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In New Mexico, education represents one of the largest, if not the largest, business in any community.  The Citizens in the 89 school districts in the state elect five to seven of their fellow citizens to represent the public on a board that has the responsibility of providing the best educational opportunities possible to all the children residing in the school district.

The responsibilities that you have accepted as a board member are awesome.  Your decisions will affect, very directly, the lives of every individual in your community.  Since education is the base of our form of government, the type of education provided will have an impact on our state and nation.

This handbook has been prepared not to answer all the problems that you may encounter as  a board member, but as a frame work that may assist you in carrying out your responsibilities.

The main task the citizens have assigned to you is the education of the children in the community, so all board member activity should focus on good education.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I - NEW MEXICO SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION

CHAPTER II - LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS
 Section A. -   School Board Structure & Variations
 Section B. -   School Board Elections
 Section C. -  Vacancies on the School Board
 Section D. -  Organization of the Board
 Section E. -   Powers and Duties
 Section F. -   Policy Making
 Section G. -  Compensation
 Section H. -  Effective Boardmanship
 Section I. -    Required Board Member Training
CHAPTER III - SUPERINTENDENT
 Section A. -   Board-Superintendent Relationship
 Section B. -   Expectations Placed on the Superintendent
 Section C. -   Critical Period in Board-Superintendent Relationship
CHAPTER IV - PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCT OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS
 Section A. -  Regular Meeting
 Section B. -  Special or Emergency Meetings
 Section C. -  Organizational Meeting
 Section D. -  Public Notice
 Section E. -  Agenda
 Section F. -  Order of Business
 Section G. -  Public Address to the Board
 Section H. -  Open and Closed Meetings
 Section I. -    Presiding Officer
 Section J. -   Presiding Officer When President is in Active Debate
 Section K. -  Action by the Board
 Section L. -  Second not Required
 Section M. - One Motion at a Time
 Section N. -  Substantive Motion
 Section O. -  Adoption by Majority Vote
 Section P. -  Debate
 Section Q. -  Procedural Motions
 Section R. -  Renewal of Motions
 Section S. -  Withdrawal of Motion
 Section T. -  Duty to Vote
 Section U. -  Public Hearings
 Section V. -  Minutes
 Section W. - Appointments
 Section X. -  Reference to Robert's Rules of Order (RRO)
CHAPTER V- EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE IN NEW MEXICO
 Section A. -   Public Education Commission (PEC)
 Section B. -   Secretary of Education
 Section C. -   Public Education Department (PED)
 Section D. -   School Budget Planning Unit
APPENDIX
 Appendix A. -   Code of Ethics for New Mexico School Board Members