Proposal: Beginning in January 2017 change the format of our meeting schedule so one meeting per month is focused as a workshop during which the board will work more deeply and in a more focused manner on issues directly related to student learning while the second meeting is a business meeting, similar to our current format.
Background:
School Boards serve multiple functions and have varying degrees of impact on student learning. There are many models that seek to identify qualities and work of effective school boards. Examples of such models are:
These models have strong similarity between the identified characteristics. These are summarized below.
Key Work of School Boards
Iowa Lighthouse
CPB/McGraw-Hill
Smoley
Vision
Effective school boards commit to a vision of high expectations for student achievement and quality instruction and define clear goals toward that vision.
Effective school boards have strong shared beliefs and values about what is possible for students and their ability to learn, and of the system and its ability to teach all children at high levels.
Effective Boards Focus on Student Achievement
Acting Strategically
Accountability
Effective school boards are accountability driven, spending less time on operational issues and more time focused on policies to improve student achievement.
Effective Boards Watch the Return on Investment
Exercising Appropriate Authority
Policy
Community Leadership
Effective school boards have a collaborative relationship with staff and the community and establish a strong communications structure to inform and engage both internal and external stakeholders in setting and achieving district goals.
Effective Boards Engage the Communities They Serve
Connecting with the Community
Board/Superintendent Relationships
Effective school boards lead as a united team with the superintendent, each from their respective roles, with strong collaboration and mutual trust.
Functioning Cohesively as a group
Exercising appropriate Authority
Effective school boards are data savvy: they embrace and monitor data, even when the information is negative, and use it to drive continuous improvement
Effective Boards Use Data
Making Rational Decisions
Effective school boards align and sustain resources, such as professional development, to meet district goals. According to researchers, LaRocque and Coleman, effective boards saw a responsibility to maintain high standards even in the midst of budget challenges.
Effective Boards Allocate Resources to Needs
Effective school boards take part in team development and training, sometimes with their superintendents, to build shared knowledge, values and commitments for their improvement efforts
Working toward Board Improvement
As you review this table you will likely be able to easily identify areas where this board and superintendent could improve our work together. It may a reasonable theory that one of the impediments we face is the format of our meetings. We typically have multiple items that are discussed. For the most part, these are not related to one another and predominate toward operational matters and policy as opposed to developing a deeper understanding of issues, initiatives, and strategies associated with student learning.
I have drafted a revision to Policy 1400 that reflects this proposed change. If the board is amenable to the shift this policy revision will be presented for consideration in November.