The Franklin Township Board of Education, established under the laws of New Jersey, is a separate governmental unit within Franklin Township and is legally responsible for the education of children in this school district.  The Board is both a state agency and an elected representative body of the citizens of the Township on school matters with general mandatory powers and duties as defined in Title 18A of New Jersey statutes.  Other sections of the statutes state or imply that a local Board of Education has full power to operate the local public schools as it deems fit in compliance with state and federal mandates. The Board functions only when it is in session.

The Boards responsibilities include: setting and evaluating policy, establishing goals, overseeing, and adopting a fiscally sound operating budget for the school district.  The Board is not responsible to run the schools, but to see that the District and schools are well run by the administrators they have hired.  The Superintendent of Schools is the Board's chief executive officer and is given the responsibility of directing the operations of the schools within the policies set forth by the Board.  The Superintendent sits on the Board of Education and has the right to speak on all educational matters, but may not vote. Board members act on the recommendations made by the Superintendent.

The nine members of the Board of Education are elected for three-year terms and serve without any pay or benefits as other elected officials.  Individual Board members have no authority when the Board is not in session, except in specific instances when such authority may be delegated by the whole Board.  Individual members of the Board do not have the authority to make decisions, only the Board of Education as a whole has this kind of decision-making authority.  Questions or concerns should first be addressed with the most direct and appropriate level of the staff.

Generally, there will be one meeting per month.  These meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Board Administrative Campus, Building One Community Center, 2301 Route 27 in Somerset, NJ.  Agendas are posted on the District website in advance of each Board of Education meeting.  For details, special meetings or changes, see local newspapers, the District website (www.franklinboe.org) and Comcast Channel 27/Verizon Fios Channel 34, or call 732-873-2400, Ext. 206.  

The Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves.  The Board welcomes input from parents, students and community members and encourages participation in its meetings.  Time is allotted at each Meeting of the Board for comments from the public.  Parents and residents are welcome and encouraged to share their interests and concerns.  To directly resolve any issues, the Board requests that concerns first be addressed with the appropriate staff member. Please be reminded that although Board meetings are held in public, the purpose is for Board members to conduct the business of the District.