The Blackhawk School District Board of School Directors (the Board) serves as the governing body responsible for establishing and overseeing district-wide policies in alignment with the Pennsylvania School Code. Functioning as the legislative branch of the school district, the Board plays a crucial role in shaping the direction and priorities of the educational system. Its authority lies in defining policies that are then implemented by the district’s administrative and teaching staff. All decisions made by the Board must comply with established state regulations and standards to ensure quality and equity in education throughout the district.
The Board can:
Adopt texts
Appoint and dismiss personnel
Approve curriculum
Levy taxes adopt an annual budget
Purchase, sell, or condemn land
Create or increase indebtedness within strict state guidelines
Maintain school property
Special Circumstances
Where there is a large audience and many people are interested in expressing their views, the Board may adopt rules to enable many to speak and to provide the necessary decorum to enable all points of view to be heard and to appropriately facilitate deliberations. Persons with disabilities who wish to attend any public meeting and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation should contact the Superintendent's Office at 724-9846-2100 in advance to discuss appropriate arrangements.
Executive Sessions
The Board may meet privately in executive sessions for the specific purposes of discussing matters of personnel, negotiation or arbitration, the purchase and lease of real estate property, to discuss litigation or issues on identifiable complaints or to discuss business, which enables items protected by lawful privilege or confidentiality. Executive sessions may be conducted during an open meeting, held at the conclusion of an open meeting, or announced at an open meeting.
Superintendent of Schools
The Superintendent is the chief executive officer of the board and is responsible to administer board policies concerning the operation of the schools. He addresses the board regarding the needs and programs of the schools. The Superintendent recommends board action relating to personnel, selection of textbooks and instructional materials, development of curriculum, school plant planning and maintenance, and financial affairs.
Your Presence
YOUR PRESENCE GIVES BOARD MEMBERS THE ADVANTAGE OF COMMUNITY INTEREST AND FEEDBACK!
Board members benefit from your comments and questions. Therefore, at each meeting, an opportunity is provided for those who want to be heard. If you have a detailed question or one which requires extensive research, you may wish to send it in advance to the Superintendent of Schools.
Addressing the Board
Introduce yourself by standing and stating your name and place of residence.
Present your ideas, concerns, suggestions and/or commendations to the Board in a clear, concise manner.
A written copy of your comments would assist the Board and would provide a record of your statements.
Remember that the Board welcomes your ideas and will carefully consider them in deliberating an issue.