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Effective Board Meetings = Improved Student Achievement

Effective Board Meetings = Improved Student Achievement. Susan Salter Director of Board Development. The Meeting. Pop-Quiz. Pop-Quiz. Field Trips. School Bus. 21 st Century Classroom. Pop-Quiz. Field Trips. 10 Minutes. School Bus. 20 Minutes. 21 st Century Classroom. 40 Minutes.

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Effective Board Meetings = Improved Student Achievement

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  1. Effective Board Meetings • = • Improved Student Achievement Susan SalterDirector of Board Development

  2. The Meeting

  3. Pop-Quiz

  4. Pop-Quiz Field Trips School Bus 21st Century Classroom

  5. Pop-Quiz Field Trips 10 Minutes School Bus 20 Minutes 21st Century Classroom 40 Minutes

  6. Pop-Quiz Field Trips 10 Minutes School Bus 20 Minutes 21st Century Classroom 40 Minutes

  7. Pop-Quiz Field Trips 10 Minutes School Bus 20 Minutes 21st Century Classroom 40 Minutes

  8. Pop-Quiz Field Trips 10 Minutes School Bus 20 Minutes 21st Century Classroom 40 Minutes

  9. The Board Meeting During a difficult budget session, the Nutmeg Board of Education dropped the football program, at 1 a.m. At the next board meeting, 200 angry citizens arrive, each expecting to address the board in public comment, their intention … to SACK the board. You walk into the boardroom and …

  10. Tips: The Board Meeting • School board meetings are meetings in public, not public hearings! • The purpose of the meeting is to accomplish the agenda. • Stick to the agenda and limit discussion to those items. • Public comment is not a debate. Don’t react! • Decisions made under pressure are often bad decisions. If you need to, table it to a later meeting.

  11. The Board President

  12. The Board President Nutmeg Board President Oak Board President

  13. The Board President Nutmeg Board President Oak Board President • Strong chair • Overpowering • Makes decisions for the board • Does not allow board members to speak • In “cahoots” with superintendent to run school system

  14. The Board President Nutmeg Board President Oak Board President • Strong chair • Overpowering • Makes decisions for the board • Does not allow board members to speak • In “cahoots” with superintendent to run school system • Weak chair • Doesn’t stop debate • Allows unlimited dialog • Lets public walk all over the board meeting • Won’t stop confrontations between board members

  15. The Board President • Do you recognize either of these presidents on any board you’ve ever served on? • How did their performance effect the performance of the board? • What can you do as a board member to focus the board on student learning?

  16. The Board President • Choose your president wisely. • Talk to your president about your concerns. • Discuss board operations in a self-evaluation. • Develop a meeting evaluation form.

  17. Meetings/Agenda

  18. Meetings/Agenda Peter Procrastinate shows up to the board meeting in the middle of Sally Science’s curriculum presentation. After the 45-minute presentation is completed, Peter apologizes for being late and launches into 30 minutes of questions that were already answered in his board packet and in Sally’s presentation. You read your packet. You were on time. How do you react?

  19. Meetings/Agenda • Call to inform of late arrival and request item be moved if critical. • Board member may request quick summary. • Lateness does not give the right to dominate. • Come prepared (read the packet!)

  20. Meetings/Agenda • Ensure agenda items are relevant • Link to goals • Refer some decisions to policy

  21. Meetings/Agenda • Start meetings on time. • Don’t abuse “New Business.” • Use a timed agenda or consent agenda. • President should limit discussion to topic. • Superintendent should limit staff reports. • Superintendent should prepare adequate board packet.

  22. Procedure

  23. Procedure Bob Bluster, a long-time disgruntled board member, tends to spend a great deal of time trying to convince fellow board members to change their minds and support his ideas. Tonight, he is in rare form, has gone on for 20 minutes and has strayed from the agenda. You know two other board members will reiterate his speech. How do you get the board back to the agenda item?

  24. Procedure • In a case like this, Robert’s Rules of Order is your best bet. • A “point of order” can interrupt the speaker and let you remind the chair that then speaker is no longer speaking about the item on the agenda (or the motion on the floor).

  25. Procedure • An alternative to Robert’s Rules is to request the speaker stay on task. • Your comments should be to the members of the board, not the public (or the press).

  26. Procedure • If you agree with prior speakers, just say “I agree.” • Debate the issue, not the person. • Leave your kids and neighbors at home. • Ask questions focused on the motion and related directly to the decision you are making.

  27. Procedure • Refrain from this type of behavior yourself. • Do not waste your time explaining your vote after the motion has been voted on. Listen, Listen, Listen!!!

  28. Board Relations

  29. Board Relations There has just been an unusually contentious election for seats on the board. Several board members were accused of stealing lawn signs, and some questionable photos were placed on the Internet. After the smoke clears, the majority party is now in the minority, and the new majority is in the backroom electing new leadership. You are in the middle of one camp, and this is your first board meeting after the change. How do you feel?

  30. Board Relations • Remember it’s not personal! • Don’t rehash the election. • If you are in the majority, allow the minority party to “save face.” • Each person has a constituency base and you have a responsibility to respect that member’s participation.

  31. Board Relations • Accept that your board is a team and you are a team member. • Don’t retreat to your comfort zone or your political zone. • Remind yourself that your relationship with the board is professional, not familial. • Expect the behavior you would expect from any professional organization.

  32. Top 10 ways to Hold effective meetings

  33. The Top 10 • Remember - Meeting in public; it’s not a “public hearing.” • Limit presentations/speakers. • Use timed/consent agenda. • Stick to the agenda. • Do your homework (readthe board information packet).

  34. The Top 10 • Elect an effective president. • Use Robert’s Rules effectively. • Hold board retreats to just TALK. • Regularly conduct the board self-evaluation. • Disagree agreeably.

  35. The Top 10 13 • Appreciate the different strengths each board member brings to the table. • When you have a position, state it clearly and don’t hound it to death. • If you lose a vote, accept the fact, at least for the time being, and move on!

  36. Effective Board Meetings • = • Improved Student Achievement Susan SalterDirector of Board Development

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