02.04 CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR BOARD MEMBERS

Instruction for New and Incumbent Board Members:

Except as provided below, at the time a school district elector files a notification and declaration of candidacy for the office of board of education membership or is appointed to be a member of a school district board of education on or after January 1, 2014, the elector shall agree and pledge in writing that, within fifteen (15) months of election or appointment as a member of the district board of education, the member will complete at least twelve (12) hours of instruction on education issues in the following areas: school finance; legal issues, which include but are not limited to employment, due process, new laws, the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; and duties and responsibilities, which include but are not limited to special education and ethics, of district board of education members. Each elector shall agree and pledge in writing to complete at least one (1) hour of instruction in school finance, one (1) hour of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics. The remaining hours may be satisfied by attending a two-day workshop to be held within the state by the State Department of Education, by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, or by attending workshops, seminars or classes which address the above-mentioned subject matter, and which are sponsored by any organization approved by the State Board of Education.

When an incumbent of a district board of education files a notification and declaration of candidacy for reelection to the district board of education, the member shall be required to agree and pledge in writing that upon reelection the member will complete six (6) hours of instruction, within fifteen (15) months of election, including one (1) hour of instruction in school finance, one (1) hour of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics. The remaining hours may be satisfied by attending a workshop, class or seminar addressing the education issues set forth in the previous section.

Upon completion of the workshop(s) described above, the member's certificate of completion will be included in the public records of the board's minutes.

Any member of the board or any individual elected, certified as the elected member by the county election board, but not sworn in and seated as a member of the board of education at the time of a workshop, who attends and successfully completes a workshop as required above shall be reimbursed as provided in the Technology Center’s policy and procedure manual.

In addition, board members may be compensated not to exceed $25 per day for up to four board meetings in one month.

In addition to the workshop requirements described above, every member of the board shall be required to attend a minimum of 15 hours (5 year full term of office) of continuing education during any full term of office of the member. The continuing education courses, local and state workshops, seminars, conferences and conventions that will satisfy these requirements will be held within the state and will be approved jointly by the State Department of Education and the State Department of Career and Technology Education. Failure by a board member to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this section shall result in the ineligibility of the member to run for reelection to the board of education. Any member of the board who attends and completes a course that satisfies in part or in full the requirements of this policy shall be reimbursed by the district for expenses incurred. This paragraph shall not apply to those school board members who filed for reelection prior to July 1, 1991.

Upon receiving any notice by the State Board of Education that a board member has not completed their instructional or continuing educational requires, both the board member and the superintendent shall alert the board to such default.

Upon receiving a final certified notice by the State Board of Education, the board member shall have sixty (60) days in accordance with Oklahoma law to complete the requirements. Should a board member not complete the required instructional or continuing educational requirements within that time period, the board shall declare the board member’s seat vacant in accordance with Oklahoma law. The board seat must be declared vacant within sixty (60) days of the last date the board member had to complete the instructional or continuing education requirements according to the final certified notice by the State Board of Education.

Any board member who does not obtain the required education will be ineligible, pursuant to Oklahoma law, to serve on the board of education for a period of 2 years.

Reference: OKLA. STAT. tit. 70 § 5-110, 70 OKLA. STAT. §5-110.2