Considering Board Priorities at the Board Table At the Board Table Discussion Tool © Iowa Association of School Boards

Outline This board discussion tool is divided into five parts: Let’s Imagine: Prioritizing Funds Board Members’ Responses The Reasons Superintendent’s Response

Introduction What are the district’s main priorities from the perspective of the people at your board table? This “At the Board Table” will help you think about that!

Why Priorities? There is a limited amount of time for board work. The board can not learn about and provide support for everything. An important part of board leadership is providing focus and direction for district work.

Why Priorities? The superintendent has a finite amount of valuable leadership time. It is important for the superintendent to hear the board talking about, and coming to consensus around, what it believes would provide the most value-added contribution to the district in order that the superintendent can provide professional perspective to that discussion.

Why Priorities? There are limited district resources. As Gary Sinclair, Financial Planning Services Director, likes to say, “You can do anything you want, but you can’t do everything you want.” In other words, decisions have to be made based on the board’s priorities.

1. So, Let’s Imagine…

Let’s Imagine Let’s imagine you have been given a “magic hundred dollar bill” that will produce great benefits for your district. It will allow your district to make great strides in school improvement in a given area. It will buy you a great deal more than the actual amount in time, energy, materials and motivation for good work. But there are strings attached! (Aren’t there always?)

Here are the rules… Please follow the rules Rule #1: This is individual work; do not discuss your choices at this time.

Here are the rules… Please follow the rules You must acknowledge that the great benefit in this area will only come at a cost to other areas. For example: Solid fiscal security might mean making cuts in programming or staff. It may mean delaying some purchases of, or the updating of, equipment. If you are about to visit the School Budget Review Committee this priority still may have a great appeal—if you already have a 10% fiscal solvency ratio, perhaps not.

Here are the rules… Please follow the rules You may spend all your money in one place, or you may spend $80 on one priority area and $20 in another. These are your only two options. The money may not go to more than two areas or be allocated in any amounts other than the $80/$20 split; or to a single item.

Here are the rules… Please follow the rules Rule #4: You may chose from among the following list of areas. Please do so individually and be prepared to “defend” your allocation in two sentences. Refer to your district mission statement (posted) as you prepare this “defense.” Note you have the option of creating one new or additional area, but only one.

The Choices Increase in course offerings and programming to better meet a wide variety of individual needs. Informed community engagement with and knowledge of the school district’s needs and strengths. Solid fiscal security. Quality professional development focused on improving instruction.

The Choices, continued Infrastructure development (buildings, buses, equipment updating from air-conditioning to a zippy new track). Technology: Increasing the use of technology to improve higher level learning. Your choice.

2. Board Member Responses

Let’s Hear Back from You! Please state your original one or two selections and state the “whys.” Be as descriptive as possible about what you would like to “show for your money.” Please note how this choice relates to your district mission.

3. The Reasons

Introduction You have now heard from each other regarding some initial thinking about your district priorities. The good news is: you do have resources that can be “magic.” The time, energy and collective commitment of your district’s staff to a focused, board endorsed priority can “work magic.” So can a focused, determined, supportive and united school board. Here are some thoughts from IASB staff on the listed priority areas.

Possible Reasons for Choosing Priority Areas Increase course offerings and programming Click each priority area to review the possible reasons Informed community engagement Solid fiscal security Quality professional development

Possible Reasons for Choosing Priority Areas, continued Click each priority area to review the possible reasons Infrastructure development Technology Your Choice

4. Superintendent’s Response

Superintendent’s Response Please ask your superintendent to provide some thoughts regarding what he/she heard from the board this evening. What differences and similarities emerge? What kind of choices need to be made? What kind of information will best help the board make those choices? How can the board come to clear consensus around a firm focus?

Conclusion Every dollar the board allocates, every minute the board spends discussing priority issues at the board table has the potential to make a significant difference. But you can’t do everything. Use this discussion as a springboard to develop a board agenda that will have frequent updates on a priority area. Ensure that you are preparing for a superintendent evaluation with clear-cut priorities and indicators of progress that will fairly reflect this prioritization.

Team IASB Harry Heiligenthal Mary Jane Vens Leadership Services Director email hheiligenthal@ia-sb.org direct (515) 247-7062 Mary Jane Vens Board Development Director email mjvens@ia-sb.org direct (515) 247-7023 1-800-795-4272 www.ia-sb.org

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