002.  AUTHORITY AND POWERS

Section 1.    Authority

      PA. Const.

      Art. III

      Sec. 14

      SC 211, 301, 501,           507, 510

The authority to establish, equip, furnish, operate and maintain the public schools of Reading School District is vested in the Board of School Directors, which is a body corporate and is constituted and governed by Title 24 of the Pennsylvania Statutes, the Public School Code of 1949 as amended, and Article III of the Constitution.

Section 2.    Powers

      SC 211, 406, 407,

            501, 502, 503,

            507, 510, 511,

            803, 1411

The Board shall establish such schools as are required for the education of every person residing in Reading School District between the ages of six (6) and twenty-one (21) years who may attend school; shall equip, furnish, operate, and maintain the schools; shall adopt and enforce rules and regulations for the management of school affairs and the conduct and deportment of employees and students; and shall levy and collect taxes as may be necessary, in addition to the annual state appropriation, for the exercise of aforesaid powers.

      SC 407

The Board, in accordance with its statutory mandate, shall adopt Board procedures for its own operation, and policies for the guidance of the Superintendent in the operation of the school district. Board procedures and policies shall be consistent with law, have a rational and substantial relationship to a legitimate purpose of the Board, and be directed towards the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of public education in this district.

      Pol. 102

      Title 22

      Sec. 4.13

The Board shall act as the general agent of the people of this district in the matter of public education. It shall establish educational goals for district students and govern a program of education designed to meet those goals. The Board shall be responsible for enforcing mandatory laws and regulations. The Board shall be the agent responsible for establishing, maintaining and evaluating the public education activities of this school district, in accordance with law.  

School Boards are the creation of the Pennsylvania General Assembly; their authority is a delegated one. They perform only those acts for which authority has been delegated to them by the General Assembly. This authority may be expressly stated or implied in state statutes. It may be established through directives of the State Department of Education which serve to implement school laws, or court rulings which explain and clarify them. A Board of School Directors has no inherent authority or right arising out of its local composition, election, or domain of operations.

The powers of the Board of School Directors are not vested in the individual Board member. No such individual is authorized to act on behalf of the Board to carry out any of the Board's statutorily authorized powers, except for those acts stated in law.

School Boards in Pennsylvania are required by law to perform many functions. Taking a look at its legal duties and powers, the Board of School Directors of Reading School District views its most important functions as follows:

      Pol. 003

a.      Legislation on policy making – The Board of School Directors is responsible for the development of policy and for the employment of a Superintendent who shall carry out those policies through the development and implementation of administrative rules and regulations.

b.     Appraisal – The Board of School Directors is responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of its policies and their implementation.

c.      Educational planning – The Board of School Directors is responsible for acquiring reliable data from responsible sources which will enable it and the administrative staff to work toward the continuing improvement of the educational program.

      Pol. 604

d.     Provision of financial resources – The Board of School Directors has major responsibilities for the adoption of a budget which will provide the resources in terms of buildings, staff, materials and equipment which will enable the school system to carry out its policies.

      65 P.S. 701 et seq

      Pol. 903

It is the policy of this Board to make its fellow members, total district staff, and the public fully aware that the Board of School Directors has the authority to take official action only at its legal meetings.