Board Structure & Responsibilities Governing Board Online Training Module

Board Structure and Responsibilities How will the governing board members be selected? How long are board terms? What are the training requirements? What are the expectations for conduct? What are the conflict of interest guidelines? What are the procedures and protocols for meetings and work sessions? How will the board be evaluated? What will be documented in the Board Member Agreement?

Board Composition Appointed or elected governing board members Size of the governing board Candidates for the governing board Diversity in experience and skill Community connections Diversity in perspective Employees as advisors

Characteristics of Effective Governing Boards Passionate belief in the mission Shares a clear vision for the future Has a firm understanding of the charter Focused on results Focused on strategic issues Has a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities Has an appropriate structure, size, and composition Has a clear understanding of the difference between governance and management Maintains a strong relationship with the school leader Facilitates the mutual support of a strong school leader who understands charter governance

Governing Board Officers President Chairman Vice-President or Vice-Chair Secretary Treasurer

New Member Recruitment Needs assessment Recruiting and nominating Appointment or election New member orientation Board books Training Mentor

The Board Book Vision and mission statements The school’s strategic plan The current year’s scheduled board meetings The board annual calendar Board member roster with contact information The current year’s budget The bylaws Other important documents

Term Limits Staggered terms Term length Term limitation

Governance Models “Shared” governing board Parents Community members Advisors to the board “Professional” governing board Business leaders Educational leaders Elected officials

Key Roles and Responsibilities Promote the vision and mission statements Strategically plan for the school’s future Adopt appropriate legal documents Track legislative issues that affect charter schools Monitor the effectiveness of the program Provide financial oversight Secure adequate resources Hire, support, and evaluate the administrator Network in the community Delegate to committees

Board Committees Report to the governing board Expectations and policy set by governing board 5 – 8 members, with a chairperson Standing committees Ad-hoc committees

Board Assessment Evaluating effectiveness Self-assessment External input Areas for evaluation Vision and mission dedication Communication Finance management Policy development Relationship building Committees

Summary Develop structures to ensure a diverse governing board composition that supports the oversight responsibilities of the board. Make use of governing board member agreements, board manuals, and recruiting committees to develop a governing board with a strong character. Establish structures for officers, committees, terms, and assessment to ensure the ongoing success of the governing board. Adopt a governance model that aligns with the roles and responsibilities of the governing board and supports a shared decision-making model.