Governing Effectively via a Framework for School Governance
Guidance in the form of written policy or other directives provided by a board to the organization’s management, guiding ‘the work’ of the organization.
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) If, as is usual, there are several trustees, their chairman has a special obligation to see that the trustees as a group sustain a common purpose and are influential in helping the institution maintain consistent high-level performance toward its goals. The chairman is not simply the presider over meetings, but also must serve and lead the trustees as a group and act as their major contact with the active inside leadership. ― Robert Greenleaf1 Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) When asked, “How can a new school board member get off on the wrong foot with colleagues?” experienced board members replied: – Be belligerent– Talk too much or too loudly– Have all the solutions for all the problems of the district– Fail to be a good listener– Neglect to read your board policy manual– Show apathy– Discuss with press and constituents board matters discussed in executive session– Backstab another board member – Monopolize the Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) To be brutally honest, many board members simply do not know what their jobs are. They busy themselves doing things, many times the wrong things, which results in frustration shared by everyone associated with the organization. – Randy Quinn and Linda Dawson1 The above assessment was offered by Aspen Group, International based on many years of experience consulting with school boards. Perhaps as a first step toward defining what the board member role should Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) [Board meetings]…were less orderly; had less time spent on student achievement; lacked respectful and attentive engagement across speakers; had board members who seemed to advance their own agenda; had less effective working relationships among the governance team; had fewer board members who relied on the superintendent for advice and input; had one member, other than the board president, stand out for taking excessive time during meetings; and did not focus on policy items. – Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) Scenario: Bernie and Maria were discussing remarks made about the swimming pool during the public comment period at the Coalville board meeting. An elderly man had accused the board of reneging on an implied promise made during the recent bond campaign: “You folks need to understand that we paid for these facilities, and we expect them to be made available for our use.” “We need assurance that the swimming pool is accessible to retirees Read More …
This article in American School Board Journal is the second in a series of articles about knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed by a new school board member.
Boardsmanship skills include connecting with the community, advocating for students, contributing to board meetings, referring issues for action, balancing confidentiality and transparency, each in appropriate situations, complying with law, etc. Other skills involve contributing to effectiveness in the board’s governance capacity.
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) “Be Prepared. That’s the motto…When someone has an accident, you are prepared because of your first aid instruction. Because of lifesaving practice, you might be able to save a non-swimmer who has fallen into deep water… [You should be prepared] to become productive citizens and to give happiness to other people…to be ready in mind and body for any struggles, and to meet with a strong heart whatever challenges might lie ahead. Be prepared Read More …
This month’s edition (February 2023) of the American School Board Journal included a feature article that I wrote, describing leadership, including school board leadership, as a 3-legged stool. Here’s how they introduce the topic: School boards must balance responsibility, authority, and accountability to successfully govern, writes board trainer and long-time school board leader Rick Maloney. Here’s a link to that article: The Three-Legged Stool
Boards must assign responsibility for doing the work. They must delegate sufficient authority over the work to get the job done. And they must assure accountability for the work.
School boards should review 6 areas to help focus their efforts: the state, the community, the students, the district, the superintendent, and (most important) the board itself.