VOTE411 Voter Guide

A school board is a democratically elected body that oversees the provision of education to children residing in your District. School boards provide governance while serving as a bridge between the community and professional staff.Constitutional and Statutory Authority: Unlike many states, where state-level boards or agencies take the lead role in education, the ultimate responsibility for quality public education in Montana rests with the locally elected school board of trustees. The Montana Constitution is unique in placing both supervision and control of public education in the school boards’ hands. Article X, Section 8 of the Montana Constitution articulates this directly: “The supervision and control of schools in each school district shall be vested in a board of trustees to be elected as provided by law.”As clearly enunciated in Montana’s Constitution, the role of school boards in public education is pivotal. School board trustees are authorized to adopt rules for students, staff, and members of the public. Authority is delegated to the Superintendent for the on-going direction and management of district programs. Duties of trustees include adopting goals for the District and evaluating outcomes, adopting and evaluating District policies, approving the District’s budget, setting levies and bond amounts, and entering into contracts for goods and services.The Hellgate Elementary School District #4 Board of Trustees is an elected, unpaid group of seven citizens who set policy and make decisions on education, financial, and personnel matters for the Hellgate Elementary Public Schools on behalf of all residents. They are always pleased when members of the community attend the meetings.Hellgate:The authority of individual trustees is limited to participating in actions taken by the Board as a whole when legally in session. Trustees shall not assume responsibilities of administrators or other staff members. The Board or staff shall not be bound by an action taken or statement made by an individual trustee, except when such statement or action is pursuant to specific instructions and official action taken by the Board. Each trustee shall review the agenda and attendant materials in advance of a meeting and shall be prepared to participate in discussion and decision making for each agenda item. Each trustee shall visit every school building at least once per year to examine its management, conditions, and needs. All trustees are obligated to attend Board meetings regularly. Whenever possible, a trustee shall give advance notice to the Chair or Superintendent, of the trustee’s inability to attend a Board meeting.