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Continuing Education For Board Members, Policy No. 615

Continuing Education For Board Members, Policy No. 615

Printable PDF Board Policy 615

Instruction for New and Incumbent Board Members:

Except as provided below, at the time a school district elector files a notification and declaration of candidacy for the office of board of education membership, the elector shall agree and pledge in writing that, upon election or appointment as a member of the board, he or she will attend a two-day workshop to be held by the State Department of Education or, upon approval of the State Board of Education, attend 12 hours of other workshops held by another organization or association representing Oklahoma school district boards of education, for study and instruction concerning school finance, the Oklahoma School Code and related laws, and the ethics, duties and responsibilities of board of education members. If elected, the elector must complete the workshop(s) within 15 months following or preceding his or her election.

When an incumbent board member files a notification and declaration of candidacy for reelection to the board of education, the incumbent shall not be required to comply with the statutory requirement described above if the incumbent produces a certificate of completion showing that he or she has completed the workshop described above. However, the member will be required to agree and pledge in writing that, upon reelection, he or she will attend a six-hour workshop emphasizing changes in school law, within 15 months following his or her election.

Continuing Educational Requirements

In addition to the workshop requirements described above, every member of the board shall be required to attend a minimum of 15 hours of continuing education during any full term of office of the member. The continuing education courses, local and state workshops, seminars, conferences and conventions that will satisfy these requirements will be held within the state and will be approved jointly by the State Department of Education and the State Department of Career and Technology Education. Failure by a board member to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this section shall result in the ineligibility of the member to run for reelection to the board of education. Any member of the board who attends and completes a course that satisfies in part or in full the requirements of this policy shall be reimbursed by the district for expenses incurred. This paragraph shall not apply to those school board members who filed for reelection prior to July 1, 1991.  

Failure to Meet the Educational Requirements

Upon receiving any notice by the State Board of Education that a board member has not completed their instructional or continuing educational requires, both the board member and the superintendent shall alert the board to such default.

Upon receiving a final certified notice by the State Board of Education, the board member shall have sixty (60) days in accordance with Oklahoma law to complete the requirements.

Should a board member not complete the required instructional or continuing educational requirements within that time period, the board shall declare the board member’s seat vacant in accordance with Oklahoma law. The board seat must be declared vacant within sixty (60) days of the last date the board member had to complete the instructional or continuing education requirements according to the final certified notice by the State Board of Education.

Any board member who does not obtain the required education will be ineligible, pursuant to Oklahoma law, to serve on the board of education for a period of 2 years.

Reference: OKLA. STAT. tit. 70 § 5-110, 70 OKLA. STAT. §5-110.2