School Board Policy 1400 states:
Meeting Conduct
"All Board meetings will be conducted in an orderly and business-like manner using Roberts Rules of Order (Revised) as a guide, except when such rules are superseded by board bylaws or policies."
Roberts Rules has rules for small committees or boards that allow for a more informal structure to the meetings. For many years the Woodland Public Schools Board of Directors has operated under "small board" rules.
Small board rules are effective for school boards to allow for efficient meetings. In reviewing the small board advice of Ann McFarlane, a Seattle-based parliamentarian and trainer, it is recommended that, among other considerations, small boards retain the Seconding of Motions as a part of their procedures.
Two questions for the board to consider:
1) Should the operating rules of the board follow McFarlane's guidance, requiring a second for any motion?
2) Should the board invite Ms. McFarlane back to provide a two-hour or three-hour training to the board on the effective use of Robert's Rules. She could be available for the January 13 workshop meeting. The presentation would be via Zoom. In my correspondence with her, she stated: "it is possible to cover the essentials in two hours, whereas three hours allows more time for interaction, practice, and integrating the material"