Transcript Organizational Meeting December 2, 2013 First Public Meeting/Open Meetings Act/Public Posting  Swearing In/GVSU will provide oath of office to board members  First Public.

Organizational Meeting
December 2, 2013
First Public Meeting/Open Meetings Act/Public
Posting
 Swearing In/GVSU will provide oath of office to
board members
 First Public Board Meeting Agenda Constructed
 First Board Action: Election of Offices
 Other Agenda Topics: Articles of Incorporation, ByLaws, Appointment of Legal Counsel, GVSU
Contract, ESP Contract, Board Meeting Calendar…..
 First official minutes of public meeting
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Provides your charter through the State of Michigan
Defines your charter via the authorizer contract with
the Eagles Nest Academy board of trustees(BOT). Must
meet all guidelines for public school.
Holds the the Eagles Nest Academy BOT accountable
for the standards outlined in the contract via annual
assessments
Compliance Standards
Academic Performance Standards
The Eagles Nest Academy BOT holds the charter in trust….
Organized group of volunteers,
who collectively,
are legally and morally
accountable
to the community
for the health, vitality and
effectiveness
of the organization.
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The Grand Valley State University Board of
Trustees appoints charter board members
All members must clear the GVSU vetting
process (background checks, conflicts of
interests etc)
Terms of service/reappointments defined by
GVSU
Attributes
 Available (have time to serve)
 Voice opinions (disagree without being
disagreeable)
 Value diversity from others
 Committed to the school and its purpose
 Systems thinker (see the big picture, know the
areas of accountability)
 Critical thinker (review all sides of an issue)
 Collaborative (group skills, contributor)
 External/practical skills (legal, financial, project
mgmt, fund raising, real estate, education, etc.)
Behaviors – the 5 “P”s
 Presence
▪ Attend all scheduled board meetings; add the dates to your
calendar
 Punctuality
▪ Come on time, and stay for the whole meeting
 Preparation
▪ Read materials ahead of time; come with at least one
question to ask
 Participation
▪ Add your voice to discussions; ask clarifying questions
 Professionalism
▪ Treat others well; make others look good
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President
 Must be a member of the board
 Automatically a member of every board committee
 Presides over all board meetings/Facilitates the
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agenda/Rules of Order/Protocol
Makes sure all voices are heard, and all ideas are
surfaced
Constructs the board agenda (coordinates with ESP)
Promotes a positive board culture
Maintains focus on the school goals
Holds other board members accountable
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Vice-President
 Substitutes for the President when necessary
▪ When absent
▪ When unavailable to perform duties
▪ After resignation
▪ Withdraws temporarily for conflict of interest
 Study the President’s role to be ready
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Secretary
(Performs these duties, or causes them to happen)
 Record and keep minutes/coordinates with ESP
 Provide proper meeting notice and compliance
with the Open Meetings Act
 Monitor compliance with all other laws
 Keeps all board minutes, correspondence, and
other records
 Maintain accurate contacts of board members
 Corresponds when requested on behalf of the
board
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Treasurer
(Performs these duties, or causes them to happen)
 Monitor all board finances/Coordinates with
ESP
 Maintains record of receipts & disbursements
 Sign the board audit report
 Assists the board in interpreting all financial
statements
 Helps the board manage financial risk
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Representative
 You represent the people who are not here—the
owners
 You represent all of them, not just the ones you
agree with
 Note: board membership actually results in less
personal freedom than if you were not on the
board
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Trustee
 You hold a valuable item “in trust” for the owners
 That item is the mission and purpose of the school.
 Your job is to make sure that valuable item is
safeguarded and grows for the next 25 years
 You also hold “in trust” the physical assets of the
school, and are charged with using them wisely to
benefit children
 Another name for this trust is “fiduciary
responsibility”
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Board Focus
 What good are we doing …
 For which people …
 At what cost …
 Implications
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Planning and data-gathering/understanding
Regular discussions of school direction
Balanced budget
Questioning to clarity
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Board Focus – the 4 “M”s
 Maintain Direction
▪ Keep the mission or goal of the school in mind. Evaluate all
activities, plans, and proposals as to whether or not they
materially move the school closer to accomplishing its
mission. Plan for the future; establish priorities.
 Monitor Results
▪ Learn to love data. Keep the focus on student achievement
(outputs) rather than numerous activities (inputs).
 Manage Risk
▪ Make sure the school is viable 25 years from now.
 Make Each Meeting Better
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Three fundamental jobs of the board
 Control the school’s mission (know it,
refine it, believe it, use it, promote it)
 Oversee student achievement (ask
management for facts & data in formats
that make sense to you and that
demonstrate mission achievement)
 Perform non-delegable duties
(approve budget, deal with
suspension/expulsion, legal items, etc.)
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Board Culture
 Working together
▪ Learn how to conduct a smooth meeting (see red booklet
on Parliamentary Procedure for standard meeting
processes)
 Learning together
▪ Attending training together as a board; reserving a few
minutes at meetings to discuss what needs attention
 Understanding each others’ perspective
▪ Taking the time to understand each others’ background and
interests
“Routine decisions are relatively simple, but complex or
emotional decisions will test your culture”
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“Now, the board's culture -- its unspoken
norms of behavior -- are more critical than
ever to a company's success. Are discussions
relevant, rigorous, and penetrating? Do a few
dominant directors commandeer the
meeting? Are there factions? Does superficial
knowledge go unchallenged? Is the chemistry
collaborative?”
- Fortune Magazine, October 6, 2010
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Board Oversight
 The board exercises its proper control over
management by limiting rather than by
prescribing.
 Example:
▪ “Spend no more than $50,000 on computer lab
equipment”, rather than…..
▪ “Purchase a Chromebook for every student.”
 Create boundaries within which the school can
operate freely
 “Go until we say stop” … NOT … “Stop until we
say go”
Board has a critical role in:
 Defining its Mission
 Strategic Planning
Setting Policy
Holding and abiding by its written
Charter…..read and know your Charter contract
with GVSU.
Without getting involved in the day to day
operations of the school.
Governance (Board)
 Sets a goal
 States an expectation
 Clarifies a direction
 Deals with HOW WELL!
Management (Education Service Provider)
 Acts in way to accomplish a goal
 Carries out an activity
 Day to day
 Deals with HOW!
Board Voice
 The board only has authority when acting as
a group. Individuals have no power to act.
 Prior to a decision, all voices should be
heard, and all ideas shared. Debate and
discussion are valued.
 After a decision, the board only has one
position on that topic.
 Thus, the board speaks with one voice or not
at all
GVSU
Mission /
Purpose/Goal
State
Law
Eagles Nest
Academy
Board of Directors
North Flint Reinvestment Corporation, Inc.
Parents
Administration
Teachers
Community
Students
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Successful Charter Schools have a strong balance
of decision making power between the authorizer,
board of trustees and management.
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Quality decision making is necessary from all
three groups to ensure the success of the
School
school.
It’s a team effort.
Authorizer/Bo
ard/Managem
ent
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Public meeting postings? Where? Media?
Who will build your board meeting
agenda/board packet of information?
How will agenda/packet be communicated to
the board?
Meeting calendar? Monthly/Bi-Monthly?
Who will be responsible for meeting minutes?
Who will be responsible for GVSU
Compliance Cabinet?
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What will be your management structure?
Who will provide legal counsel?
Charter By Laws and Articles of Incorporation
Authorizer Contract
Management/Provider Contract(s)
Facility Contract