Link to Cagle's Questions page and index. Link to Cagle's Parliamentary Procedure page. Somehow, a practice was started and continues wherein if a member of the board were absent during a meeting, that member should abstain when voting to approve minutes of the meeting that member missed. A new member wants to know why she shouldn't vote YES along with the others. We cannot find anything in Oklahoma school law, but wondered if this idea arose from parliamentary procedures some years ago.
All members can vote on the approval of the minutes.
There is no requirement in parliamentary procedure that would have created your Board's practice, which is within their power to do. I'm just saying it isn't a requirement in Robert's, but what is required is that members continue to have the right to vote on motions, even if they are absent from a meeting. I hope this helps clarify things for you. Link to Cagle's Parliamentary Procedure page.