Pictured above (left to right): Libby Gray, Member; LaToya Dowdell-Burger, Vice President; Seth Bower, President; Kathleen Walsh, Member; John Kershner, Member.
The Groveport Madison School District has a five-member Board of Education. These locally elected officials represent the interests of the Groveport Madison community and fulfill their roles under Ohio law by establishing educational policies, hiring and providing oversight of the District’s Superintendent and Treasurer, and establishing the goals and objectives for the District’s two appointed leaders.
Under Ohio law, the term of office for a Board of Education member is four years. The terms are staggered, with no more than three members elected during an election. This provides continuity in the Board’s leadership.
Board of Education Regular Meetings
The Board of Education's regular meetings are held on the second TUESDAY of each month, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the District Service Center (administrative offices) at 4400 Marketing Place, Suite B, Groveport, OH 43125. The President of the Board may call Special Meetings per Board Policy and Ohio law.
Work Sessions
These meetings are typically held to update the Board of Education and the community about upcoming issues. While there are generally no action items scheduled for Work Sessions, it is occasionally necessary to include action items as specific, immediate needs arise. Agendas with any action items will be published at least 24 hours before the meeting. The public is invited to attend Work Sessions. However, no time is scheduled for public participation during these meetings.
State law prohibits discussing specific employees or their job performance at public meetings. The law does allow for discussions by Board members regarding employees in Executive Sessions of the Board. Voting can occur only in open (public) sessions.
Special Meetings
With at least a 24-hour public notice, the Board’s President may call a “Special Meeting.” While generally for informational purposes, any item to be voted upon must be published on the meeting’s agenda at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting date.
Ohio’s Open Meeting’s Law/Executive Sessions
Ohio law mandates that school board meetings be open to the public, with the exception of Executive Sessions. In an Executive Session, Ohio law permits the Board to discuss, but not vote on, personnel matters, property purchases, possible legal action, labor negotiations, security arrangements, and items the law says must be kept confidential.
Topics that can be discussed in the Executive Session include:
- The appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of an employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against an employee, official, licensee, or student, unless the employee, official, licensee, or student requests a public hearing.
- The purchase of property for public purposes, the sale of property at competitive bidding, or the sale or disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use property under RC 505.10.
- Conferences with the Board’s attorney to discuss matters subject to pending or imminent court action. The Board’s attorney must be present during executive sessions held for this purpose.
- Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with employees.
- Matters that are required to be kept confidential by federal or state law or rules.
- Specialized details of security arrangements.
- Confidential information related to marketing plans, specific business strategy, production techniques, trade secrets, or personal financial statements of an applicant for economic development assistance or related to negotiations with other political subdivisions regarding requests for economic development assistance.
Requesting an Item to be Included on the Board Agenda
The Superintendent and the Board President set the school board’s meeting agenda. Individuals who wish to request an item to be considered for a Board meeting agenda should submit their request in writing to the Superintendent’s Executive Secretary, Lori Adkins, at the District’s Administrative Offices
. Requests should include name, address, phone number, organization represented (if any), and an explanation of the request. Requests must be submitted five working days in advance of the scheduled meeting. Items on the agenda are included at the discretion of the Superintendent and the Board President.
Board of Education meeting agendas are posted on the
Board Docs link found on the right-hand side of the Board’s web page. Click on the meeting date, and the option to view or print the agenda will be in the middle of the webpage.
Questions
If you have questions, please contact the District’s Office of Communications & Community Relations at (614) 492-2520 or email us at
[email protected].