Board Policies

Board Notice-Agenda-Minutes

The role of the Aztec Board of Education is to set policy and the role of the administration is to execute that policy.  The Board performs the following basic functions necessary to the discharging of its responsibilities: legislative, executive and appraisal.

• The legislative function is the policy-making aspect of the school system. It is the policy of the Board to retain and exercise full legislative authority and control over the schools by adopting general policies or by acting directly in matters not covered by its policies.
• The executive function of the Board is concerned with placing in operation existing Board policy. Most of this function is delegated by the Board to its executive and administrative officer, the Superintendent.
• The appraisal function involves the determination of the efficiency of the school operation and an evaluation of the educational program of the District based on the policies as outlined in the policy manual.

The Board meets the second Thursday of every month to transact all business at   official meetings of the Board. These may be either regular or special meetings,

Every meeting of the Board, regular or special, shall be open to the public except for an executive session that is held in accordance with state law. A “meeting” is defined as the gathering of a quorum of members of a public body to propose or take legal action, including any deliberations with respect to such action, that has been properly noticed, pursuant to law.

Every regular meeting of the Board shall be open to the public to listen and observe the actions of the Board.

Board members only have authority in a scheduled meeting where a quorum is present. Citizens contacting Board members outside of Board meetings about issues that have not gone through the chain of command place Board members in an awkward position. Since the Board is the final authority on all issues affecting the school district, their ability to make fair decisions is placed in jeopardy if they become involved in a conflict situation before it is brought to the Board through the chain of command.

Official communication between the Board and the community is subject to the following:

• Any community member who exhausts the opportunity of discussing a matter at the administrative level may communicate with the Board in writing.  No anonymous communication will be considered by the Board.
• A member of the community who wishes to address the Board in person on agenda items may do so by following the procedures in Board Policy BEDH.
• Official communications, policies, Board concerns and Board action, as appropriate, will be imparted to the community by the Superintendent.

All regular and special meetings of the Board shall be open to the public.  The Board invites the viewpoints of citizens throughout the District, and considers the responsible presentation of these viewpoints vital to the efficient operation of the District. Therefore, the Board will permit individuals to address the Board on items that are considered for action in the agenda The Board also recognizes its responsibility for the proper governance of the schools and therefore the need to conduct its business in an orderly and efficient manner. The Board therefore establishes the following procedures to receive input from citizens of the District:

• Any individual desiring to address the Board shall complete a form (Request to Address Board) and give this form to the Superintendent prior to the start of the Board meeting.
• The Board President shall be responsible for recognizing speakers, maintaining proper order and adhering to any time limit set.
• Questions of fact asked by the public shall, when appropriate, be answered by the President or referred to the Superintendent for reply.  No action or discussion shall transpire among Board members regarding such questions or comments. Questions requiring investigation shall be referred to the Superintendent for later report to the Board. Questions or comments on matters that are currently under legal review will not receive a response.
• If considered necessary, the President shall set a time limit on the length of the comment period. In order to ensure that each individual has an opportunity to address the Board, the President may also set a time limit for individual speakers based upon the length of the comment period and number of requests received.
• Members of the public may be recognized by the President to assist the Board with information for the conduct of its official business.
• Personal attacks upon Board members, staff personnel, or other persons in attendance or absent by individuals who address the Board are discouraged. Presenters are cautioned that statements or representations concerning others that convey an unjustly unfavorable impression may subject the presenter to civil action for defamation.  Policies KE, KEB, KEC, and KED are provided by the Board for disposition of legitimate complaints, including those involving individuals.

Anyone having questions about district operations, programs, policies, or personnel should contact the person responsible in the area of concern. If the problem is not resolved, the issue should be taken to the employee's supervisor. Individuals should only bring issues before the Superintendent or Board that have been unresolved by going through the chain of command. This procedure will provide a better means to insure fairness in resolving problems and conflicts.

The Board shall conduct a Regular Meeting on the second Thursday of each month except as noted below.  All Board Meetings begin at 6:00 PM in the Aztec Municipal School District Board Room located at 1118 W. Aztec Boulevard, Aztec NM 87410 unless otherwise posted.

July 23, 2009*
August 13, 2009
September 10, 2009
October 8, 2009
November 12, 2009
December 10, 2009
January 14, 2010
February 16, 2010**
March 11, 2010
April 15, 2010***
May 13, 2010
June 10, 2009

*Fourth Thursday of the Month

**Third Tuesday of the Month

***Third Thursday of the Month

 Should you have questions, please contact Kirk M. Carpenter, Superintendent of Schools at 334-9474.