The Wilkes County Board of Education is a body corporate and has general control and supervision of all matters pertaining to the public schools of the school district and the authority to enforce the school law. All powers and duties conferred and imposed by law respecting public schools which are not expressly conferred and imposed upon some other official are conferred and imposed by law upon the Board of Education. Operating under State laws and rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, the Wilkes County Board of Education is responsible to the people of Wilkes County. It is not subordinate to other branches of local governments, even though there is a fiscal dependence on the commissioners of Wilkes County.
The Board of Education will provide a system of schools and establish general policies in keeping with the needs of the community and the requirements of state law and perform all specific duties imposed by law. The Board of Education considers some of its most significant duties to be:
- providing leadership and direction through the formulation of goals and objectives, especially in defining and setting high academic standards for student success;
- creating policies that establish standards, accountability, and evaluation of essential operations of the school district;
- taking steps necessary to help ensure legal compliance of Board of Education and school district functions;
- performing judicial functions by conducting hearings as appropriate or required by law regarding decisions of school district personnel or the Board of Education;
- hiring a superintendent, supporting the superintendent in his or her administration, and evaluating and responding to recommendations made by the superintendent, including recommendations pertaining to the educational program and facility needs;
- considering the budget recommended by the superintendent, presenting the budget to the county commissioners and adopting a budget after evaluating whether the county commissioners’ appropriation is sufficient to support a system of free public schools; and
- advocating for the school district, staff, and especially for students, in all interactions with other governmental entities and the public.
Legal References: G.S. 115C-36, -44, -47
Cross References:
Adopted: January 9, 2006