004.  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.    Number

The Board does consist of nine (9) members.

The Superintendent shall have a seat on the Board and the right to speak on all matters, but not the right to vote.

Section 2.    Qualifications

Each member of the Board shall meet the following qualifications:

a.    Be of good moral character, be eighteen (18) years of age, shall have been a resident of the district for at least one (1) year prior to the date of his/her election or appointment, and shall not be a holder of any office or position as specified in Section 322 of the School Code; nor shall the individual be a member of the municipal council.

b.    Shall not have been removed from any office of trust under federal, state or local laws for any malfeasance in such office.

c.    Shall not be engaged in a business transaction with the school district, be employed by the school district, or receive pay for services from the school district, except as provided by law.

d.    Shall take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation prescribed by statute before entering the duties of the office.

e.    Shall file a statement of financial interests with the State Ethics Commission before taking the oath of office or entering upon his/her duties.

Section 3.    Election

Four (4) Board members shall be duly chosen, each for a full four (4) year term, at the municipal election to be held in 1985 and every four (4) years thereafter. Five (5) Board members shall be duly chosen, each for a full four (4) year term, at the municipal election to be held in 1987 and every four (4) years thereafter.

Section 4.    Vacancies

A vacancy shall occur by reason of death, resignation, removal from a district, or otherwise. Such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the Sunshine Act and by appointment by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board within thirty (30) days of the occurrence of the vacancy. The Board member so appointed shall serve until the first Monday in December after the first municipal election occurring more than sixty (60) days following his/her appointment. When a majority of the memberships are vacant, such vacancies shall be filled by the Court of Common Pleas of Berks County.

Section 5.    Term

The term of office of each Board member shall be four (4) years and shall expire on the first Monday of December, except that the term of a Board member appointed to fill a vacancy shall expire on the first Monday of December after the municipal election occurring more than sixty (60) days after his/her appointment. The term of a Board member elected to an unexpired term shall expire at the termination of that term.

Section 6.    Removal

Whenever a Board member is no longer a resident of Reading School District, his/her membership on the Board shall cease.

The removal of a Board member who resigns shall become effective upon the presentation of the resignation to the Board President and upon the date specified.

A Board member who neglects or refuses to attend two (2) successive regular meetings of the Board, unless detained by sickness or prevented by necessary absence from the district, or if in attendance at any meeting neglects or refuses to act in his/her official capacity as a school director, may be removed from his/her office on the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board.

 If a person elected or appointed as a Board member, having been notified, shall refuse or neglect to qualify as such director, the remaining members may, within ten (10) days following the beginning of his/her term of office, declare said office vacant on the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining members of the Board.

Section 7.    Expenses

Board members, a nonmember Board Secretary, and solicitor(s) shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses actually incurred as delegates to any state convention or association of school directors' convention held within the Commonwealth, or for necessary expenses actually incurred in attendance authorized by the Board at any other meeting held within the Commonwealth or at an educational convention out-of-state. All such expenses shall be itemized and made available for public inspection at the next succeeding Board meeting. No member shall be reimbursed for more than two (2) out-of-state meetings in one (1) school year. Expenses shall be reimbursed only upon presentation of an itemized, verified statement, except that advance payments may be made upon presentation of estimated expenses to be incurred.

Section 8.    Orientation

 The Board believes that the preparation of each Board member for the performance of duties is essential to the effectiveness of the Board's functioning. The Board shall encourage each new Board member to understand the functions of the Board, acquire knowledge of matters related to the operation of the schools, and review Board procedures and policies.

Accordingly, the Board shall give to each new Board member for use during his/her term on the Board the following items:

a.      A copy of the School Code.

b.     A copy of the Board Policy Manual.

c.      A copy of the district guidelines/procedures manual.

d.     The current budget statement, audit report and related fiscal materials.

e.      The most recent Strategic Plan.

Each new Board member shall be invited to meet with the Board President, Superintendent, and/or Board Secretary to discuss Board functions, policy and procedures.

Section 9.    Organizational Memberships

It is the intention of the Board of School Directors to ally themselves to those professional organizations of the state and nation which exist for the purpose of supporting public education.

Membership of individual Board members in educational, civic and service organizations is encouraged.

Section 10.    Conferences

In keeping with its philosophy on the need for continuing inservice training and development for its members, the Board encourages the participation of all members at appropriate School Board conferences, workshops, and conventions. In order to control both the investment of time and expenditure of funds necessary to implement this policy, the Board establishes the following guidelines:

a.      No member of the Board may attend a meeting at Board expense without prior Board approval.

b.     Funds for participation at meetings and conferences will be budgeted on an annual basis.

c.      When a conference, convention or workshop is not attended by the full Board, those who do participate will be requested to share information, recommendations and materials acquired at the meeting that will be beneficial to the school district.

d.     Reimbursement to Board members for their travel expenses will be in accordance with Section 7 of Policy 004.

Under the law, Board members may receive no compensation for their services. However, upon submitting vouchers and supporting bills for expenses incurred in carrying out specific services previously authorized by the Board of School Directors, members may be reimbursed from district funds. Such expenses may include the cost of attendance at conferences of school board associations and other professional meetings when such attendance and expense payment has prior Board approval.

Section 11.   Code of Ethics

The Board of School Directors of the Reading School District supports and subscribes to the principles of conduct which have been adopted by the Board of School Directors of the National School Boards Association.

As a member of my local Board of Education, representing all the citizens of my school district, I recognize:

a.      That my fellow citizens have entrusted me with the educational development of the children and youth of this community.

b.     That the public expects my first and greatest concern to be in the best interest of each and every one of these young people without distinction as to who they are or what their background may be.

c.      That the future welfare of this community, of this state, and of the nation depends in the largest measure upon the quality of education we provide in the public schools to fit the needs of every learner.

d.     That my fellow Board members and I must take the initiative in helping all the people of this community to have all the facts, all the time, about their schools, to the end that they will readily provide the finest possible school program, school staff, and school facilities.

e.      That legally, the authority of the Board is derived from the General Assembly which ultimately controls the organization and operation of the school district and which determines the degree of discretionary power left with the Board and the people of this community for the exercise of local autonomy.

f.       That I must never neglect my personal obligation to the community and my legal obligation to the state, nor surrender these responsibilities to any other person, group, or organization; but that, beyond these, I have a moral and civic obligation to the nation which can remain strong and free only so long as public schools in the United States of America are kept free and strong.

In view of the foregoing considerations, it shall be my constant endeavor:

a.      To devote time, thought, and study to the duties and responsibilities of a School Board member so that I may render effective and creditable service.

b.     To work with my fellow Board members in a spirit of harmony and cooperation in spite of differences of opinion that arise during vigorous debate of points at issue.

c.      To base my personal decision upon all available facts in each situation; to vote my honest conviction in every case, unswayed by partisan bias of any kind; thereafter to abide by and uphold the final majority decision of the Board.

d.     To remember at all times that as an individual I have no legal authority outside the meetings of the Board, and to conduct my relationships with the school staff, the local citizenry, and all media of communication on the basis of this fact.

e.      To resist every temptation and outside pressure to use my position as a School Board member to benefit either myself or any other individual or agency apart from the total interest of the school district.

f.       To recognize that it is as important for the Board to understand and evaluate the educational program of the schools as it is to plan for the business of school operation.

g.      To bear in mind under all circumstances that the primary function of the Board is to establish the policies by which the schools are to be administered, but that the administration of the educational program and the conduct of school business shall be left to the employed Superintendent of Schools and the professional and non-professional staff.

h.      To welcome and encourage active cooperation by citizens, organizations, and the media of communication in the district with respect to establishing policy on current school operation and proposed future developments.

i.       To support my state and national School Board associations.

j.       Finally, to strive step by step toward ideal conditions for most effective School Board service to my community, in a spirit of teamwork and devotion to public education as the greatest instrument for the preservation and perpetuation of our respective democracy.