The New Horizon School Board enjoyed a successful Town Meeting with the passage of its budget. During its first meeting, with two newly elected members present, the board reorganizes and reelects its current chair and clerk. Following the elections, a member suggests that the board consider goals for the year. The members begin a discussion of ideas for goals.
One of the new members suggests that an evaluation of the transportation system would be a good goal for the group. Another new member lobbies for reviewing the policies on staff evaluation. Long range budget planning is nominated as an area of interest. A member of the audience mentions that evaluating the administration would be a good goal topic.
The chair interrupts the discussion and reminds the group that the board adopted a policy two years ago calling for an annual orientation of new members, and that goal setting would logically follow the orientation session. The policy includes a list of topics to be covered during the orientation. She advises the group that the orientation session is on the agenda for the next board meeting.
The superintendent distributes the draft agenda for the orientation session and invites board members to submit, before the session, any additional topics that they would like to consider. The agenda topics include:
- The role of the board in school governance
- School budget development, implementation and evaluation
- Making decisions
- Working as a team
- Acting strategically
- The authority of the board
- Policy development and implementation
The chair distributes copies of the VSBA Code of Ethics for School Board Members, along with a current policy manual and asks members to review these materials before the next meeting. She also reminds the members to call the superintendent with questions or suggestions for inclusion in the work session.
What topics would you suggest for the work session?
How could the organization of this meeting have been improved?
What is your board orientation process?
What did you think of the goal suggestions raised during the meeting?