Board of Education Committees - July 2022 Revision

Board of Education Committees

Standing Committee Chair Elections 

The election of the standing committee chairs shall be as follows:

• Nominations and elections shall be conducted in public at the first regular board meeting held in January 
• Should a chair of a standing committee resign or be removed during his or her term of office, the board, at its next meeting following such resignation or removal, shall hold an election to fill the vacated position by public vote
• The term of committee chair is one year. Committee chairs may serve successive terms

Chair Responsibilities

The chair of a standing committee shall:

• Preside at committee meeting
• Direct and guide preparation of committee agendas in collaboration with the assigned superintendent designee
• Set committee schedules

Types of Standing Committees and Membership  

The Board of Education may establish standing committees. Standing committees shall be responsible for addressing board business. Committees shall meet regularly and report their findings and recommendations to the Board of Education for approval. Standing committees shall work independently, but in collaboration with all other committees and the board, according to their defined scope of responsibility and function as follows: 

• Five standing committees shall carry out the continuing functions and purposes of the board.  Two of the standing committees, Audit and Finance, are required by state statute. The five standing committees are:
  • Instruction and Accountability
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Capital Outlay, Property and Technology
  • Audit
• The board shall establish areas of responsibility for the standing committees.
•  All items on which a vote is to be taken during a board meeting may first be considered during the same month’s respective committee meeting, whenever possible. Board of Education meeting agendas will specifically identify items that have not been considered previously at a committee meeting the same month. A committee shall consider only those items that fall within the committee’s scope of duties. If an item does not fall squarely within the scope of a particular committee, the Board of Education president shall determine which committee shall consider the item.
• Members of standing committees must be members of the board, with the exception of the Audit Committee. 
• The membership of standing committees is as follows:
  • Each standing committee will be a committee of the whole board.  Board members are members of each committee and are encouraged to attend all committee meetings
  • The chairperson of each standing committee will be elected by the board at the first regular board meeting held in January 
  • Board members will be the voting members of the committees, and the superintendent or the superintendent’s designee(s) will serve as non-voting members of the committees with the exception of the Audit Committee. The public is encouraged to attend
• Committee Voting Procedures:
  • Committee members have the responsibility to vote
  • A majority of committee members shall constitute a quorum to conduct the business of a committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at any committee meeting shall be deemed the act of the committee
  • There shall be no proxy voting at committee meetings
• No committee may take any action that shall establish policy for the board or make any decision that shall be binding upon the board. Committees shall have deliberative and recommending powers only.

The missions of each committee are outlined below.

Policy Committee

The purpose of the Policy Committee is to strengthen the Board of Education’s policies to enable and support elevated, more equitable educational outcomes for all students. The scope and duties of the Policy Committee shall include, but not be limited to:

• Develop and review policies of the Board of Education to ensure an enabling environment for all students to learn and thrive
• Solicit public and stakeholder input to inform new policies or policy amendments
• Translate governmental and legislative mandates into meaningful policy to positively impact district programs and services
• Monitor and hold the district accountable for proper implementation of all Board of Education policies
• The Policy Committee recommends to the board the approval and revocation of charter for the district’s charter schools

Capital Outlay, Property and Technology Committee

The purpose of the Capital Outlay, Property and Technology Committee is to ensure the proper maintenance, use, improvement, and control of all Board of Education assets. The scope of the duties of the Capital Outlay, Property and Technology Committee shall include, but not be limited to:

• Review and make recommendations for approval of long-term capital plans for all school facilities and ensure equitable use of all school buildings and district assets
• Review and make recommendations for approval of contracts proposed by the superintendent and staff
• Ensure legal and cost-efficient execution of contracts
• Review and make recommendations for disposal and/or acquisition of property and real estate

Review and make recommendations for acquisition of and development of district education technology and technology infrastructure

Finance Committee 

The purpose of the Finance Committee is to monitor the district’s financial and operational performance. The scope of the duties of the Finance Committee shall include, but not be limited to:

• Ensure the fiscal operations of the district are in accordance with generally accepted governmental accounting principles and pursuant to the best practices for fiscal integrity and accountability for public school districts
•  Monitor all financial statements of the district on a quarterly basis, at a minimum, including budget to actual variance reports
• Provide oversight of the budget development process, including recommending the budget timeline and community engagement process
•  Consider and make recommendations to the full board regarding revenue-raising activities, including bond issuances, tax measures, etc.
• Evaluate district financial and operational functions and performance, including but not limited to employee salaries and benefits, risk management and insurance, investments, legal settlements and obligations, procurement practices, etc.
• Review staff requests for procurement / contract approvals and make recommendations for full Board of Education approval.

Instruction and Accountability Committee

The purpose of the Accountability Committee is to monitor the performance of the district across a comprehensive set of goals and strategic priorities. The scope of the duties of the Accountability Committee shall include, but not be limited to:

• Review instructional designs, programs, and materials
• Consider and recommend district performance goals for board approval
• Monitor district-wide and school-level educational performance, including but not limited to state academic assessments, interim academic assessments, attendance, discipline, school climate surveys, student and parent satisfaction surveys, special education program compliance and performance, English language learner program compliance and performance, etc.
• Monitor progress on school improvement plans
•  Monitor progress to ensure diversity, equity and inclusion goals are achieved

Audit Committee 

The function of the Audit Committee is to review and recommend approval or action(s) associated with the district’s annual audit, any internal audit(s), audits associated with the capital outlay and technology, any employee whistleblower complaints, and as set forth in the district audit policy.

Notice of Committee Meetings and Agendas 

All meetings of board committees will be publicly announced and will adhere to the Open Meetings Act and the Open Meetings Act Resolution of the Board.

Each committee chair shall approve an agenda for each committee meeting, incorporating business forwarded by the superintendent or his/her designee, the board, the president, or board member(s).

The committee may change or modify the agenda at the meeting within the requirements of the Open Meetings Act. Except in an emergency, action may only be taken on items that have been officially posted for a thirty-six (36) hour period prior to the meeting.  A Board of Education Services Office staff member or a committee coordinator is assigned by the district administration to attend each meeting and is responsible for preparing minutes of the meeting.

Ad Hoc Committees 

Ad Hoc committees may be appointed by the president or the board as deemed necessary.  Ad hoc committees shall be limited in their jurisdiction to the purpose of their establishment.  Members of ad hoc committees must be members of the board. The size of ad hoc committees will be determined at the time of formation.  Ultimate authority to make decisions will reside with the board.

Task Force Committees or Commissions 

Task force committees or commissions may be appointed by the president or the board as one means of discerning the needs and desires of the district and its residents.  Task force committees or commissions are advisory and shall be limited in their jurisdiction to the purpose of their establishment. Members of task force committees or commissions may be either board or community members. The size of task forces or commissions will be determined at the time of formation. Ultimate authority to make decisions will reside with the board.

Official Representation on Community or Other Governmental Organizations and Committees

Members of the APS Board of Education represent the district by participating in local and national organizations. Board member involvement is an important way the board serves constituents and APS students. Specific board members may be assigned to represent the board with some external organizations and, in others, all APS board members may have the opportunity to participate.

Resignation or Removal of Committee Chairs     

Any committee chair may resign from his or her position at any time by giving written notice to the president of the board.  The resignation shall be accepted by the board.  A committee chair may be removed from his/her position by public vote of at least five board members.

Board of Education Member:    

• Policy Committee Chair

Department Director:                  

• Board of Education Services Office Executive Director

References:
Legal Cross Ref.:                               

• §22-5-4 NMSA 1978
• Open Meetings Act, NMSA 1978, Sections 10-15-1 to 10-15-4

• §22-8-12.3 (2013)

Board Policy Cross Ref.:                   

• BD Board of Education Organization
• BD1 Board of Education Committees
• BD2 Audit Committee
• BE Board of Education Meetings
• BE1 Board of Education Meeting Agendas
• BE2 Rules of Order

Procedural Directive Cross Ref.:  

Forms Cross Ref:

• Open Meetings Act Resolution     

NSBA/NEPN Classification:        BD

Introduced: November 11, 2015
Adopted: November 18, 2015    
Reviewed: September 12, 2018
Revised: September 19, 2018   
Reviewed: April 20, 2022
Revised: April 20, 2022                                                               

This page was last updated on: January 11, 2016.