Location: Community Room 121A&B, 625A Main Street North, Cambridge, MN 55008
Enter through Door 5

Time:  6:30 p.m. 

The board is accountable to the community for constantly monitoring the conditions affecting the district as a whole. An effective board:

• has a duty to itself and the community to determine whether the authority delegated to the superintendent is being used as intended.
• uses data and other indicators as the basis for assessing progress toward district goals and compliance with written board policy.

The board advances its vision by focusing on student achievement, partnering with the community, and being proactive in addressing issues that affect education on local, state, and national levels. An effective board:

• uses ongoing, two-way communications to build trust and support among the community, board, superintendent, staff, and students.
• focuses on community-wide concerns and values that best support student achievement rather than being overly influenced by special interests.
• utilizes a system of public relations that allows it to formalize the flow of information into and out of the district.

The board, as a whole, provides leadership to the community on behalf of the district by conducting its business in a fair, respectful, legal, and responsible manner. An effective board member (from Policy 209 – Code of Ethics):

• listens to the opinions and views of others (including, but not limited to, other school board members, administration, staff, students, and community members).
• votes his or her conscience after informed discussion, unless he or she abstains because a conflict of interest exists.
• supports the decision of the school board, even if his or her position concerning the issue was different.
• recognize the integrity of his or her predecessors and associates and appreciate their work.
• be primarily motivated by a desire to provide the best possible education for the students of his or her school district.
• inform himself or herself about the proper duties and functions of a school board member.

To achieve its vision, the board establishes a structure and hires a superintendent to accomplish that vision. An effective board:

• creates an organizational structure and environment in which all students are provided the opportunity to attain their maximum potential.
• selects and employs one person — the superintendent — as the district’s chief executive officer to lead and manage the district and holds the superintendent accountable for district performance and compliance with written board policy.
• recognizes, honors, and values the Superintendent’s experience and expertise in instructional and administrative matters.
• delegates the authority to the superintendent to recommend and evaluate all district staff within the standards established by written board policy and subsequently acts on the superintendent’s recommendation(s) at its meeting(s) as required in statute.
• evaluates the superintendent’s performance and its own performance annually.
• accepts ultimate responsibility for the care, management, and control of the district.

The board, with community input, envisions the educational future of its community and then formulates the goals, defines the outcomes, and sets the course for its district. An effective board:

• listens to the opinions and views of others (including, but not limited to, other school board members, administration, staff, students, and community members).
• considers itself a trustee of public education and does its best to protect, conserve, and advance its progress.
• recognizes that its responsibility, exercised through the actions of the school board as a whole, is to see that the schools are properly run – not to run them themselves.
• provides direction through its planning and goal-setting efforts and by evaluating progress toward goal achievement.
• ensures that the district vision, goals, and outcomes are articulated in written board policy, reflected in every part of the organization, and mirrored in the budget planning and implementation efforts.

It is an honor to be elected to guide the education of our community’s children. As one recites the oath of office, one assumes a tremendous responsibility as a director of our school district with the duties empowered by the Minnesota Legislature. This power puts members of the school board in the position of being both morally and legally responsible for equitable, quality education of every student in the district. 

In carrying out this responsibility, board members will be asked to fulfill the roles of vision, structure, accountability, and advocacy. In providing vision, the board, with extensive participation of the community, envisions the community’s educational future and then formulates the goals, defines the outcomes, and sets the course for the public schools. 

To achieve the vision, the board establishes a structure and creates an environment designed to ensure all students the opportunity to attain their maximum potential through a sound organizational framework. 

Because as a board we must be accountable to the community, we must ensure a continuous assessment of student achievement and all conditions affecting the education of our children. 

Board members serve as education’s key advocate on behalf of students and our community schools to advance the vision for our schools. 

Furthermore, board members must strive to work together with the superintendent and staff to lead the district toward fulfilling the vision we have created, fostering excellence for every student in the areas of academic skills and knowledge, citizenship and personal development. 

***** 

Having signed the acceptance of office and oath of office, board members hereby publicly affirm a commitment to the oath of office: 

"I swear/affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and of Minnesota, and that I will discharge faithfully the duties of the office of school board member of Independent School District No. 911 to the best of my judgment and ability." 

Download/print Oath of Office from Minnesota School Boards Association