Pictured above: Chis Snyder, President; Libby Gray, Member; LaToya Dowdell-Burger, Vice-President; Kathleen Walsh, Member; Seth Bower, Member.
The Groveport Madison School District has a five-member Board of Education. These locally-elected officials represent the interests of the Groveport Madison community - and fulfill their roles under Ohio law - by establishing educational policies, hiring and providing oversight of the District's Superintendent and Treasurer, and establishing the overall goals and objectives for the District's two appointed leaders.
Under Ohio law, the term of office for a Board of Education member is for a period of four years, with the terms being staggered in electing no more than three members during an election. This is done to provide continuity in the Board's leadership.
Board of Education Regular Meetings
Regular meetings of the Board of Education are held on the second Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the District Service Center (administrative offices), located at 4400 Marketing Place, Suite B, Groveport OH 43125. Special Meetings may be called by the President of the Board, in accordance with Board Policy and Ohio law.
Work Sessions
These meetings are typically held for the purpose of providing updates or information about upcoming issues to the Board of Education and the community. While there are generally no action items scheduled for Work Sessions, it is occasionally necessary to include action items as specific, immediate needs arise. Agendas that include any action items will be published at least 24-hours in advance of the meeting. The public is invited to attend Work Sessions, however, there is no time scheduled for public participation during these meetings.
State law prohibits discussion of specific employees or their job performance at a public meeting. The law does allow for discussions by Board members regarding employees in Executive Sessions of the Board. Voting can occur only in open (public) sessions.
Special Meetings
With at least a 24-hour public notice, the Board's President may call a "Special Meeting." While generally for informational purposes, any item to be voted upon must be published on the meeting's agenda at least 24-hours in advance of the meeting date.
Ohio's Open Meeting's Law/Executive Sessions
Ohio law mandates that school board meetings be open to the public with an exception of Executive Sessions. In an Executive Session, Ohio law permits the Board to discuss, but not vote, on personnel matters, property purchases, possible legal action, labor negotiations, security arrangements, and items the law says must be kept confidential.
Topics that can be discussed in Executive Session include:
- The appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against an employee, official, licensee, or student, unless the employee, official, licensee, or student requests a public hearing.
- The purchase of property for public purposes, the sale of property at competitive bidding, or the sale or disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use property under RC 505.10.
- Conferences with the board’s attorney to discuss matters which are the subject of pending or imminent court action. The board’s attorney must be present during executive sessions held for this purpose.
- Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with employees.
- Matters that are required to be kept confidential by federal or state law or rules.
- Specialized details of security arrangements.
- Confidential information related to marketing plans, specific business strategy, production techniques, trade secrets, or personal financial statements of an applicant for economic development assistance, or related to negotiations with other political subdivisions regarding requests for economic development assistance.
Requesting an Item to be Included on the Board Agenda
The school board's meeting agenda is set by the Superintendent and the Board President. Individuals who wish to request an item to be considered for a Board meeting agenda should do so by submitting their request in writing to the Superintendent’s secretary, at the District's Administrative Offices, or by e-mailing chris.cook@gocruisers.org. Requests should include name, address, phone number, organization represented (if any), and an explanation of the request. Requests must be submitted five working days in advance of the scheduled meeting. The inclusion of items on the agenda is at the discretion of the Superintendent and the Board President.
Board of Education meeting agendas are posted on the Board docs link found on the right-hand side of the Board's web page. Click on the meeting date and the option to view or print the agenda will be located in the middle of the web page.
Questions
Should you have questions, please feel free to contact the District's Office of Communications & Community Relations, at (614) 492-2520, or email us at gm.communications@gocruisers.org.
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