Running or managing a board meeting is an important part of being a board member. Meetings are important since the board cannot take action except at a regular or special meeting.
Whether a regular or special meeting, a quorum, or majority, of members of the board must be present in order to take any official action. All regular and special meetings are public meetings, and therefore subject to the Sunshine Law (Revised Code section 121.22).
Each meeting should begin with an agenda. The board president will call the meeting to order and role will be taken. Following is a typical order of business after role is taken:
• Adoption of the agenda
• Approval and signing of the minutes
• Financial report
• Public participation (although this can appear anywhere in the agenda it makes most topical sense)
• Superintendent's report and recommendations
• Unfinished business
• New business
• Committee Reports
• Adjournment
Many boards provide an abbreviated copy of the agenda to visitors and members of the media who are attending. If your board has a period of public participation, set a time limit for this portion of the meeting as well as for each individual speaker. The board is not required to respond during public participation.