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Paramus School District

BOE FAq


What is the role of the Board of Education?

The Board enforces the rules of the New Jersey State Board of Education, makes, amends, and repeals rules for government and management of the schools and their employees; and performs all acts and does all things consistent with law and the rules of the state Board, necessary for lawful and proper conduct, equipment and maintenance of the district. This requires the Board to do things like: 

  • Approve curriculum that meets the New Jersey Student Learning Standards
  • Adopt a budget that provides for a thorough and efficient education
  • Hire the necessary certified personnel to educate the district’s students; and
  • Develop policies for the management of the school district.
  • The Board is also required to hold hearings and make decisions on a number of issues:
    • Harassment, intimidation, and bullying appeals (students);
    • Long-term suspension hearings (students);
    • Residency appeals (students);
    • Grievances under a collective negotiations agreement (personnel);
    • Terminations for cause (personnel);
    • Increment withholdings (personnel); and
    • Non-Renewals (personnel).

*None of these are actions that the Board takes alone—it acts based upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools.

The Board’s direct responsibilities are to make policy, develop plans, and evaluate outcomes, not manage day-to-day operations.

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Who makes up the Board of Education?

The Paramus Board of Education is a nine-member Board comprised of elected residents of Paramus, New Jersey. Members serve for three years, and elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. To see a listing of the current Board members, please visit the Meet Our Board page. They receive no pay for their public service.

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What is the division of responsibility between the Board and superintendent?

It is the Board's primary duty to establish policies and the primary duty of the superintendent to implement and administer those policies.

  • The superintendent is the primary professional advisor to the Board, and policies should not be adopted or revised without consulting the superintendent.

The superintendent is responsible for the development, supervision, and operation of the school program and facilities and will receive latitude to implement and administer policies in accordance with the standards that the Board sets in the policy. The school Board does not operate the district on a day-to-day basis; that is the job of the superintendent, who is the district’s chief executive.

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What is the Board member’s Code of Ethics?

All school Board members in New Jersey are required to abide by the state's Code of Ethics for School Board Members.

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What happens at a Board of Education meeting?

At public Board of Education meetings, official action may be taken or may not be taken on any and all business involving the school district. You may view the 2022–2023 Board of Education meeting schedule here. Please visit the BoardDocs website for meeting agendas and minutes.

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What is a Board of Education Committee?

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If I have a problem with my school, should I contact the Board of Education?

If you have a concern, we encourage you to talk first with the following: 

  • Teacher
  • Principal
  • Department Supervisor
  • Assistant Superintendent
  • Superintendent 

You can often get answers to your questions simply by calling the appropriate person in the school district. Please call (201) 261-7800 to access our school directory. 

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What are the best ways to communicate with the Board of Education?

To communicate with the Board as a whole, we invite public members to attend a regular public meeting and share their ideas and thoughts during the public comments period. Public participation before any voting action affords opportunities to comment and express your opinions on agenda items. At every general meeting of the Board, there are two opportunities for the public to address the Board.

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Can they respond to my email if I email a Board member directly?

Please know that your communication is important, and the Board welcomes inquiries about the district’s programs, equipment, operations, and personnel. However, the district’s policy requires that all such inquiries be referred to the superintendent to be resolved by direct communications between you and the appropriate district administration. 

The Board of Education can only operate and engage in the discussion of district business with a quorum of seven members and therefore cannot reply to an email on behalf of the entire Board. Emails to individual Board members will be forwarded to the appropriate administrator for a response.

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