At this point, having reviewed the first 11 questions (the total number will be 49) and having considered at least a partial answer to each, let’s observe their connections, each with one another, and how they combine to illustrate the broader category of board readiness. Questions 1-11 deal with the board’s need to be ready with a foundation of knowledge, skills, and dispositions that enable it to carry out broad governance functions:
- Giving a strategic voice to the vision and values of the community it represents, the board defines strategic expectations internally by expressing that vision and those values in strategic level policies, and externally by advocating for the needs of students;
- Setting operational guidance in policies that direct the work of three key entities, directing the superintendent in the management and instructional work of the district, directing the board in its governance work, and directing individual board members in their boardsmanship work; and
- Assuring success through a comprehensive accountability system to monitor progress on a continuous basis, holding the superintendent accountable for district success, holding the board itself accountable for its own governance performance, and holding individual board members accountable for their personal boardsmanship performance.
One perspective from which to view board readiness is that of a juggler who sets and then stands upon a strong foundation of readiness in order to keep those three more observable governance functions in motion, continuously juggling them to assure they remain in the air.
A board’s capacity for performing its governance role requires that the school board be clear about its answers to these questions (each question below links to the corresponding article, each of which I have previously posted.)
At the broadest level:
Q#1 – Is your board ready to govern? (Does it have the right mindset and approach?)
One level down from the readiness domain is the component of mindset; that contributes to overall readiness.
Q#2 – Does your board have a governance mindset? (A mindset of servant-leadership and growth) Four elements of mindset are commitment to serve, willingness to lead, belief in growth, and work ethic:
- Q#3 – (In order to lead) Is your board committed to serve?
- Q#4 – (In order to serve) Is your board willing to lead?
- Q#5 – Does your board believe in growth?
- Q#6 – Does your board have the work ethic needed for growth?
Another component one level down that contributes to the readiness domain is the board’s approach:
Q#7 – Does your board take a strategic approach? (An approach that is systemic as well as systematic, and is evident in both how it writes and uses policy and how it structures and conducts its meetings.) Four elements of strategic approach are systems perspective, systematic process, strategic policy, and strategic meetings;