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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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