President
The president of the Board is elected by a majority vote at the organizational or annual board meeting each year to serve a one-year term of office. A member may be elected to successive one-year terms as president. Once elected, the president will take the oath of office.
The president, in addition to presiding at the board meetings, will take an active role in board decisions by discussing and voting on each motion before the board in the same manner as other board members. Before making or seconding a motion, however, the board president will turn over control of the meeting to either the vice-president or other board member.
The board president has the authority to call special meetings of the board. Prior to board meetings, the board president will consult with the superintendent on the development of the agenda for the meeting. The board president, as the chief officer of the school district, will sign employment contracts, other contracts and school district warrants approved by the board. The board president will appear on behalf of the school corporation in causes of action involving the school district, unless the board president must appear individually as a party, in which case, this duty shall be performed by the secretary.
Vice-President
The vice-president shall serve in the absence of the president and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the president or by the Board. The vice-president will be elected by a majority vote at the organizational or annual board meeting each year to serve a one–year term of office. A member may be elected to successive one-year terms as vice-president. Once elected, the president will take the oath of office.
The vice-president will take an active role in board decisions by discussing and voting on matters before the board in the same manner as other board members. The vice-president will accept control of the meeting from the president when the president wishes to make or second a motion.
If the board president is unable or unwilling to carry out the duties required, it is the responsibility of the vice-president of the board to carry out those duties. If the president is unable or unwilling to complete the term of office, the vice-president will serve as president for the balance of the president’s term of office, and a new vice-president will be elected.
Secretary/Treasurer
A board secretary-treasurer may be appointed from employees, other than a position requiring a teaching certificate, or from the public. To finalize the appointment, the board secretary-treasurer will take the oath of office during the meeting at which the individual was appointed or no later than ten days thereafter.
It is the responsibility of the board secretary-treasurer, as custodian of school district records, to preserve and maintain the records and documents pertaining to the business of the board; to keep complete minutes of special and regular board meetings, including closed sessions; to keep a record of the results of regular and special elections; to keep an accurate account of school funds; to sign warrants drawn on the school funds after board approval; and collect data on truant students. The board secretary-treasurer will also be responsible for filing the required reports with the Iowa Department of Education.
It is the responsibility of the secretary-treasurer to oversee the investment portfolio, to receive funds of the school district, to pay out the funds for expenses approved by the board, to maintain accurate accounting records for each fund, to report monthly regarding the investment portfolio and the status of each fund and to file required reports with the appropriate state agencies and other entities. It will also be the responsibility of the secretary-treasurer to coordinate the financial records, the financial reports, the cash flow needs and the investment portfolio of the school district.
In the event the board secretary-treasurer is unable to fulfill the responsibilities set out by the board and the law, an appointed interim will assume those duties until the board secretary-treasurer is able to resume the responsibility or a new board secretary-treasurer is appointed. The board secretary-treasurer will give bond or be covered by an insurance policy in an amount set by the board. The cost of the bond or insurance policy will be paid by the school district.
Approved: 06/08/2015 Reviewed: 1/24/2022 Revised: 7/29/2024
