About the Board of Education

The Board of Education is responsible for the fair and uniform application of all federal, state and local laws in the operation of district schools. These schools will be operated for the educational benefit of all school-age children in the district, grades kindergarten through sixth. The board is the policymaking body of the school district. It exercises leadership primarily through the formulation and adoption of policies.

1. To increase the extent to which faculty and staff of the school district are ethnically,
   linguistically and, in gender, more representative of the student population with whom they
   work.
2. To develop a five-year fiscal plan for the district, updated annually, which identifies
   anticipated revenues and planned expenditures for staff, facilities upkeep, and curricular
   material purchases.
3. To enhance staff and public understanding of, and support for, the goals and work of the
   school district.
4. To bifurcate the annual development of a five-year facilities plan to bring greater focus to
   the day-to-day needed maintenance of the facilities, as contrasted with longer-term, higher
   cost major maintenance work.
5. To enhance the effectiveness with which instructional and administrative technology is used
   within the district.
6. To ensure that the goals of the instructional program of District #13 not only meet but
   exceed the standards of the developing Common Core Curriculum of New York State.

In July, district Thirteen’s Board of Education holds its annual reorganization meeting. At this time, the board elects a president and vice president who each serve a one-year term. The new president appoints the chairperson and members of the board’s four standing committees: education, business, facilities and policy.

In July and August the board ordinarily meets only once a month to conduct its business. From September through June, the board meets at least twice a month, customarily on the third and fourth Tuesdays at 8:00 PM.

The first of the two monthly meetings, called the Committee of the Whole meeting, is a work session and no action is taken in the educational and business operations. At the second monthly meeting, the board business meeting, the board votes and takes action on items on the agenda. A majority of four of the seven votes is needed in order for a motion to pass. Board meetings are generally held in the board room of the James A. Dever School.

Open and closed (executive) sessions:
Both board committee meetings and business meetings are open to the public. According to New York State Open Meetings Law, the only closed portions of meetings (when the board meets privately in executive session) are those involving matters of a confidential nature concerning litigation; collective negotiations; or personnel matters of a particular individual.

The Board of Education is the official policymaking body of the school district. The responsibilities of the board include:

• Representing the views of the community in educational matters

• Determining the district’s educational standards and goals

• Adopting policies for the operation of the school district

• Overseeing financial matters and developing an annual school budget for public vote

• Hiring the Superintendent of Schools

• Authorizing the appointment of staff members and other personnel actions upon the recommendation of the superintendent

• Communicating the district’s educational program and needs to the community

The Board of Education functions with three part-time, salaried personnel who are appointed for one-year renewable terms at the July reorganization meeting.

Attorney: The Board of Education attorney serves as the legal advisor to the board and district, and represents the district in other legal matters to which the school district is a party, approving forms and contracts made with the board and district, and approving proposed regulations and other legal documents.

District Clerk: The district clerk is the board officer who prepares and maintains all board records, correspondence and minutes, and publishes and processes all legal notices and documents.

Treasurer: The board treasurer serves as the custodian of all district monies, signing all checks and drafts, planning and borrowing and investing district funds, and preparing monthly financial statements for the board.

The Role of the Superintendent of Schools: The Superintendent of Schools, who is selected by the Board of Education, is the chief executive officer of the school district. The Superintendent is responsible for:

• Implementing and administering the policies adopted by the board

• Managing the day-to-day operations of the school district

• Providing the district with educational leadership

Attendance at board meetings.

All residents are invited and encouraged to attend board meetings and budget hearings. These meeting dates are printed in the district calendar and are published in the local newspaper.

At every board business meeting there is an opportunity for school district residents to address the board.

Residents are encouraged to vote on the elementary and high school budgets, the election of members to the Board of Education, and other propositions which come before the voters.

To be eligible to vote, a person must be a United States citizen, at least 18 years old, a resident of the school district for at least 30 days, and registered. Qualified voters may register at the James A. Dever School, Howell Road School, Wheeler Avenue School, and Willow Road School any day up until Tuesday, May 9, 2023, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. except Saturday, Sunday, and school vacations.  There will be an in-person evening registration on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the James A. Dever School, Howell Road School, Wheeler Avenue School, and Willow Road School. This is the last opportunity to register before the election.

Absentee ballots are available by submitting an Absentee Ballot Application to the District Clerk at District Clerk or by mail to the Office of the District Clerk, James A. Dever School, 585 N. Corona Avenue, Valley Stream, NY 11580.

Absentee Ballot Application and Instructions (English)

Absentee Ballot Application and Instructions (Spanish)

Application for Military Voter Registration (English)

Application for Military Voter Registration (Spanish)

Application for Military Voter Ballot (English)

Application for Military Voter Ballot (Spanish)

Registration Form (English)

Registration Form (Spanish)

The Board of Education encourages the public to become involved in the schools, not only by attending board meetings and voting, but also by participating in the PTA and by attending school events.

BOARD MEETING PROCEDURES

Each Board of Education meeting shall be conducted in an orderly manner which provides time for and encourages community involvement. The order of business at each regular meeting shall be as follows:

1. Call to order

2. Determination of Quorum

3. Pledge of Allegiance

4. Approval of Minutes of previous meeting(s)

5. Report by the Chair or District Clerk on all correspondence

6. Report of the Superintendent

7. Reports of the Standing Committees

A. Education

B. Business

C. Policy

D. Facilities Committee

E. Committee of the Whole

8. Report of the Attorney

9. Old Business

10. New Business

11. Recognition of visitors wishing to address the Board

12. Adjournment

The regular order of business may be changed at any meeting (and for that meeting only) by an affirmative vote of a majority and voting for the proposed change in the regular order of business.

Except in emergencies, the Board shall not attempt to decide upon any question under consideration before examining and evaluating relevant information. The Superintendent shall be given an opportunity to examine and to evaluate all such information, and to recommend action before the Board attempts to make a decision.

The Board may adjourn a regular or special meeting at any place in the agenda providing that arrangements are made to complete the items of business on the agenda at a future meeting. The minutes shall make notice of the adjournment, and the reconvened session shall be considered an addition to these minutes.

View Board of Education Brochure