The board of the Independence Community School District, acting on behalf of the school district, shall have jurisdiction over school matters within the territory of the school district.
The board is empowered to make policy for its own governance, for employees, for students and for school district facilities. The board is also empowered to enforce its policies. The board may, through its quasi-judicial power, conduct hearings and rule on issues and disputes confronting the school district.
The board has these powers and all other powers expressly granted to it in federal and state law as well as the powers that can be reasonably implied from the express powers.
Individual board members exercise their authority as a board member when they vote to take action at a board meeting. Individual board members, alone, have no authority to make decisions or take action to affect the management of the school district. Without the consent of the board, an individual board member has no authority to act on behalf of the district or the board.
The board shall conduct a periodic evaluation of itself. The goal of the self-evaluation is to point out strengths as well as weaknesses of the board.
The evaluation will focus on board policies, board meetings, education program, financial management, board members' personal qualities, and the board's relationship with the superintendent, employees, school district community, and students.
It shall be the responsibility of the board president to develop a board evaluation program. The board may employ an outside facilitator if the board determines the facilitator is necessary.
Legal Reference: Board of Directors of Ind. School Dist. of Waterloo v. Green, 259 Iowa 1260, 147 N.W.2d 854 (1967).
Iowa Code §§ 28E; 274.1-.2; 279.8 (2003).
281 I.A.C. 12.1(2).
1990 Op. Att'y Gen. 66.
Cross Reference: 210 Board of Directors' Management Procedures
Approved: 11/01/2004
Reviewed: 07/18/2005, 08/16/2010, 07/28/2015, 03/17/2020
Revised: 12/16/2024
