Transcript Board Chair Workshop - Vermont School Boards Association

Board Chair Workshop
Presented by:
Vermont School
Boards Association
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Role of Board Chair
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Move issues to action
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Know parliamentary procedure
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Maintain policy leadership focus
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Collaborate with superintendent
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Understand all issues before vote
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Uphold laws and Code of Ethics
Role of Board Chair
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Identify roles & responsibilities
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Remain aware of board dynamics
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Prepare effective meeting agendas
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Manage meeting time & bd. priorities
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Lead board in annual goal assessment
and align bd. work w/ school goals
Policy Definition
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Power to set direction for school
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Bring about prudent action by
administrators, staff, and board
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Defines “what” should be done
Policy Role
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Foster stability & continuity
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Keep people informed about goals
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Clarify board-superintendent relations
Policy Role
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Save superintendent time and effort
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Allows for more efficient school
operation
Policies & Procedures
Update policies every 3 to 5 years
 Separate policy from adm. procedures
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Use different colored pages
Include in teacher/student handbooks
Post on school web site
Distribute at board meetings
Key Work of School Boards
Presented by:
Vermont School
Boards Association
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Vision
Provide future-focused direction
 Link strategic & action planning to
local, state & national priorities
 Involve staff and community
 Promote high achievement for all
students
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Standards
Clarify specific standards
 Connect local & state expectations
 Include academic & social skills
 Create environment for high-level
learning
 Identify benchmarks
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Assessment
Create feedback system
– Ensure school goals are met
– Base decisions on results
– Use to improve services
– Ask right questions
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Accountability
Focus on student performance
 Ensure all students succeed
 Report achievement to school &
community
 Evaluate staff & adm. performance
 Correct deficiencies
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Alignment
Connect quality standards to school
priorities
 Link resources to goals
 Ensure instruction & performance
targets are aligned with assessment
system
 Walk the talk!
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Climate & Culture
Focuses on high quality learning
 Has powerful influence on behavior
 How parents & community view
school
 Open communication
 Respect, civility & no bullying
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Collaborative Relationship
Work in teams
 Build trust & respect
 Create unselfish relationships
 Connect businesses & community
 Focus on student success
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Continuous Improvement
Pay attention to quality
 Improve student & school
performance annually
 Remain customer-focused
 Develop relationships that foster high
achievement
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Leadership Team Goal Alignment
Use action plan to implement
academic/social portion of strategic
plan
 Link board and administrative annual
work plans to the school strategic &
action plans
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Leadership Team Goal Alignment
Combine all technology, action,
facilities and other plans within
strategic plan
 Work with others to create su/district
plan
 Connect school plans with su/district
plan
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Effective Board Chair Strategies
Focus meetings on key work
 Delegate mtg. time management to
other board member
 Facilitate agenda discussion
 Manage contentious issues
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Effective Board Chair Strategies
Interpret, summarize & reflect ideas
 Engage all board members
 Restrict dominating individuals
 Help board reach common ground
decisions
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Effective Board Chair Strategies
Utilize parliamentary procedure
 Empower one person speaks for
board
 Insist board & administrators follow
prescribed roles and responsibilities
 Introduce speakers & meeting guests
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Effective Board Chair Strategies
Pre-plan meetings & anticipate
problems
 Speak in ways everyone understands
 Present info with power point slides
 Model proactive behavior
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Effective Board Chair Strategies
Consider all opinions & feedback
 Focus work on child well-being
 Always maintain control over meeting
 Turn feedback into open-ended
questions
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Effective Board Chair Strategies
Redirect non-agenda issues to next
meeting
 Continue to restate agenda items until
decisions are made
 Insist board follows Code of Ethics
 Use humor, empathy, facts to manage
contentious issues
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Robert’s Rules for Small Boards
• Board may vote without motion
• Chair may make motions
• Chair may speak on issues
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Robert’s Rules for Small Boards
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Floor not required for motions
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Motions not seconded
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No limits to speak
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No limits on debate
Robert’s Rules for Small Boards
• Chair usually votes regardless of tie
• Board decisions made by consensus
• Informality makes decisions and
minutes more difficult
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Communications Plan
Headline statement
 3 facts for public to remember
 Primary audience to reach
 Secondary audience
 Most important message to
community
 School contact person
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Phone # & times available
School Boards
Three Roles of a
Democracy
3 Roles of the Board
Legislative
Executive
Develop and Adopt
Policies
Hire & Fire Staff
Judicial
Hold Hearings
The Vital Link:
Board-Superintendent Relations
Presented by:
Vermont School Boards Association
Leaders are Seen on the
High Ground Pointing the Direction
“A leader does not use a weather vane to gauge
public opinion, but rather a compass to point the
direction.”
-- Ehud Barak, Former Israeli Prime Minister
What the School Board has a
Right to Expect from a Superintendent
1. Personal integrity under pressure.
2. Develops, maintains and implements policy.
3. Sensitive to feelings, beliefs and commitments of
public, staff, and board.
4. Understands that board members are elected
officials.
5. Skilled in communications.
What the School Board has a
Right to Expect from a Superintendent
(Continued)
6. Prudent manager of district resources.
7. Develops long-range financial plan.
8. Develops a positive relationship with the board.
9. Briefs board on employment decisions.
10. Springs no surprises.
What the Superintendent Has a
Right to Expect from the School Board
1. Trust, confidence, and professional respect.
2. Fair and honest job evaluation.
3. Supports adopted policies.
4. Willingly considers staff input and
recommendations.
5. Prepared to do their job.
What the Superintendent has a
Right to Expect from the School Board
(Continued)
6. Adheres to high standards of ethical behavior.
7. Demonstrates realism, confidence and patience.
8. Strives to attain educational goals.
9. No surprises.
The Board and
Superintendent Relationship
Be cautious of crossing the center line
School Board
Superintendent
Governs: Guides, directs
Administers: Operates, manages
Decides what
Decides how
Requests information
Seeks and provides information
Considers issues
Creates, review and adopts policy
Provides recommendations
Reviews and approves plans
Monitors progress
Implements plans
Reports progress
Contracts witn personnel
Supervises hiring process and practices
Approves evaluation criteria and procedures
Supervises and evaluates personnel
Reviews and approves budget
Formulates budget
Represents public interests
Acts in public interest
Recommends and carries out policy
Superintendent Evaluation
Foundation of Team Work
Leadership Team Reality
“Whenever you have a
new board member or
administrator, you have a
new team.”
Ten Characteristics
of Well-Functioning Teams
1. Purpose: Members proudly share a sense of why
the team exists
2. Priorities: Members know what needs to be done
next
3. Roles: Members know their roles in getting tasks
done
4. Decisions: Authority and decision-making lines
are clearly understood
Ten Characteristics
of Well-Functioning Teams
5. Conflict: Conflict is dealt with directly and
openly
6. Personal Traits: Members feel their unique
personalities are appreciated
7. Norms: Group norms for working together
are set
Ten Characteristics
of Well-Functioning Teams (Continued)
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8. Effectiveness: Members find team
efficient and productive
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9. Success: Members know clearly when
the team has met with success
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10. Training: Opportunities for feedback
and updating skills are provided
Elements of a Strong
Board-Superintendent Partnership
Full
Disclosure
STRONG
PARTNERSHIPS
Informal
Interaction