Joint Schools Working Committee

The Joint Schools Working Committee (“the Committee”) shall carry out the responsibility of the Board of Supervisors and the School Board (“boards”) to meet periodically to discuss the school system and its partnership with the County in the area of public education. The Committee is designed to facilitate dialogue and the sharing of information in a manner that permits a smaller group of elected officials to discuss matters of mutual concern and share information. The ability to have full board meetings with all 14 elected officials in attendance has proved to be difficult and the Committee was established to enhance and improve communication.

The Committee is a standing committee and will meet as a joint committee at rotating venues. Members of the Committee are appointed by their respective boards at a duly held meeting utilizing the procedures for nomination and approval set forth in each board’s by-laws and rules of procedure. The Committee shall consist of the chairman and/or vice-chairman of the Board of Supervisors and the chairman and/or vice-chairman of the School Board. The highest-ranking individual (chair or vice-chair) from each board will serve as the Committee co-chairmen. In addition, each board will appoint additional members for membership on the Committee so that each board has a total of three members on the Committee.

The Committee members will report to their respective boards the deliberations and discussions occurring at the Committee meetings. In compliance with Robert’s Rules of Order and Virginia law, agenda and public access will be provided for each meeting, and meeting minutes will be taken and published in accordance with established procedures. The Committee will meet as often as it determines appropriate, but at a minimum it will meet quarterly. New business items should be provided by the Committee members to their respective co-chairman at least  45 days prior to a scheduled meeting. All other requests will need to be made as a request to add items and must be approved by the Committee during the approval of the Committee agenda for that meeting. The Committee may request of the County Administrator or Schools Superintendent to have executive staff or others attend the Committee meetings and provide pertinent information when needed. These requests should be made at least one week before the scheduled meeting. A majority of the members of the Committee will constitute a quorum with a majority of votes of those Committee members present at a meeting in which a quorum has been established being sufficient to adopt a recommendation.

1.       Memorandums Of Understanding (MOUs)
2.       Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
3.       Enrollment numbers
4.       Shared services
5.       Other major issues as deemed important as necessary
6.       Proposed amendments to this charter must be approved by both boards.

The first meeting in January will be an organizational meeting when the calendar of meetings will be set for the year.