Head of School’s Board Tool Box

1. Head of School’sBoard Tool Box NCEA Atlanta 2006

2. “OLD” SAT analogy Our board is to our school as ________ is to _________

3. Board as control mechanism • Dam: river • Curbstone : road • Border collie: herd • Control tower: pilot • Landlord: tenant

4. Board as strategic direction setter • Compass: navigation • Headlights: auto • Rudder: boat • Guidance system:satellite • Periscope: submarine

5. Board as meaning maker • Inspiration: poet • Values: choices • Designer: work of art • Vision: implementation

6. Types of Boards • Governing • Advisory • Limited Jurisdiction Each type has different relationships with Head of School, all of which are tricky!

7. Use things from your teacher’s “Bag of Tricks” • Modeling what you want: • communication • collaboration • Identifying positive examples • Start with the end in mind • Objectives • Assessment • Clear standards • Each class is different and students have different backgrounds and needs

8. GPS SystemKnowing where you are

9. Mission Focus • Catholic identity • Student learning • Dignity of the teacher • Partnership with parents • Focused on things that ONLY the Board can do to promote the mission

10. Roles and Responsibilities • Board as a whole • Individual members • Committees • Chair • Head of school • Sponsoring entity

11. Skill sets of Board members • Personal and professional backgrounds • Orientation • On-going Board Formation • Attitude of “nose in, fingers out”

12. Current realities of the school • Student and faculty profiles • Programs • Facilities • Finances • Your concerns • Competitive landscape

13. Telescope(not a microscope) Crystal ball

14. Clear vision for five years ahead • Planning for next generation of students

15. Target—Goal Setting

16. Goals and Assessment Practices • “Data-driven, measurable outcomes” • Model by setting your own for the school and your job performance. Report on progress and ask for help.

17. Board Self-Assessments • Do we have the right people with the needed expertise to move the school forward? • How are we doing operationally? • Frequency, time, place of meetings, food • Materials and minutes • Meeting experience

18. Board Self assessments • How are we fulfilling our responsibilities as a board and as committees? • What are our goals and what progress are we making? • How well do individual board members fulfill their responsibilities?

19. Head of School Assessment • Regular executive session with management letter to head. Focus: how can we be supportive? • Based on job description • Head sets yearly goals with performance measures; reports periodically to the Board • Self assessment • Chair appoints committee to get input from board members; perhaps some focus groups of constituents.

20. Issues/Questions/Problems • Membership: parents of current students, faculty representation • Involvement in management issues; confusion of policy and procedures • Head of school communication with board members between meetings

21. Board minutes • Who else in the administration should attend board meetings • What committee meetings should you attend • Preparation for meetings; committee reports sent ahead of time • What to do about ineffective board members • How to show appreciation to board

22. Implications of Sarbanes Oxley • Separate Audit committee • Conflict of interest policy • Whistleblower protection policy • Review by-laws and Directors and Officers liability insurance • Educate board in duty of care and duty of loyalty

23. If you found this presentation helpful or have additional questions, please contact me at pgarrahan@xaverianbrothers.org Good luck! Sister Pat Garrahan, SND