With any meeting of a board, there is a format that must be followed. This format is a list of agenda items to be discussed and voted. This format is necessary for the meeting to progress in an efficient manner. The agenda items for the Pocono Mountain School District Board of School Directors is established in advance and are positioned to allow for proper discussion and resolution.

The subtitles for agenda items are as follows:
Executive Session
As required by the Open Meetings Act in Pennsylvania, the Board of School Directors must announce when executive session meetings are held and what topics were discussed.

Recognition of Visitors
Since the Board of School Directors views the input of its constituency as being very important, the public is given the opportunity to comment at the beginning of each meeting on items on the agenda prior to discussion by the Board and non-agenda items following that dialogue. The Board requires visitors to state their names for the record and limit comments to three minutes. Groups are asked to appoint one spokesperson.

Items For Discussion and Possible Resolution
The Board of School Directors reviews and discusses items put before it that concern business in the district.

Items Requiring Board Action
1. Consensus Motion – Many items that come before the Board of School Directors come with recommendations from the administration. These items are usually designated for a consensus motion which allows business before the Board to progress in an efficient manner.

2. Business and Financial Affairs – The Business Manager places consensus motion items before the Board after reviewing the requests and making sure they conform to board policy.

3. Personnel – The Assistant to the Superintendent for Human Resources places personnel items before the board in a consensus motion that have been properly reviewed and conform to board policy.

4. Other Items or Concerns from the Board
This agenda item allows board members to bring forth items for discussion that have not been placed on the agenda prior to the meeting.

5. Other Reports
The Board hears reports from the Solicitor and the Board Secretary.

Recognition of Visitors
The board understands the importance of hearing comments from its constituency. At this time members of the community may address the Board on any matter of importance; these items do not have to be agenda items. The board requires that visitors limit their comments to three minutes and state their name and address for the record.

Items of Information
The Board receives written reports from the administration on various aspects of the district.

Students, Curriculum and Policy
Items included in this section of the agenda are provided by Dr. Milton James for secondary curricular issues, Dr. Elizabeth Robison for elementary curricular issues, Dr. Loree Guthrie for student issues, and Dr. Dwight Pfennig for policy issues. The Board must approve textbooks and curricular materials, as well as all new instructional programs. Student expulsions, overnight field trips, and health guidance services are located in this section of the agenda. New school board policy or revising existing policy as presented by the Superintendent is also identified in this section of the agenda.

Any resident or taxpayer of the district may address the Pocono Mountain School District Board of School Directors.  To get an item on the school board agenda, please call the superintendent‘s office at (570) 839-7121 Ext. 10111. 

 To maintain order during the meetings, there are guidelines that should be followed.

 1. Be prepared and organized.  If you wish to speak to the Board, you should prepare yourself. A prepared and organized speaker who is respectful of the Board and presents his or her concerns in an organized manner will likely come away with a positive feeling.

 2. Understand the framework of the meeting.  Although your topic is of major concern to you, a visitor should remember that the Board has business to conduct and an agenda to follow. The public can address the Board at the beginning of each meeting on items on the agenda and at the end of the meeting concerning other items.

 3. Follow the rules.  Public participation is allowed, but not at the expense of an orderly, efficient meeting.

 Parental Questions and Concerns

Parents should feel free to call the school their child attends with questions and concerns. The chain of communication begins with that school.  Any parent coming before the Board with a concern will be asked if he or she has approached the building principal. When you have a concern, call or make an appointment with the teacher, counselor or principal who will have the right information to help you.