Strategies for Working With New Board Members

Strategies For Working With New Board Of Education Members

by Dr. Walter J. Doherty, Superintendent, Central Square Central School District

Superintendent’s Informal and Formal Welcoming and Congratulations:

Send a Letter from the Superintendent

Send News Release to Press

Put something in the Superintendent’s Column, District Newsletter

Board of Educations Informal and Formal Welcoming and Congratulations:

Letter from the Board President

Reception at the Annual Reorganizational Meeting

Use New School Board Member Orientation Programs:

Local Orientation Program:

· Superintendent and Board President

· Suggested Tonics: Role of a School Board Member
Role of the Superintendent
Structure of the Public School System
School Board Associations
Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES)
Collective Bargaining and Personnel Management
School Budget Development
Curriculum and Instruction
District Shared decision Making Plan
District Strategic Plan
District Support Services (Transportation, Buildings & Grounds, Food Services, Technology)
Special Education
Athletic Programs

Regional Orientation Program (such as CNYSBA):

· New board members only

State Orientation Program (NYSSBA):

· Superintendent and new board members

Nurture and Maintain Positive Relationship with Board Members:

Participate (as Superintendent) in school board development activities

Provide the Board with Weekly Updates

Start and keep all board meetings operating on a positive tone:

- Hold Board meetings in schools

- Have students performing music as the board members and audience enter the meeting room

- Have student and faculty presentations

- Announcement on "What’s Right With ____________ Schools ?"

- Have a mid-meeting break for refreshments, and so the Board can mingle with the audience members

- Keep meetings to 2 to 21/2 hours - board members have other lives and have to go to work in the morning

- Celebrate "important" events at meetings, (i.e.: birthdays, landmark anniversaries, etc. )

Board of Education / Superintendent Relations

"A marriage made in Heaven……. or Not."

· The Superintendent’s Contract is a combination of Marriage Vows and Prenuptial Agreement

· The first 6 month is the "Honeymoon Period," where positions are established.

· Communication and mutual understanding are keys to success.

· Respect for each other strengths, and understand of each other’s weaknesses.

· The continual willingness to look out for each other is important.

· Share responsibilities, with a clear understanding of differences in responsibilities.

· Encourage a mutual belief that the "best of all worlds" is that the relationship stays in place.

· Disagreements do not have to end in divorce. The deterrent to divorce is that it is can be expensive to both sides.

· Hopefully you will be able to celebrate many anniversaries.