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Welcome! Arkansas-Louisiana Conference School Board Training Webinar August 8, 2016

Overview • Part I - How do I fit on the board? • Educational System Overview • Role and Function of the School Board • Administrative/Board Relationships • Who are You Responsible To? • Code of Ethics

Overview • Part II – Effective Board Membership • Effective Meeting Protocol • Parliamentary Procedure – Is Roberts Still Alive and Well in Your Board? • Executive Session • Management Styles • Curriculum and Instruction

Overview • Part III – The Hiring Process • Working Together • Two Types of Employees • Starting the Hiring Process • Locally Funded Hiring Process • Resources • Q & A

School Board Membership Part I How Do I Fit on the Board? Stephen Burton, Arkansas-Louisiana Conf. Superintendent of Schools sburton@arklac.org

Why We ‘Do’Adventist Education • The primary aim of Adventist education is to provide opportunity for students to accept Christ as their personal Savior, to allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives, and to fulfill the commission of preaching the gospel to all the world.

Object of AdventistEducation • “The greatest object of education is to enable us to use the powers which God has given us in such a manner as will best represent the religion of the Bible and to promote the glory of God.” Fund. of Education. 45

Educational Structure

General Conference 7,579 Schools 1,807,693 Students

North American Division 51,866 Students 38,999 K-8 12,867 9-12 838 Schools 109 Secondary 729 Elem. 4,841 Teachers

Southwestern Union 330 Teachers 69 Schools 49 Elem. 13 Junior Acad. 7 Academies 3,562 Students

Arkla Conference 12 Schools 11 Elementary 1 Academy 457 Students 300 Elem. 157 Academy 43 Teachers

Responsibility Flowchart NAD Educ GC Union Exec Conf Exec NAD Union Educ Conf Educ Conf Bd of Ed Union Bd of Ed School Constituency School Board Sch. Admin Teachers Parents Students

The Role… …and Function, Of the School Board

School Board Role of the School Board School Administration Parents and Students Organization of the school should be designed to meet the needs of the constituency.

Functions of the School Board 1 • Develop a clear, practical set of objectives • Ensure implementation of policies & plans • Keep official minutes of each meeting • Develop policies in the areas of local concern: (use of school facility, purchasing procedures, tuition, admissions, textbooks, dress and social behavior, short and long- range planning)

Functions of the School Board 2 • Support the principal or head teacher • Receive the recommendations of administration in the case of serious discipline-Serve as ultimate authority in dismissal of students- Consideration of student dismissal MUST occur in executive session!

Functions of the School Board 3 • Support Home and School – Be there! • Consider appeals and answer questions regarding the operation of the school. • Coordinate the process of school evaluations

Functions of the School Board 4 • Adopt or adapt the conference school calendar • Develop a proposed plan of school administration- constitution, by-laws, admin. organization, basic curriculum plan – present to constituency for approval

Functions of the School Board 5 • Authorize the preparation of a school bulletin or handbook. • Assume responsibility for the planning and funding of an annual operating budget. • Consult the conference office of education regarding hiring, or concerns with the principal or teachers. (Executive session/Office of Ed. Present)

Functions of the School Board 6 • Consult the conference regarding construction procedures. • Cooperate with the union and conference in matters of curriculum development. • Appoint subcommittees as needed. (personnel, finance, curriculum, and marketing/development)

Positive Administration-Board Relationships • Perform your tasks as a board member and allow the admin. to manage day-to-day operations. • Recognize that the educational training and experience of the admin. has equipped him/her with the knowledge and skills to deal with most administrative matters.

Positive Administration-Board Relationships • Give careful consideration to all suggestions. • The admin. deserves prior knowledge of all concerns to be discussed at the board meeting. • Discuss improprieties in private. • When making decisions, create a balance between strengths and weaknesses. Analyze the problem, not the person.

Who Are You Responsible To? • Conference Executive Committee • Conference K-12 Board of Education • Conference Office of Education • Local School Constituency Let’s look at each of these.

Conference Executive Committee • Has the final authority, as granted by the conference constituency to oversee all aspects of the conference program. • Has delegated selected functions relating to education to the Conference K-12 Board of Education.

Conference K-12 Board • This board oversees all aspects of the educational program within the conference. • Has delegated selected functions to local school boards. • CAUTION!!

Caution!!! • Although the K-12 Board has delegated certain functions to the school board, • It can’t divest itself of it’s inherent legal obligations.

Caution!!! • Inasmuch as the conference remains legally bound by the school board actions, • It is imperative that close cooperation remain between the school board and the conference K-12 Board in school operation and personnel actions.

Conference Office of Education • The superintendent of schools work with the local school boards on behalf of the K-12 Board. • The Office of Education ensures compliance with the policies, and procedures stated in conference and union policy.

Conference Office of Education • All personnel discussions or decisions must be made in the presence of the Office of Education personnel. • Conducts NAD school evaluations of K-12 schools.

Code of Ethics 1 • Maintain principles of honesty, trust, fairness, and integrity. • Base decisions on the philosophy and mission of the SDA educational system. • Demonstrate attitudes and personal conduct that reflect the principles of the Adventist church.

Code of Ethics 2 • Diligently work to improve the understanding and support of the Adventist educational system. • Learn and practice the art of compromise without sacrificing principle.

Code of Ethics 3 • Support and practice the civil rights of all members of the school community. • Recognize that the authority of the board is only expressed by it’s actions as a board. Individual members may speak or act on behalf of the board only when authorized to do so by the board.

Code of Ethics 4 • Engage in no personal action that will compromise the school system, the board, or the administration. • Avoid all conflicts of interest. • Base your decisions on facts and your independent judgment.

Code of Ethics 5 • Work with the board members in a spirit of unity, cooperation, and Christian courtesy. • Uphold all board decisions, regardless of any personal disagreements.

Code of Ethics 6 • Maintain confidentially of all matters. • Recognize that your responsibility is not to run the school but, together with your fellow board members to see that it is run well.

Code of Ethics 7 • When parents have problems with a teacher or principal, encourage everyone to follow the complaint procedure • Other complaints should be directed to the school admin. • Be supportive in school programs by attending.

Code of Ethics 8 • It is the expectation that each board member, who has eligible children, should have them enrolled in the local Adventist school. • A board member must be a member of the Adventist Church.

School Board Membership Part II Effective Board Membership Stephen Burton, Arkansas-Louisiana Conf. Superintendent of Schools sburton@arklac.org

Effective Board Meetings Effective board meetings are properly organized and structured.

Effective BoardMembership • Become familiar with board policies, budgets, curriculum, discipline, procedures, school law, school calendar, grievance models, etc. • Know where to find information. Union & conference codes, school manuals, minutes from past meetings.

Effective BoardMembership • Maintain a notebook. School’s mission statement, budget, school constitution, Handbook for School Board Members. • Be interested in all parts of the program. • Do not allow your personal biases to evolve into prejudice or discrimination. • Be cautious of your own expertise. Listen with an open mind.

Effective Board Procedures • Design a procedure for setting the agenda-How do things get placed on the agenda? By Whom? • Pull no surprises. Stick to the agenda, be prepared. • The board chair and the principal should discuss the agenda prior to the meeting. • Keep administrative items off the agenda.

Effective Board Procedures • Send the agenda, and supporting information to the board members before the meeting. • Keep meetings short. Cluster similar topics so members can focus their energy in one direction. • Board meetings are generally considered to be open meetings, but certain issues need to be dealt with in executive session.

The Board in Session 1 • The meetings should begin and end on time. • Board members have a responsibility to be prepared. • An orderly method should be established when staff, constituents and students request to speak to the board. • Discussion should be focused on the topic. Non-pertinent discussion should be ruled out of order.

The Board in Session 2 • It’s the chairs responsibility to prioritize the agenda. • The chair should recognize members and give them the floor to speak. • When presiding as the chair, recognize those who have not spoken previously and those with alternate points of view.

The Board in Session 3 • Avoid speaking a second time on the same motion if someone else wishes to speak for the first time. • When speaking, address issues not personalities. Do not interrupt. Be brief. • The chair should keep the meeting moving, don’t let it drag it out.

The Board in Session 4 • If you have a conflict of interest, tell the chair immediately. Do not participate in discussion, ask the recording secretary to note you abstained from the vote. You may need to leave the room temporarily so others can speak freely. • Create a cooperative, rather than competitive environment. It is important for the chair to state the motion clearly before the vote.

Parliamentary Procedure • When making a motion or speaking to an issue, address the chair. • Only one motion is to be considered at a time. • The chair will ask for a second to the motion and, if granted, will proceed with the discussion. Reference- General Conference Rules of Order

Parliamentary Procedure • School boards can entertain short introduction discussions before motions are made. • A motion may require amendment during the discussion phase. The amendment must be seconded and voted on before the motion may be voted. Reference- General Conference Rules of Order

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