213 School Board Committees

[Note: Many school boards utilize either standing or ad hoc committees, or both. On the other hand, some school boards avoid the use of committees for the most part because of the danger of fragmentation of the governance process. The objective of this policy is to provide a framework for those school boards which elect to utilize committees or subcommittees. Further, this policy is designed to apply only to committees or subcommittees made up of elected school board members. Other considerations will apply to committees established by the school board involving members of the public, employees, students, parents, etc.]

Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to provide Crosslake Community School (CCS) the structure and the operation of committees or subcommittees of the school board.

1. It is the policy of the school board to designate school board committees or subcommittees when it is determined that a committee process facilitates the mission of the school board.
2. The school board has determined that certain permanent standing committees, as described in this policy, do facilitate the operation of the school board and the school.
3. A school board committee or subcommittee will be formed by school board resolution which shall outline the duties and purpose of the committee or subcommittee.
4. A committee or subcommittee is advisory in nature and has only such authority as specified by the school board.
5. The school board will receive reports or recommendations from a committee or subcommittee for consideration. The school board, however, retains the right and has the duty to make all final decisions related to such reports or recommendations.
6. The school board also may establish such ad hoc committees for specific purposes as it deems appropriate. G. The school board reserves the right to limit, create or abolish any standing or ad hoc committee as it deems appropriate.
7. A committee of the school board shall not appoint a subcommittee of that committee without approval of the school board.

1. The school board hereby appoints the following standing committees:
   1. Finance
   2. Academic Performance/Achievement, Curriculum, and World’s Best Workforce (Academic)
   3. Environmental Education - Seat Based
   4. Environmental Education - Online
   5. Directors’ Evaluations.

[Note: Each school district should determine which, if any, standing committees the school board wishes to establish.]

2. The school board will establish, by resolution, for each standing or ad hoc committee the number of members, the term and the charge or mission of each such committee.
3. The school board chair shall appoint the members of each standing or ad hoc committee and designate the chair there of.
4. The board of directors must establish a finance committee that meets regularly and includes at least one member of the school's board. The committee must review and provide recommendations to the board on matters related to financial health and best practices, which may include but are not limited to financial strategy, enrollment tracking, budgeting and planning, internal controls and compliance, revenue generation, financial conflicts of interest, audits and financial reporting, regular finance statements and transactions, and authorizer finance related requirements in the charter contract.

A charter school board that is under corrective action for financial reasons, as determined by the authorizer, must:

1. include the authorizer in regularly scheduled finance committee meetings, either in person or virtually, at least monthly; and
2. upon the request of the authorizer, hire a financial expert. 

[NOTE: The 2025 Minnesota legislature added this provision to Minnesota Statutes, section 124E.07, subdivision 6.]

1. All meetings of committees or subcommittees shall be open to the public in compliance with the Open Meeting Law and meeting details are available on CCS’ website.
2. A committee or subcommittee shall act only within the guidelines and mission established for that committee or subcommittee by the school board.
3. Actions of a committee or subcommittee shall be by majority vote and be consistent with the governing rules of the school board.
4. The committee or subcommittee shall designate a secretary who will record the minutes of actions of the school board committee.
5. The power of a committee or subcommittee of the school board is advisory only and is limited to making recommendations to the school board.
6. A committee or subcommittee of the school board shall, when appropriate, clarify in any dealings with the public that its powers are only advisory to the school board.

Legal References:

• Minn. Stat. Ch. 13D (Open Meeting Law)
• Minn. Stat. § 124E.07 (Board of Directors)

Cross References:

• MSBA/MASA Model Policy 201 (Legal Status of the Charter School Board of Directors)
• MSBA/MASA Model Policy 203 (Operation of the School Board – Governing Rules)
• MSBA School Law Bulletin “C” (Minnesota’s Open Meeting Law)

Download 213 School Board Committees Policy