Xenia Community School's Board of Education is made up of five members:
(L-R, front) Vice President George Leightenheimer, President Mary Grech and
(L-R, back) members Jeremy Cox, Bill Richey, and Joshua Day
Board member bios are located in the links column to the left.
Overview of Board of Education member responsibilities:
A school board sets educational goals and establishes policy for the school system based on state laws and community values. Perhaps the most important responsibility of a school board is to employ a superintendent and treasurer and hold them accountable for achieving those educational goals and managing the day-to-day affairs of the district in accordance with the school board’s policies.
Board members make decisions on a wide range of issues, such as hiring and evaluating a superintendent and treasurer; setting district policy; planning student services; goal-setting and long-range planning; adopting curriculum; establishing budgets; engaging parents; and being good fiscal stewards. Decisions are only made by the board as a whole at a public meeting.
The role and function of board members often are misinterpreted by the public. The board is a policymaking body and members are the chief advisors to the superintendent on community attitudes. Board members do not manage the day-to-day operations of a school district; they see to it that the system is managed well by professional administrators.
Board members do not evaluate staff, other than the superintendent and treasurer, nor do they typically become involved in employment interviews, other than those of the superintendent, business manager, and treasurer. Board members may be consulted during the hiring process for other positions, such as assistant superintendent.
Eligibility requirements
In order to run for the board, you must be:
• a U.S. citizen,
• at least 18 years old,
• a resident of the state for at least 30 days preceding the election,
• a resident of the school district for at least 30 days preceding the election,
• registered to vote in the school district for at least 30 days preceding the election.
Board members are elected on a nonpartisan ballot on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years. The term of office is four years, although in certain instances, two-year terms must be filled to complete an unexpired term. Terms begin on the first day of January after the election and expire on Dec. 31. Two members are elected at one general election and three members are elected at a general election two years later.
BOARD MEMBER HANDBOOK
Xenia Community Schools Board Member Handbook includes information about the district including history, financial information, state laws, board member duties, open meeting laws and public records, and ethics laws.
Click here to see the most current edition of the handbook (revised 2021).