Question #29 – Does Your Board Define its Own Role?

Rick Maloney

(49 Questions to Ask Your Board)

The Board’s job is to represent, lead and serve the community and to govern the district by establishing expectations for district results, expectations for quality operational performance, and monitoring actual performance against those expectations.

– Lake Washington School District1

In the brief statement above, the board succinctly defines its own role. Role clarity is one of two key conditions (the other being goal clarity) organizational consultants often assess to assure that “roles and goals” are set and made clear. If the board’s job is understood by all, its foundation for success is solid. Boards should not allow or rely on the superintendent to do this most essential of board functions. They need to do this (clarify the board role) for themselves.

Scenario: In order to focus the board’s attention and guide its actions, the United Point school board defined its purpose as producing three primary job products:

(1) Connecting with the community so that it learns community values and priorities for student learning;

(2) Setting a vision for the district, describing desired results for students under the guidance of those
         community values and priorities; and

(3) Assuring accountability for district performance in terms of results for students and adherence to values.

The role of the board should be clear to everyone inside the district and throughout the broader community. Its role should be evident in the way its meeting agendas are structured, in board behavior during meetings, and in all activities involving engagement with staff and the community.

The effective board clearly defines its purpose and its collective role, distinguishing it from that of the superintendent and that of individual board members. It adopts a board role that focuses on student outcomes rather than management tasks or instructional programs. It defines board work and distinguishes it from the work of staff. Acting in place of the community, it maintains a role separate from and in authority over that of the district. The board views its job as governing with vision and values on behalf of the community. It is guided by community values and establishes in writing its expectations for board behavior in that role.

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Next: Question #30 Does Your Board Provide Guidance for Governance?