Medford updated on board’s roles and responsibilities

SHAWNA KONIECZNY

REPORTER

On Thursday, Attorney Shana Lewis of Strang, Patteson, Renning, Lewis & Lacy, S.C. attended a special board of education meeting to give an explanation of board roles and responsibilities.

Lewis is Medford school board’s lawyer and has been representing the school district since 2001 and has been working with school districts since 1999.

Before 1995, school boards were considered to be limited authority entities, meaning that their actions were limited to what the statutes and policies said they could do. After the 1995 Wisconsin Act 27 was passed, the powers of school boards got expanded. Now, as expanded authority entities, school boards have the freedom to make policies and take actions as they wish as long as there isn’t a statute prohibiting them from doing so. “You can do anything that you want as a school board, as an entity, as long as it generally promotes education within the school district,” said Lewis to the board.

Throughout the meeting, the board was informed and reminded of the requirements for board meeting agendas. Having a period of public comment is optional, according to Lewis. In the past, School Board President Dave Fleegel, said that they would ask if there were any public comments three times before moving on with the remainder of the meeting, but that was not a requirement unless it specifies otherwise in Medford’s own board policy.

Fleegel also asked about whether items on the agenda have to be labeled as discussion or action items and Lewis explained that no differentiation is required. Not labeling agenda items as such gives the board more flexibility and it helps avoid liability if the board ends up doing something different than what the agenda states.

Lewis explained that board members have a lot of power as a unit, but not as individual board members. The board is responsible for creating policy, working towards student achievement, creating the budget, and acting as the school’s public and political relation entities. “Your primary responsibilities are to meet and satisfy the mission of the school district. Lewis reminded the board that they are all responsible for being ethical leaders.

One of the other responsibilities of the board is managing, maintaining, and disclosing public records. There was a fair amount of discussion on public record and what is considered public record in the modern age of technology where many conversations happen via text and instant messaging. “It’s always a public record if it pertains to district business, regardless of whether it’s on a personal communication device or districtowned communication device,” said Lewis. Board members cannot use their own opinions and speak on behalf of the board.

The board is expected to be impartial and unbiased, so they are responsible for avoiding conflicts of interests and not let personal interests influence and motivate certain actions. The board had a conversation about conflicts of interest and when it’s best to recuse themselves from participating in voting. Legally, conflicts of interest include board member’s spouse or dependents that they are still financially responsible for, but there may be other times when a board member feels it is best to recuse themselves.