Tag: @DeSchoolBoardAssn

Question #2 – Does Your Board Have a Governance Mindset?

Rick Maloney

(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) The development of a governance mindset in our view is the most important characteristic of effective trustees…Having a governance mindset is understanding the role and responsibilities of the governing board and how individual trustee leadership can enhance the positive, value-added impact of the governance process. – Davis Campbell and Michael Fullan1 It is not enough to acquire knowledge (what to know) or skills (what to do) for governance. Boards must as a first priority Read More …

Question #1 – Is Your Board Fully Prepared to Carry Out its Responsibilities?

Rick Maloney

(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 …

Onboarding New Board Members? Recommit to the Oath of Office

Rick Maloney

The August issue of The American School Board Journal is now online. Its Features section includes an article (Oath of Office) in which I describe an opportunity that presents itself whenever a new board member takes the oath of office. The rest of the board can more rapidly onboard that new member if they renew and recommit to their own oath at the same time, following up the oath ceremony with a whole-board discussion on the meaning of that oath. Read More …

Six (Not So) Simple Rules for School Board Success

Rick Maloney

Effective school boards build a base of competencies (knowledge and skills) that help them succeed in their roles. They know the difference between boardsmanship and governance. They use individual board member competencies (boardsmanship) that contribute to the work of the board, and whole-board competencies (governance) that can only be performed by the board working together. These competencies increase a board’s potential for success. However, to fully realize that potential, boards need the right beliefs, values, and attitudes—a mindset for success Read More …

NSBA Presentation Handouts

Rick Maloney

At this year’s National School Board Conference I am presenting a session entitled “Boardsmanship Is Not Enough: We Need to BE, KNOW, and DO More to Reach Our Full Governing Potential” Five HANDOUTS. Summary. Systematic self-assessment is a significant professional development routine that enhances a board’s performance, and – more importantly – district results. Research studies have found that certain board characteristics, such as an ‘elevating’ view of students are positively correlated with higher levels of student achievement, or boards Read More …

The Three-Legged Stool of Board Leadership

Rick Maloney

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

On the Value of Board Training

Rick Maloney

5 Topics that are useful for board member training, and 2 topics that are of no value (or even cause harm) to board member development.

What’s Wrong with Board Professional Development?

Rick Maloney

This month’s issue of the American School Board Journal includes my article on board PD. In the article I discuss 6 shortcomings that limit the board’s ability to renew and enhance its governing performance and 5 ways that we can recalibrate our understanding of and approach to board professional development. Here’s a link to the article: What’s Wrong with Board Professional Development? (nsba.org)

Seven (Not So) Simple Rules for Board Success – Part II

Rick Maloney
RuleBook

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.

Seven (Not So) Simple Rules for Board Success – Part I

Rick Maloney
RuleBook

Board success depends on many elements, including the organization’s leadership and culture, the board’s actions, knowledge, and character, and the situation, but the purpose of board leadership can be simply defined as assuring, on behalf of the community, that the organization succeeds. One way to portray leadership is a three-legged stool – each leg must be present for the three to stand together – consisting of responsibility, authority, and accountability. Leaders at every level, including the board in its leadership role, must accept full responsibility for their level in the organization. They must know those whom they serve. They 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. Before all else, they must take responsibility and be accountable for the board’s own performance.