Policy 1350: Voting Method

The Board shall take action by way of motions. No motion may be acted upon until it has been duly supported or seconded by a member of the Board. 

The vote on all motions shall be by “yes” and “no” and will be taken by a show of hands, voice vote, or a roll call vote as directed by the Presiding Officer provided that the vote of each member is recorded. If a member is participating via telephone conference call, all votes will be taken by voice. There shall be no “secret” ballots. No motion shall be valid unless approved at a meeting of the Board and a proper record is made of the vote. 

In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, each Board member’s vote must be made in a public session in order to be counted. No votes of any kind, or polling to attempt to determine potential votes, will be allowed outside of public sessions or in closed sessions of the Board. Following each vote, it shall be announced that the motion passed or failed, and if not a unanimous vote, then the number voting “yes” and the number voting “no” shall be announced. Following each vote, each Board member may have the privilege of explaining for the record any vote, be it affirmative or negative. 

In the rare event that a Board member believes they have the right or obligation to abstain from voting, the Board member shall consult with the President and legal counsel, if necessary. The Board member may have the privilege of explaining the reason for the abstention and must be affirmed by the President. 

In situations in which a specified number of affirmative votes is required by law or these Bylaws, and abstentions have been noted, the motion shall fail if the specified number of affirmative votes have not been cast. In situations in which there is a tie vote and the abstention represents the deciding vote, the motion shall fail for lack of a majority. 

Voting and Calling of Roll 

Voting

• No action shall be valid unless voted at an official meeting of the Board of Education and a proper record be made of the vote.
• Board members shall vote on all issues unless legally required to abstain. A Board member cannot abstain or “pass” on a vote, unless there is a legal or ethical conflict of interest as defined by law or as set forth in Board Bylaws 1900 - Contracts and Board Member Disclosure Obligations and 1950 - Board Member Conflict of Interest, Ethics, and Responsibilities.
• The Secretary of the Board or Assistant to the Board shall call the roll on every action of the Board involving the incurring of pecuniary liabilities or the expenditure of money.
• No school Board member shall be interested directly or indirectly in any contract with the Board of Education which shall cause a conflict of interest as set forth in Board Bylaws 1900 - Contracts and Board Member Disclosure Obligations and 1950 - Board Member Conflict of Interest, Ethics, and Responsibilities.

Calling the Roll 

The Secretary of the Board or Assistant to the Board shall call the roll on every action of the Board involving the incurring of pecuniary liabilities or the expenditure of money.

The Secretary of the Board or the Assistant to the Board shall call roll by members' last names only, as follows:

1. At the annual organizational meeting, the roll shall be called in alphabetical order according to Board member last names.
2. At the first meeting following the annual organizational meeting, the calling of the roll shall begin with the second Board member on the alphabetical listing. Other Board members shall vote according to the regular sequence on the alphabetical listing, except that the Board member who voted first at the last official meeting shall vote immediately prior to the Board President at the next official meeting.
3. In further official Board meetings, the calling of the roll shall be similarly patterned beginning with each succeeding member in alphabetical order. In cases of official vacancies, appointments, or the election of candidates to the Board of Education, the calling of the roll shall be adjusted accordingly.
4. In all cases involving the calling of the roll, the Board President shall be called last.
5. Any Board member may request that his/her vote be changed if such request is made prior to the next order of business.
6. After the first vote is given, no Board member shall be entitled to speak on the question, nor shall any motion be in order until such roll call is completed and the result declared. 

Reconsideration 

When a vote (including a vote resulting in a tie) or other action has been taken by the Board, provided no action has been taken in reliance upon such vote or action, such vote or other action may be reconsidered in accordance with Paragraph 1330 of the Board’s Bylaws.