Stevensville School District

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Board Meetings

Meetings of the Board and/or committees of the Board must occur at a duly called and legally conducted meeting. “Meeting” is defined as the convening of a quorum of the constituent membership of the Board, whether in person or by means of electronic equipment, to hear, discuss, or act upon a matter over which the Board has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. 

Regular Meetings

Unless otherwise specified, all meetings will take place in the Choir Room located in the Music Center.  Regular meetings shall take place at 7 p.m. on the second (2) Tuesday of each month, or at other times and places determined by a majority vote.  Except for an unforeseen emergency, meetings must be held in school buildings or, upon the unanimous vote of the trustees, in a publicly accessible building located within the District.  If regular meetings are scheduled at places other than as stated above or are adjourned to times other than the regular meeting time, notice of the meeting shall be made in the same manner as provided for special meetings. The trustees may meet outside the boundaries of the District for collaboration or cooperation on educational issues with other school boards, educational agencies, or cooperatives. Adequate notice of the meeting, as well as an agenda, must be provided to the public in advance. Decision-making may only occur at a properly noticed meeting held within the District’s boundaries. When a meeting date falls on a school holiday, the meeting may take place the next business day.

Emergency Meetings

In the event of an emergency involving possible personal injury or property damage, the Board may meet immediately and take official action without prior notification.

Budget Meetings

Between July 1 and August 10 of each year, the Clerk shall publish a notice stating the date, time, and place trustees will meet for the purpose of considering and adopting a final budget for the District, stating that the meeting of the trustees may be continued from day to day until final adoption of a District budget and that any taxpayer in the District may appear at the meeting and be heard for or against any part of the budget.  This notice shall be published in the Bitterroot Star and the Ravalli Republic.

On the date and at the time and place stated in the published notice (on or before August 20), trustees shall meet to consider all budget information and any attachments required by law.  The meeting may continue from day to day; however, the Board must adopt a final budget not later than August 25.

Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or by any two (2) trustees.  A written notice of a special meeting, stating the purpose of the meeting, shall be delivered to every trustee not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the time of the meeting, except that the forty-eight-(48)-hour notice is waived in an unforeseen emergency as stated in § 20-3-322(5), MCA. Such written

notice shall be posted conspicuously within the District in a manner that will receive public attention.  Written notice also shall be sent not less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting, to each newspaper and radio or television station that has filed a written request for such notices.  Business transacted at a special meeting will be limited to that stated in the notice of the meeting.

Executive Sessions

Under Montana law, the Board may meet in closed sessions to consider matters of individual privacy.  Before closing a meeting, the presiding officer must determine that the demands of individual privacy exceed the merits of public disclosure and so state publicly before going into closed session.  The Board also may go into closed session to discuss a strategy to be followed with respect to litigation, when an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the District. This exception does not apply if the litigation involves only public bodies or associations as parties.  Before closing a meeting for litigation purposes, the District may wish to consult legal counsel on the appropriateness of this action.  No formal action shall take place during any closed session.

Legal References:
2-3-103, MCA Public participation – governor to ensure guidelines adopted
2-3-104, MCA Requirements for compliance with notice provisions
2-3-105, MCA Supplemental notice by radio or television
2-3-201, MCA Legislative intent – liberal construction
2-3-202, MCA Meeting defined
2-3-203, MCA Meetings of public agencies and certain associations of public agencies to be open to public – exceptions
20-3-322, MCA Meeting and quorum
20-9-115, MCA Notice of final budget meeting
20-9-131, MCA Final budget meeting
10.55.701, ARM Board of Trustees

Policy History:
Adopted on: February 12, 2002
Reviewed on: November 8, 2016
Revised on: December 17, 2001; January 8, 2013; December 13, 2016