Presented by Charles Brink to Acton-Agua Dulce School Board for item 12.1 on October 13, 2005
I would suggest the following rule changes for the independent committees based on flaws in you proposed rules. The changes are identified in the attached text I recommend your add paragraph numbers
At 3.0 requires voting members of the committees be residents.
At 4.1 There would be no restriction against a community members participating in more than one advisory committee and the board can approve as many as they wish
At 7.0 New members can apply, using the same process as the original members, by applying to the school board. That application would then be given to the school board representative to the specific committee and they would determine whether to accept or reject the application. The applicant could appeal a rejected application to the full school board.
At 8.0. If a member missed three consecutive meetings they would be dropped from the committee and would have to reapply if they wanted to continue serving.
At 5, 6 and 11 B brings the operation into conformity of the Brown Act and the Public Records Act.
Committee Guidelines
Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District
1.0 Committees Formed by the Board of Trustees or Superintendent
2.0 The purpose of the committees
Committees are formed to assist the Board. The Board may form committees for a variety of purposes as established by the Board.
The primary duty of a committee is to explore and present viable options to the Board for their consideration. These formal reports should be written and presented at a regular Board meeting. Progress reports from a committee need not be in writing.
3.0 Requirements for membership
Voting committee members must be residents of the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District.
4.0 Types of committees
There are two types of committees. Standing committees, such as the Budget Advisory Committee, the Facilities Committee and the Educational Committee and Task Related Committees, which are established to perform a specific task.
4.1 Standing Committees-Members shall be appointed by action of the Board at a regular Board meeting. Members will have a two-year term i.e., starting 1-1-2006 and ending on 12-31-2007. The committee members shall select a Chairman and a Secretary. Standing Committee Officers shall be selected annually. It is strongly encouraged that no more than 50% of the members be replaced at one time (This will assure continuity on the committee). The Board will establish the number of committee members when the committee is formed. Members shall serve on as many of the committees as the board approves
4.2 Task Related Committees-Task Related Committee members shall be appointed by action of the Board at a regular Board meeting. The Board may appoint the Chairman and the committee members will select a Secretary. A Task Related Committee is established to exist for a specific term or until completion of a specific task. Members shall be appointed to serve for the length of time that the Task force is in existence. Members may also serve on Standing Committees or on other Task Related Committees at the same time.
5.0 Committee Application and Appointment
Residents wishing to serve on a committee shall fill out an application and submit it to the Board through the District Office. Applications will be made available on-line and at the District Office at least 30 days prior to the regular Board meeting at which committee appointments will be made. Information about the formation of the committee will be sent to all newspapers of local circulation at lease 3 weeks prior to the regular Board meeting at which committee appointments will be made.
6.0 Committee Operation
Committees operate under the provisions of the Brown Act and the Public Records Act. When the Brown Act does not apply then they shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition. Members of committees shall exhibit respectful, and cooperative at all times. Committee members shall follow the rules of conduct (attached). The Board may remove a member from the committee for violation of the rules. A committee must have a Quorum of members present at a meeting to conduct business. A Quorum shall be "greater than 50% of the members of the committee".
7.0 Additions to the Committees
Committees may request, at any time, that additional members be added to a committee.
Prospective new members can apply, using the same process as the original members, by applying to the school board at any time
8.0 Termination of Members of the Committees
If a member missed three consecutive meetings they would be dropped from the committee and would have to reapply to the board if they wanted to continue serving.
9.0 Board Member Participation
For Standing Committees, one Board member shall serve as a liaison to the committee and may serve as a non-voting member of the committee. For Task Related Committees, a Board member may serve as a liaison to the committee and may serve as a non-voting member of the committee, at the discretion of the Board. A Board member will not vote on any matter before a committee but may answer questions of offer opinions as a Board member.
10.0 District Staff Participation
The District Office should make appropriate staff available to committees as requested.
11.0 Committee Rules of Conduct
The Chairperson will be in charge of the meeting.
The Chairperson must recognize speakers before they address the meeting.
Discussions between committee members should not hamper committee operation.
The conduct of the committee meetings will be controlled by the Brown Act