Los Altos School District

An elected board of trustees consisting of five members governs the district. The term of office for board members is four years. There are no applicable term limits. Board members, by state law, must reside within the school district boundaries.

The Board of Trustees believes that its primary responsibility is to act in the best interests of every student in the district. The Board also has major commitments to parents/guardians, all members of the community, employees, the state of California, laws pertaining to public education, and established policies of the district. To maximize Board effectiveness and public confidence in district governance, Board members are expected to govern responsibly and hold themselves to the highest standards of ethical conduct. Board Bylaw 9005

Los Altos School District Board Governance Handbook

BOARD MEETING PROTOCOLS

• Meeting Access
  • Board meetings are open to the public at the location on the agenda.
  • Meetings will be streamed via Zoom webinar; however, public comment is not supported in this format. Registration is required in advance using the link below. After registering, a confirmation email will be sent with the information needed to view the meeting.
• Public Comment
  • Public comment will only be taken in-person. Prior to addressing the Board, each speaker is requested to complete a speaker card (located on the table near the door) and hand it to the Superintendent before the meeting starts or at the beginning of the agenda item. Requests received after public comment has begun on an agenda item will not be accepted.
  • Per Board Bylaw 9323 - Meeting Conduct, each agenda or non-agenda item is limited to 30 minutes of public comment. Individual speaker time is determined by the number of speakers on an item, as follows:
    • 1-10 speakers: 3 minutes
    • 11-15 speakers: 2 minutes
    • 16 speakers: 1 minute
  • Speaking time cannot be delegated to another person.
  • The time for each agenda item is approximate.
  • Individuals who require a special accommodation to participate in this meeting should call the Superintendent's Office at (650) 947-1152 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting in order for arrangements to be made.
  • As a courtesy to others, please turn off your cell phone upon entering the meeting.

Board Member Office Hours is an opportunity for community members to meet with a member of the board to share concerns, provide input or ask questions about Los Altos School District.

Los Altos School District and board policies are available on-line through the California School Board's Association (CSBA) "Gamut Online".

Board Advisory Committees provide advice and recommendations to the Board of Trustees in the areas identified by the charge to each committee. Board Advisory Committee meetings are open to the public, and meeting times and places will be posted at least 48 hours prior to each meeting.