What is the Forsyth County Board of Education?
The Forsyth County Board of Education is the governing body of Forsyth County Schools. The primary role of the Board is the legislation of the school system policies, which are executed under the direction of the school Superintendent. The Forsyth County Board of Education consists of five members who are elected at-large to staggered, four-year terms representing individual districts. The Forsyth County Board of Education is an individual governmental branch that is not affiliated or managed by the Forsyth County Commissioners. To learn more about school boards, click here.
Who are my Board members?
The Forsyth County Board of Education is elected by voting district. Each year in January, the five Board members elect one of their own to serve as chairman of the Board for the coming year. For contact information, biographies and a map of districts, please visit the main Board page.
Is the Superintendent a member of the Board?
No. The organizational structure of the school system as outlined by the state has given the Board the role of adopting policies and the Superintendent the role of implementing procedures to support the policies. The Superintendent is a professional educator appointed by the Board of Education and serves as the secretary of the Board. For more information on the differences in roles and responsibilities of the Board and the Superintendent, click here and here.
When and where are meetings held? Am I invited?
The public is invited to attend all Board meetings. The monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm on the first floor of the Forsyth County Board of Education and Professional Development Center at 1120 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming. Called meetings and work sessions are also held as needed.
For a calendar of meeting dates, visit the BOE calendar page. To view a copy of current and past agendas, click here. You may also view the Board meetings on the Thursday and Friday after each meeting at 8 pm on Comcast Channel 23.
What does the Board of Education do?
The Board of Education is charged with providing schools and educational opportunities for the children of Forsyth County. A board member has no individual power or authority to make decisions or take action except when acting as a member of the board during a meeting of the board. While the board itself has considerable authority to control and manage the school district, subject to state and federal law, individual board members away from board meeting have no legal authority to take action on any school matter, despite the possible perception of employees, parents and citizens.
Specific Board duties include:
- Formulating policy
- Providing funds for the operation and maintenance of the system
- Adopting courses of study
- Prescribing standards for efficient operation and improvement of the schools
- Providing for the planning, expansion and improvement of facilities
- Employing staff members and prescribing their duties
- Approving the budget, financial reports and major expenditures
- Appointing and evaluating the school Superintendent
