The Pickens County School Board holds public meetings on a monthly basis. The meeting date and location are posted in advance through media sources. An agenda is set each month. Any citizen may place an item on the agenda by notifying the superintendent in writing at least five days prior to the meeting. The newspaper media covers each Board meeting and provides a synopsis the following week.
The District provides training for board members at the administrative summer conference and through Alabama Association of School Board (AASB) conferences and training sessions. Legal Counsel from the Board’s Attorney is available at every board meeting for questions, verification, and clarification about local, state, and federal regulations and legislation. The State Board of Ethics is also used as a resource when appropriate. Each board member as well as all employees who earn $50,000.00 are required to watch the Alabama Ethics webinar, sign an ethics agreement and complete all required state ethics forms. Educational policies are based on compliance with the Alabama Administrative Code and the needs of the district. The Alabama Administrative Code provides state regulations for the education of students at all levels. All policies are reviewed by legal representatives before implementation. Each administrator and supervisor monitors compliance with all applicable laws.
The Alabama Administrative Code and the District Policy Manual includes the school superintendent’s authority and relationship to the Board of Education. The superintendent keeps the board well-informed about the internal organization and operations of the system, reporting to them monthly. The Superintendent has established an LEA Continuous Improvement Committee to write district-wide goals and objectives based on data to drive direction for the system. The district administrative office has an administrative organizational chart that outlines supervision roles. These goals along with established policies allow the Superintendent to set direction, implement procedures and delegate leadership responsibility while preserving his leadership authority as administrative head of the District.