Board of Trustees
Members | |||
Mike Bowling | President | 2022-2023 / 2025-2026 | mbowling@peaster.net |
Jake Bashore | Vice President | 2022-2023 /2024-2025 | jbashore@peaster.net |
Justin McKinley | Secretary | 2022-2023 / 2024-2025 | jmckinley@peaster.net |
Leanna Stafford | Member | 2024-2025 / 2026-2027 | lstafford@peaster.net |
Mandy Cross | Member | 2023-2024 / 2025-2026 | mcross@peaster.net |
Laura Stewart | Member | 2024-2025/ 2026-2027 | lstewart@peaster.net |
Nathan McCarty | Member | 2022-2023 / 2024-2025 | nmccarty@peaster.net |
The Board of Trustees consists of seven board members elected to serve, without compensation, for overlapping terms of three years each. Elections are conducted annually in May. While candidates run for specific places, they do not represent specific geographical areas; rather, each represents PISD at large. Following the annual election, the Board elects a president, vice-president and secretary to serve for one-year terms.
Duties of the Board Operating within the legal parameters of the state and federal constitutions, statutes, courts, and administrative agencies, the Board is charged with three primary roles: Adopt and/or change policies; approve the district's budget; and hire/evaluate the Superintendent to execute the Board's policies, the District's mission/vision, and progress towards the District's goals. The Superintendent is the CEO and ensures the day-to-day operations of the school district. All other district employees work for the Superintendent or his/her designee. Simply put, the Board focuses on the "what" and the school leadership develops and implements the "how."
Operating Protocol We, the members of the Board of Trustees of the Peaster Independent School District are committed to serving the children and citizens of this school district. We will strive to provide a high quality public education which meets the needs of our community. To achieve that goal, we have established an operating protocol which will help govern our actions at meetings and in our role as trustees. We hope that it will help enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Board meetings while maintaining mutual respect and opportunities for polite disagreement. We believe that the success of the Peaster Independent School District depends on a shared vision among the School Board, PISD staff, parents and community, and we will try to the best of our ability to uphold these aspirations.
Responsibility ...
- We acknowledge the Board's role as planning, policy making, and communication and the superintendent's role of leading, implementing, and managing.
- We will act as advocates for the children and families of our district.
- We will keep ourselves focused on the best interests of students.
- We will act as advocates for quality public education.
- We will function only as a "body corporate" which means that we take action only as a group at regular or called Board meetings. Board members may not act privately on behalf of the Board.
- We will make every attempt to attend all Board functions.
Cooperation ...
- We will work cooperatively with other Board members, the superintendent and staff, striving for teamwork.
- We will be respectful of each other and our right to differing opinions.
- We will avoid interrupting fellow Board members.
- We will limit our comments on a specific item to three minutes at a time to demonstrate respect for all Board members' and participants' time.
- We will focus on the issue on the table.
- We will maintain a sense of humor.
- We will practice the art of consensus to the extent possible.
- We will accept responsibility for all Board decisions, regardless of how we voted.
- We understand that confidentiality is expected regarding those issues discussed in executive session.
Preparation ...
- We will read all agenda material and come prepared for each meeting.
- We will notify staff members of questions prior to the meeting and be specific about information needed.
Community Interaction ...
- We will be courteous to all participants and request the same courtesy in return.
- We will respect the civil and human rights of all members of the school community.
- We will try to ensure that our body language conveys a professional message.
Objectivity ...
- We will listen objectively.
- We will base our decisions on the available facts and our independent judgment, not yielding to individuals or special interest groups.
- We will make decisions in the best interests of the students' education even when the decision may be unpopular for political or other reasons.
- We will be open to new concepts.