Building Boards for Success: Strategies for Cultivating Good Governance National Charter Schools Conference | July 1, 2013 Orlando Castellon Director for Board Appointments and Development The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools | Central Michigan University

2 WHO IS HERE TODAY? o Authorizers (sponsors) o Operators (ESPs, EMOs) o Support organizations

3 GOALS: 1.Disseminate best practices 2.Discuss what has worked 3.Share some resources

4 CASE STUDY: SIMON SAYS o What is the most important issue in this case? o What do you think should be done first to address the issue? o What could have been done differently to avoid the situation entirely?

5 WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE BOARD? o Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards Board Source – Richard T. Ingram o Charter School Board University: An Introduction to Effective Charter School Governance National Charter Schools Institute – Brian Carpenter o Trustee Handbook: A Guide to Effective Governance for Independent School Boards National Association of Independent Schools – Mary Hundley DeKuyper o Board Essentials The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools at Central Michigan University

6 CASE STUDY: WHAT’S PAST IS…OUR PROBLEM NOW o What is the most important issue in this case? o What do you think should be done first to address the issue? o What could have been done differently to avoid the situation entirely?

7 STRATEGIES TO CULTIVATE GOOD GOVERNANCE

8 IDENTIFY o It’s important to know who you are and what skill sets you have on the board. o What skills are you looking for? o Where do you go to identify a good candidate?

9 CULTIVATION o Cultivation = building relationships o Can be the work of a committee o Should include a menu of options for involvement o Develop board member info sheet

10 NOMINATE o Formal process o Ensure overall consensus o Board self-evaluation

11 ORIENT o Develop a process o How do you organize the process? o Who should be included in the process? o Not an overnight process

12 SKILL DEVELOPMENT o Why do we need skill development? o Who can help us with skill development? o What should development look like?

13 TERM EXPIRATION OR TERM LIMITS : SELF ASSESSMENT o Understand your bylaws o Have a record of term expiration o Utilize a self assessment for the board o Schedule strategic planning

14 STRATEGIES TO CULTIVATE GOOD GOVERNANCE

OTHER BEST PRACTICES 15 o Board meeting packets o Meeting and agenda development o Evaluations o Conflict of interests policy/program o Staggered terms o Board member job descriptions o Others?

RESOURCES: 16 o The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools. Board Essentials. o DeKuyper, Mary Hundley. Trustee Handbook: A Guide to Effective Governance For Independent School Boards. National Association of Independent Schools. o BoardSource. The Source 12: Twelve Principles of Governance That Power Exceptional Boards. BoardSource. o Ingram, Richard T. Ten Basic Responsibilities of Nonprofit Boards. BoardSource. o Carver, John. Boards That Make a Difference: A New Design for Leadership in Nonprofit and Public Organizations. o Lakey, Berit M. The Board Building Cycle: Nine Steps to Finding, Recruiting, and Engaging Nonprofit Board Members. BoardSource. o Carpenter, Brian L. Charter School Board University: An Introduction to Effective Charter School Governance. National Charter Schools Institute. o Cornell Feist, Marci. Board Meetings: A Guide for Charter Schools. The High Bar.

17 CONTACT INFO/QUESTIONS Orlando Castellon Director for Board Appointments and Development |

18 The Center for Charters Contact The Governor John Engler Center for Charter

CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS AUTHORIZED BY CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY