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Committee reviews PNN updates to board-organization policy adding removal due-process language
Summary
Perkiomen Valley policy committee discussed a Policy and Notice (PNN) updating board-organization rules to add language that officers may be removed only after notice and an opportunity for a hearing, language recommended by PSBA following a court decision referenced in meeting notes.
Perkiomen Valley School District’s policy committee reviewed proposed PNN updates to Policy 5 (Board Organization) that add language requiring notice and an opportunity for a hearing before a board officer may be removed.
Dr. Russell introduced the PNN and read the recommended language: “Officers of the board may only be removed from such office during the designated term of office after receiving notification of the reason for removal and the opportunity for a hearing before the Board in accordance with applicable law.” The transcript shows the committee was told the change was recommended by PSBA and that an associated court decision was noted in the policy notes.
Committee members asked for clarification about the phrase “property interest” referenced in the notes and how it applied to volunteer board officers. Dr. Weston asked what “property interest” meant in this context; administration said they would check the referenced PNN and provide documented clarification to the board. The transcript records an explanation that the term refers to a constitutional due-process interest in a board position — described by a speaker as “a property interest… so… nobody government cannot take it away from you without due process of the law.”
Administration said other minor wordsmithing changes were also included and that the second major PNN change clarifies removal of board appointees “in accordance with the terms of a contract or provisions of applicable law.” The committee did not record a formal vote in the excerpt; staff said they would follow up with the requested legal clarification and bring the item forward for further consideration.
The committee noted the item, requested the referenced case or PSBA citation, and asked administration to return with documented clarification on “property interest” and the PSBA source before finalizing the policy language.
