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A Practical Guide to Effective School Board Meetings
- Rene S. Townsend
- James R. Brown - Glendale Unified School District, Retired - Superintendent, Leadership Associates consultant
- Walter L. Buster - Clovis Unified School District, Retired - Superintendent, Leadership Associates consultant
Foreword by Michael Kirst
February 2005 | 200 pages | Corwin
If board meetings are something you simply "get through" so you can get on with your "real" work, this book is a must.
As superintendent, and with the support of this realistic, detailed, and entertaining book, you can now turn board meetings into productive, results-getting events that help you focus on teaching, learning, and achieving your district's goals.The authors, having chaired over 1,000 board meetings amongthem, discuss:
As superintendent, and with the support of this realistic, detailed, and entertaining book, you can now turn board meetings into productive, results-getting events that help you focus on teaching, learning, and achieving your district's goals.The authors, having chaired over 1,000 board meetings amongthem, discuss:
- Creating role clarity and building the superintendent-based team to increase effectiveness and support positive working relationships
- Developing general operating procedures that work
- Carrying out effective board meetings
- Critical aspects of the meeting itself, as well as tips on conducting closed sessions
- Post-meeting follow-up and how these activities affect and influence the culture of the district
Michael W. Kirst
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Part I. The Leadership Challenge
1. Focusing on Teaching and Learning
2. Building the Superintendent-Board Team
Part II. Pre-Meeting Planning
3. Planning the Calendar and Agenda
4. Preparing: Sweat the Small Stuff
5. Designing the Board Packet
6. Communicating the Agenda
Part III. Meeting Time
7. Conducting the Board Meeting
8. Meeting Behind Closed Doors
Part IV. Post-Meeting
9. Following Up
10. Recovering
11. Wrapping Up
Resource A: Board-Superintendent Protocols (Sample)
Resource B: Twelve-Month Calendar (Sample)
Resource C: Board Agenda Development Worksheet (Sample)
Resource D: Individual Agenda Item (Sample)
Resource E: Welcome to the Board Meeting (Sample)
Resource F: Request to Speak Cards (Samples)
References
Index
"This practical guide supports the design and conduct of board meetings in ways that focus the management of the district on its teaching and learning mission. The authors identify collaborative strategies and workable solutions for dealing with difficult and challenging circumstances."
February 2006