How to Be on the Board Without Walking the Plank Effective Boards

Clearly Defined Board Roles Governance, not management Effective board governance begins with a clear understanding of the board’s roles.

Effective Meeting Policy Attending and actively participating in meetings is perhaps the most basic board member responsibility. Attending and actively participating in meetings is perhaps the most basic board member responsibility. There are a number of basic meeting procedures board members should be familiar with, although charter school board meetings often proceed in a very informal fashion. There are a number of basic meeting procedures board members should be familiar with, although charter school board meetings often proceed in a very informal fashion.

Avoiding “Mission Drift” A charter school board is responsible for leading to the mission A charter school board is responsible for leading to the mission Keep in mind that the duties of the board include loyalty to the mission and goals of your organization. Keep in mind that the duties of the board include loyalty to the mission and goals of your organization.

Providing Guidance to the School Administrator The role of the board is to set policy and provide leadership. The role of the board is to set policy and provide leadership. This role needs to be distinguished from the role of administrating the school. This role needs to be distinguished from the role of administrating the school. It is especially important for board members who are also employees of the school to distinguish their two roles, as board member and as teacher. It is especially important for board members who are also employees of the school to distinguish their two roles, as board member and as teacher.

Board Role in Finance The charter school board is responsible for ensuring that the school has adequate finances and that money is responsibly spent. As a “trustee” of your organization’s money, you are responsible for seeing that it is well spent. This does not mean yo must approve every expenditure. It does mean that you should know the money was spent effectively to deliver the kind of programs and services you have authorized.

How to Actively Support Your Charter School As a board member, you should consider roles supporting your school, in addition to the decision- making role you carry out on the board.

Board Role in Planning: Focus on the Long-Term Board members, acting as a team, should make a written plan that outlines the long-term future of the organization. Board members, acting as a team, should make a written plan that outlines the long-term future of the organization. Whether or not you have a formal strategic plan, a focus on the long term will help you act more efficiently to lead the organization. Whether or not you have a formal strategic plan, a focus on the long term will help you act more efficiently to lead the organization.

Board Role in Facilities Management The school board of a charter school, like a public school district’s board, is the entity responsible for seeing that the school facilities meet federal, state, and local codes and ordinances. The school board of a charter school, like a public school district’s board, is the entity responsible for seeing that the school facilities meet federal, state, and local codes and ordinances. Typically, facilities responsibilities will be delegated by the board to appropriate professionals. Typically, facilities responsibilities will be delegated by the board to appropriate professionals. However, you may take a more active role if the school is seeking a new facility. However, you may take a more active role if the school is seeking a new facility.

Board Role in Learning Assessment Assessing learning, and being accountable for results, are a critical responsibility of charter schools. Assessing learning, and being accountable for results, are a critical responsibility of charter schools. The board must ensure that data on learning is collected, analyzed assessment data should inform decision-making about the program. The board must ensure that data on learning is collected, analyzed assessment data should inform decision-making about the program.