Board Bylaws 1-5: Officers

I. Introduction

This Board Rule provides clarification on the Board Officer roles, selection, vacancies, and duties.

II. Selection of Officers

• President

  As specified in 105 ILCS 5/34-3 (b-10), by December 16, 2024, the Mayor shall appoint a President of the Board for a 2-year term that begins January 15, 2025.

  Beginning with the 2026 general election, one member shall be elected at large and serve as the President of the Board for a 4-year term that begins January 15, 2027.

• Vice President

  As specified in 105 ILCS 5/34-3 (b-10), the Board shall elect annually from its number a Vice President.

  1. Nominations
     In alignment with Board Rule 1-6.II.C, at the Organizational Meeting, the President shall solicit nominations for the Vice President position. Each nomination will require a second to go forward. When there are no more names to be placed in nomination, the President will ask for a motion to close nominations that will require a second and approval by a majority of the Board.

  2. Selection
     If only one Board Member is nominated for Vice President, the President shall then declare that candidate the Vice President.

     If two or more Members are nominated for Vice President, a show of hands or roll call voice vote is necessary. The Board Member receiving the most votes is elected. If there is a tie, the President will cast the deciding vote.

• Secretary

  As specified in 105 ILCS 5/34-3 (b-10), the Secretary of the Board shall be selected by the Board and shall be an employee of the Board rather than a member of the Board.

• Chair Pro Tem

  At any Board Meeting when a quorum is present, in the case of the absence or disability of both the President and the Vice President, the Secretary shall call the meeting to order and the Board Members present shall elect a Chair Pro Tem. The Chair Pro Tem shall perform the duties of the President at that meeting.

III. Vacancies

• President

  A vacancy in the President role will be filled based on whether the President was an appointed Member of the Board or an elected Member of the Board. As specified in 105 ILCS 5/34-3 (b-20), whenever there is a vacancy in the office of an appointed Member of the Board, the Mayor shall appoint a successor who has the same qualifications as the Member's predecessor to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term. Whenever there is a vacancy in the office of an elected Member of the Board, the President of the Board shall notify the Mayor of the vacancy within 7 days after its occurrence and shall, within 30 days, fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term by majority vote of the remaining members of the Board. The successor to the elected member shall have the same qualifications as the member's predecessor.

• Vice President

  A vacancy in the Vice Presidency is filled by a special Board election. As soon as practicable after being notified of the vacancy, the Board President shall hold the special election during a Board Meeting following the process outlined Board Rule 1-5.II.B.

• Secretary

  As specified in 105 ILCS 5/34-3 (b-10), the Secretary of the Board shall be selected by the Board and shall be an employee of the Board rather than a member of the Board. The Board will hire a new Secretary to fill a vacancy of that role.

IV. Duties

• President

  As specified in 105 ILCS 5/34-3 (b-10), beginning January 15, 2025, the President shall perform the duties imposed upon their office by the rules of the Board, provided that the President shall preside at meetings of the Board and shall only have voting rights to break a voting tie of the other Board elected and appointed members. On and after January 15, 2027, the President of the Board shall preside at meetings of the Board and vote as any other member but have no power of veto.

  The additional duties of the President, as determined by the the Board, include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Focusing the Board meeting agendas on appropriate content (in alignment with Board Rule 1-7.III);
  • Maintaining order and decorum at Board Meetings (in alignment with Board Rule 1-7.IV and V);
  • Establishing and publishing guidelines that govern the public participation portion of each meeting (in alignment with Board Rule 1-7.V);
  • Approving the CEO’s annual recommendations for the progress monitoring of the District Strategic Plan (in alignment with Board Rule 1-2.III.C);
  • Adopting emergency guidelines for the conduct of Board business and meetings (in alignment with Board Rule 1-1.III.B);
  • Calling Special Meetings of the Board (in alignment with Board 1-6.II.B);
  • Administering (or ensuring a designee administers) the Oath of Office for new Board Members (in alignment with Board Rule 1-4.II.B);
  • Establishing professional development opportunities for Board Members (in alignment with Board Rule 1-4.III);
  • Maintaining (or ensuring a designee maintains) on the Board website a log identifying the complete training and development activities of each Board Member (in alignment with Board Rule 1-4);
  • Making all Board committee appointments, unless specifically stated otherwise (in alignment with Board Rule 1-8);
  • Establishing a formal Board Self-Evaluation and Governance Goal setting process (in alignment with Board Rule 1-2.II.A);
  • Establishing time annually with the Board and the public to review legislative priorities and the outcomes of legislative efforts (in alignment with Board Rule 1-2.IV.B);
  • Working with the CEO to make a determination as to the District’s position in response to unforeseen legislation (in alignment with Board Rule 1-2.IV.A);
  • Along with the Secretary, signing and executing all contracts duly authorized by order, resolution or direction of the Board, and signing and executing leases of school property or property required for school purposes duly authorized by order, resolution or direction of the Board (in alignment with Board Rule 7-12);
  • Directing the CEO to submit proposed contracts valued between $250,000 and $500,000 to the Board for Board review and approval (in alignment with Board Rule 7-14); and
  • Approving the dismissal of school for funeral services in case of the death of the principal (in alignment with Board Rule 6-23).

• Vice President

  As specified in 105 ILCS 5/34-3 (b-10), the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President if that office is vacant or the President is absent or unable to act.

• Secretary

  As specified in 105 ILCS 5/34-3 (b-10), the duties of the Secretary shall be imposed by the rules of the Board. The Board has determined that the duties of the Secretary include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Per Board Rule 1-6.V, shall proceed immediately to prepare notices and an agenda on the same and shall cause them to be served on members of the public and the members of the Board of Education at least 48 hours prior to the day and hour set for said special meeting
  • Per Board Rule 1-7.II, shall immediately call the roll of members at each meeting of the Board of Education;
  • Shall cause to be developed and kept a record of all of the agendas and proceedings of the Board of Education;
  • Shall give notice to members and the public of regular, special and recessed meetings of the Board of Education;
  • Shall have general supervision of all records of the agendas and proceedings of the Board of Education and of each committee and subcommittee thereof, and of such other records as the Board of Education may direct;
  • Shall sign all records of proceedings of the Board of Education;
  • Shall cause to be prepared expeditiously the agendas and proceedings of the Board of Education and such reports and other matters as the Board of Education may direct or are by law required, and shall send copies thereof to all members;
  • Shall publish and make available on the website up-to-date versions of all Board Rules and Policies
  • Shall maintain a list of reports that require annual Board approval;
  • Per Board Rule 1-4.II, shall administer the Oath at an open meeting;
  • Per Board Rule 1-4.II, shall maintain records of each Board Member’s signed Oath of Office that must be submitted by the first day of the term to which the Board Member is appointed or elected;
  • Shall accept all legal service and legal correspondence, including liens and summons served on the Board;
  • Shall sign all checks drawn by order of the Board of Education and present the same to the Mayor and the City Comptroller for countersigning;
  • Shall sign all contracts and legal instruments approved by the Board of Education;
  • At any Board Meeting when a quorum is present, in the case of the absence or disability of both the President and the Vice President, shall call the meeting to order and the Board Members present shall elect a Chair Pro Tem (as per Board Rule 1-5.II.D); and
  • Shall perform such other duties as usually pertain to the Office of Secretary or such as may be directed by the Board of Education and by these Rules.