Responsibilities of the School Board 1-4

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Bylaw 1-4

SCHOOL BOARD BYLAWS

Responsibilities of the School Board

The responsibilities listed below are those of the School Board acting as a unit and not of the several School Board Members individually except insofar as each individual School Board Member has the duty of giving thought and attention to all matters for which the School Board is responsible and of contributing to the considerations and discussions through which the School Board arrives at conclusions and takes appropriate actions.

Although enumeration of all duties and responsibilities of the School Board is impractical, the following are among the most important:

1. Appoint the School Division Superintendent.
2. Evaluate the Superintendent annually using criteria which include, but are not limited to: assessing teacher and administrator skills and knowledge; improving student academic progress; providing for school safety; and, enforcing student discipline.
3. Adopt for use by the Superintendent clearly defined criteria for a performance evaluation process for principals, assistant principals, and supervisors that includes, among other things, an assessment of such administrators' skills and knowledge; student academic progress and school gains in student learning; and, effectiveness in addressing school safety and enforcing student discipline.
4. Develop a procedure for use by the Superintendent and principals in evaluating instructional personnel that is appropriate to the tasks performed and addresses, among other things, student academic progress and the skills and knowledge of instructional personnel, including but not limited to, instructional methodology, classroom management, and subject matter knowledge.
5. Establish general policies to be employed in the conduct of the public schools.
6. Provide oversight through the formulation and administration of rules and regulations governing School Board procedures.
7. See that the school laws are properly explained, observed, and enforced.
8. Secure, by visitation or otherwise, as full information as possible about the conduct of the schools in the School Division and take care that they are conducted efficiently and in accordance with the law. During such visitation, in accordance with Bylaw 1-23, School Board Members have no authority to direct the action of school employees or students, and any suggestions or concerns should initially be directed to the Superintendent or his designee.
9. Care for, manage, and control the property of the School Division and provide for the erection, furnishing, equipping, and non-instructional operating of necessary school buildings and appurtenances and the maintenance thereof by purchase, lease, or other contracts.
10. Provide for the consolidation of schools or redistricting of school boundaries or adopting pupil assignment plans whenever such procedure will contribute to the efficiency of the School Division.
11. Operate and maintain the schools in the School Division, consistent with state statutes and regulations of the Virginia Board of Education.
12. Determine the length of the school term, the studies to be pursued, the governance and methods of teaching within the schools, consistent with statutes and Virginia Board of Education Regulations.
13. Control school finances by establishing priorities and aligning financial resources in accordance with the School Board's strategic plan. This includes, but is not limited to, examining and approving the budget and capital outlays, awarding contracts, fixing salary schedules and wages, overseeing all business transactions, as well as regularly auditing all accounts.
14. On recommendation of the Superintendent, employ staff, apportion their duties, and provide for handling all related personnel problems.
15. Maintain and improve the school plant.
16. Present the needs of the schools to the Virginia Beach City Council and legislators.
17. Represent the schools and the educational program before the public generally as opportunity occurs.
18. As set forth in School Board policies and regulations, act as a "court of appeals" (where authorized by law or regulation) for employees and laymen citizens who have grievances and students who have disciplinary matters that have already been heard by the proper administrative official(s) without satisfactory resolution.
19. Appoint advisory committee members.

Editor's Note

The School Board appoints individuals to Community Advisory Committees as required by law and as provided in School Board Policy 7-21 and supporting regulations.

Legal Reference

Code of Virginia § 22.1-60, as amended. Appointment and term of superintendent; certain contractual matters.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-60.1, as amended. Evaluation of superintendent.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-71, as amended. School board constitutes body corporate; corporate powers.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-78, as amended. Bylaws and regulations.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-79, as amended. Powers and duties.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-89, as amended. Management of funds.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-92, as amended. Estimate of moneys needed for public schools; notice of costs to be distributed.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-253.13:7, as amended. Standard 7. School board policies.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-293, as amended. School boards authorized to employ principals and assistant principals; license required; powers and duties.

Code of Virginia § 22.1-295, as amended. Employment of teachers.

Virginia Board of Education Regulations Governing School Boards Local, 8 VAC 20-490-10 et seq., as amended.

Related Links

School Board Policy 7-21
School Board Regulation 7-21.1
School Board Regulation 7-21.2
School Board Regulation 7-21.3
School Board Regulation 7-21.4
School Board Regulation 7-21.5
School Board Regulation 7-21.6
School Board Regulation 7-21.7

Adopted by School Board: July 21, 1992
Amended by School Board: August 17, 1999
Amended by School Board: February 20, 2001
Amended by School Board: December 2, 2008
Amended by School Board: August 18, 2015
Amended by School Board: August 2, 2016
Reviewed by School Board: November 9, 2022