As one calendar year closes and a new year approaches, boards of education may be reviewing board compensation policies, and deciding whether to increase compensation for the future. This alert is to remind you that in order for changes to take effect in January, action must be taken this fall. 

The Ohio Constitution prohibits increases or decreases in compensation for public officials during a term of office (O.Const. Art. II, Sec. 20). This means that a board could change its compensation now, before new terms begin, to be effective January of 2008. However, if the board waits until January, the increase in compensation could not take effect for the remainder of the board members’ current terms. This also applies to local rules limiting the number of meetings per year for which the board may be compensated. If the board wants to change that number, to take effect next year, the change must occur before the end of this year. 

Revised Code (RC) 3313.12 for local, city, exempted village and educational service centers, and RC 3311.19 for joint vocational school districts, authorize board members to be compensated for their attendance at meetings. City, local or exempted village board members may be paid up to $125 per meeting. Educational service center and joint vocational school district board members may be paid up to $125 per meeting, plus mileage. Boards are not required to pay the statutory maximum.

RC 3313.12 and 3311.19 also permit board members to be compensated for attending approved training programs. The rate of compensation authorized by the new law for training is up to $60 a day for attendance at a meeting of three hours or fewer and up to $125 per day for attendance at a meeting longer than three hours.

We recommend that boards assess the many demands of public service to the schools as they decide whether to authorize training compensation, and if so, the rate at which compensation would be paid. Boards need not pay the statutory maximum. Just as boards may choose the rate of compensation up to the statutory maximum for attending meetings, they also may decide at what rate they wish to authorize compensation for attending training. In addition, boards may set a maximum amount paid for attending training. It is important to note that future changes to that maximum amount may be made, but will apply only to board members beginning new terms or for those appointed to a seat after the change is made.