B100 Powers and Philosophy

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Powers and Philosophy

Board Authority

The supervision of this Corporation will be conducted by the School Board, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "Board", which is constituted and is governed by the laws of the State of Indiana.

Board Powers

The School Corporation shall be a body corporate, and, as such, capable of suing and being sued, contracting and being contracted with, acquiring, holding, possessing and disposing of real and personal property, and taking and holding in trust for the use and benefit of the Corporation, any grant or devise of land and any donation or bequest of money or other personal property.

The Board shall exercise all powers expressly granted to the Corporation by statute or through rules adopted by the State Board of Education and those powers necessary or desirable in the conduct of the Corporation's affairs, even if the power is not granted by statute or rule. The Board may exercise any power the Corporation possesses to the extent that the power is not expressly denied by the state Constitution, statute, or State Board rule and is not expressly granted to another entity. 

The Board shall retain the power to act, through written policies, in situations in which there is no Constitutional or statutory provision requiring a specific manner for the Corporation to exercise a power and Constitutional or statutory prohibition to the exercise of that power. 

The School Board shall have the management and control of all facilities and programs in the Corporation and the employees, students, and other persons entering upon its premises. 

• I.C. 20-26-3, 20-26-5-4, 36-1-7

Adopted/Revised: November 21, 2016

 

Philosophy of the Board

A School Corporation is a legal entity for providing a system of public education within a geographic area of the State of Indiana. The system was created by, and is governed by, State statutes. 

The School Board has the dual responsibility for implementing the Corporations' legal obligations pertaining to public education and for meeting the desires of the citizens. While the Board has an obligation to determine and assess citizen desires, it is understood that when individuals are elected or appointed to represent citizens in the conduct of specified educational programs, they, at the same time, are endowed with the authority to exercise their best judgment in determining policies, making decisions, and approving procedures for carrying out the responsibility. 

The Board declares and, thereby, reaffirms its intent to:

A.	maintain two-way communications with citizens of the Corporation. The Board shall keep them informed of the progress and problems of the Corporation, and the citizens shall be urged to bring their aspirations and concerns about the Corporation and its schools to the Board's attention.
B.	establish policies and make decisions on the basis of declared educational philosophy and goals.
C.	act as a truly representative body for citizens in all matters related to programs and operations. The Board recognizes that ultimate responsibility for public education rests with the State, but the School Board has been assigned specific authority through statute, and the Board shall not relinquish or fail to exercise that authority.

Adopted/Revised: November 21, 2016