What

SHOULD

I Do?A Guide to School Board Member

Effectiveness

Florida School Boards Association

Citizens often run for school board

and find when elected, they know

little regarding the actual role of

school board member.

They may possess a strong

knowledge about the district, but

have a limited background in

working with a governing board

and conducting business in a public

setting.

Or, they may have some

experience in working with

other boards, but have very

little knowledge of education

and many functions of a

district.

Each board member brings

different experiences and

knowledge to the position.

FSBA is here to help Florida

school board members learn to

use this diversity to become a

highly effective school board.

New board members as well as

experienced board members

can benefit from the advice

offered here.

Oftentimes, the question asked

of FSBA is, “What should I do?”

Here is a compilation of some

of the best advice and

suggestions for board service.

What Should I Do?

Place children at the

center of your decision-

making process.

Balancing the interests of

taxpayers and employees is

important, but not at the expense

of the student.

What Should I Do?

Be an advocate for

children.

This involves more than just

attending school events,

although that is an important

aspect of your job.

What Should I Do?

Form

collaborative and

cooperative

networks among

the school

district, the

community, and

the legislature to

benefit children.

What Should I Do?

Put your own

political

agenda aside

and focus on

the students.

What Should I Do?

Become informed on state

and national matters

regarding education.

Understanding the big picture is the

first step in preparing for the future.

What Should I Do?

Your homework!

Read the information that

you have been given to

prepare for the meeting.

Being prepared and

informed on issues helps

you make better decisions.

What Should I Do?

Ask questions!

Don’t make

assumptions!

and

What Should I Do?

Contact the superintendent

for clarification BEFORE a

meeting if there are

questions about an agenda

item.

This way there is ample time to make

sure the appropriate staff is present at

the meeting if necessary.

What Should I Do?

Take time to learn about

your district.

Research shows that boards from high

performing school districts are

knowledgeable about the initiatives

that are in place to ensure optimal

learning is occurring.

What Should I Do?

Visit the schools and participate in

district and school activities.

• Your interest and visibility will be appreciated.

• Be considerate of the

principal and staff.

• Don’t interrupt the

important business

they are conducting.

What Should I Do?

Understand that

individual board

members

represent the

entire school

system and, only

secondarily,

represent a

constituency.

What Should I Do?

Take advantage of

every opportunity

to learn formally

and informally.

What Should I Do?

The Iowa Association of School

Boards conducted research to

find out what school board

members can do to impact

student achievement. One of

the five essential behaviors is

learning together as a board

team.

Never stop learning!

To see more on the research from the IASB, click herehttp://www.ia-sb.org/StudentAchievement.aspx?id=436

What Should I Do?

Take some time for

personal reflection.

Look for ways to improve and

think about what you want to

accomplish during your time on

the board.

You can only get things

done with a majority

vote on your board.

You can’t do it alone.

Remember

What Should I Do?

Don’t take things

personally.

During your term,

some decisions will

go your way and

some will not.

After a decision has

been made,

immediately move on.If the horse is dead, dismount.

What Should I Do?

Keep a sense of

humor.

“He who laughs,

lasts.”Mary Pettibone Poole

Don’t take

yourself too

seriously.

What Should I Do?

Maintain a

thick skin.

If you “buy into”

the good things

that are said and

written about you,

you must also pay

attention to the

critical things that

are said or written.

What Should I Do?

What Should I Do?

Make the tough

decisions.

Don’t be afraid to take a

difficult stand. But, be

prepared with an

explanation as to why you

took the position.

It’s easy to make the

politically popular

decisions, but

sometimes you have

to pull up your boot

straps and do the

difficult—but right—

thing.

Your community elected you

to do just that.

Pull

What Should I Do?

Attend all regularly

scheduled board

meetings if possible

and become informed

concerning the issues

to be considered at

those meetings.

What Should I Do?

Always, always maintain

your integrity and be

ethical. It is Florida Law.

Familiarize yourself with the following:

“Ethics in Government”, Article II, Section 8, Constitution of the State of Florida

“Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees”, Florida Statute 112.311

And, as an elected official, know that you are always setting an example for others.

What Should I Do?Ethics 101

What Should I Do?Ethics 101

Only make

promises you can

keep.

Oftentimes when

running for office,

promises are made

that can’t be kept.

The reality of the situation is

that it takes a majority to make

things happen—one person

can’t deliver on a commitment

without the support of a

majority of the board.

If you have made a

promise and

realize that you

can’t keep it, be up

front and honest

about your

inability to follow

through.

Always operate

under the

Sunshine Law.

Courts have found that

both the letter and spirit

of the law must be

followed to remain in

compliance.

What Should I Do?Ethics 101

F.S. 286.011

In short, all of

the public’s

business and

discussion about

it must be

conducted in

public. F.S. 286.011

Always operate under

the Florida Public

Record Laws.

As an elected school board

member, you MUST ensure that

documents and records used

during the transaction of official

business are maintained and

accessible to the public.

What Should I Do?Ethics 101

Article I, Section 24

Florida Constitution

F.S. 119

Regardless of

physical form, all

transmissions made

or received in

connection with

the transaction of

school board

business is

considered a public

record.

Remember

If you don’t want

to see something

on the front page

or in the

headlines, don’t

write it in an

email, text, note,

blog, or letter.

Litigation and/or

criminal charges may

result from a failure

to comply with public

records laws or

Sunshine Laws.

School boards and

school board

members should seek

appropriate legal

advice on these

issues.

Article I, Section 24

Florida Constitution

F.S. 119

F.S. 286.011

What Should I Do?Ethics 101

Avoid situations that

might put you in a

position that could

cause a conflict of

interest.

“There is no right way

to do the wrong thing.”

What Should I Do?Ethics 101

Be trustworthy.

Maintain your word and

confidences, including

content shared during

executive sessions.

Action, indeed, is

the sole medium

of expression for

ethics.

Jane Addams

What Should I Do?Ethics 101

Think about it...

Ethics is all about doing the RIGHT thing.

As an elected official, the public is watching what

you do in ALL situations. Once your credibility is

put in question, it is difficult to gain it back.

Keep your actions above reproach.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Understand your

role as a board

member and the

role of the

superintendent.

Board

Superintendent

1001.42, Florida Statutes

1001.51, Florida Statutes

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Focus on policy and

governance; avoid

micromanaging.

Board

Superintendent

1001.42, Florida Statutes

1001.51, Florida Statutes

Allow the

superintendent and

staff to manage and

administer.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Micromanaging confuses staff and

puts them in an uncomfortable

position. It also undermines the

authority of the superintendent.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Learn the district’s

chain of command and

be sure it has been

followed before

stepping in to help

“solve” a problem.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Respond to individual concerns by

asking for an opportunity to check

into the situation.

It is important that YOU use the proper

chain of command when getting involved

in an issue.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Don’t expect to “fix” all the

problems (real or perceived)

people tell you about.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Get all perspectives of a

situation before forming

an opinion or

determining that

someone is at fault.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Avoid prejudging a

situation.

Listen to all sides, get the

facts, and then make your

decision.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Offer to share what you

learn at professional

trainings or conferences

with your other board

members.

Be open to all opportunities to

learn.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Try to make people

who appear before the

board feel welcome by

looking at them while

they speak.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Try to keep an open face,

warm voice and positive

body language when

speaking to the public AND

to your fellow board

members.

It is often not “what” you say but

“how” you say it.

Watch your non-verbal

communication!

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Don’t get involved in personnel matters.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to direct all staff.1001.51(7) Florida Statutes

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Keep your

comments positive

to the media, in

public or in private.

There is no such thing as “off

the record”.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

One of your most important roles as a board member is to be an advocate for your school system. Negativity from board members is destructive.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Be patient!

Things don’t happen

overnight.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Answer emails, phone

calls, and all

correspondence.

Being responsive is key to being an

effective board member. You serve

the public and the expectation is

that their concerns and requests

will be responded to in a timely

manner.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Pick your battles.

You can win the battle and

lose the war if every issue

becomes a fight.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Be slow to

speak.

Once you say something, you can’t take it back.

What Should I Do?Day to Day Operations

Find a balance

between your

duties as a

board member

and your

obligations to

your family.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

The school board and the

superintendent comprise

the district leadership

team.

How this group of people work together

and interact will set the tone for the

district.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Start with

the basics.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Be a good listener.

Listen to the public, to the

staff, to the superintendent

and listen to each other very

carefully.

Practice active listening.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Show respect to

fellow board

members when

they are speaking.

Side conversations, paper

shuffling, and disinterest while

they have the floor is simply

rude.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Be aware of non-verbal

communications with

your leadership team

also.

Of all the things you wear, your

expression is the most important.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Spend time getting to

know your leadership

team members.

Building a positive, personal

relationship based on trust and

respect will payoff in the long run.

You don’t have to like your

teammates but you do have to

create a successful working

environment.

I had no idea! I grew up in Michigan, too!

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Avoid surprising your

teammates.

Bombshell issues cannot be

satisfactorily resolved when others

are caught off guard.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Advocate for your

position, then

support the

board’s majority

decision even if it

wasn’t what you

wanted.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Always speak the

truth.

Don’t tell people what you

think they want to hear. It

isn’t fair to the team.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Hold on to your

beliefs and share

them clearly with

others.

“The man who pays an

ounce of principle for a

pound of popularity gets

badly cheated.”

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Be careful about

speaking on behalf

of the board.

YOUR opinion is not always THE opinion of the board.

Don’t speak for them unless you have been delegated to

do so.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Don’t throw your

leadership team

members under

the bus.

Who is it going to be this week?

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Develop a process

with the

superintendent

for requesting

information from

staff.

I have three

board members

asking me for

five different

things. How will

I ever get my job

done?

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Always be mindful

of the amount of

staff time you are

using with your

calls, drop-in visits,

requests, etc.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Attack the

problem, not the

people.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Take the high road.

Don’t put down,

criticize or embarrass

staff, fellow board

members, or members

of the audience at a

board meeting.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Don’t allow others to

criticize or embarrass

staff, fellow board

members, or members

of the audience at a

board meeting.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Focus on

developing policy.

It is THE fundamental part

of a board member’s job

description.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Be proactive with

your policies.

Don’t allow the legislature

to write your entire policy

manual.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Have a plan in place

for those board

meetings when

controversial issues

will be discussed.

How will the public’s concerns

be handled?

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Refrain from

responding to

citizens during

public comment.

This is the time to listen.

Make sure that a staff

person is designated to

handle someone who needs

immediate attention.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Let the district Chief

Negotiator do his or her

job.

Don’t try to be a “hero” and attend

bargaining sessions or contact members

of the union in an attempt to

individually settle the contract. This can

result in an unfair labor practice (ULP)

against the district.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Set high

expectations.

have highexpectations of

EVERY student.

What Should I Do?The Leadership Team

Accept nothing

other than

improved student

achievement.

What Should I Do?Final Thoughts

The school district

functions as a system.

There are many things to consider when deciding how to vote on an issue or when making an alternative motion.

What Should I Do?Final Thoughts

Once you begin altering one part of the school system, other departments and areas are impacted as well.

What Should I Do?Final Thoughts

Consult with the professionals in your district. Ask how a decision might impact operations.

Direct impact

Indirectimpact

Inducedimpact

What Should I Do?Final Thoughts

You were elected to the

position of school board

member because your

community believes that

you can be trusted with its

most valuable assets—its

children and its money.

What Should I Do?Final Thoughts

You have been

given an absolute

trust.

Do not violate it.

Earn points toward your Certified

Board Member (CBM) distinction.

Now that you have viewed this presentation,

click the blue button below the slideshare to

fill out the CBM Reflection form.

You will be awarded 1 point in

Communications/ Public Relations once your

form has been received by the FSBA Board

Development Office.

What Should I Do?Final Thoughts

If you need any assistance or

have any questions, please

contact the Florida School

Boards Association.

Phone 850-414-2578 www.fsba.org Fax 850-414-2585

203 S. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301