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BBD (TSBVI) – Board Members: Training and Orientation

TSBVI board members are required to have training on the Public Information Act. They must also complete State Board of Education required training that includes TSBVI orientation, reporting, and continuing education among others.

OPEN MEETINGS ACT TRAINING

Not later than the 90th day after taking the oath of office, each board member shall complete training of not less than one and not more than two hours regarding the responsibilities of the Board and its members under Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code (Texas Open Meetings Act).

The attorney general may provide the training and may also approve other acceptable sources of training.

The TSBVI Board shall maintain and make available for public inspection the record of its members’ completion of the training. The failure of one or more members of the board to complete the training does not affect the validity of an action taken by the Board.

Gov’t Code 551.005

PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT TRAINING

Not later than the 90th day after taking the oath of office, each board member shall complete training of not less than one hour and not more than two hours regarding the responsibilities of the School and school officers and employees under Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code (Public Information Act – PIA). The Board has designated a public information coordinator to satisfy the training for the board members because the public information coordinator is primarily responsible for administering the responsibilities of the Board under the Public Information Act. [See Policy GBAA regarding public information coordinator training]

The Board delegates to the Superintendent the responsibility to ensure that the TSBVI official in charge of coordinating public information satisfies the training requirements of Government Code 552.012 for the board member but encourages all trustees to train in PIA provided by the Attorney General’s office.

Gov’t Code 552.012

SBOE-REQUIRED TRAINING

Each board member must complete any training required by the State Board of Education (SBOE). Education Code 11.159

The State Board of Education’s framework for governance leadership (see Policy BBD-E) shall be distributed annually by the board president to all current board members and the superintendent. 19 TAC 61.1(a)

The continuing education required under Education Code 11.159 applies to each member of the Board. To the extent possible, an entire Board shall participate in training programs together. 19 TAC 61.1(b), (i)

No continuing education shall take place during a board meeting unless that meeting is called expressly for the delivery of board member continuing education. Continuing education may take place prior to or after a legally called board meeting in accordance with Government Code 551.004(4) (definition of “meeting”). 19 TAC 61.1(e)

A regional education service center (ESC) board member continuing education program shall be open to any interested person, including a current or prospective board member. TSBVI is not responsible for any costs associated with individuals who are not current board members. 19 TAC 61.1(f)

Annually, the State Board of Education shall commend those board-superintendent teams that complete at least eight hours of the continuing education specified at Team Building and Additional Continuing Education below as an entire board-superintendent team.

Annually, the SBOE shall commend board-superintendent teams that effectively implement the commissioner of education’s trustee improvement and evaluation tool developed under Education Code 11.182 [see Policy BG] or any other tool approved by the commissioner.

19 TAC 61.1(k), (l)

Verification

For each training described below, the provider of continuing education shall provide verification of completion of board member continuing education to the individual participant and TSBVI. The verification must include the provider’s authorization or registration number. 19 TAC 61.1(h)

Reporting

Annually, at the last regular meeting of the board held during a calendar year, the board president shall announce the name of each board member who has completed the required continuing education, who has exceeded the required hours of continuing education, and who is deficient in the required continuing education as of the date of the meeting. The announcement shall state that completion of the required continuing education is a basic obligation and expectation of any board member under the SBOE rule. The minutes of the meeting must reflect whether each trustee has met or is deficient in meeting the training required for the trustee. The President shall cause the minutes to reflect the announcement and if the minutes reflect that a trustee is deficient in training, TSBVI shall post the minutes on the School’s Internet website within ten business days of the meeting and maintain the posting until the trustee meets the requirements. 19 TAC 61.1(j); Education Code 11.159 (b)

TSBVI Orientation

New Members

Each board member shall complete a TSBVI orientation session. The purpose of the orientation is to familiarize new board members with local board policies and procedures and TSBVI goals and priorities.

A prospective school board member may complete the training up to one year before they are appointed. A newly appointed board member who did not complete this training in the year preceding their appointment must complete the training within 120 calendar days after appointment.

The orientation shall:

  1. Be at least three hours in length,
  2. Address TSBVI practices in the following, in addition to topics chosen by TSBVI:
    1. Curriculum and instruction;
    2. Business and finance operations;
    3. School operations;
    4. Superintendent’s evaluation; and
    5. Board member roles and responsibilities.

Each board member should be made aware of the continuing education requirements of 19 Administrative Code 61.1 and those of the following:

  1. Open meetings act in Government Code 551.005 [see Open Meetings Act Training above];
  2. Public information act in Government Code 552.012 [see Public Information Act Training above]; and
  3. Cybersecurity in Government Code 2054.5191 [see Policy CQB].

The orientation shall be open to any board member who chooses to attend.

19 TAC 61.1(b)(1)

Education Code Orientation

Each board member shall complete a basic orientation to the Education Code and relevant legal obligations. The orientation shall have special, but not exclusive, emphasis on statutory provisions related to governing Texas school districts.

A prospective school board member may complete the training up to one year before they are appointed. A newly appointed board member who did not complete this training in the year preceding their appointment must complete the training within 120 calendar days after appointment.

The orientation shall be at least three hours in length. Topics shall include, but not be limited to,

Education Code, Chapter 26 (Parental Rights and Responsibilities) and Education Code 28.004 (School Health Advisory Council and Health Education Instruction).

The orientation shall:

  1. Be provided by an ESC.
  2. Be open to any board member who chooses to attend.

The continuing education may be fulfilled through online instruction, provided that the training incorporates interactive activities that assess learning and provide feedback to the learner and offers an opportunity for interaction with the instructor.

19 TAC 61.1(b)(2)

Legislative Updates

After each session of the Texas Legislature, including each regular session and called session related to education, each board member shall complete an update to the basic orientation to the Education Code.

The update session shall be of sufficient length to familiarize board members with major changes in statute and other relevant legal developments related to school governance.

The update shall be provided by an ESC or a registered provider [See Registered Provider below].

A board member who has attended an ESC basic orientation session described at Education Code Orientation above that incorporates the most recent legislative changes, is not required to attend an update.

The continuing education may be fulfilled through online instruction, provided that the training is designed and offered by a registered provider, incorporates interactive activities that assess learning and provide feedback to the learner, and offers an opportunity for interaction with the instructor.

19 TAC 61.1(b)(3)

Team Building

The entire Board shall participate with the Superintendent in a team building session. The purpose of the team building session is to enhance the effectiveness of the Board-Superintendent team and to assess the continuing education needs of the Board-Superintendent team.

The session shall be held annually and shall be at least three hours in length.

The session shall include a review of the roles, rights, and responsibilities of the Board as outlined in the framework for governance leadership [see Policy BBD-E]. The assessment of needs shall be based on the framework for governance leadership and shall be used to plan continuing education activities for the year for the governance leadership team.

The team-building session shall be provided by an ESC or a registered provider [See Registered Provider and Authorized Provider, below].

19 TAC 61.1(b)(4)

Additional Continuing Education (Based on Assessed Needs)

In addition to the continuing education requirements set out above, each board member shall complete additional continuing education based on the framework for governance leadership. [See Policy BBD-E]

The purpose of continuing education is to address the continuing education needs referenced at Team Building above.

The continuing education shall be completed annually.

At least 50 percent of the continuing education shall be designed and delivered by persons not employed or affiliated with the School. No more than one hour of the required continuing education that is delivered by the TSBVI may use self-instructional materials.

The continuing education sessions shall be provided by an ESC or a registered provider [See Registered Provider, below].

The continuing education may be fulfilled through online instruction, provided that the training is designed and offered by a registered provider, incorporates interactive activities that assess learning and provide feedback to the learner, and offers an opportunity for interaction with the instructor.

First Year

In a board member’s first year of service, they shall complete at least ten hours of continuing education in fulfillment of assessed needs.

Subsequent Years

Following a board member’s first year of service, they shall complete at least five hours of continuing education annually in fulfillment of assessed needs.

Board President

The Board President shall receive continuing education related to leadership duties of a board president as some portion of the annual requirement.

19 TAC 61.1(b)(5)

Identifying and Reporting Abuse

Each board member shall complete continuing education on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children, in accordance with Education Code 11.159(c)(2).

A prospective school board member may complete the training up to one year before they are appointed. A newly appointed board member who did not complete this training in the year preceding their appointment must complete the training 120 calendar days after election or appointment.

The training shall be completed every two years and shall be at least one hour in length.

The training must familiarize board members with the requirements of Education Code 38.004 and 38.0041, and 19 Administrative Code 61.1051 (relating to Reporting Child Abuse or Neglect, Including Trafficking of a Child).

The training required by this provision shall include, at a minimum:

  1. Instruction in best practices of identifying potential victims of child abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children;
  2. Instruction in legal requirements to report potential victims of child abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children; and
  3. Instruction in resources and organizations that help support victims and prevent child abuse, human trafficking and other maltreatment of children.

The training sessions shall be provided by a registered provider [See Registered Provider, below].

This training may be completed online, provided that the training is designed and offered by a registered provider, incorporates interactive activities that assess learning and provide feedback to the learner, and offers an opportunity for interaction with the instructor.

19 TAC 61.1(b)(7)

School Safety

The State Board of Education shall require a trustee to complete training on school safety. Education Code 11.159(b-1)

Training Provider

Registered Provider

For the purposes of 19 Administrative Code 61.1, a registered provider has demonstrated proficiency for the content required for a specific training. A private or professional organization, school district, government agency, college/university, or private consultant shall register with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide the board member continuing education required by 19 Administrative Code 61.1(b)(3), (5) and (7) [see Legislative Update, Additional Continuing Education, and Identifying and Reporting Abuse, above].

A district that provides continuing education exclusively for its own board members is not required to register under 19 Administrative Code 61.1(c)(1)-(2).

19 TAC 61.1(c)

Authorized Provider

An authorized provider meets all the requirements of a registered provider and has demonstrated proficiency in the content required by 19 Administrative Code 61.1(b)(4) and (6). Proficiency may be demonstrated in accordance with 19 Administrative Code 61.1(d).

A private or professional organization, school district, government agency, college/university, or private consultant may be authorized by TEA to provide the board member training required in 19 Administrative Code 61.1(b)(4) and (6).

An ESC shall be authorized by TEA to provide the board member training required in 19 Administrative Code 61.1(b)(4) and (6).

19 TAC 61.1(d)

[See above for 19 Administrative Code 61.1(b)(4) on Team Building and (b)(6) on Evaluating Student Academic Performance.]

Note: For cybersecurity training requirements, see Policy CQB.

Adopted:         9/15/88

Amended:       9/27/90, 9/27/91, 3/27/92, 3/25/94, 3/21/97, 11/19/04, 9/22/06, 4/3/09, 9/20/13, 9/29/17, 4/6/18, 5/28/20, 8/6/21, 2/18/22

Reviewed:       11/3/92, 1/31/03