November 18, 2025

Local School Board

Local School Board

Section 98(a) of R.A. 7160, also known as the Local Government Code of 1991, and Section 110(a) of the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act No. 49, also known as the Bangsamoro Local Governance Code of 2023 or BLGC, provide that “there shall be established in every province, city, or municipality a provincial, city or municipal school board, respectively.“

Composition:

Chairperson: Local Chief Executive (Governors in the provincial level, Mayors in the city/municipal levels)

Co-Chairperson: DepEd/MBHTE Division/City Superintendent of Schools (in the provincial and city levels) or District Supervisor (in the Municipal levels)

Members:

  • Chairperson, Sangguniang Panlalawigan/Panlungsod/Bayan Committee on Education
  • Provincial / City / Municipal Treasurer
  • President, SK Pederasyon President
  • Duly elected president of the provincial/city/municipal federation of parents-teachers associations
  • Duly elected representative of the teachers’ organizations in the province/city/municipality
  • Duly elected representative of the non-academic personnel of public schools in the province/city/municipality
  • Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) involved in education-related services
  • Madaris Division Superintendent (BARMM region only, Section 110(2) of BAA No. 49)

In the event that there are two or more school superintendents in a province, the DepEd or MBHTE in the case of the BARMM region, shall designate the co-chairperson.

In the event that there are two or more district supervisors in a municipality, the division superintent shall designate the district supervisor who shall serve as as co-chairperson to the municipal school board.

Local Governments are encouraged to further expand the number of CSO memberships to one-half (1/2) of the fully constitued council, per DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2025-060, Section 4.4.13.2, to include representatives from sectors such as, but not limited to, ICCs/IPs, senior citizens, PWDs, parents of children with disabilities, principals, high school representatives, Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD).

Members of the Local School Board who are not government officials or employees shall be entitled to necessary travelling expenses and allowances chargeable against LGU funds.

Functions of Local School Baords:

  1. Determine, in accordance with the criteria set by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports [MBHTE in the case of the BARMM region], the annual supplementary budgetary needs for the operation and maintenance of public schools within the province, city, or municipality, as the case may be, and the supplementary local cost of meeting such as needs, which shall be reflected in the form of an annual school board budget corresponding to its share of the proceeds of the special levy on real property constituting the Special Education Fund and such other sources of revenue as this Code and other laws or ordinances may provide;
  2. Authorize the provincial, city or municipal treasurer, as the case may be, to disburse funds from the Special Education Fund pursuant to the budget prepared and in accordance with existing rules and regulations;
  3. Serve as an advisory committee to the sanggunian concerned on educational matters such as, but not limited to, the necessity for and the uses of local appropriations for educational purposes;
  4. Recommend changes in the names of public schools within the territorial jurisdiction of the local government unit for enactment by the sanggunian concerned;
  5. Be consulted by the DepEd/MBHTE on the appointment of division superintendents, school principals, and other school official.

Meeting and Quorum:

Under Section 100 of the R.A. 7160, The local school board shall meet at least once a month or as often as may be necessary.

In the Bangsamoro Region, the local school board shall meet at least once every quarter or as often as may be necessary (Section 112(a), BLGC).

Any of the co-chairpersons may call the meeting.

Plans and Budget

Proceeds from the additional 1% tax on real property collected shall accrue to the Special Education Fund (SEF).

The Local School Board shall formulate a three-year program indicating strategic prioritization policies in the allocation of the SEF to schools, coordinating city/municipal school plans with that of the province and ensuring that the School Improvement Plan (SIP) and the Division Education Development Plan (DEDP) are formulated collaboratively with the stakeholders in the community.

The following expenditures are allowed to be charged against the SEF:

Operation and Maintenance of Public Schools:

  • Payment of compensation/allowances of teachers locally-hired in elementary and secondary schools identified to have shortages per the teacher deployment analysis of DepEd; the rates of compensation/allowances shall be determined by the LSB based on funds available, but not to exceed the salary schedule being implemented by the local government unit (LGU) concerned: Provided, that for the purpose of hiring teachers chargeable against the SEF, the LSB in each province, city or municipality shall utilize the list found in the Registry of Qualified Applicants (RQA)7
  • Payment of salaries/wages of utility workers and security guards hired in public elementary and secondary schools which have not been provided such position in the DepEd budget; and
  • Payment of expenses pertaining to the operation of schools, which may include utilities and communication expenses.

In Addendum No. 1 (DEPED-DBM-DILG JMC No. 1 s. 2020):

  • Payment of compensation/allowances of locally-hired dentists and/or dental aide positions to serve in public elementary and secondary schools; Provided, that the rates of compensation shall be determined by the LSB based on funds available, but not to exceed the salary schedule being implemented by the local government unit concerned; Provided further, that the grant of Magna Carta benefits to said personnel shall be subject to the provisions of DBM-Department of Health (DOH) JC No. 1, s. 2012, as amended by DBM-DOH JC No. 1, s. 2016; Provided finally, that for the purpose of hiring dentists and/or dental aides positions chargeable against the SEF, the LSB in each province, city and municipality shall strictly comply with the existing Civil Service laws, rules and regulations
  • Payment of expenses pertaining to the operation of schools, which may include, but not limited to, utilities, communication expenses, scouting activities (jamboree, camping, hiking, outdoor activities, scout trainings, and instructional drills/exercises) of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines and the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, programs to promote campus journalism, Parents-Teachers Association activities. Student Council Government Activities, and other extra-curricular activities that promote leadership and values as may be provided under the corresponding DepEd issuances. Such expenses may be included in the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses allocation of schools
  • Payment of dental supplies and other related expenses pertaining to the operation of dental facilities in public elementary and secondary schools
  • Establishment of dental facilities, and acquisition of apparatus and/or equipment, subject to the prevailing requirements and specifications set by the DepEd, in consultation with the DOH

In Addendum No. 2 (DEPED-DBM-DILG JMC No. 2 s. 2020):

  • Payment of costs and expenses in connection with the acquisition, production, reproduction, and printing of learning materials for the learners such as self-learning modules, textbooks, activity sheets and guides/manuals approved by DepEd
  • Purchase of external storage devices (compact discs/digital versatile disc, USB storage, hard drive)
  • Communication expenses such as, but not limited to, landline phone communication, load (call, text and data) for mobile phone communication and Wi-Fi connection
  • Payment of subscription fee for video conferencing and remote communication tools/applications or platforms
  • Payment of honoraria and allowances of locally-hired personnel, trained and qualified tutors or learning facilitators
  • Training/Webinars for teaching and non-teaching personnel, school leaders, parents, learning facilitators, and community education volunteers
  • Payment of cost and expenses in the distribution and retrieval of learning materials for the learners such as, but not limited to, transportation expenses of DepEd personnel and expenses in the distribution and retrieval on the retrieval of self-learning modules, and shipment, delivery, and courier services

Health and Sanitation Expenses

  • Personal protective equipment such as, but not limited to, face masks, face shields, hand gloves, surgical caps, hats, eye goggles, and hazmat suits
  • Medical devices such as, but not limited to, thermal/temperature scanners, and digital thermometers
  • Vaccines, vitamins and minerals; and food supplements
  • Hand sanitizers, alcohol, disinfectants, anti-bacterial or germicidal soaps, cleaning equipment, bleach, foot bath
  • Psychosocial first aid, mental and physical examination or check up for teaching and non-teaching personnel and learners, and medical doctor’s consultation

Construction and Repair of School Buildings

  • Construction, repair and maintenance of school buildings and other facilities for public elementary and secondary schools, which are deemed to have shortage of classrooms or of other facilities, as the case may be, per DepEd classroom deployment analysis, subject to existing standards/specifications set by DepEd and/or Department of Public Works and Highways; furthermore, this item shall be given priority in the SEE Budget
  • Acquisition and titling of school sites
  • Installation of heath areas or facilities such as, but not limited to, school clinics and wash areas

Facilities and equipment

  • Acquisition of laboratory, technical and similar apparatus, and information technology equipment and corollary supporting services (e.g. internet connection, maintenance, etc.), subject to the prevailing requirements and specifications set by the DepEd
  • Personal computer, laptop computer, tablet, notebook and smart phone
  • Printer, scanner, photocopying machines, and other printing or photocopying equipment and their consumables
  • Television set, antenna/satellite connection, radio with AM/FM channel, two-way radio for remote/off-grid areas
  • Primary and secondary batteries, car battery and solar panel

Educational Research

  • Acquisition of laboratory, technical and similar apparatus, and information technology equipment and corollary supporting services (e.g. internet connection, maintenance, etc.), subject to the prevailing requirements and specifications set by the DepEd

Purchase of books and periodicals

  • Purchase of library books and periodicals for the libraries of the different elementary and secondary schools in the province, city, and municipality, and purchase of instructional materials, workbooks and textbooks needed by public elementary and secondary schools, subject to the prevailing policies and guidelines of the DepEd

Sports Development

  • Expenses for school sports activities at the national, regional, division, district, municipal and barangay levels, as well as for other DepEd related activities, subject to the prevailing requirements and specifications set by the DepEd

Funding for ECCD Programs

  • Direct services related to the implementation of the ECCD program, such as salaries/allowances of locallyhired Child Development Teachers and/or Day Care Workers, etc.
  • Organization and support of parent cooperatives to establish community-based ECCD programs
  • Provision of counterpart funds for the continuing professional development of ECCD public service providers
  • Provision of facilities for the conduct of the ECCD Program
  • Payment of expenses pertaining to the operations of National Child Development Centers, including, but not limited to, utilities (i.e. electricity and water expenses) and communication (i.e. telephone expenses)

Relevant Issuance:

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