Board Meetings

Board of Education meetings are held in the Office of the Superintendent at the Unit Office, 401 East Fifth Street, Mackinaw.

Regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month beginning at 7:30 p.m.

All meetings of the Board are open to the public with the exception of those designated as executive or closed sessions.  Closed meetings are permitted by state law when discussing: salary and welfare; acquisition of real estate; court proceedings against or on behalf of the District; appointment, employment, or dismissal of an employee or officer; and for student disciplinary matters.

Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called by the president or by any three members of the Board.  By law, the Board must post notice and the agenda of any special Board meeting 48 hours in advance of the meeting.  Any business conducted is strictly limited to the items of the posted agenda, including comments by the public.

Audience Participation

The Board of Education, as the representative body of the school district, wishes to provide an avenue for citizens to express their interests in the schools.  Accordingly, the public is cordially invited to attend any regular, special, adjourned or committee meeting of the Board.  Meetings of the Board are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the business of the school district, and therefore are not public meetings, but meetings held in public.

Time shall be included on each Board agenda for the hearing of suggestions or questions from the citizens of the district.  The President of the Board shall recognize members of the audience who wish to address the Board.

Each speaker shall be given an opportunity to present, but may be limited in time by the Board President.  Those addressing the Board shall be guided and constrained by the following conditions:

1.        Give your name and address and the nature of your business with the Board.

2.       Remarks are charges by any person addressing the Board, which reflect adversely on the character or motives of a person, are out of order and should be presented in writing to the Superintendent.

3.       The Board or Superintendent may question the speaker or comment on the statement made.

4.       Presentations by individuals may be referred to committee or administration for further review and action may be made at a following meeting.

The Superintendent shall communicate the Board’s action, if any, to citizens who make proposals or requests.

Order of Business

The Board of Education follows a planned order of business or agenda in handling the number of matters coming before it for attention.  Board members receive background information on issues a week in advance so that they are prepared on those issues for the meeting.

Typically, the agenda is comprised of seven components:

I. Regular Board Items include the “call to order” and roll call of members.  During this time guest are acknowledged and allowed limited time (usually 15 minutes) to present to the Board.

II. Consent Agenda Items include the approval of minutes of meetings, acceptance of financial reports, and approval of bills and Imprest fund transactions.

III. Actions Items contain any item that requires board action such as employment or resignations of personnel, establishing the budget, accepting the Master Contract, approval of Board Policies, and disciplinary action for students.

IV. Informational Items contain reports from the administrative team, committees of the board, and the Treasurer.  The Board does not adopt new policies or change existing policies the first time they are presented under Informational items.  During the second reading, these items are moved to action items for the Board to adopt.  This delay allows time for thorough study by the Board and allows for input from you, the citizen.

V. Executive Session, or closed meetings, are allowed for specific reason only, including but limited to the discussion of personnel matters, negotiations, student disciplinary cases, and litigation.  Any motions subject to these matters must be made in open session.

VI. Next Meeting Date is established and posted.

VIII. Adjournment closes the meeting.

The proceedings of the Board shall be governed by the requirements of the laws of the State of Illinois and guided by Robert’s Rules of Order for parliamentary procedure.