About the Board of Education
The Stillwater Board of Education is composed of nine unpaid members who serve three-year terms. Members are elected by the voters in the district to establish policy and govern the schools. The Superintendent of Schools advises the Board of Education on all school-related matters, board policies, and decisions that impact the district’s day-to-day operations.
This is done to ensure that all Stillwater students are provided with the highest quality educational experience possible. Each spring, the Board of Education adopts a budget for the coming school year for a community vote, which is held on the third Tuesday in May.
Roles and responsibilities of the board include:
- Setting the Vision & Goals: Establishing a long-term vision and strategic goals for the district.
- Policy Development & Legal Compliance: Creating and upholding Board policies while ensuring compliance with state and federal laws.
- Educational Advocacy: Championing high-quality education and equitable opportunities for all students.
- District Oversight: Ensuring the effective administration of daily school district operations.
- Budget & Financial Stewardship: Adopting and managing a budget that aligns with and supports district goals.
Board Meetings
The Board of Education holds meetings twice a month, typically on Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. These meetings are open to the public. View the Board of Education meeting schedule and archived minutes on the Meetings webpage. The schedule is also available on the district calendar.
Stillwater residents are encouraged to attend board meetings and work sessions. Agendas and minutes are posted on the Stillwater BoardDocs.
A school board must have a quorum of members (five of nine members) present for a regular meeting or work session to take place. All board actions authorized or required by law must be taken in an open meeting. New York State law allows the board to discuss issues related to personnel, real estate, negotiations, and legal matters in Executive Session. However, any vote on these issues is taken in open session.
Board of Education Policies
The Board of Education is the policy-making body for the school district. Board of Education policies are statements that provide guidance and direction to school employees regarding many matters, ranging from student issues to finance. The Board Policy Manual can be found on the BoardDocs website.
Public Input
Residents who wish to address the Board of Education are welcome to do so during the second board meeting of each month, as the first meeting of the month is devoted to a board work session. All meetings of the board are open to the public.
The board prohibits discussion on matters that could violate the reputation, privacy, or rights due to process of staff, students, or others. These types of concerns should be directed to the Board of Education in writing, to the attention of the board president.
The Stillwater Central School District’s Board of Education utilizes BoardDocs to provide easy access to meeting information. Here, you can find meeting agendas, proposed resolutions, background details, and archived agendas and minutes. Agendas are typically posted several days before each scheduled meeting.