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BOARD COMMITTEES

There are circumstances where school boards are required to appoint a committee or group of individuals to advise the school board on specific matters of school district interest or concern. For example, school boards are required by section 118.019 of the state statutes to appoint a committee to advise the board on human growth and development instruction. Similarly, the federal law governing school nutrition programs requires school boards to develop school wellness policies with the involvement of the school board, school administrators, school food service representatives, physical education teachers, school health professionals, students, parents, and the public.

This general policy is not intended to inhibit the ongoing operation or future establishment of any District committees that may be expressly defined in a separate District policy, rule/procedure, or plan document. Further, where any such District policy, rule, or plan establishes or provides for a specific-purpose committee (e.g., a stakeholder advisory group on a specific topic), the provisions found in such specific-purpose policy, rule, or plan shall govern in the event of any conflict with this general policy.

Board Appointed Ad Hoc Committees

At its discretion, the School Board may establish ad hoc committees to perform a specific function determined by the Board. An ad hoc committee under this policy shall have a defined membership and may include, exclude, or consist entirely of individuals who are not Board members. This policy is not intended to apply to groups with effectively unlimited participation, loosely constituted groups having a fluid and undefined membership, or to work teams or similar groups created or called together at the discretion of the administration as part of the day-to-day work of the operation of the District.

A chairperson and alternate chairperson for each ad hoc committee will normally be expressly designated in the committee appointment process. However, if no chairperson and/or alternate has been designated, the committee shall select its own chairperson and/or alternate at its first meeting. Except as otherwise specified by the Board in connection with a specific committee, it shall be the responsibility of the committee chair to plan the meeting agendas with assistance from the committee's administrator advisor, if any, and with the input of other committee members. The chair shall also be responsible for ensuring that the minutes and other official records of all committee meetings are recorded and maintained, and for working with the District Office staff to ensure that notice is given for all meetings of the ad hoc committee in accordance with state law and Board policy.

Members of an ad hoc committee will be appointed by the Board by a standard majority vote presented as a slate, except where a different process is expressly established by law, by Board policy, or by a Board decision at the time the Board creates the committee. Prior to making appointments, the Board may request nominees from one or more sources. The Board retains discretion to add, remove, or change appointees to any ad hoc committee at any time. The Board similarly retains discretion to either fill or not fill any vacancy on an ad hoc committee. Unless expressly appointed to a date-bound term of office that expires prior to the committee being dissolved, appointees to an ad hoc committee will normally serve until the committee is dissolved.

An ad hoc committee is dissolved upon the earlier of (1) reaching any dissolution date established by the Board; (2) the completion of the committee’s assigned task(s) and the delivery of any final report or recommendation to the Board; or (3) any decision of the Board that otherwise dissolves the committee.

In connection with creating an ad hoc committee that includes appointed members who are not Board members, the Board or its designee shall provide each person appointed to the committee with guidelines that will include at least the following:

1. A statement of the charge of the ad hoc committee and the services the Board wishes the committee to render (e.g., identifying any known deliverable(s) or specific recommendation(s) that the Board expects the committee to produce);
2. A clarification as to whether the specific committee’s role is solely deliberative and advisory (e.g., researching an issue, identifying and evaluating options, and/or formulating a recommendation), or whether the Board has expressly delegated some other specific authority to the committee that allows the committee to take some official action on the Board’s behalf;
3. The identification of an approximate timeline for the completion of tasks and for the delivery of any interim progress reports; and 185
4. A notice that such committees are subject to the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law, and that the records of the committee are subject to possible public inspection to the extent provided by Public Records Law.

Notice of ad hoc committee meetings shall be issued in accordance with state law requirements and any applicable Board policy. When appropriate, such notice shall include a statement to reflect that a quorum of the Board may be present at the committee meeting, that such committee meeting may, therefore, also constitute a meeting of the Board for purposes of the Open Meetings Law, but that the Board will take no action as a governmental body at such committee meeting.

 

 

Cross References:

Public Input at School Board and Board Subcommittee Meetings, 187 and 187-Rule
Virtual Meetings and Board Member Participation in Meetings via Technology, 188
Agenda Preparation and Dissemination, 171.2 Closed Session, 173
GC-5 Board Committees

Legal References:
Wisconsin State Statutes 19.83, 19.84, 19.85, and 19.89

Adoption Date: August 11, 2025