Policy 5
ROLE OF THE BOARD CHAIR
The Board believes that its ability to discharge its obligation is enhanced when leadership and guidance is forthcoming from its membership.
The Board, at its annual Organizational Meeting and thereafter at any time as determined by the Board, shall elect one of its members to serve as Board Chair, to hold office at the pleasure of the Board. The Board entrusts to its Chair primary responsibility for providing leadership and guidance.
The Board delegates to the Chair the following powers and duties:
1. Preside over all Board meetings and ensure that such meetings are conducted in accordance with the Education Act and the policies and procedures as established by the Board and where those are silent, Robert’s Rules of Order.
2. Prior to each Board meeting, confer with the Director on the items to be included on the agenda, the order of these items, and become thoroughly familiar with them.
3. Perform the following duties during Board meetings:
3.1 Maintain the order and proper conduct and decorum of the meeting so that motions may be formally debated;
3.2 Ensure that all issues before the Board are well-stated and clearly expressed;
3.3 Display firmness, courtesy, tact, impartiality, and willingness to give everyone an opportunity to speak on the subject under consideration in order that collective opinion can be developed and a corporate decision reached;
3.4 Ensure that debate is relevant. The Chair, in keeping with his/her responsibility to ensure that debate must be relevant to the question, shall, when s/he is of the opinion that the discussion is not relevant to the question, remind members that they must speak to the question;
3.5 Decide questions of order and procedure, subject to an appeal to the rest of the Board. The Chair may speak to points of order in preference to other members.
3.6 Submit motions or other proposals to the final decision of the meeting by a formal show of hands;
3.7 Extend hospitality to other trustees, officials of the Board, the press, and members of the public.
4. Keep informed of significant developments within the Division.
5. Keep the Board and the Director informed in a timely manner of all matters coming to his/her attention that might affect the educational opportunities in the Division.
6. Be in regular contact with the Director to maintain a working knowledge of current issues and events.
7. Convey directly to the Director such concerns as are related to him/her by trustees, parents, students or employees which may affect the administration of the Division.
8. Provide counsel to the Director, when requested to do so.
9. Bring to the Board all matters requiring a corporate decision of the Board.
10. Act as the chief spokesperson for the Board except for those instances where the Board has delegated this role to another individual or group.
11. Act as an ex-officio member of all committees appointed by the Board.
12. Act as a signing officer for the Division.
13. Represent the Board, or arrange alternative representation, at official meetings or other public functions.
14. Nominate trustees for standing and ad hoc Committees of the Board.
15. Address inappropriate behavior on the part of a trustee.
16. Ensure that the Board engages in regular assessments of its effectiveness as a Board.
17. Sign off on the Director’s monthly leaves, holidays and expense claims.
18. Addresses inappropriate behavior on the part of a Trustee.
Legal Reference: Section 72, 104, Education Act
Adopted: June 2007
Amended: January 9, 2013