School Board Roles and Responsibilities

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School Board Roles and Responsibilities
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Four Roles of a Board Member

• VISION - creating a shared vision
• STRUCTURE - Applying the vision
• ACCOUNTABILITY- Measuring and communicating the
  vision
• ADVOCACY- championing the vision

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Vision

• The board..
• Adopts the districts strategic plan which
  includes goals
• Establishes benchmarks to monitor progress on the
  strategic plan
• Receives regular status reports on the progress
  of the plan

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Structure

• Board/Superintendent relations
• Board is responsible for recruiting, hiring and
  evaluating the performance of the superintendent
• Compatibility between the superintendent and the
  boards vision for the district is critical

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Structure

• Board/Superintendent relations
• The superintendent, as chief executive officer of
  the school district, runs the district
• The superintendent hires the staff with the
  approval of the board

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Structure

• The Board
• Exercises daily supervision and control primarily
  through the superintendent
• Does not usually deal directly with individual
  staff members
• Speaks with one voice to the superintendent and
  communicates as a whole through the board meeting

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Structure

• The Board
• Adopts clear policies and goals to guide the
  staff
• Allows an occasional mistake by the
  superintendent.
• Evaluates the superintendent on implementing the
  district strategic plan and increasing student
  achievement.

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Structure

• Policy Development
• Policies tell what to do without saying how
  to do it.
• Boards make policy and the administration carries
  it out
• Boards evaluate the implementation and effect of
  policy through periodic reports by the
  administration, etc.

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Structure

• Financial Resources
• Boards establish the budget
• based upon the districts goals

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Board Meetings

• Ask Yourself
• What message does our
• school board meeting send?

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Frame Every Decision

• How will this affect students and increase
  student achievement?

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Accountability

• The board
• Establishes student learning as the highest
  priority of the board
• Receives regular reports on student progress and
  needs
• Tracks the time spent at each meeting on the
  discussion of ways to increase student achievement

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Accountability

• The board
• Evaluates the superintendent on the
  implementation of the adopted goals and
  increasing student achievement
• Holds an annual board self evaluation
• Monitors and rewards student achievement
• Asks questions and takes appropriate actions
  concerning the instructional program

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Accountability

• The board
• Understands the legal requirements for education
  programs
• Communicates financial issues effectively to the
  community
• Monitors expenditures throughout the year

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Advocacy

• The board
• Educates the community on educational issues and
  the legislative process
• Serves as an advocate for public education
• Establishes strong relationships with parents and
  others to help support students

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Advocacy

• The board
• Participates in the legislative process
• Takes the lead in celebrating the achievements of
  students and others in education.
• Establishes an aggressive public relations plan

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Advocacy

• The board
• Creates partnerships with organizations that
  serve children
• Promotes school board service as a meaningful way
  to make long-term contributions to society.

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Other Issues

• You have power only when you are sitting together
  with the rest of the board
• Follow the chain of command!!
• Treat executive sessions like a hot oven - get
  in and get out!

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Teamwork

• A successful school board must operate as a team
  with clear strategies and goals
• Like any teamyou cant really play until all
  players are together
• Once the vote is taken back the majority. Learn
  to disagree agreeably.

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Teamwork

• Standing committees can divide a board. Be
  careful of dividing your team.
• Everyone needs to hear the same information at
  the same time.
• Remember, information is power.