Great

School Boards
Matter

Why. . .
High-Performing School Boards
are reflected by
High-Performing Students The Lighthouse Project
A National Research Project (1998-2012)
 Chapter 1:
Building a Governance Team
Chapter 2:
How Great School Boards Work
Chapter 3:
Symptoms of School Boards in Distress

Chapter 4:
Voters, It’s All Up To You
 Every 2 Years there is a School Board Election

Voters
7 Trustees Represent
ALL Local Voters

Candidates
Campaign

In December
Elected Representatives
In November
Take their Oath of Office
Voters Elect Their
Representatives
In December, School Boards
elect a Board President,
I wonder what a When will I
Vice-President & Board Clerk get my
Board training?
President
Does?
Me? Board President?
I wonder what
a I’m so honored. Where’s the
School Board Of course I accept.
Superintendent
Does? ?
School Board
Organization Community
Chart

Board President

Board Clerk Vice-President

Board Member Board Member

Board Member Board Member

School Board Organization

Next,
the Board…

Hires the Superintendent, who:

1. Works for the School Board
• Is the Board’s only employee
• Is the only district employee the board hires and evaluates.
2. Advises the board (when asked)
3. Is the only member of the Governance Team who
cannot vote
The Governance Team Goes to Work
Superintendent

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Board Member

Board Clerk

Vice-President Board
President
Organization Community
of the
Governance
Team Board President

Board Clerk Vice-President

Board Member Board Member

Board Member Board Member

The School Board

Superintendent
 Chapter 1:
Building a Governance Team

Chapter 2:
How Great School Boards Work
Chapter 3:
Symptoms of School Boards in Distress

Chapter 4:
Voters, It’s All Up To You
 Everyone on the Governance Team is responsible
for making sure their work gets done properly and well.

Here’s our most recent

results, comparison data,
staffing and budget plan I brought training materials
from the last conference I
attended.

I worked on aligning
I brought research this with our working
from other school agreements.
districts working on
this.

I have our public and

I brought a list of staff input report. We
training options that need more parent and
principals and student input. I also
teachers requested have our media report.

I’ll draft a work plan,

This is a big job, I’ll assist the schedule & assignments
board president & superintendent for discussion and
prepare our agendas and study approval at our next
sessions until we’re done. meeting.
The Board’s
Job is to
Community support,
make sure... ideas and help are
welcome.

Everyone
follows the Law

Problems are Solved Everyone has clear direction

Students
First !

Questions are answered

Everyone is Working
The Board
President’s
Job is to make
sure the Everyone
Board has is working
what it together

needs to do The community is

informed & involved
their work …

The Budget is
accurate & easily
Everyone has all the facts, data and understood
information necessary to make sure by everyone
students are succeeding

ACCOUNTABILITY: TRANSPARENCY:
Everyone is informed, has access to the The Board MUST
same information and is working together conduct its
work in public
The Superintendent is
Responsible for . . .

Superintendent

About 500 Employees

ABOUT 4,800 STUDENTS

The job of the Board President
is the facilitation of the work of the Board and its ability Job
to comply with its working agreements & mutual expectations. . . .
#1
Board WORK
Board Presidents are responsible
for scheduling Board Workshops
on important matters such as:
Board Workshops! Preparing Agendas
Transparency
Accountability
Ethics
Superintendent
Goals
Strategies
Student Achievement
Student Health
Special Education
Student Discipline
Bullying
Budget Workshops
Personnel
Resources
Ethical Leadership
Community Relations
Partnerships
Curriculum
Technology
Training
Parent Involvement
Board Evaluations
Superintendent Evaluations
Legal Issues
Etc.
The Board President assumes responsibility Job
for facilitating the relationship between
the superintendent and the Board . . . #2
Working
Relationships
“Open Session”
BOARD WORKSHOPS
are the only legal venue
where ALL Board
Members and
Superintendent
can meet, hold discussions
and work together and with the
community to:
Set goals
Solve problems
Learn
Share Information
Discuss issues
Set policy
Etc.
 Community
Distribution of Power
VOTERS are THE Power Brokers
VOTERS
Voters have the power to elect competent
leaders and demand competent leadership.

The Board President Board President

Competent leaders elect a competent leader
to the most powerful position in a public
school district. The board president must
schedule time for board discussions on the
board’s agenda.

Board Members
Board Members MUST hold the Board
President accountable for making sure the
Board can do its work. School Board
No action can be taken without a majority
vote of the Board.

The Superintendent
The Superintendent works for the Board and
is responsible for making sure about 500 Superintendent
employees follow the direction of the Board.

About 500 Employees

STUDENTS
When a School Board does a good job,
students succeed and that is why:
GREAT SCHOOL BOARDS 4,800 STUDENTS
MATTER
 Chapter 1:
Building a Governance Team
Chapter 2:
How Great School Boards Work

Chapter 3:
Symptoms of School Boards in Distress

Chapter 4:
Voters, It’s All Up To You
 nt
i de
es
Pr
d
ar
Bo
rd
B oa
l
hoo
Sc er
in
t
p nt
Su de 500
en t es
ou y e
Ab plo
Em
, 8 00 TS
4 EN
T UD
S

Leaders
who act like
Lone Rangers . . .

trying to carry
the weight of the world
on their shoulders . . .
will fall. . . and when they do
they bring the rest of us
crashing down with them.
When voters see . . .

Leaders fighting and squabbling

instead of working . . .

Leaders pointing fingers of blame

instead of solving problems . . .

Too many good people

leaving . . .

Important people are not at the table Leaders defeated by the lack of
where decisions are made . . . support limping away . . .

It’s time for a LEADERSHIP change

When voters see . . .

Leaders so quiet
you feel the need
to do a check up…

Leaders who don’t

think for themselves…

Leaders carrying too much weight…

Leaders without critical skills

are holding back the team...

Leaders who are grandstanding

instead of working…

It’s time for a LEADERSHIP change

Remember: “Closed Session” Board Workshops Cause
Problems
2003 – 2006
TUSD Board Presidents
scheduled dozens of
Closed Session
Board Workshops
(and that is illegal)

Indicators of this Problem in 2006:

1. Community support declined
2. Almost $300,000. spent for Architectural
Plans had to be thrown in the trash.
3. District faced millions of dollars in lawsuits
4. Staff turnover rates escalated.
5. THS had more than 14 different Principals
and Vice-Principals in 3 years.
6. THS lost full WASC Accreditation
7. 1999 Bond monies were withheld while
roads were unsafe and students were
freezing in winter
8. Student Achievement Gap increased
9. Student discipline declined
10. Cutting programs left students unable to
complete multi-year long commitments.
11. Voters elected a new Board Majority

REMEMBER: Closed Session meetings

are required by law for:
1. Individual Personnel issues
2. Individual Student issues
3. Meeting with negotiators on real estate
price (and only price)
4. Employee Negotiations
5. Litigation
Remember: Open Session Board Workshops = SUCCESS
2007 - 2009
TUSD Board President
scheduled
“Open Session”
Board Workshops
& Involved the Community

Successes Include:
• High-Performing Superintendent hired
• High-Performing THS Principal hired
• $2-Million drop in legal costs
• Completion of THS quad, roads & cafeteria.
• Full WASC Accreditation at THS
• TUSD’s First Distinguished Schools
• Student Achievement Gap closed
• Student Achievement Scores Improved
• Algebra Scores rose dramatically
• Staff turnover rate declined
• 3-Year Budget Plan
• Strategic Plan developed by Community
• Facility and Real Estate Holdings managed
by district and community Professionals.
• New JMS Principal hired
• School Resource Officer hired
• New Anti-Bullying programs enforced
• Reduction in student expulsions
• JMS Ag Department made safe for
students
• New Partnerships built
• Staff put students first & agreed to pay
cuts
Remember: A School Board that does
NOT hold “Open Session” Board Workshops Is NOT doing their job . . .

2009 – 2010
TUSD Board President
refused to schedule any
Board Workshops
(Board Presidents are required by law to place any
item requested by a citizen or board member
on the Board’s Agenda.)

Indicators of a problem:
1. Board Members and Board Officers
resign and are not replaced
2. There are more APPOINTED than
ELECTED Board Members
3. School Board does not conduct a Self-
Evaluation and publish for community
review
4. Superintendent evaluations are not
conducted by all Board Members
5. Classroom supplies are insufficient
6. Board members’ vacation plans prevent
the board from conducting their work.
7. The superintendent is receiving
directives from individual board
members or board officers.
 Chapter 1:
Building a Governance Team
Chapter 2:
How Great School Boards Work
Chapter 3:
Symptoms of School Boards in Distress

Chapter 4:
Voters, It’s Up To You
Choice # 1 Choice # 2 Choice # 3

A School Board A School Board A School Board

That works That works That Does
Behind in the open NOT Work?
Closed Doors? and welcomes
your help?
 A School Board President’s
Role and Level of Authority

1 The job of the Board President is

the facilitation of the work of the Board
WORK and its ability to comply with its working
agreements and mutual expectations.

2
Working The Board President will assume responsibility
for facilitating the relationship between the
Relationships superintendent and the Board.

3
Competent THE BOARD will elect a member for this position
Work who is well suited to the responsibilities.