The Board of Trustees and staff of the Hawley Independent School District appreciate your interest in Hawley public schools. Public participation and open lines of communication are vital to the educational success of our students. The Board can better represent its constituents when you and others take the time and effort to observe the Board in action, to express opinions and to raise questions. We invite your attendance at Board meetings and in school district activities.

SCHOOL BOARD POLICY MANUAL

The Board of Trustees participate in a variety of meetings. Each of these meetings, with the exception of Closed sessions, are open to the public. The purpose of the meetings is to conduct School District business and to provide the members of the Board an opportunity to discuss issues with each other and with staff. Trustees convene for regular sessions at 7:00 pm on the second Monday of each month. Regular meetings may be reset, relocated, and special meetings may be called. Agendas are posted at the school administration building 72 hours prior to any regular or special called meetings and at least 2 hours prior to any emergency meeting. A majority of the Board, 4 members, must be present to constitute a quorum.

If citizens wish to express themselves regarding a specific school, teacher or child, dialog should begin at the level closest to the concern.
STEP ONE:
Visit with teacher or guidance counselor.
STEP TWO:
Visit with principal.
STEP THREE:
Visit with Superintendent.
If the student is not able to resolve the concern, he/she should request the person at that level to assist them in the process of moving to the next level.
STEP FOUR:
If all other avenues have been exhausted, the citizen may request a hearing before the Board of Trustees. Requests for a hearing should be filed with the Superintendent. Citizens wishing to express themselves regarding policies, boundries, finances, or other responsibilities of the Board, which have not been placed on a regular agenda, should use one or more of these alternatives.
**Contact appropriate staff members.
**Speak at public forums.
**Write letters, telephone or email Board members. Include your name, address and phone number. Duplicated letters will be read and reviewed, but because of the quantity, Board members may not be able to respond to each. The Texas Open Meetings Act precludes members taking a position on an issue outside the meeting and may impede their ability to respond to your concerns privately.
**Board members and staff discourage citizens from providing anonymous information in any form, and, in general, will not act upon it.
**Board members will forward concerns to the appropriate staff person for their input and action.

SCHOOL BOARD POLICY MANUAL