Board of Education Code of Conduct and Roles

Code of Conduct

(Taken from District 203 Board of Education Policies: Section 2:80 Board Member Oath and Conduct)

Each School Board member, before taking his or her seat on the Board, shall take the following oath of office:     
        
I, (name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of member of the Board of Education of Naperville Community Unit School District 203, in accordance with the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and the laws of the State of Illinois, to the best of my ability.     
        
I further swear (or affirm) that:    

I shall respect taxpayer interests by serving as a faithful protector of the School District’s assets;     
        
I shall encourage and respect the free expression of opinion by my fellow Board members and others who seek a hearing before the Board, while respecting the privacy of students and employees;     
        
I shall recognize that a Board member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a public Board meeting; and     
        
I shall abide by majority decisions of the Board, while retaining the right to seek changes in such decisions through ethical and constructive channels.     

The Board President will administer the oath in an open Board meeting; in the absence of the President, the Vice President will administer the oath. If neither is available, the Board member with the longest service on the Board will administer the oath.     
        
The Board adopts the Illinois Association of School Boards’ Code of Conduct for Members of School Boards. A copy of the Code shall be displayed in the regular Board meeting room

Role of the Board of Education

The role of the Board of Education of Naperville Community Unit School District 203 shall be to:

• Define the Mission, Vision and Beliefs for the District.
• Determine long and short term goals that will move the District towards its Mission and Vision.
• Develop policies that set the parameters for Board governance and staff operations.
• Provide stewardship of the fiscal resources in relation to the Mission of the District.
• Maintain avenues for effective communication with all stakeholders. 
• Employ a Superintendent and evaluate his/her performance.
• Monitor and evaluate the District and its progress in relation to its Mission, Vision and goals.
• Advocate for students and quality public education.
• Abide by all laws, rules and regulations.

Role of the Superintendent

The role of the Superintendent of Naperville Community School District 203 shall be to:

• Provide leadership to move the District toward its Mission and Vision by achieving established long and short term goals.
• Manage the District within the parameters of established policy.
• Create an effective administrative team, delegate appropriately and hold individuals accountable.
• Employ, assign, develop, evaluate and dismiss, when appropriate, individuals who report directly to him/her; and establish a structure to address these items for all staff.
• Provide the Board of Education with appropriate information to facilitate its deliberations and informed decision making.
• Be the spokesperson for the District.
• Establish and/or maintain avenues for effective communication with all stakeholders.
• Advocate on behalf of students, the District and public education.
• Comply with all laws, rules, regulations and policies; and model ethical behavior at all times.

The Board-Superintendent Relationship

The Board-Superintendent relationship is based on mutual respect for their complementary roles. The relationship requires clear communication of expectations regarding the duties and responsibilities of both the Board and Superintendent.

The Board hires, evaluates, and seeks the recommendations of the Superintendent as the District chief executive officer. The Board adopts policies necessary to provide general direction for the District and to encourage achievement of District goals. The Superintendent develops plans, programs, and procedures needed to implement the policies and directs the District’s day-to-day operations.

The Superintendent is the chief executive officer of District 203 accountable only and directly to the Board of Education. The Superintendent is accountable for the current and future attainment of District 203's mission and goals.

The Superintendent is also viewed as the primary resource person in providing professional advice to the Board of Education in its policy making role.

The Board of Education employs the Superintendent and grants him/her the freedom and charges him/her with the responsibility to decide and to act in all areas consistent with policy, mission, and goals established for District 203 by the Board of Education.