Board Updates
Board reorganization, January 2014
Every January, the board reorganizes its officers according to board policy:
The School Board shall organize annually on or before January 15th at a meeting held in accordance with law. The meeting shall be called to order by the ranking officer of the preceding Board who shall serve as presiding officer until the election of a temporary chairperson, who shall in turn serve until the election of a President.
The Board shall elect from its members a President, Vice-President, and a Secretary all of whom are separate members.
The Board shall also appoint a Treasurer of the Board and of the Corporation who is not the Superintendent or a Board member.
Election of officers shall be by a majority of the full Board. Where no such majority exists on the first vote, a second vote shall be cast for the two (2) candidates who received the greatest number of votes.
Officers shall serve for one (1) year and until their respective successors are elected and shall qualify. An officer may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the full Board. The Board shall fill a vacancy in either office within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of the vacancy.
The board voted unanimously to elect these officers on January 12th:
- Michelle Engel, president
- Jay Caponigro, vice president
- Dawn Jones, secretary
Board Responsibilities
I will continue as chair of the Safety Committee to improve building security, train staff, help students resolve conflict in its early stages, and effectively address bullying behaviors. Reports on the past 3 year's activities and accomplishments have been submitted to the board.
I also serve as Board representative on the South Bend Public Education Foundation's board. This excellent organization will continue to work on reading and math resources for South Bend teachers, as well as an exciting initiative to support character education in our schools.
ISBA/NSBA - My commitment to continuing education as a board trustee involves participation in these organizations:
Indiana School Board Association, hosts quarterly conferences around the State of Indiana. The mission of ISBA is to train and support school boards in their governance roles and to advocate for the highest quality public education for all children. I intend to regularly participate in these trainings each calendar year. Last year, I was recognized by ISBA for "...dedication to continuous improvement, especially through attendance at ISBA-sponsored conferences, seminars, and retreats," through their Certifcation Awards Program (CAP).
National School Board Association, holds an annual meeting. The mission of NSBA is: Working with and through our State Associations, NSBA Advocates for Equity and Excellence in Public Education through School Board Leadership. I will be attending their April Conference.
