Board keeps negotiations and civics committees; will use others on an ad hoc basis

Trustees reviewed Policy 81-51, which lists standing committees for the district, and discussed which committees should remain active.

The board agreed that negotiations and an American civics committee remain standing items because of statutory or contractual requirements. Members discussed that several other committees (transportation, facilities, budget, policy and administrative review) historically have operated in an ad hoc manner: staff reach out to board members to convene small groups for focused discussion rather than formally assigning three-member standing committees.

Jason (staff member) explained the practical history: during budget or facilities work, staff typically schedule times that accommodate two or three trustees so the meetings do not form a quorum of the full board; the trustee group then reports back at committee-of-the-whole or the full board meeting. Trustees said the ad hoc approach has allowed broader input at times and reduced scheduling burden when detailed or technical review is needed.

Trustees agreed to keep policy language on standing committees but to continue using committees 3–6 (transportation, facilities, budget, policy/administrative review) primarily on an ad hoc basis, while retaining the school-community-and-staff-relations committee with the intent to define that committee’s purpose and schedule ahead of the February meeting.

Staff were asked to solicit trustees’ preferences prior to the February meeting so formal committee assignments and any wording changes can be proposed then. No formal policy change was adopted at this meeting.