Board of Education
What Does a School Board Member Do?
The Board of Education is the official policy-making body of the East Rockaway UFSD. The Board of Education is comprised of five school district residents who are elected by voters to three-year terms in the annual election held on the third Tuesday in May. The terms of office are staggered so that all board positions are never open at the same time.
Under state law, school board members must be registered voters, at least 18 years old, and have lived in the school district for at least one year. They cannot be a school employee, cannot reside in the same household as another school board member and must be able to read and write English.
Board members serve without compensation. Board members attend at least two regular Board of Education meetings each month along with committee meetings and various school-related activities. At the annual re-organizational meeting in July, the Board elects a president, vice-president and secretary.
Board members are kept informed about programs and activities in the district through weekly informational packets from the Superintendent and various other means. Board members receive extensive training through the district's own board development materials and through workshops sponsored by the New York State School Boards Association. Board members also take advantage of national organizations like the National School Boards Association to study topics of interest and need.
The Board’s powers and duties are derived from the State Constitution, the laws of New York State, and rulings of the State Commissioner of Education. The Board’s four main areas of responsibility are to:
- Establish all school district policies
- Develop an annual budget for public approval
- Approve or disapprove the Superintendent’s recommendations regarding personnel matters and the many contracts the district must negotiate
- Act as a two-way communication link between residents and the Superintendent.
Collectively, the Board of Education has the legal responsibility for the operation of the entire district. The Board establishes the policies under which the school district is operated and the Superintendent of Schools is responsible for administering the school program within the context of these policies. In other words, the board oversees the education of students and is responsible for school district operations, but does not directly run the district’s day-to-day operations.
The Board encourages parents and residents who have a concern about school matters to try first to resolve the problem at the level most directly involved, which is usually the classroom teacher or the principal. If a satisfactory solution cannot be reached at this level, you can contact the department chairperson or director. If there is no resolution at this level, you can contact the Superintendent of Schools, Mrs. Lisa Ruiz. A phone directory is available on the district website, as well as a webpage indicating the chain of command.
If the matter can only be resolved by a change in district policy or some other action of the Board of Education, residents are welcome to communicate their concerns to the Board by letter, phone call, or a statement under "Privilege of the Floor" at one of the Board’s meetings. Board members may also be contacted by email at: boardofeducation@eastrockawayschools.org. Concerns registered directly to the Board as a whole or to an individual Board member will be discussed, as soon as is reasonably possible, with the Superintendent and entire Board for investigation, report, and/or resolution.
The East Rockaway School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, sex or disability and operates in compliance with Title IX, Part 86 and Civil Rights Law 504.
Important Notice...
Please use our school income tax code #166 when completing your NYS income tax returns. State aid is partially based on the accurate use of this number.
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Applicants for admission and employment, students, parents, employees, sources of referral of applicants for admission and employment, and all unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with the East Rockaway School District are hereby notified that this district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the East Rockaway School District's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 is directed to contact Vincent Healy, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, East Rockaway UFSD, 887-8300, ext. 544, who has been designated by the East Rockaway School District to coordinate the district's efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, the ADA, and Section 504.