2:120 - Board Member Development
The School Board desires that its individual members learn, understand, and practice effective
governance principles. The Board is responsible for Board member orientation and development. Board
members have an equal opportunity to attend State and national meetings designed to familiarize
members with public school issues, governance, and legislation.
The Board President and/or Superintendent shall provide all Board members with information
regarding pertinent education materials, publications, and notices of training or development.
Mandatory Board Member Training
Each Board member is responsible for his or her own compliance with the mandatory training laws that
are described below:
Each Board member elected or appointed to fill a vacancy of at least one year’s duration must
complete at least four hours of professional development leadership training in education and
labor law, financial oversight and accountability, fiduciary responsibilities, and (beginning in
the fall of 2023) trauma-informed practices for students and staff within the first year of his or
her first term.
Each Board member must complete training on the Open Meetings Act no later than 90 days
after taking the oath of office for the first time. After completing the training, each Board
member must file a copy of the certificate of completion with the Board. Training on the Open
Meetings Act is only required once.
Each Board member must complete a training program on evaluations under the Performance
Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) before participating in a vote on a tenured teacher’s dismissal
using the optional alternative evaluation dismissal process. This dismissal process is available
after the District’s PERA implementation date.
The Superintendent or designee shall maintain on the District website a log identifying the complete
training and development activities of each Board member, including both mandatory and non-
mandatory training.
Professional Development; Adverse Consequences of School Exclusion; Student Behavior
The Board President or Superintendent, or their designees, will make reasonable efforts to provide
ongoing professional development to Board members about the adverse consequences of school
exclusion and justice-system involvement, effective classroom management strategies, culturally
responsive discipline, appropriate and available supportive services for the promotion of student
attendance and engagement, and developmentally appropriate disciplinary methods that promote
positive and healthy school climates.
Board Self-Evaluation
The Board will conduct periodic self-evaluations with the goal of continuous improvement.
New Board Member Orientation
The orientation process for newly elected or appointed Board members includes:
The Board President or Superintendent, or their designees, shall give each new Board member
a copy of or online access to the Board Policy Manual, the Board’s regular meeting minutes
for the past year, and other helpful information including material describing the District and
explaining the Board’s roles and responsibilities.
The Board President or designee shall schedule one or more special Board meetings, or
schedule time during regular meetings, for Board members to become acquainted and to review
Board processes and procedures.
The Board President may request a veteran Board member to mentor a new member.
All new members are encouraged to attend workshops for new members conducted by the
Illinois Association of School Boards.
Candidates
The Superintendent or designee shall invite all current candidates for the office of Board member to
attend: (1) Board meetings, except that this invitation shall not extend to any closed meetings, and (2)
pre-election workshops for candidates.
LEGAL REF.: 5 ILCS 120/1.05 and 120/2.
105 ILCS 5/10-16a and 5/24-16.5.
CROSS REF.: 2:80 (Board Member Oath and Conduct), 2:125 (Board Member Compensation;
Expenses), 2:200 (Types of School Board Meetings)
Adopted: March 21, 2022