Board of Education

2023-2024 Board of Education Brochure

What Does a School Board Member Do?

The Board of Education is the official policy-making body of the East Rockaway UFSD.  The Board of Education is comprised of five school district residents who are elected by voters to three-year terms in the annual election held on the third Tuesday in May. The terms of office are staggered so that all board positions are never open at the same time.

Under state law, school board members must be registered voters, at least 18 years old, and have lived in the school district for at least one year. They cannot be a school employee, cannot reside in the same household as another school board member and must be able to read and write English.

Board members serve without compensation.  Board members attend at least two regular Board of Education meetings each month along with committee meetings and various school-related activities.  At the annual re-organizational meeting in July, the Board elects a president, vice-president and secretary.

Board members are kept informed about programs and activities in the district through weekly informational packets from the Superintendent and various other means. Board members receive extensive training through the district's own board development materials and through workshops sponsored by the New York State School Boards Association. Board members also take advantage of national organizations like the National School Boards Association to study topics of interest and need.
 
The Board’s powers and duties are derived from the State Constitution, the laws of New York State, and rulings of the State Commissioner of Education. The Board’s four main areas of responsibility are to:

• Establish all school district policies
• Develop an annual budget for public approval
• Approve or disapprove the Superintendent’s recommendations regarding personnel matters and the many contracts the district must negotiate
• Act as a two-way communication link between residents and the Superintendent.