School Board Basics: Frequently Asked Questions
When are Board Meetings?
Board Meetings generally open at 6:30 pm and the Board immediately goes into executive session. The public session of Board meetings generally start at approximately 7:30 P.M. on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month, except for July when no meetings are typically scheduled. See Board Calendar for dates.
Board meetings are held in the cafeteria of the George Inness Annex located at 141 Park Street. Notice of the meetings along with a detailed agenda is available and published on this website at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Special Board meetings in addition to the monthly business meeting are scheduled as needed, with a minimum of 48 hours notice to the public. The public is always invited to all of these meetings.
What happens at these meetings?
School Board meetings are working sessions as the Board conducts its business in full view of the public. The meetings typically begin with quick action items such as the approval of previous minutes. After an update from the Superintendent, the Board and staff discuss the business noted on the agenda. At every meeting there is an opportunity for public comment on both agenda and non-agenda items.
The purpose of public participation is for the Board to hear directly from its stakeholders: parents, students, residents, and staff. The Board listens to the comments and follows up as appropriate.
What typically occurs in a closed or executive session?
An executive session is held to discuss personnel matters, student actions regarding out of district placements, or pending legal matters. The laws of New Jersey outline a very short list of issues that may be discussed in closed session due to privacy concerns. The bulk of issues that come before the School Board are discussed in public sessions and all official votes (actions) of the Board are conducted in public sessions.
What happens between the monthly meetings?
Board members routinely attend to subcommittee or school/community liaison or working group responsibilities. Board members may also visit the schools with the superintendent and support the School Action Teams, MFEE, and community events as much as possible.
If I have a concern, how can I communicate it?
The Montclair Board of Education welcomes hearing your concerns, and suggests the following guidelines to resolve them. If you have an issue concerning your child's class or teacher, first contact the classroom teacher. From there, you should contact the building principal if the matter has not been resolved to your satisfaction. If you cannot come to resolution at the building level or if you have a District-wide concern, you should contact the office of the Superintendent of Schools. Individual matters are generally referred to the Board only after these channels are exhausted; The Board is charged with decisions related to policy matters and most matters which do not have policy implications will generally be decided at the building level in collaboration with the Superintendent's central office staff.
Write to the Board
Residents may write to Board members in care of Montclair Board of Education, 22 Valley Road, Montclair, NJ 07042, or at the e-mail addresses listed on the main page of this section or the individual Board members' pages. It may be helpful to note each board member's sub-committee. If you send letters to several, or all, Board members, you may expect to receive one response, most typically from the Board President.