Board of Education

The Brewster Board of Education is made up of seven unpaid citizens elected to staggered three-year terms. The Board governs through setting policy and District goals. It regularly hears reports and receives information on progress toward its goals and on other matters that reflect policy. It delegates the Superintendent of Schools and professional staff the authority to achieve those goals; provides oversight and evaluates progress. Individual trustees act in authority only when assembled as a Board, at all other times they are private citizens.

All residents are encouraged to take an active role in the development of our schools by attending the Board’s business meetings which are generally held in the District Office. Meetings usually occur twice monthly and are open to the public. Residents have two opportunities at each meeting to speak on matters of interest.

Special meetings are occasionally held; dates and locations of such meetings are posted on the website, marquee and in the local newspaper. 

Board Meetings (as defined by Education law)

Board Business Meetings: These meetings typically occur twice a month. The public is welcome to observe the meetings and has an opportunity for comment at designated times in the agenda. These meetings consist of presentations, discussions, and official action.

Board Work Sessions: These meetings are open to the public, but do not provide an opportunity for public comment. These meetings are designed for more in-depth Board conversations, and no official action is taken.

Executive Sessions: This is time designated to address confidential business that must by law be private and falls under specific legal categories. 

Special Meetings:  These meetings are held when it is necessary for the Board to take action on a matter before the regularly scheduled meeting is held. Special meetings are open to the public.

Board Retreats: These are meetings that are closed to the public and designed to allow for board relationship building, developing teamwork, and improve on Board communication. Public business is not allowed to be discussed, nor can official action be taken.

Task Force/Ad Hoc/Advisory Committees: These committee meetings are created for a specific time period and have a defined purpose. They are advisory in nature to the Board and may consist of Board members, employees, students and community members.

Informal Community Budget Meetings: These meetings are held throughout the school year and allow for community members to engage in conversation with Board members and school officials.

Public Comment

The Board urges community members to use the normal chain of command to get answers to questions or to resolve concerns. However, the Board values input from the community and it specifically reserves times at Board Business Meetings for public comment on matters of general interest. Speakers are asked to give their names and will have three minutes to address the Board. The Board President is responsible for orderly meeting conduct and appropriateness of subject matter. No speaker may comment on or identify any particular student or employee by name or situation in his/her comments.

Public Comment Statement

Public comments are allowed at the designated times indicated on the agenda or when motioned and accepted to be added thru a vote by the Board. Comments must be specific to the section in which they are allowed. Open comments are allowed toward the end of the meeting. As a reminder, Board Meetings are for the Board Trustees to conduct the business of the district in an open setting for observation. While public comments are not required at a Board Meeting, we understand that our community members wish to be heard on various issues and we believe public comments can be helpful to the Board, to both share in the successes of the District and to resolve issues affecting our District. However, a public comment period is effective only if the comments are concise and delivered with respect and common courtesy to everyone present.  No speaker may comment on or identify any particular student or employee by name or situation in his/her comments.

We ask that the following 3 rules be followed:

First: All those who wish to comment must do so from the podium and must state their name. The Board President will indicate when comments are permitted and will maintain order for each speaker.

Second: Speakers will have three minutes to comment. At three minutes, speakers will be prompted to finish their thoughts.

Third: All those present will remain quiet and be respectful while a speaker is addressing the Board from the podium. All comments are to be directed only to the Board.

This time is for comment only. Any questions asked may be answered at the discretion of the Board at the close of the public comment period. If a Board meeting becomes unruly at any point, the Board may elect to suspend public comment, members of the audience may be asked to leave, a recess may be called or the meeting may be adjourned.

We would like to thank the community in advance for your cooperation.

Policy 1510: Public Participation at Board Meetings

The Board of Education, as a representative of the District, wishes to provide an avenue for citizens to express their interest in and concerns for the schools. Accordingly, the public is cordially invited to attend and, at the designated times, participate in any and all public Board meetings.

Meetings of the Board are conducted for the purpose of carrying on the business of the schools and, therefore, are not public meetings, but meetings held in public. The President shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of the meeting and shall rule on such matters as the time to be allowed for public comment and the appropriateness of the subject being presented. The President shall have the right to discontinue any presentation which violates this policy.

The Board will not permit in public session discussion involving individual district personnel or students. Persons wishing to discuss matters involving individual district personnel or students should present their comments and/or concerns to the Superintendent during regular business hours.

The Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and matters of public interest. In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of public comment, the following rules will govern and will be administered by the presiding officer.

All speakers are to conduct themselves in a civil manner. Obscene language, libelous statements, threats of violence, statements advocating racial, religious, or other forms of prejudice will not be tolerated.

Personnel matters will not be discussed at any time during a public meeting. The second public comment period at the end of the business meeting is a time for community members to ask questions, present petitions, or make statements regarding either the evening’s agenda or a particular issue or concern. The Board will take such issues under advisement. Neither public comment period is a time for public discussion.

• To facilitate follow-up if necessary, if you wish to speak, place your name, telephone number, email address, and mailing address on the sign-in list, indicating the topic of your comments.
• Public comments are made at the podium. At the time of your comment, please begin by: ○ Stating your name for the record ○ Identifying any group or organization you represent
• Comments are limited to a maximum of three (3) minutes per speaker. A speaker may not yield his/her time to another speaker in order to extend the time for comment. Should multiple individuals seek to speak for the same organization on one topic, the Board may require the organization to select one speaker for the group. Board members and the Superintendent shall have the privilege of asking questions of any person who addresses the Board.
• No speaker may comment on or identify any particular student or employee by name or situation in his/her comments.
• All comments are to be directed to the Board president or designee.
• Handouts and/or petitions are to be given only to the district clerk for distribution to the Board. The Board will receive and consider all written comments.

Community members may also write to the Board via email at BOE@brewsterschools.org or directly to the Superintendent of Schools. Board Policy 3230 Public Complaints includes the procedure for resolving parent and community complaints.

Questions and comments from the public concerning matters which are not on the agenda will be taken under consideration and referred to the Superintendent for appropriate action. Persons wishing to have matters included on the agenda shall contact the Superintendent in accordance with Policy 1520, Agenda Preparation and Dissemination.

District records available to the public under FOIL, as well as any proposed rule, regulation, policy or amendment, scheduled to be discussed at a Board meeting, will be made available upon request, to the extent practicable, prior to the meeting. Copies of such records may be made available for a reasonable fee. These records will be posted on the website to the extent practicable, prior to the meeting.
Cross-ref:
1520 Agenda Preparation and Dissemination
1540 Executive Sessions
3230 Public Complaints 

Adopted:  8/14/2000
Revised and Approved:  10/18/2016
Revised and Adopted:  2/21/2017
Revised and Adopted:  10/15/2019
Revised and Adopted: 7/7/2020

Resolving Questions or Concerns

Questions or concerns should follow the normal chain of command. That is, matters that pertain to a particular teacher would be discussed first with the teacher, then with the department head and principal, then with the appropriate Assistant Superintendent or the Superintendent of Schools. Appeals, requests, questions and comments may be made to the Board once all other efforts for resolution have been made, with the exception of matters that relate directly to the Board.

Correspondence may be sent via email to boe@brewsterschools.org. (Please note that the Board of Education email is also viewed by the Superintendent.)

Emails will be confirmed received and, upon request, followed by a more detailed response from the Board president and/or district personnel

The Board of Education also welcomes mailed written communication. Correspondence should be addressed to:

President, Board of Education
Brewster Central School District
40 Farm to Market Rd.
Brewster, New York 10509

Please note that the Open Meetings Law requires all Board deliberations which may lead to action or policy changes to occur in public; therefore, the content of written communications and e-mails will be reported at upcoming public Board Business Meetings.