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About Our School Board

Photograph of new school board

School Board News

11/7/2008: Finance Committee Meeting, Nov. 19 at 5:30p.m. (new time)

4/18/2008: Middle Level Transition Proposal Presentation from April 16 (PDF)

2/2008: Policy Governance Presentation from February 28th, 2008 (PDF) - Board Governance Policies / Board Superintendent Linkage Policies

1/2008: Policy Governance Presentation from January 24th, 2008 (PDF) - an introduction to Policy Governance



The Souderton Area School District Board of School Directors met on December 6, 2007 for the annual reorganization meeting. Newly elected members, Scott C. Jelinski and Thomas A. Kwiatkowski and reelected board members, Dr. R. Paul Baumgartner, Eric MacDougall, and Ralph "Bud" Miller, were administered the oaths of office by Judge Ken Albright. Each will serve a four-year term. Following the oaths of office, Bernard Currie and R. Bud Miller were elected respectively president and vice president.

Pictured, standing from left: Eric R. MacDougall, Scott C. Jelinski, Dr. R. Paul Baumgartner, Mark D. Leer, and Thomas A. Kwiatkowski.

Seated from left: Victor M. Verbeke; Bernard S. Currie, President; Ralph “Bud” Miller, Vice President; and William J. Brong.

School Board members are elected at the November general election to four year terms on a staggered basis. All members are elected at-large. School Board members must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the Souderton Area School District for at least one year prior to seeking a Board seat. The Board meets the first week in December and elects a president and vice-president for the coming year.

The duties/responsibilities of School Board members are to:

  • Profess a deep desire to serve children and a strong belief in the values of public schools and local control of public education.
  • Use their vested authority to establish, equip, furnish, operate and maintain the public schools.
  • Establish policies necessary for the governing of the school district, its employees, pupils and all persons entering school grounds or premises.
  • Ensure educational opportunities for all students of the school district.
  • Appoint a superintendent of schools and invest such powers in the superintendency as may be legally delegated.
  • Elect a treasurer and a secretary.
  • Act on personnel and related matters as recommended by the superintendent of schools.
  • Approve the annual budget.
  • Adopt a master calendar annually.
  • Enter into contracts with all personnel in the manner required by Pennsylvania law.
  • Levy taxes to maintain the schools and the educational system.

Board Guidelines:

  • School Board members are both state and local officials. Though elected locally, they serve on behalf of the state legislature.
  • School Boards are units of local government, the only such unit spelled out in the state constitution.
  • School Boards are legislative bodies, empowered to set policy within the framework of the statutes enacted by the legislature.
  • School Boards participate in long range/strategic planning, and evaluate the results.
  • By law each School Board consists of nine members who serve four year terms of office, without pay.