Material action on an item not listed on agenda

[Guest Scott D]

Is it in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order to take up an item not listed on the agenda and furthermore to take material action on the item? In this case it is a lame duck school board extending the contract of a Superintendent.

[jstackpo]

Per RONR, stuff not on the agenda  --  AKA  "New Business"  --  is perfectly proper at the appropriate point in the order of business.

 

But your School Board may have special rules or applicable laws that require advance notice of ALL matters to be brought up.  Check with your staff attorney.

 

BTW, what do you mean by "material action" as opposed to just plain "action", such as  adopting a motion.

[Weldon Merritt]

To add to what Dr. Stackpole said, the fact that "it is a lame duck school board" has no bearing on the issue. The board is the board is the board. If the board has the autjroity to extend the superintendent's contarct (which I assume they do), and if there are no applicable statutes that require prior notice of the action, the action is valid regardless of how many of the board members may be "lame ducks."

[jstackpo]

And to add to what Weldon said (never mind this "Dr." crap - that was 50 years ago) if the "new" board (actually the same board with (some) new members) doesn't like what the lame duck board did, they could (maybe, check with a lawyer) rescind the extension.  If contracts are now in place however, check with that lawyer for sure.