Board of Education

The Parma City School District Board of Education serves as the governing body of the District and consists of five residents elected at large to serve four-year terms. Each January, the Board holds an organizational meeting to elect its president and vice president for the calendar year.

As the district’s policy-making authority, the Board is the legal entity responsible for ensuring compliance with the State of Ohio’s public education requirements. Board members adopt and oversee district policies but do not manage the day-to-day operations of the school district. Instead, they hire a Superintendent of Schools and a Treasurer to lead district operations within the limits of Board policy and state law.

The Board of Education is responsible for:

• Developing and adopting policies and regulations governing the school district
• Hiring and regularly evaluating the Superintendent and Treasurer
• Acting on personnel and policy recommendations made by the Superintendent
• Approving educational standards, district goals, and staff appointments
• Approving the annual budget, appropriations measure, and master calendar
• Entering into contracts as required by Ohio law
• Levying taxes with voter approval to support district operations
• Serving as a liaison to the community and advising the Superintendent on community attitudes

In accordance with Ohio law, Board meetings are open to the public, except for executive sessions, which may be held for purposes such as personnel matters, property transactions, pending legal issues, labor negotiations, matters required to remain confidential by law, and security or emergency response planning. No official action may be taken during executive sessions.

District policies are available through the BoardDocs system. For additional information or assistance, community members may contact the Parma City School District Board Office.

Public Records Request and Information 

Board Docs

Policy Manual

Request to be heard form

Please read the Parma City School District Board of Education Policy regarding Public Participation at Board Meetings. "Request To Be Heard Forms" can be downloaded above.

Download and completely fill out the "Request To Be Heard" form.  Completed forms must only be submitted to the Board secretary prior to the start of a Board of Education meeting.  Completed "Request To Be Heard" forms will not be accepted over email and will only be accepted at Board of Education meetings.

0169.1
Public Participation at Board Meetings

The Board of Education recognizes the value to school governance of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest.

The presiding officer of each Board meeting at which public participation is permitted shall administer the rules of the Board for its conduct.

The presiding officer shall be guided by the following rules:

A. Public participation shall be permitted as indicated on the order of business.

B. Anyone having a legitimate interest in the actions of the Board may participate during the public portion of a meeting.

C. Attendees must register their intention to participate in the public portion of the meeting prior to the start of the meeting.

D. Participants must be recognized by the presiding officer and will be requested to preface their comments by an announcement of their name, address, and group affiliation, if and when appropriate.

E. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three (3) minutes duration unless extended by the presiding officer And must pertain to the items on the meeting agenda.

F. No participant may speak more than once on the same topic unless permission is granted by the presiding officer.

G. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no person may address or question Board members, Or officers of the Board, individually.  Once this protocol has been breached, the participant will forfeit their remaining allotted time to speak.

H. A request to the President must be made for any taping, audio or videos, of any Board meeting prior to the Board meeting to review the possible placement of the equipment, and must agree to abide by the following conditions:

1. No obstructions are created between the Board and the audience.

2. No interviews are conducted in the meeting room while the Board is in session.

3. No commentary, adjustment of equipment, or positioning of operators is made that would distract either the Board or members of the audience while the Board is in session and not disrupt the meeting.  

 
I. The presiding officer may: 

1. prohibit public comments that are frivolous, repetitive, and/or harassing;

2. interrupt, warn, or terminate a participant's statement when the statement is too lengthy, personally directed, abusive, off-topic, antagonistic, obscene, or irrelevant;

3. request any individual to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum;

4. request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person's conduct interferes with the orderly progress of the meeting;

5. call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum so interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting as to warrant such action; 

6. waive these rules with the approval of the Board when necessary for the protection of privacy or the administration of the Board's business.

The portion of the meeting during which the participation of the public is invited shall be limited to thirty (30) unless extended by a vote of the Board.

J. The public may ask questions, express concerns, or make statements on non-agenda topics in writing by using the form provided.  Answers will be provided within 72 hours, or if necessary, at the next scheduled Board meeting.  Forms may be filled our either prior to or during the meeting.

 
R.C. 3313.20

Adoption Date November 17, 1997
 
Adopted as Amended May 5, 2003

The meeting follows a specific agenda, which is outlined below. Community members in attendance have the opportunity to address the Board during the portion of the meeting entitled "Open to the Public." You may also meet with individual members of the Board or Administration after the meeting is adjourned.

Remember: the Board of Education and Administration are here to serve you. We hope to see you soon!

Here's what you can expect at a typical Board of Education Meeting:

1.  Routine Matters    
     a. Pledge of Allegiance
     b. Roll Call
     c. Welcome/Reflection
     d. Approval of Minutes
2.  Superintendent's Spotlight on Learning
3.  Discussion Items
4.  Unfinished Business
5.  Communications
6.  Action Items    
     a. Department of Teaching and Learning
     b. Finance
     c. Human Resources
     d. Business
     e. Policies
7.  Legislation Report
8.  Information to the Board
9.  Information Requested
10. Meeting Open to the Public
11. Adjournment

Speaking with the Board

The Parma Board of Education encourages and welcomes communication with the community. Anyone who would like to address an item should fill out a "Request to be Heard" form available from the Board secretary prior to the beginning of the meeting. Public participation under the agenda item "Meeting Open to the Public" is welcome and any concern dealing with education in the Parma City School District may be presented in writing through the "Request to be Heard" form at this time. If your concern is relevant to an agenda item, up to three minutes will be allocated to present your concern verbally and/or to offer more lengthy written reports or letters to the Board for their consideration and later reply. The Board and administration will attempt to answer questions when they are presented. In some cases, more information is needed to satisfy all parties, and so, the question may be referred to the Superintendent of Schools for further investigation or study.

Criticism and/or complaints against an employee of the school district will be heard only at a private session of the Board when requested by the resident, and only if the resident has previously attempted to resolve the problem with the building principal and/or appropriate administrator. Every effort should be made by the resident to discuss the matter of complaint with the proper administrator and the Superintendent of Schools before bringing the complaint to the Board of Education in a public meeting.