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Board of Education FAQs

227 N. Fourth Street
 Geneva, IL 60134
 Phone: 630-463-3000

Board of Education FAQs

Geneva School District strives to educate and inform its students, parents, staff, and community with up-to-date and factual information. Here you will find a stream of questions recently asked of the Board of Education.
What the attorney fees were incurred by CUSD 304 during the 2018 GEA strike?
A list of the attorney fees incurred by the district was requested by a patron through a Freedom of Information Request in July 2019. The requested records can be found by clicking here.
Where can I find information regarding the Board agenda for meetings?
Board of Education meeting agendas and documents are available online on a service called BoardBook. Agendas are typically made available the Thursday prior to a Monday meeting. Documents supporting agenda items are typically made available to the public on the morning of a meeting.  
Who determines the District’s goals, and what is the goal-setting process?
Over the course of the school year, members of the administration and all Board of Education members develop goals using a process that includes gathering input from staff and processing input at two Board retreats, one in the fall and one in the spring. The process focuses on establishing goals in the areas of reading, problem solving and success for all students, focusing on the seven primary areas of high-quality staff, curriculum and instruction, operational services, financial resources, student health and well-being, parents and community, and technology integration. Goals are meant to extend over multiple years and emphasize continuous improvement over time. Annual board goals are shared with the community in an annual publication, "Our Purpose, Our Plans, Our Goals," which can also be viewed digitally at this link.
Are School Board retreats open to the public?
Yes. By law, school board retreats to discuss district goals, business, and initiatives must be held in public. The Geneva School District holds two such retreats per year, generally on a Friday evening and Saturday morning, once in the fall and once in the spring. At these times, the Board meets with the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendents, and Directors, as needed, to formulate goals for the District, evaluate progress, and plan for the next year. This is also the opportunity for the Board members to express their individual desires, as well as those which they have received from the community, and discuss these with the rest of the Board. The public is encouraged to attend and communicate their thoughts to the Board both at the retreat and throughout the year so that discussion can encompass the thoughts of the community. No public action is taken at Board retreats, and the agendas for such are posted prior to the meeting. The Board also takes the time on these weekends to work on Board development. This portion of the retreat, however, is generally held in Executive Session (closed to the public), in accordance with state statute, with a Representative of the Illinois Association of School Boards. Focus of such retreats is Boardsmanship and continuing education. To submit feedback to the Board, please email [email protected].
If I had suggestions for District goals, how I would I submit these for consideration?
If you are a parent, suggestions can be submitted to the building principal for consideration during building goal discussions. Emails may also be sent to the administration and/or the Board of Education for consideration. Each business meeting of the Board of Education includes two opportunities for public comment, and citizens are encouraged to attend and make suggestions. It is important to note that while suggestions will not be acted on at that time, they will be considered with all input received from the community at the time of goal discussion. Goal setting retreats are public meetings of the Board and provide an excellent opportunity for citizens to hear what goes into the setting of goals for the year.
Does the Board of Education have a policy manual?
As one of the Board of Education’s main responsibilities is setting policies for the District, it does maintain a policy manual. The manual can be found online or in hard copy at the District’s central office or in each school’s library. The Board of Education maintains a Policy Committee, which is charged with reviewing existing policies and recommending changes where necessary, and also with proposing new policies for consideration by the Board. The Committee is advisory only, and all recommendations must be debated and voted upon by the Board itself.
What is the best way to address concerns relative to students or staff?
While the Board of Education is ultimately in charge of activities of the District, it relies on District staff and administration to resolve conflict whenever possible. 8:110 Public Suggestions and Concerns outlines the appropriate channels for resolution.
Why does the Board of Education have one main email address instead of individual addresses?
Board of Education members subscribe to the philosophy that the Board of Education operates as a group of seven, the majority vote determining actions. As such, they believe that all concerns and inquiries to the Board should be made available to all Board members, as they will all be involved in the discussion and ultimately vote on any actions before the Board. They further delegate the responsibility of responding to emails to their Board President, on behalf of the entire Board. All emails to the Board email address are delivered to all Board members. This practice, however, does not prevent citizens from having individual conversations with Board members.
Do Board members receive training? Is it required?
Training for Board members is available through self study, intergovernmental presentations, and the Illinois Association of School Boards. This year, the Illinois legislation mandated training for all new Board members in the areas of governance, school finance, school law and the Open Meetings Act. We are pleased to report that training is something which the Geneva Board has committed to prior to this action. Four of the current Board have Master Board Member status, meaning that they have acquired a certain quota of hours in training. All Board members have participated in training of some nature in the current year. In addition, new Board members receive an orientation to the Board and District as well as being assigned an experienced Board member as a mentor. Biographical information for all Board members can be found on our website.
What would the Board recommend to a citizen interested in becoming a Board member?
First and foremost, attend meetings or watch them digitally — on our website or on Channel 10 — if possible. This is invaluable in terms of grasping what you would be doing. Speak to current or former Board members about their service, as they are happy to share their experiences and advice, realizing the importance of coming to the job as prepared and as knowledgeable as possible. Read the candidate materials that you receive when you pick up your petition packet. Picking up a packet is not a commitment to run, so check it out. Utilize the Illinois Association of School Boards to learn more about board service. The IASB website contains information specific to candidates and those wishing to know more about board service. Finally, ask your friends, neighbors and everyone you meet about their vision for Geneva School District – their likes, their dislikes, and their suggestions for the future.
What are the guidelines for asking questions and receiving answers at Board meetings?