Herkimer BOCES Board Norms 2023-24

The Herkimer-Fulton-Hamilton-Otsego (Herkimer) BOCES Board of Education will be composed of community-minded, independently thinking individuals who represent each of the 10 component districts. In recognition of that fact, the board has established certain operational and functional norms that serve to encourage: the free exchange of information and ideas among its members, the respect of faculty and staff and the integrity of the confidential information that is sometimes afforded the members of the board.

IDEAS AND INFORMATION

The members of the Board of Education recognize that diversity in thought and opinion are things to be celebrated and utilized to the advantage of the Board and its members.

We encourage one another to engage in respectful discourse and recognize that disagreement is simply that – and members can respectfully “agree to disagree” by debating the issues and not each other.

We recognize that high trust levels between board members can only be accomplished through first being trustworthy and then staying true to our commitments to the students of the BOCES, the community, the administration and the board.

RESPECT

We agree to foster respect between the administration, community members and board members through the recognition that each plays a role in both the education of our students and the smooth functioning of the BOCES as a whole. To that end, we agree to follow established chains of command in the resolution of issues that affect the BOCES, the community or members of the student body.

We agree to stand by our mission statement and established goals to achieve consistency, respect and trust between the board, the community and BOCES employees.

INTEGRITY

Members of the Board of Education agree that they shall not violate the confidentiality afforded to the issues that are presented under the privilege of executive session.

We, the members of the Herkimer BOCES Board of Education, establish these operational and functional norms and agree to abide by them. Abiding by established norms serves to promote the security and respect of all parties involved in serving and promoting the educational needs of our students.

Holly Pullis, President

Ronald Loiacono, Vice President

Travis Costin

Samuel Luce

Janine Lynch

William Miller

Kathleen Sarafin

James Schmid

Thomas Shypski

Michele Szarek