Governing Effectively via a Framework for School Governance
Implementing
What
Developing policies, preparing for and adopting the policy governance or coherent governance model
Why
The board has decided to use the model to improve how it does board business
Who
Board members and their CEO
When
Usually at special board meetings or workshops.
Implementation can take place over a series of meetings of one day or less duration, or in a ‘policy blitz’ over several days
Where
Usually at a retreat site, where the board-CEO team can deliberate and work without interruption
How
Development of MEANS policies from a set of generic templates, which the board tailors to its needs. The sequence may begin with the board’s governance practice or governance culture policies (how the board acts), then board/CEO relationship policies (how board and CEO interact), then executive limitations or operational expectations policies (guiding the CEO’s options in deciding means).
Development of ENDS or RESULTS (what good, for whom, at what cost or priority) often begins from scratch, first developing a Global Result statement that describes why the organization exists, then defining in progressively increasing detail those outcomes the organization is expected to achieve. Ends are developed so that the CEO, exercising reasonable interpretation of the board’s words, can focus organizational efforts (the means) to achieve results.
When ENDS or RESULTS policy development is complete, all policies are in place and the board is ready to adopt.
Adoption of the model should be a public event, so that all involved (board, staff, ‘owners’, and the public) are aware that a new method of operating is expected.
