The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

Delegation of Authority to Commissioner to take Necessary Action between Board Meetings

To:

Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

From:

Jeffrey C. Riley, Commissioner

Date:

June 15, 2018

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's (Board) next regular meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2018. During the three-month hiatus, matters could arise that require Board action and that are not covered by the Board's previous delegations of authority (e.g., the Board has delegated grant approvals and certain charter school matters to the Commissioner). In a compelling situation, we would convene a special meeting of the Board. To deal with other situations, the Board may delegate authority to the Commissioner, in accordance with G.L. c. 15, §1F, paragraph 3, which reads as follows:

The board may delegate its authority or any portion thereof to the commissioner whenever in its judgment such delegation may be necessary or desirable. The commissioner shall exercise such delegated powers and duties with the full authority of the board.

I recommend that the Board vote to authorize the Commissioner to act on its behalf in approving any matters that are not otherwise covered by the Board's previous delegations of authority and that require Board action between June 26, 2018 and the next regular meeting of the Board in September 2018; provided that the Commissioner shall notify Board members in advance of any such action and shall report to the Board on any matters that have been so approved.

Enclosed is a motion to this effect. If you have any questions, please contact me.