School Board Norms
The City of Fairfax School Board Norms are a standing set of conduct guidelines governing Board member behavior at meetings and work sessions.
The five norms — Be Cohesive, Be Respectful, Be Visible, Be Forward Thinking, and Be Transparent — were most recently reviewed and updated at the February 10, 2025 Board Retreat, where Ms. Hickman led the revision process. Since that update, the norms have functioned as a recurring reference document: they have been printed or published in the agendas of regular meetings, work sessions, and retreat-preparation materials on a consistent basis from December 2025 through at least November 2026, with no further substantive amendments recorded.
Their regular appearance in agenda materials suggests they serve as active, standing guidance rather than a dormant policy.
What members have said
- Ms. Hickman
At the February 10, 2025 Board Retreat, Ms. Hickman led the Board in revisiting and updating the meeting norms, driving the most recent revision of the document.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
History
Filled dots are actions on this topic; open dots are mentions.
- Feb 10, 2025School Board · item 2Revisiting Meeting Norms Discussion
Board norms were reviewed and updated as needed during the retreat.
- Dec 1, 2025School Board
The City of Fairfax School Board Norms were published in the agenda as standing guidance for board conduct.
- Jan 5, 2026School Board · item 6Board Matters
School Board Norms were printed in the agenda as a reference for board conduct.
- Jan 26, 2026School Board · item 1.03Review and Finalize February Retreat Agenda
[1.03] School Board Norms were referenced in the agenda materials in connection with the retreat preparation discussion.
- Jun 1, 2026School Board · item 2.03Superintendent's Advisory Team Recommendations Report
[2.03] The SAT presented community engagement recommendations including office hours at city/school/community events and offering childcare, food, and interpreters at meetings.
- Sep 28, 2026School Board
The City of Fairfax School Board Norms — Be Cohesive, Be Respectful, Be Visible, Be Forward Thinking, and Be Transparent — were published in the agenda for this work session.
- Oct 19, 2026School Board · item 1.04Policy Manual Options
[1.04] School Board Norms were listed in the agenda as a reference document for the work session; no separate action was taken on them.
- Nov 2, 2026School Board · item 6Board Matters
The School Board Norms were listed on the agenda as a reference for board conduct during the meeting.
Discussed alongside
Topics that come up in the same meetings.