Governing Effectively via a Framework for School Governance
(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 …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) [School boards] establish a strong communications structure to inform and engage both internal and external stakeholders in setting and achieving district goals They are masterful in two dimensions of community leadership: advocating for their school districts and developing and maintaining strong strategic partnerships. – NSBA1 Advocacy is the responsibility of a school board to speak on behalf of students. Using its platform as community representative, the board informs the public, including (especially) state and Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) Vision without action is a dream, and action without vision is aimless. Board policy represents the intersection of vision and accountability…Policies can and should reflect local values and principles designed to address local needs and what the board cares about. – Katherine Gemberling et al1 Policy can be strategic when it gives broad guidance to district leadership, including the board itself. It can be operational when more routine district activities receive detailed direction. Scenario: Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) This program first provided a solution by bringing the district together under a unified goal, our communities’ health. During regular monthly meetings, members discuss new and innovative ways to provide health education to students, families, and staff…Initially, there was pushback by the community, but with more education provided, the community began to understand the importance of this issue. They also began to understand that they were able to make the transformation…the committee solicited help Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) …reforms that seek greater transparency are increasingly on the rise…information empowers citizens to hold public officials accountable…disclosure of information about government institutions, policies, and programs empowers citizens to hold officials responsible for their spending and performance…leading, eventually, to more accountable, responsive, and effective governance. – Kosack and Fung1 The importance of transparency in the governance of public schools cannot be ignored and must therefore be a non-negotiable value in assuring accountability to the school Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) Are the means that the administration uses in reaching the desired ends beyond the scope of the school board’s concerns? Of course not. The methods should be fair and ethical. They should be affordable. They should be gauged against the best interests of students, taxpayers and staff. A school board that turns its back on questionable practices that lead to desired results is derelict in its duty. ― Gene Maeroff1 The board continuously connects with its Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) “[In reference to nonnegotiable goals for achievement and instruction] In effective districts, the local board of education is aligned with and supportive of the nonnegotiable goals for achievement and instruction. The board ensures that these goals remain the top priorities in the district and that no other initiatives deflect attention or resources from accomplishing these goals. Although other initiatives might be undertaken, they must directly relate to these two primary goals. Indeed, publicly adopting Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) “To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you’re going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.“ ― Stephen Covey1 Management by objectives – MBO – is a managerial philosophy that focuses business school students on the bottom line. It makes sense for school districts Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) “School systems exist for one reason and one reason only: to improve student outcomes. [They] do not exist to have great buildings…happy parents…balanced budgets…satisfied teachers…student lunches…employment in the country/city, or anything else…None of those are measures of what students know or are able to do…Effective school boards care about these things too – the “how” it all happens – but they know that anytime school boards are focused primarily on the “how,” they have Read More …
(49 Questions to Ask Your Board) “First, nonnegotiable district goals should be established for student achievement and for effective instruction, which is a necessary condition for student achievement. These goals should be monitored and used as the basis for immediate corrective action, thus moving districts toward the ideal of high-reliability organizations. Second, the nonnegotiable goals for achievement and instruction should be established through a collaborative goal-setting process that involves key stakeholders. The board should be fully behind the nonnegotiable goals, Read More …