervision. Summer school, student registration
and curriculum development are also included in this
responsibility.
Assistant Superintendent for Business (583-4703)
This office directs the day-to-day business activities of the
school system, including payroll, school taxes, school lunch,
and all general financial matters. The office also serves as
liaison officer regarding transportation of students and
attendance.
Director of Elementary and Middle School Education (583-4473)
This office is responsible for supervising the curriculum,
instruction and operation of the six elementary schools and the
Maple Avenue Middle School. The office also supervises the
programs for students on home instruction.
Director for Pupil Services (583-4715)
This office can help you with questions concerning health
services, psychological services, speech and language services,
education of disabled students, and child abuse and neglect.
Director for Human Resource Services (583-4713 and 583-4712)
This office is responsible for developing, implementing and
coordinating personnel policies and programs for the school
district. Collective bargaining activities, civil rights
compliance and in-service training are also included in this
responsibility.
Coordinator for Staff Development and Special Projects
(583-4725)
This office plans and coordinates a comprehensive inservice
program for administrators, teaching staff and support personnel
relating to instruction. Other responsibilities include
compensatory education, gifted and talented programming, and
arts-in-education.
Coordinator of Computer/Technology K-12 (584-3228)
This office plans and coordinates computer/ technology programs
for grades kindergarten through 12 in all schools in the
district.
Director of Facilities and Operations (587-6365)
This office is responsible for day-to-day operations and
maintenance of the district’s buildings and grounds. The office
also coordinates facility improvements required to maintain the
district’s infrastructures and support academic requirements.
Although the Board wants the public aware and involved, it
should be understood that all items on the agenda are important
to the operation of the School District and must be acted upon.
When the Board President curtails discussion on a topic, it is
intended to ensure that the Board has sufficient time to address
all other matters before it that evening.
