Advisory Committees: BDF

The Board encourages the participation of district citizens in decision-making processes. However, the legal responsibility for decision-making in all matters of policy and operation rests with the Board and superintendent, as delegated through the Policy Governance Model.

1.   Board-appointed advisory committees, both district-wide and at the school level, shall function within organizational frameworks approved by the Board or superintendent. A staff member or members will be assigned to each group to help it develop an appropriate constitution and/or bylaws, carry out its functions and coordinate its work with other advisory and staff groups. Only the Board shall have the authority to dissolve committees it has created.

2.  School and district-level advisory committees required under federal and state programs shall be formed and function in accordance with the requirements pertaining to each specific federal or state program. The Board or superintendent shall grant those bodies the advisory responsibilities relevant to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of such program or project in accordance with applicable law.

3.  Community groups that are neither appointed by the Board nor formed as required under federal or state programs are encouraged to offer suggestions and advice to the Board to assist it in the decision-making process. The final responsibility for all decisions, however, rests with the Board of Education or superintendent.

Appointments of citizens to advisory committees shall be approved by the Board. An advisory committee member shall be removed from office by the Board if that member does not attend three consecutive meetings unless the committee by resolution approves any additional absences or unless such absences are due to temporary disability or illness or as designated in the specific advisory committee bylaws or organizational documents. In addition, the committee by majority vote may request the removal from office of any member. Such removal may require subsequent Board approval.

If required by state law, advisory committee meetings shall be open to the public and meeting notices shall be posted. If notice of the meeting is legally required, such notice shall be posted in the same place and manner as notices of Board meetings.

January 2025

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-9-107 (licensed personnel performance evaluation council)

C.R.S. 22-11-301,401 (accountability committees)

C.R.S. 22-32-109.1 (2) (community consultation on safe school plan, including student conduct and discipline code)

C.R.S. 24-6-402 (open meetings law)

CROSS REFS.: AE, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment

BDFA*, District Personnel Performance Evaluation Council

BDFB*, Career and Technical Advisory Council (Career and Technical Program Advisory Committees)

BEDA, Notification of Board Meetings

CBI, Evaluation of Superintendent

GCO, Evaluation of Licensed Personnel

JIC, Student Conduct

JK, Student Discipline

KCB, Community Involvement in Decision Making

NOTE: Colorado's open meetings law (OML) permits a "local public body" to elect its leadership by secret ballot. C.R.S. 24-6-402 (2)(d)(IV). Therefore, any advisory committee that falls within the definition of "local public body" that is subject to the OML may elect its chair and co-chair by secret ballot. If the election of the chair and co-chair are by secret ballot, the outcome of the vote shall be recorded contemporaneously in the minutes. Id.

[Revised July 2013]