About BoardDocs:

The St. Charles School District is using the Internet to enhance governance and provide a basis for better communication with the public. The new eGovernance initiative, BoardDocs, will replace the old method of compiling, printing, binding and distributing a limited number of paper meeting documents, with electronic distribution. By making meeting agendas and supporting documents available on the Internet via BoardDocs, we can now distribute documents associated with a meeting more quickly and efficiently.

Electronic distribution not only saves time and resources; it also provides unprecedented public access to information that board members use to make decisions. Through our web site, the public can view the agenda and the supporting documents associated with the meeting. This will allow interested parties to review and print the information prior to the meeting. After the meeting, the individuals can review the agenda items and see what action was taken by the board, complete with voting. All documents associated with the meeting are automatically archived and can be accessed by meeting date or by using the comprehensive search feature.

By increasing the time board members have to review information, BoardDocs also enables board members to better prepare for meetings. Under the old system, the meeting packets could not be distributed until every document had been prepared and submitted. Once all the documents were submitted, the staff would spend days assembling the documents into packets and then distributing the information to the board members. BoardDocs allows documents to be published to the on-line agenda as they become available, thus extending the time that board members have access to the information by several days. Giving board members more time to review information will enable them to better prepare for meetings. In addition, Board members now have access to a vast database of best practices from other districts to gain knowledge of initiatives other boards have considered and implemented.

We also use the same technology to publish the policies and procedures of the district on-line. Previously, paper versions of the manuals were distributed and maintained throughout the district. By publishing the policies and procedures on-line, the district will assure that personnel and public will have access to the most up to date information. On-line distribution has reduced the time and expense of distributing policies and procedures.

For questions regarding BoardDocs, contact Susie Lewis at 636-443-4032.