Board reviews conduct and communication protocols, emphasizes routing questions through superintendent

The New Albany‑Plain Local Board of Education spent its Feb. 4 meeting reviewing boardmanship guidance from the Ohio School Boards Association and clarifying how members should communicate with administrators and the public.

Superintendent Michael Sawyers told the board that, for efficiency and to ensure consistent responses, members should route most operational questions through board leadership or the superintendent’s office rather than contacting building staff directly. “You can access Michael and Becky anytime you want,” Sawyers said, and he urged members to let administration consolidate information so answers can be shared with the full board.

Board members framed the conversation around three recurring themes: role boundaries, respectful questioning during presentations, and how to keep all members similarly informed without engaging in unlawful…