Background:
At the request of the Board, Staff was requested to look at the current future agenda process. Staff investigated other examples from CSBA, neighboring districts, as well as several examples from across the state. Staff has concluded that MVWSD policy is significantly different from other districts within the state. MVWSD bp 9322 (b) contradicts MVWSD bp 9322. Whereas BP 9322 places the onus of setting the agenda, including new proposals from board members to the President and the Superintendent, BP9322b removes the Board President, as the appointed facilitator of the Board meetings, and requires the Superintendent to present, without any context, an item for deliberation.
In reviewing various policies, included in this item, staff determines that MVWSD should eliminate 9322b and align with CSBAs recommended policy (included). To address any concern that a board member does not have the ability to appeal a decision made by the Board President and Superintendent, staff recommends adding the appeal process to BP 9322.
The new language is as follows:
Any Board member or member of the public may request that a matter within the jurisdiction of the Board be placed on the agenda of a regular meeting. The request shall be submitted in writing to the Superintendent or designee with supporting documents and information, if any, at least ten (10) days before the scheduled meeting date. Items submitted less than ten (10) days before the scheduled meeting date may be postponed to a later meeting in order to allow sufficient time for consideration and research of the issue.
The Board president and Superintendent shall decide whether a request from a member of the public is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board. Items not within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board may not be placed on the agenda. In addition, before placing the item on the agenda, the Board president and Superintendent shall determine if the item is merely a request for information or whether the issue is covered by an existing policy or administrative regulation, and if so, respond accordingly.
If the Board president and Superintendent deny a request from a Board member to place an item on the agenda, the Board member may request the Board to take action to determine whether the item shall be placed on the agenda.
The Board president and Superintendent shall also decide whether an agenda item is appropriate for discussion in open or closed session, and whether the item should be an action item subject to Board vote or an information item that does not require immediate action.
The Board President and Superintendent shall determine at which Board meeting the requested items will be placed on the agenda or an item to be placed on the list of Proposed Potential Future Agenda Items on the agenda. During the board meeting, when considering items on the potential future agenda items, the board requester of the item will get up to 2 minutes to discuss their request. The board will vote by Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down, and a majority will determine as to whether the item should go forward at a future meeting or not. If it is to move forward, the Board president and Superintendent will schedule the item for a future board meeting.
Fiscal Implication:
Recommended Action: