Committee rejects added disciplinary hearing language and holds committee-assignment changes for further review
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Summary
Board members debated a proposal from David Perry to codify expedited committee-assignment timelines and a disciplinary hearing process; the committee removed proposed agenda-control language, declined to add a new disciplinary-hearing section to the ethics policy, and held broader committee-assignment language until September.
The policy committee considered a board member’s emailed proposal to rewrite rules on committee assignments and to add a formal disciplinary-hearing process for alleged code-of-ethics violations. After extended discussion, the committee removed an item giving unilateral agenda-assignment authority to the chair, declined to add Perry’s disciplinary-hearing language to the ethics policy, and postponed finalizing committee-assignment rules until its September meeting.
What was proposed: Board member David Perry sent a written package asking that committee-assignment procedures and a disciplinary/hearing process be codified. Perry sought a 30-day timeline for chair assignments, protections so appointees would serve the chairperson’s term “short of exceptional circumstances,” and a formal impartial-hearing process for alleged ethics violations.
Discussion highlights: Members debated whether disciplinary processes belong in the chair’s duties or in the ethics policy. Several members argued disciplinary actions are the responsibility of the full board and emphasized due-process concerns; others said codification would reduce arbitrary use of chair power. Judy Justice said the chair “is not our boss, but our leader,” and argued that Robert’s Rules and board policy both support board-level disciplinary responsibility. Some members warned a formal hearing process could be costly and protracted.
Actions and outcomes: The committee removed agenda language that would have allowed the chair to place items on monthly agendas and assign items to committees (vote recorded as 3-0). Committee members voted not to add Perry’s proposed disciplinary-hearing section to Policy 21-20 (ethics) (motion passed 3-0). The committee voted to hold Policy 22-30 (committee assignments and standing committees) for further work, and will revisit it at the September meeting.
Ending: Committee members said they will check past votes on committee membership counts (a separate question about curriculum-committee membership was left unresolved) and return with clarified language in September.