Members

Member Roles & Responsibilities

Cohoes City School District Board of Education members are volunteers elected to serve a three-year term of office at no pay.

Under state law, school board members must be qualified voters, at least 18 years old, and have lived in the school district for at least one year. They cannot be a school employee, cannot reside in the same household as another school board member and must be able to read and write English.

Collectively the Board of Education has legal responsibility for the operation of the entire district. The Board establishes the policies under which the school district is operated, and the Superintendent of Schools is responsible for administering the school program within the context of these policies.

The Board’s powers and duties are derived from the State Constitution, the laws of New York State, and rulings of the State Commissioner of Education. The Board’s four main areas of responsibility are to:

• Establish all school district policies.
• Develop an annual budget for public approval.
• Approve or disapprove the Superintendent’s recommendations regarding personnel matters and the many contracts the district must enter into.
• Act as a two-way communications link between residents and the Superintendent.

The Board encourages parents and residents who have a concern about school matters to try first to resolve the problem at the level most directly involved, which is usually the classroom teacher or the principal. If a satisfactory solution cannot be reached at this level, contact Superintendent of Schools Peggy O’Shea.

If the matter can only be resolved by a change in district policy or some other action of the Board of Education, residents are welcome to communicate their concerns to the Board by letter, phone call, or a statement under “Questions and Statements from Audience” at one of the Board’s meetings.

New board members must complete mandatory training pursuant to New York State law within the first year of service.  The training is divided into four three-hour sessions, and certificates are issued upon completion.