Board of Education Duties
The Willsboro Central School Board of Education is a five-member board elected by the community. Members serve three-year terms.
The Board has legal responsibility for the operation of the entire district. The Board established the policies under which the school district is operated, and the Superintendent of Schools is responsible for administering the school program within the context of these policies.
The Board’s duties are derived from the State Constitution, the laws of New York State, and rulings of the New York State Commissioner of Education.
The Board’s four main areas of responsibility are:
– To establish all school district policies,
– To develop an annual budget for public approval,
– To approve or disapprove the Superintendent’s recommendations regarding personnel matters, and
– To approve or disapprove the Superintendent’s recommendations regarding many contracts the district must enter into.
The Board encourages parents and residents who have a concern about school matters to try first to resolve the problem at the level most directly involved. If a satisfactory solution cannot be reached at this level, contact the Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Justin Gardner.
Board of Education Meeting
Board of Education meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month or as noted on the board meeting calendar. Residents of the district are invited to attend the meetings and may speak on agenda items during the public comment sessions.
Meetings of the Board of Education are open to the public. This is when school business is conducted. Public business includes not only binding votes of the board but also any activity which is preliminary to such a vote or involves consideration of a matter that could be the subject of board action. If you have a request for an item to be placed on the agenda, a district resident may contact the District Clerk in advance of the meeting. The request will be considered by the Board of Education to determine whether or not it will be added as an agenda item. If you would like to communicate directly with a member of the board of education, please contact the District Clerk. There is also time set aside at each meeting for residents to address the Board on agenda items.
On some occasions, the meetings of the Board of Education open in public session, and then, upon a majority vote of the total membership of the Board, adjourn to executive session. An executive session is a portion of a school board meeting not open to the public and is only permitted for a limited number of specific purposes, such as matters which imperil the public safety if disclosed (safety); discussions involving current or future litigation (litigation); negotiations; and medical, financial, credit, or employment history of a particular person or corporation.
Personnel matters which must be discussed in closed session are those matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal, or removal of a particular person or corporation (personnel).
With certain limited exceptions, no official action can be taken on issues discussed in executive session without first returning to the open session.
On occasion, certain meetings may open in public session, go directly into executive session, and remain in executive session for several hours. These meetings then return to the open meeting to adjourn, with no action to be taken.
Meeting Dates
Board meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month in the Conference Room, beginning at 6:00 pm, unless otherwise noted.
Board Members
| Heather Sheehan | President | June 2027 |
| Emily Philips | Vice-President | June 2026 |
| Laura Bridge | Member | June 2027 |
| Krissy Leerkes | Member | June 2026 |
| Morgan Drinkwine | Member | June 2028 |
| Brandy Pierce Nolette | Board Clerk |