Spring is upon us here in Pittsford and the rainy days are not slowing us down one bit. In fact, this is a very busy time of year for the Board of Education. We have finalized the 2024-25 budget and continue to prepare for both the Budget vote and the Board Election on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, 7 a.m.-9 p.m. at Barker Road Middle School Gymnasium. 

Leading up the Budget Vote and Board Election was the Budget Adoption on Tuesday, April 16, where the Board formally voted to adopt the budget created during the Budget Work Sessions. On Tuesday, May 14 we will host the Budget Hearing which serves as the formal presentation of the Board of Education’s adopted budget.

This is also the time of year where we reflect on the importance of board service and raise awareness across the community of both the critical role the board plays and the need for community members to consider involvement in board service.

At the highest level, The Board of Education is the governing body of the school district and is entrusted with the responsibility of developing policies under which the District is managed. Our powers and duties include the following:

• The Board hires, supervises, and manages the superintendent. The superintendent is their only employee and is considered the District’s CEO.
   
• The Board joins the superintendent to create a District vision, set goals, and establish a framework of desired outcomes. Check out PCSD’s Vision, Mission, and Values.
   
• The Board reviews, modifies, and approves all District policies.
   
• The Board authorizes an appointment of an external, independent auditor who reports directly to the Board to facilitate meeting its financial oversight responsibilities to the state, the school system, and the community.
   
• The Board reviews, discusses, and ultimately adopts the superintendent’s budget as its own. The Board then puts their budget to voters for approval and sets school tax rates within legal limits.

Board of Education members are considered volunteers. Aside from the school districts in the state’s largest metropolitan areas (NYC, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, and Utica) school board members receive no compensation for their service, which frequently requires many hours and time away from their families.

Each district’s Board of Education plays a very significant role in the community. Recently, Board Members across Monroe collaborated with our partner, ACT for Education to share their thoughts on the role of a board, its impact on culture and climate, important responsibilities, and rewarding experiences. 

Our Board President, Robin Scott, was asked to create a vignette sharing her thoughts and experiences as a board member and current president of the Pittsford School Board. Robin highlights the fact that Board service is a meaningful commitment and provides some very practical guidance for community members considering Board service.

Some of the insights Board President Robin Scott shares for individuals interested in board service includes:

1. In order to get a sense for the time commitment of a board member, attend school board meetings and start to familiarize yourself with agenda topics that arise at board meetings, public comments and concerns, school building reports, finance and budgetary matters.
    
2. Meet with your district clerk in order to understand the full scope of board service including board meetings, budget workshops, district subcommittee meetings, board packet review, etc. 
    
3. Consider how board service will fit into your broader family, career and social/personal responsibilities.

To learn more about Board service, take a moment to watch the Vignettes created by Robin Scott and other Monroe County School board members. Additional resources and insights can also be found on the Board of Education section of the PCSD website.