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

Team IASB Harry Heiligenthal Leadership Services Director direct (515) Mary Jane Vens Board Development Director direct (515) www.ia-sb.org

Outline This board discussion tool is divided into five parts: 1.Let’s Imagine: Prioritizing Funds 2.Board Members’ Responses 3.The Reasons 4.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, IASB’s 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?) See handout p. 4

Here are the rules… Please follow the rules Rule #1: This is individual work; do not discuss your choices at this time. See handout p. 4

Here are the rules… Please follow the rules Rule #2: 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. See handout p. 4

Here are the rules… Please follow the rules Rule #3: 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. See handout p. 4

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. See handout p. 4

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 See handout p. 5

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 See handout p. 5

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. See handout p. 5

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 Click each priority area to review the possible reasons Increase course offerings and programming 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

Increase course offerings and programming Increase in Course Offerings and programming to better meet a wide variety of individual needs. Many districts are struggling with ways to meet the changing and highly individualized needs of students. District staff would like to meet those varied needs and sometimes feel restricted by the lack of program options.

Increase course offerings and programming, continued Increase in Course Offerings and programming to better meet a wide variety of individual needs. Districts that see gaps in student achievement between certain demographic or learning groups might look at this option favorably.

Informed Community Engagement Informed Community Engagement with, and knowledge of, the school district’s needs and strengths. As long as Iowa schools remain “community school districts,” it will be important for their communities to understand the needs of the district so they can become involved in and supportive of changes in the system. Any district contemplating big picture changes might consider this area.

Solid fiscal security If district resources have been plummeting and needs have been escalating, the district may find itself scrambling for viability in any area. A solvency ratio below 5% and an unspent authorized budget (unspent balance) with a declining trend line are indicators of great need in this area.

Quality Professional Development Quality Professional Development focused on improved instruction. Teachers want to be catalysts for increased student learning. Implementing ambitious student learning standards (Common Core/Iowa Core), powerful teaching methods, and an ongoing assessment system that measures high- level student learning requires a strong professional development system. Districts who want much more for their students or see lagging student learning in a focus area will certainly acknowledge the need for this work.

Infrastructure development Infrastructure Development (buildings, buses, equipment updating air-conditioning to a zippy new track.) Infrastructure needs are often safety needs. The lack of attention to infrastructure needs can result in much greater expense in the future. Districts who find that their infrastructure has become a detriment to student or staff learning will be likely to choose this option.

Technology Increasing the use of technology to improve higher-level learning. The skill-sets for life success are rapidly changing. The demands of the modern day, “digital” workplace require graduates who can think critically and work collaboratively in a technology and information-rich environment. Schools need to adapt to ensure classroom instruction is infused with technology and challenging learning tasks that demand critical thinking and problem-solving.

Technology, continued Increasing the use of technology to improve higher-level learning. Districts who have not explored the potential benefits of increasing technology, or who feel their current use of technology is not yet productive, cost-effective, or fully realized may be attracted to this option.

Your Choice Every district is unique, as is every board member. It will be important to learn if unique interests are especially important to some members of the board.

4. 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.

Vision & Voice for Public Education