new member orientation
TRANSCRIPT
The State Board of Education has 21 members:
15 elected
6 appointed, non-voting
2 Board of Regents representatives
1 Utah College of Applied Technology Board of Directors representative
1 State Charter School Board representative
1 Utah School Boards Association Board of Directors representative
1 Coalition of Minorities Advisory Committee (CMAC) representative
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Board Internal Organization
Board Executive Committee
Chair
Vice Chair(s)
State Superintendent
Staff: Deputy Superintendent
Secretary: Board Secretary
Board Standing
Committees
2014
Audit
Finance
Law and
Licensing
Standards and
Assessment
Board Ad Hoc
Committees
2014
UPPAC Review
Task Force
Board Employee
Evaluation
Committee
Board Vice Chair
Standing Committee Chairs
Legislative
Committee
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External Committee ParticipationBoard members may be assigned to represent the Board on external committees/
organizations, including:
Coalition of Minorities Advisory Committee (CMAC)
School and Institutional Trust Lands Board of Trustees Nominating Committee
STEM Action Center Board
Trust Lands Advisory Committee
Utah College of Applied Technology Board of Directors
Utah High School Activities Association Board of Trustees
Utah Public Education Coalition
Utah Rural Schools Association Board
Utah School Boards Association Board of Directors
Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Advisory Council
State Board of Regents/K-16 Alliance
National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE)
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WHAT DOES THE STATE BOARD DO?
Appoint State Superintendent
Adopt Administrative Rules to implement
statutes & policies (151 Rules)
Establish minimum standards for all
public schools
Licensure of educators
Prepare annual Budget and approve
disbursements to local districts and charter
schools
Audit the Public School System
Implement the Utah Performance
Assessment System
Administer federal programs (Special Ed
& Title I)
Adopt Graduation
Requirements
Career & Technical Education
Approve Charter Schools
Utah Schools for the Deaf and Blind
School Trust Lands and Trust
Fund
Utah State Office of Rehabilitation
(Adult Education)
Define, Establish and Implement a Core
Curriculum (Standards)
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Strategic Plan
The Board adopted a five-year strategic plan in 2010, and has
reviewed the plan each year and made changes as necessary. The
Board will develop a new strategic plan in 2015.
The Strategic Plan can be found on the Board’s website at
http://schoolboard.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013-14-
Strategic-Plan-FINAL-2.pdf
A copy has been provided.
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Key Factors Contributing to High Student
Achievement—Internal to the SchoolAdopted by the Board November 8, 2013
1. Strong school leadership
2. High quality instruction for all students
3. Appropriate assessments inform data-driven decision making
4. Targeted interventions meet individual student needs
5. High quality professional development
A more detailed document is provided. 9
Constitution of Utah
Article X, Section 3. State Board of Education
The general control and supervision of the public
education system shall be vested in a State Board of
Education. The membership of the board shall be
established and elected as provided by statute. The
State Board of Education shall appoint a State
Superintendent of Public Instruction who shall be the
executive officer of the board.
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Laws/Rules Governing the State Board of Education
Utah Constitution Article X, Section 3
http://le.Utah.gov/UtahCode/chapter.jsp?code+Constitution
Utah Code: http://le.utah.gov/xcode/code.html
Title 52, Public Officers
Title 52-4 Open and Public Meetings Act
Title 53-A State System of Public Education
Title 63D Information Technology Act
Title 63G General Government
Title 63G-2 Government Records Access and
Management Act
Title 63G-3 Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act
Title 67 State Officers and Employees
Title 67-16-7 Utah Public Officers’ and Employees’ Ethics Act
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Rules continued
Board Administrative Rules:
http://schools.utah.gov/law/Administrative-Rules.aspx/
R277-100 Rulemaking Policy
R277-101 Utah State Board of Education Procedures
R277-514 Board Procedures: Sanctions for Educator
Misconduct
R277-517 Board and UPPAC Disciplinary Definitions and
Actions
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Board Bylaws
and Policies and Procedures
The Bylaws and Policies and Procedures can found on the
Board’s secure site: https://extranet.schools.utah.gov
A copy has been provided.
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PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
UTAH PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM
State Superintendent
Executive Officer
Veto Power
Board Election Process
District Schools
General Control & Supervision(Educational
standards, licensing, programs & fiscal administration)
Establish School System
NCLB, Reduced Lunch, Title I & IDEA
Funding & Programs
Utah State Office of Education
Staff
Utah State Board of EducationExecutive Authority
Federal Government
Utah State Legislature
School system, budget, & programs
UtahGovernor
District School Boards
State CharterSchool Board
CharterSchools
District Superintendents
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Chief Executive Officer
Brad C. Smith
Utah State Office
of Rehabilitation
Russell J. Thelin
Executive Director
Utah State Office
of Education
Brad C. Smith
State
Superintendent of
Public Instruction
Utah State Board of Education Agency Governance
Utah Schools for the
Deaf and the Blind
Joel Coleman
Superintendent
Board Secretary
Lorraine Austin
Board
Communications
Specialist
Emilie Wheeler
Board Internal
Auditor
Natalie Grange
School Children’s
Trust Section
Director
Tim Donaldson
Board Attorney
Chris Lacombe16
Utah State Office of Education (USOE)
The Utah State office of Education functions under the
direction of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to
act as staff to the Board in implementing its decisions and to
provide statewide leadership, service, and accountability for
the regular K-12 public school program for Utah students.
These students include those who are disabled from age 3 to
age 22.
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Utah State Office of Rehabilitation
(USOR)
The Utah State Office of Rehabilitation (USOR) acts under
the direct supervision of the Board and the leadership of an
Executive Director to deliver the state program of
rehabilitation services, services for the blind and visually
impaired, and services for the deaf and hard of hearing. The
agency assists eligible adults with disabilities to obtain
employment, receive benefits, and attain independence.
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Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
(USDB)
The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind provides
education to both Utahans and others in the Intermountain
West who are visually or hearing impaired and who are
between 5 and 21 years of age. The School also offers
parent-infant preschool services and provides outreach
programs to the regular school system as students master
the skills to succeed in that system.
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The Board meets at the call of the Chair and at least eleven times a year.
During the legislative session, the Board meets weekly.
The Board adopts a schedule of meetings on an annual basis.
Three main standing committees meet in conjunction with Board meetings.
An Executive Session is held during Board meetings. These meetings are closed in accordance with the Open and Public Meetings Act.
Significant actions of the Board during board meetings include rulemaking, action on educator licenses, direction on standards, assessment, and graduation requirements, determination of legislative priorities, and monitoring of financial accountability.
Roberts Rules of Order constitutes the rules of parliamentaryprocedure applicable to all meetings of the Board and its committees.
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Rulemaking
Information about the rulemaking process can be
found at http://www.rules.utah.gov/abtprocess.htm.
A copy of the process is provided.
The Board uses a three-reading process prior to filing
a rule with the Division of Administrative Rules.
Generally a rule receives its first reading in committee,
with a second reading by the full Board at the same
meeting. The rule is then placed on the General
Consent Calendar for approval in the following
meeting.
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Utah Professional Practices Advisory
Commission (UPPAC) Process
The Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission is a
committee of nine educators and two community members
charged with maintaining and promoting a high standard of
professional conduct and ethics among Utah teachers. It is
advisory to the Board in making recommendations regarding
educator licensing and may take appropriate disciplinary action
regarding educator misconduct.
More information about the Commission and rules regarding
UPPAC and educator sanctions can be found at
http://schools.utah.gov/UPPAC/.
A summary and flow chart of the UPPAC process are provided.23
Access to Board Meeting Agendas
Currently, agendas for Board meetings are accessible in several different ways:
A hard copy of the agenda and backup material is mailed to each Board member (unless declined).
Links to the Board agenda and minutes can be accessed from the Board’s website http://schoolboard.utah.gov/.
The agenda is posted in two formats on the Web at http://www.schools.utah.gov/board/Meetings.aspx. Usually the agenda with backup material is posted one week prior to the Board meeting.
The electronic agenda in PDF format is also available on the Board’s secure extranet site: http://extranet.schools.Utah.gov.
The extranet site is for authorized individuals only. You will receive an email invitation from the USOE IT department to log on to the extranet site.
When you receive the email, type in your email as the User Name. This invitation will expire, so please log on as soon as possible after receiving the email. You will need to set a password—please keep track of the password as it will be known only by you.
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Access to agendas continued
The executive session material will also be posted to the
extranet site. In addition, the material will be emailed to
you as a passworded document. A binder with the
material will also be available during the Board meeting.
This binder should be left at the meeting. All executive
session material is confidential and should not be shared.
An iPAD will be provided to you at your request. Use is
governed by the State Acceptable Use Policy, and the iPAD
must be returned upon your leaving the Board. A copy of
the Acceptable Use Policy is provided.
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Board Minutes/Recordings
Audio recordings of Board meetings are required by law to
be posted within three days of the meeting. The
recordings are posted at
http://www.schools.utah.gov/board/Meetings/Audiocast.
aspx.
A Summary of Board Actions will be emailed to you and
posted within three days of a Board meeting.
Draft minutes of Board meetings will be posted within 30
days of the meeting. Once the minutes are approved,
they remain on the Website.
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Board Communications
Board Communications Specialist – Emilie Wheeler
Tips on communicating with the press
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Board Member Compensation (voting
members)
Direct
Deposit
Per diem pay for
official
meetings
Travel
reimbursement
Group Insurance
Plan
Paid bi-
weekly
Direct
Deposit
Paid
quarterly
$3,000 annual
salary
Paid at least
quarterly
Check mailed
or direct
deposit
Taken out of
bi-weekly
paycheck29
Board Member Compensation
Voting Board members receive $3,000 per year in salary. This is paid
every two weeks through direct deposit.
Voting member may participate in any group insurance plan provided
to employees of the State Office of Education as part of his/her
compensation on the same basis as required for employee
participation. For insurance information, contact the Employee
Resources Information Center (ERIC) at 801-538-3742.
All Board members receive meeting per diem for each official meeting
of the Board they attend. Official meetings are meetings of the full
board scheduled at the call of the chair. The rate is $90 for meetings
over four hours and $60 for meetings under four hours. Meeting per
diem is paid on a quarterly basis through direct deposit.
All Board members are eligible for travel reimbursement. Mileage
reimbursement forms are provided at each board meeting. Travel
reimbursements are generally done monthly. These come in a check
through the mail. If you would like these reimbursements through
direct deposit, contact the Board secretary.
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Board Member Travel Board members may be reimbursed for mileage, lodging and overnight
meal per diem, as per state guidelines, for travel to perform board business.
Board members may not receive per diem or travel expenses if the member is being paid by a governmental agency while performing service for the Board.
In-state mileage reimbursement forms are distributed at each Board meeting and provided upon request. Reimbursement forms must be submitted to the Board secretary for processing. The form must be signed in order for processing to occur.
ALL travel arrangements (flights, hotel) should be made through the Board secretary so proper approval forms can be prepared, authorization given, and state guidelines followed.
Board members may decline to receive compensation and per diem.
Generally, only voting members are authorized for Board out-of-state travel. Preauthorization for out-of-state travel must be given by Board leadership.
There is a separate reimbursement form for out-of-state travel.
A copy of State Travel Guidelines is provided.
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Email Guidelines An email on the USOE network will be assigned to you if you desire.
The email is accessible only through logging into Webmail.
Because any email communication among Board members represents
permanent Board records that can be subject to public disclosure, the
following guidelines are suggested for Board members to follow when
using email to communicate with one another.
Confidentiality – No email is confidential, personal, or private.
Emails can be subject to open records law. Board members should
not say anything in an email that would be inappropriate to say in
a board meeting.
Open Meeting Laws – Board members should avoid using email for
back-and-forth exchange on board matters. Utah’s open meeting
law requires that all board meetings be open to the public. An
email exchange among a quorum of Board members could
constitute a meeting under open meeting laws.32
Email Guidelines continued
Public Records – Board members, as public officers, should expect
that their email messages about school board issues are public
records. They can be asked to provide copies of email under the
Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA).
Excessive, Abusive Emails – Board members should adhere to
USOE’s acceptable use policy, adapted from the State of Utah
Information Technology Resources Acceptable Use Policy, and
should not send inappropriate, profane, harassing, or abuse
emails. Also, remember that humor does not always come across
well in email and sarcastic comments could be misinterpreted. A
copy is provided. A copy of the policy is provided.
Signature Line – It is recommended that Board members set up
automatic signature lines on their email system designating them
as members of the Utah State Board of Education. 33
How to Be an Effective Board Member Support and believe in the mission of the board.
Attend board meetings and actively participate in decision making.
Read written materials in preparation for board meetings and decision making.
Bring individual expertise to the board.
Be a team player.
Consider the needs of all the children in the state—not just your area.
Exercise the board’s role as the governing body and try not to administrate.
Use good judgment.
Be flexible.
Utilize strategic planning.
Gain legislative savvy.
Develop good communication skills.
Make time for board service.
Be an advocate for the board.34
How to Be an Ineffective Board Member Always arrive late.
Find a typo in the minutes.
Ask the same petty questions at every meeting.
Drink lots of liquids during the meeting so you have to make several trips to the bathroom.
Always forget to bring your materials to board meeting.
Never, ever read your material in advance.
Talk or whisper to the person sitting next to you, preferably provoking laughter.
Take a little snooze during presentation.
Regularly abstain from voting on positions.
Leave your cell phone on and let its ringing disrupt meetings.
Disappear for months between board meetings.
Sit quietly throughout the entire meeting; make no comments; ask no questions.
Forget the names of key staff members and fellow board members.
Criticize every report from a committee on which you do not sit.
Always leave early, try to go during the most important discussion of the meeting, and make sure it is a surprise to the chair.
*Compiled from “Asserting Leadership: A State Board Mandate” by Brenda Wellburn, former NASBE Executive Director.
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Miscellaneous Information
Following the election or appointment Board members will be asked to
provide contact information, a bio and photo to be used on the Board website
and to be given out to the public. A photo will be taken if needed.
New Board members must be set up as state employees in order to receive
compensation. Board members will be notified of the process, mostly done
online.
A state photo ID will be issued to each Board member.
Elected board members may request Board business cards.
The Board has a flower/gift fund to which each Board member is asked to
contribute. The Board Secretary notifies members when the fund needs to be
replenished and administers the fund. Each Board member is currently asked
to contribute $30 to the fund.
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Websites
State Board of Education - http://schoolboard.utah.gov/
State Office of Education - http://schools.utah.gov/
Board’s secure site - https://extranet.schools.utah.gov/
Legislature – http://le.utah.gov/
Utah State Government - http://utah.gov/index.html
National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) -
http://www.nasbe.org/
Elections - http://elections.utah.gov/
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Staff ContactsBrad Smith, State Superintendent 801-538-7510 801-702-7061 (cell)
Assistant – LesLee Snelson
Syd Dickson, Deputy Superintendent 801-538-7515 801-244-4988 (cell)
Assistant – Michelle Davis
Judy Park, Associate Superintendent 801-538-7550 801-376-2326 (cell)
Assistant – Patty Hunt
Bruce Williams, Associate Superintendent 801-538-7514 801-540-3340 (cell)
Assistant – Cammy Wilcox
Russ Thelin, USOR Executive Director 801-538-7539 801-652-2243 (cell)
Joel Coleman, USDB Superintendent 801-629-4712 801-634-6251 (cell)
Lorraine Austin, Board Secretary 801-538-7517 801-660-7594 (cell)
Emilie Wheeler, Board Communications 801-538-7512 801-707-8421 (cell)
Natalie Grange, Board Internal Auditor 801-538-7813 801-808-0748 (cell)
Tim Donaldson, School Children’s Trust 801-538-7709 801-706-3925 (cell)
Chris Lacombe, Board Attorney 801-366-0279 518-569-9389 (cell)
USOE Main Receptionist 801-538-7500
Contact information on all employees can be found in the Utah Educational Directory at http://schools.utah.gov/main/INFORMATION/Educational-Directory.aspx.
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Key Documents Distributed
Board Strategic Plan
Key Factors Contributing to High Student
Achievement—Internal to the School
Board Bylaws and Policies and Procedures
Rulemaking Process
Utah Professional Practices Advisory Commission
Process
Information Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Parliamentary Procedures at a Glance
Code of Conduct
State Travel Guidelines40