The district publishes this information to provide potential candidates for the Board of Education with information and an overview of the responsibilities and expectations associated with serving on the Board of Education. It also serves to provide the public with a deeper understanding of the role of the board and its members.
Board member qualifications and characteristics
Niskayuna board members are community volunteers who receive no pay for their service. To be eligible, candidates must be at least 18 years old, qualified voters in the school district and able to read and write. Candidates also must be residents of the district continuously for at least one year before being elected. Eligible candidates cannot be employed by the board on which they will serve nor live in the same household with a family member who is also a member of the same school board. State law requires central school board elections and budget votes to be held on the third Tuesday in May.
Although the legal requirements for becoming a board member in New York state are not difficult, possessing the characteristics that make someone a functioning and productive member of a legislative body is very important. According to the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), the following attributes are helpful:
- Effective Communicator: Can describe what they want and describe what others want; a good listener.
- Consensus Builder: Capable of working toward decisions that all can support and willing to compromise to achieve that goal.
- Community Participant: Enjoys meeting a variety of people; can identify the community’s key communicators and reaches out to fellow citizens.
- Decision Maker: Knows their own decision-making style and that of others, supports group decision-making.
- Information Processor: Can organize priorities and schedules to handle large quantities of verbal and written information.
- Leader: Willing to take risks, supportive of board colleagues, district staff and the community.
- Team Player: Helps promote the board’s vision and goals.
About our School District
The Niskayuna Central School District has an outstanding reputation for a comprehensive and rigorous curriculum. With a tradition of more than 90% of graduates attending college, the Albany Business Review regularly rates Niskayuna as one of the top school districts among the nearly 90 districts in the Capital Region. The district comprises five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. Enrollment is approximately 4,250. The district employs approximately 800 full and part-time employees including about 350 teachers. The district has a school budget of more than $110 million and represents one of the largest employers in Schenectady County.
Board Meetings
The Board of Education usually meets on one or two Tuesdays of every month at 6 p.m. At times, additional special meetings may be scheduled, such as during budget development. The annual organizational meeting is held in July and one regular meeting is held in August. In order for a board meeting to be conducted, a quorum of board members must be in attendance.
Preparation for Board of Education Meetings
On the Thursday prior to each board meeting, materials are posted in BoardDocs for board members to review. This platform includes the agenda of the meeting and the attachments associated with each recommended board action. Board members have the opportunity, and are encouraged to follow-up with the administration prior to the meeting with any clarifying questions about the agenda items.
Typical Board Meeting Agenda
Board meeting agendas are collaboratively developed in advance between the superintendent of schools and the board officers (president & vice president). Meeting agenda items often include:
- Superintendent report, board president and member reports, including ex officio student board member reports.
- Privilege of the Floor: District residents, staff and student comments or concerns can be made during this time.
- Reports and Recommendations: Instructional or business items that benefit by discussion and may need board approval.
- Consent Agenda: These items include those which are on the board agenda routinely, and are approved as a group unless an item is requested to be removed from the consent agenda for discussion. Consent agenda items typically include:
- Monthly financial reports, enrollment reports and construction reports.
- Contracts and bid awards that are routine.
- Personnel actions.
- Student placements under student support services.
- Student trips.
- Executive Session: For specific matters named in law to be discussed outside of public session.
Liaisons and Committees
Niskayuna Board of Education subcommittees include the Audit & Finance Committee, the Board Policy Committee, the Academic Programs Committee and the Facilities Committee. In addition, each board member serves as the liaison for a specific school in the district. When possible, board liaisons attend at least some of the PTO meetings of the school. The board also has liaisons to other parent/support organizations such as the Booster Club, Friends of Music, Niskayuna Rowing and official committees like the Health Advisory Committee. When possible, board members are also encouraged to attend other school events.
Required Training
All newly elected board members are required by New York state Law to participate in fiscal oversight and governance skills training. Board members have one year to complete this training and generally have the option of attending a full day, two part-days or participating online to fulfill this requirement. The school district covers the cost of this training.
Niskayuna’s Board of Education is a member of the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA). In addition to the offer of participating in periodic workshops and training, board members are invited to attend the annual NYSSBA conference held in a major city in our state.
Strategic Plan and District Initiatives
The Board of Education has developed a district strategic plan and periodically monitors progress toward the objectives outlined in the plan and adjusts it as needed. The Board of Education is responsible for the annual evaluation of the superintendent of schools based on progress toward district goals and initiatives. Goals and initiatives are developed annually with input from the board and often represent multi-year activities aligned with the strategic plan.
Examples of Roles of a School Board Member
- Regularly review, update and adopt board policies that help guide the school district.
- Annually evaluate the performance of the superintendent.
- Help formulate and support a shared vision of the school district.
- Participate in and help establish goals and initiatives for the school district regarding student and district performance and ways to measure and monitor progress.
- Provide oversight and periodic review of school curriculum and programs.
- Provide oversight of fiscal management, documentation and adequate fiscal security and integrity.
- Review, provide input and adopt an annual budget to present to voters.
- Encourage and connect with various constituencies of the school district in building partnerships for the schools.
- Ensure that the district is meeting health, safety and security needs of students and staff.
- Adequately review and prepare in advance for each board meeting.
- Notify and direct all questions/concerns about the school district to the superintendent.
- Continuously read, study and understand the many aspects of teaching and learning.
- Participate in confidential discussions regarding staffing and students and maintain confidentiality at all times.
- Visit the school buildings, attend school events and evening activities to best understand the district and needs.
- Demonstrate discernment and a high degree of ethics.
Board of Education Policy
The school district is guided by a comprehensive set of policies compiled into a Niskayuna Board of Education policy manual. These policies range from providing guidance on student residency to fiscal operations to prevention of harassment in the schools. All current and newly adopted policies may be found through the district website and on BoardDocs. With few exceptions, policy approval requires two readings at board meetings prior to adoption.
Regulations are developed by the administrative team to implement board policies. These provide specific steps or procedures that implement and support board policy.
Term of Office
A board member’s term of office is for three years, beginning on July 1 and ending June 30. Board members run at-large, which means that each of the seven members represent the whole community and not specific geographic areas.
Procedures for Filing Nominating Petitions
To declare candidacy, an individual must submit a completed nominating petition to the district clerk no later than 30 days before the election. By law, the petition must be signed by at least 25 qualified district voters or 2% of the number of those who voted in the previous annual election, whichever number is greater. To be valid, each signed petition must include the candidate’s name and residence, and the vacancy in question, along with the signature of the eligible voter. For more information or to obtain a copy of a board nominating petition, please contact the District Clerk at (518) 377-4666, extension 4.
Campaign Expenses
Per Education Law, board candidates must file statements on campaign expenses. If campaign expenses are less than $500, these statements must be submitted only to the district clerk. If the expenses exceed $500, a detailed listing of expenses shall be furnished to both the district clerk and the commissioner of education. Deadlines for statements, regardless of campaign expenditure amount, are set forth in Education Law as:
- Preliminary Statement: At least 30 days before the election
- Second Statement: On or before the fifth day preceding the election
- Final statement: Within 20 days after the election
Meet the Candidates
Traditionally, there has been an annual Meet the Candidates night, hosted by an organization such as the Parent Teacher Council or Student Congress, for community members to have an opportunity to meet and hear from board candidates. The format of past Meet the Candidates night is expected to change this year. More information will be forthcoming when it is available.
For More Information
Anyone interested in running for a Board of Education seat is encouraged to contact board members or the superintendent for more information. The superintendent can be reached at (518) 377-4666, ext. 50706. Nominating petitions are available by contacting the district clerk at (518) 377-4666, ext. 50706.