Governance 101 Roles and Responsibilities of Board of Trustees

Who? The Board of Trustees is the organized group of volunteers who, collectively, are legally and morally accountable for the viability of the organization The Board of Trustees is the organized group of volunteers who, collectively, are legally and morally accountable for the viability of the organization The Board only has authority when it votes as group The Board only has authority when it votes as group Unless so designated, no single member has authority for the board as a whole. Unless so designated, no single member has authority for the board as a whole.

Governance This encompasses legal responsibilities, general oversight, planning and policy making, and meeting fiduciary requirements This encompasses legal responsibilities, general oversight, planning and policy making, and meeting fiduciary requirements The Bylaws delineate the board’s duties and powers The Bylaws delineate the board’s duties and powers

Duty of Care A Board member - has the legal responsibility to put the welfare of the organization ahead of his/her own -has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of the school - attends Board meetings and actively participates

Duty of Loyalty A Board Member must -not knowingly do anything that would harm the school -not vote on any matter on which s/he has a personal interest

Duties of the Board of Trustees To govern and to be directly accountable to the state To govern and to be directly accountable to the state To hire and evaluate school leaders To hire and evaluate school leaders To ensure compliance with all state and federal laws To ensure compliance with all state and federal laws To develop strategic and accountability plans To develop strategic and accountability plans To oversee finances and to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities To oversee finances and to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities To ensure charter renewal To ensure charter renewal

Expectations of a Trustee Governor Governor Fulfilling governance functions Ambassador Ambassador Reaching out to the community Sponsor Sponsor Donating time and resources Consultant Consultant Utilizing skills and expertise on behalf of the organization

Open Meeting Law Board of Trustees is required to adhere to Open Meeting Law (G.L.c.30A,S11A 1/2 ) - post meeting time and date Board of Trustees is required to adhere to Open Meeting Law (G.L.c.30A,S11A 1/2 ) - post meeting time and date - Hold open, public discussions - Keep accurate records (OML….subsequent training session)

Resources Creating an Effective Charter School Governing Board Guidebook Creating an Effective Charter School Governing Board Guidebook The Board Café The Board Café Building Effective Non-Profit Boards Building Effective Non-Profit Boards Massachusetts Charter Schools Trustees Guide Feist, Marci Cornell The Massachusetts Charter Schools Trustees Guide. Boston: Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research Massachusetts Charter Schools Trustees Guide Feist, Marci Cornell The Massachusetts Charter Schools Trustees Guide. Boston: Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research