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Hilton CSD Board of Education Rules of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures 

Meetings the Hilton Board of Education meets generally twice monthly, on the second and fourth Tuesdays, at 7 pm in District Offices, 225 West Ave., Hilton, in the Board Meeting room. Executive sessions and special meetings are scheduled as needed and publicized.  Every effort shall be made to conclude meetings, including executive session by 10 pm. A majority of the Board must approve requests for information items requiring substantial background work in open session.  Requests for information on the operations and policies of the District may be directed to the superintendent, assistant superintendent for business and assistant superintendent for human resources. Participating in the meetings are the seven elected board members, the superintendent, assistant superintendent for business, and assistant superintendent for human resources. 

Purpose  The purpose of the meetings is for the board to consider and approve recommendations by the superintendent regarding: policy; curriculum; approval of textbooks; personnel actions which are governed by state rulings protecting the confidentiality of a person's appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal; budget and financial issues; Other matters required by New York State Education Law.

Agendas are posted online: Meeting Agendas

Minutes  The official minutes of the Hilton Board of Education are reviewed and approved before distribution to the public.  Once approved, Board minutes are posted online: Meeting Minutes   

Public Comment  The Hilton Board of Education subscribes to the NYS Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Information which allows members of the public to attend Board meetings. Although the Law does not require public participation, the Board does recognize guests who wish to address the Board. Freedom of Information/Open Meetings - FOIL - for information: 585-392-1000 ext. 7043. 

Speakers - District residents wishing to address the board are encouraged to notify the district clerk in advance. In some circumstances, the board president will recognize members of the audience who have particular information, which is vital to the issue being considered. The Board of Education reserves the right to limit public comments to a maximum of twenty (20) minutes total and five (5) minutes per speaker. When speaking before the Board, individuals are asked to state their name and address for the record.  Regarding any personnel matters, the speaker's comments shall not include mentioning any District employee by name [Dist. Policy 3220].  New York State Education Law prohibits the disclosure of personnel issues by boards of education in public session. The Board reserves the right to restrict access for a speaker who does not comply with district policies and guidelines. District Clerk - for information: 585-392-1000 ext. 7099. 

Recognitions -The Board of Education honors students, staff, and community members for their accomplishments and efforts that has greatly enhanced the District.  

Presentations -Educational initiatives evaluation, school programs, and school activities are part of most meetings.  

Reports from Board Members - board members provide updates on their interaction with District, Local, and State committees and school related organizations with whom they have been assigned as liaisons. 

Old Business - Items on this portion of the agenda were previously introduced at a past Board meeting, but were not brought to closure.  An example would be policy changes, which must be tabled at the meeting in which the change is first considered, with action occurring at a subsequent meeting. 

New Business - Consent and For Discussion:  This portion of the agenda represents the primary issues to be voted on at the meeting. The consent portion allows the Board to address multiple issues with one motion.  Any items, which are deemed to warrant additional discussion, are moved from consent to the discussion part of the agenda and discussed individually.  Action items requiring time for review and public input will be tabled for at least one meeting [such as textbook approvals, policy revisions and curriculum approvals]. 

Public Hearings - Prior to adoption of the budget or scheduling of other votes, a public hearing is scheduled to provide an opportunity for public input prior to Board action.  Persons speaking at a public hearing may do so without prior arrangement.  The speaker will be expected to provide their name and address, and confine their comments to no more than five minutes on the topic under consideration. 

Administrative Report - The superintendent, assistant superintendent for business and assistant superintendent for human resources, prepare reports to the Board providing information and background on activities within their responsibility. Information in these reports may relate to future agenda items, or may exist for information purposes only. 

Closure - At the conclusion of the meeting the board president will ask the clerk to read back the potential agenda items that were discussed during the meeting.  The Board decides if they would like to add an item to a future agenda.  A debriefing also takes place along with any other topics the Board would like to discuss.  The Board Goals are reviewed at the conclusion of each meeting.  

Executive Session - Prior to or following the public portion of the meeting, the Board will often convene an executive session.  Under the N.Y.S. Open Meetings Law, the Board shall not take any formal action in executive session and may only discuss topics such as negotiations, personnel, litigation, and other topics in which the need for confidentiality takes precedence.  Executive session is reserved for discussions involving confidential information.  Public employees are governed by N.Y.S. Education Law and as civil servants are protected by the N.Y.S. Constitution and the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution [due process provision]. The Board of Education protects the residents and taxpayers of the Hilton School District from liability [defamation and stigma actions] by ensuring confidentiality of personnel issues.

Board of Education and School District Records - The Hilton School Board and Hilton Central School District are subject to the Freedom of Information Law [FOIL] that requires governmental bodies to allow public access to official records and documents, which are not covered by confidentiality or privacy regulations.  A fee is charged for copies. Freedom of Information/Open Meetings - FOIL  

Board of Education Rules of Conduct:  The Board considers all questions that arise on a basis of what is best for students and learning in the District. Members attend meetings of the Board and assigned committees as Board representatives. Members understand that they have no power or authority as individual members; that only the Board as a whole can make policies and decisions for the school district.  

Revised:  12/30/09