Role of the Board

Guided by the School’s mission statement and its philosophy, the Patterson Park Public Charter School Board of Directors guarantees that the School is fulfilling its dual role as an educational institution and community school, and a  non profit operator of a charter school which upholds the Charter School Agreement & contract with Baltimore City Public Schools.

The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the appointment of the Principal and Executive Director, for the determination of the overall policies of the institution, for the safekeeping and management of its assets, for fundraising and development, for the approval of its budget and for general oversight of the educational program in accordance with the charter.

The role of the Board is distinct from the role of the Principal and Executive Director. To the Principal falls the responsibility to be the primary educational leader of the School and to carry out in the daily running of the School the School policies. To the Executive Director falls the responsibility to manage the non academic operations of the school. To the Board falls the responsibility to oversee the Principal and Executive Director, to make policy, and to monitor such broad issues as strategic and long-range planning, good stewardship of plant, finances, and development, and the relevance and caliber of the educational program. The Board meets at least ten times during the year. The Board is to make sure each board member carries out the responsibilities of board members as set forth in the By-Laws and Board of Directors Job Description.

Board Meetings

The Board meets at 7:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in the Cafeteria. Board meetings are open to the public. The Chair of the Board prepares an agenda, distributed in advance to board members, that typically includes the approval of minutes; regular reports or requests for approval or decision from Board Committees, individual board members, or school administrators; a monthly report from the Principal, Executive Director and Community Schools; and discussion of current key issues. There is an opportunity for three minute public comment at the beginning of each meeting.

In addition there is an annual retreat to discuss issues related to the Board's mission and to plan the Board's future work. The retreat is held in the summer, typically in August in lieu of a scheduled board meeting.