Milwaukee board codifies three-committee structure, rescinds older rules

The Milwaukee Board of School Directors voted to codify a new three-committee structure, rescinding several older board rules and authorizing the board clerk to make technical edits to related policies.

The action, presented by the Office of Board Governance, implements the board’s March decision to move from five standing committees to three and clarifies which committee will consider particular policy topics. The board clerk introduced the proposal and said the recommended changes rescind board rules 2.05, 2.06, 2.08 and 2.1, adopt rules 2.07, 2.12 and 2.13, revise rule 2.01 on standing committees and allow the clerk to make any necessary technical amendments.

A board member asked whether chapters from the NEOLA policy framework should later be assigned to specific committees to provide more administrative clarity. Office of Board Governance staff responded that policies will be routed to the Strategic Planning and Budget committee (SPB) when appropriate because the board’s principal role is governance and policy and items should appear before the full board regularly and at the chair’s call as needed.

Director Ferguson moved to approve the Office of Board Governance recommendations; Director Reza seconded. In a roll call that followed, eight directors voted in favor and one voted no. The clerk announced the motion passed.

The change formalizes the committee names and charges; the board authorized the clerk to update other policies to reflect the new names. The board plans to continue clarifying how specific policy chapters map to the new committee structure in future meetings.

The meeting then proceeded to a separate agenda item about collective bargaining.