The Board of Education is composed of seven members elected by citizens of the Westchester Public Schools District 92½ school district community. The seven members of the Board of Education are elected for four-year terms. A Board member receives no salary and may seek reelection to any number of terms.

 

School board elections are held and regulated by State mandates. To be a qualified candidate, a person must be a registered voter, 18 years old or older, and a resident of the State and the district for at least one year immediately preceding the election.

 

Board officers are chosen by the members.

 

 

 

The Board of Education has complete and final control over local school matters subject only to limitations imposed by State and Federal law. No one member or group of members may act in the name of the Board.

 

 

Major responsibilities of the Board of Education are to express and represent the view of the community in matters affecting education, determine education standards and goals, adopt policies for the administration of the school system, employ a Superintendent of Schools, authorize the appointment of teachers and other staff members, approve curriculum, secure money for school operational needs and building programs, and authorize expenditures.

 

 

 

The Board of Education generally has a regular Board meeting each month at 6:00 p.m. at Westchester Middle School, 1620 Norfolk Avenue, Westchester, Illinois, unless otherwise voted by the Board. The Board also meets regularly as a Committee of the Whole for discussion purposes only. Special meetings may be called by the President or by any three Board of Education members by giving a 48-hour notice stating the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

 

 

A copy of the agenda for all regular meetings is available at the District Office or on the District's website two days before each meeting. Meetings are open to the public so that the citizens of our district may view the work of the Board of Education. Closed sessions, which are not open to the public, are convened to allow the Board of Education to discuss collective bargaining negotiations; real estate; pending litigation; sale or purchase of securities and investments; employment of individuals; matters relating to individual students; and security.

 

 

Voting on all issues, including those matters discussed in closed session, is completed in public. To be approved, an issue must receive a favorable majority vote.

 

 

Members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend public meetings of the District 92½ Board of Education to observe its deliberations. Your presence gives Board members the advantage of community interest and feedback.

 

 

The Board of Education provides time at its meetings for citizens to express interest in and concerns about the district during the “Audience Comments” section of the Board meeting. Resolutions to concerns are most successful when internal school matters are first addressed directly with the staff member closest to the situation. Usually the next step in trying to resolve a situation would be with the principal and/or the Director of Finance and Operations or the Director of Curriculum. The Superintendent is available to be the liaison between home and school.

 

 

Citizens should be aware that the Board will not be able to engage in a question and answer exchange. The Board needs to be able to discuss any issues that arise and prepare a Board answer to any questions that cannot be easily answered. Issues that arise during a meeting will not be able to be discussed until the next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

 

Individuals or groups who wish to address the Board of Education should complete the Request to Address the Board of Education form and hand it to the Board’s recording secretary. After recognition, the spokesperson must state his/her name, address, and topic. Generally, the speaker will be limited to 3 minutes. The Board President reserves the right to limit the number of individuals or groups who will be recognized to speak.

 

 

Members of the audience may not address the Board of Education during its deliberation of issues.