School Board of Trustees Powers and Duties

V.S.A. tit. 24 Appendix, ch. 129, subch. 4

in effect

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 129, § 401 Organization

401. Organization (a) After their election and qualification, the School Board of Trustees shall organize and elect a Chair, a Vice Chair, and a Clerk by a majority vote of the entire School Board of Trustees. (b) The Chair of the School Board of Trustees shall preside at all meetings of the School Board of Trustees and shall be recognized as the head of the Town or School District for all ceremonial purposes. (c) In the absence of the Chair, the Vice Chair shall assume all duties of the Chair. (d) In the absence of both the Chair and Vice Chair, the Clerk shall assume all duties of the Chair. Amended 2021, No. M-16 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 129, § 402 Meetings

402. Meetings (a) As soon as possible after election of its officers, the School Board of Trustees shall fix the time and place of its regular meetings and such meetings shall be held at least once a month. (b) The School Board of Trustees shall annually designate a paper of general circulation to be used for publications as prescribed by 17 V.S.A. § 2641(b). (c) The School Board of Trustees shall conduct their business under Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised. (d) Three School Board of Trustees members shall constitute a quorum. No action of the School Board of Trustees shall be valid or binding unless adopted by the affirmative vote of at least three members. (e) All meetings of the School Board of Trustees shall be open to the public, unless by an affirmative vote of the majority of the School Board of Trustees a portion of the meeting is declared to be an executive session. Executive sessions may be held in compliance with 1 V.S.A. § 313. (f) Emergency meetings may be held without a 24-hour warning, provided that some public notice is given as soon as possible before such meeting and all members of the School Board of Trustees are notified. (g) The agenda of the School Board of Trustees meeting shall be available to the public at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and posted in one or more public places. (1) Any member of the School Board of Trustees may add items of business to the written agenda prior to its posting. (2) The School Board of Trustees may add items of business to the agenda at the commencement of the meeting and in open session. If action is taken on an item added in this section, the action may be reconsidered at the next scheduled Board meeting. Additions in this section shall be kept to a minimum. Amended 2021, No. M-16 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 129, § 403 Record of proceedings

403. Record of proceedings (a) It shall be the duty of the Clerk of the School Board of Trustees to review and sign off on an official record of its proceedings that shall be open for public inspection. (b) The minutes of each meeting shall be approved within 30 days of the meeting by a majority vote of the School Board of Trustees. An unofficial copy shall be filed in the Town Clerk’s office five days after the meeting. Amended 2021, No. M-16 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 129, § 404 Mandatory duties

404. Mandatory duties The School Board of Trustees shall: (1) perform all duties as required by the Vermont State statutes and this charter; (2) appoint and remove the Superintendent of Schools; (3) appoint and remove members of all boards, commissions, committees, or similar bodies unless specifically provided otherwise by this charter; (4) submit the annual budget to the voters to be voted on at Town meeting in accordance with the provisions of section 1002 of this charter; (5) provide for an independent audit as described in subdivision 304(6) and subsection 1002(d) of this charter. Amended 2021, No. M-16 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 129, § 405 Permissive duties

405. Permissive duties The School Board of Trustees may: (1) appoint or create, change, or abolish offices and commissions created by them as they deem to be in the best interests of the School District; and (2) prescribe the duties of all offices and commissions created by them. Amended 2021, No. M-16 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 31, 2022.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/24APPENDIX/129Fetched: 10/21/2026