Policy BJ: School Committee Legislative Program

The School Committee, as an agent of the state, must operate within the bounds of state and federal laws affecting public education.  If the School Committees is to meet its responsibilities to the residents and students of our communities, it must work vigorously for the passage of new laws designed to advance the cause of good schools and for the repeal or modification of existing laws that impede this cause.

To this end:

• The School Committee will keep itself informed of pending legislation affecting education and the operation of the schools, and it will actively communicate its concerns and make its formal positions known to elected representatives at both the state and federal level.  The Chair will appoint one or more members of the Committee to keep abreast of such matters and to report to the School Committee as appropriate.
• The School Committee will work with its legislative representatives (both state and federal), with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, and other concerned groups in developing an annual, as well as a long-range, legislative program.  One of the major objectives of the School Committee’s legislative program will be to seek full funding for all state and federally mandated programs.
• The School Committee annually will elect a person (preferably a member of the School Committee or an administrator) to serve as its legislative representative.  This person will be authorized to speak on the School Committee’s behalf with respect to legislation being considered by the Massachusetts Legislature or the United States Congress or their respective committees.  In all dealings with individual elected representatives, the Legislature or Congress, the School Committee’s representative will be bound by the official positions taken by the School Committee.
• The School Committee annually will appoint a member to attend the annual conference of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees.  This person will be authorized to speak and vote on the School Committee’s behalf.  The School Committee’s representative will be bound by the official positions taken by the School Committee on the MASC’s proposed resolutions.

No legislation shall be filed on behalf of the School Committee and no position shall be taken in the name of the School Committee by any member or by the staff without the vote of a majority of members taken at a meeting of the School Committee for which notice was given in the agenda. 

Region Voted to Approve: 12/07/11
Amherst Voted to Approve:
Pelham Voted to Approve: