Head of School’sBoard Tool Box

NCEA Atlanta 2006

“OLD” SAT analogy

Our board is to our school as

________ is to _________

Board as control mechanism

Dam: river

Curbstone : road

Border collie: herd

Control tower: pilot

Landlord: tenant

Board as strategic direction setter

Compass: navigation

Headlights: auto

Rudder: boat

Guidance system:satellite

Periscope: submarine

Board as meaning maker

Inspiration: poet

Values: choices

Designer: work of art

Vision: implementation

Types of Boards

• Governing

• Advisory

• Limited Jurisdiction

Each type has different relationships with Head of School, all of which are tricky!

Use things from your teacher’s “Bag of Tricks”

• Modeling what you want: – communication– collaboration

• Identifying positive examples• Start with the end in mind

– Objectives– Assessment

• Clear standards• Each class is different and students have

different backgrounds and needs

GPS SystemKnowing where you are

Mission Focus

• Catholic identity• Student learning• Dignity of the teacher• Partnership with parents• Focused on things that ONLY the

Board can do to promote the mission

Roles and Responsibilities

• Board as a whole

• Individual members

• Committees

• Chair

• Head of school

• Sponsoring entity

Skill sets of Board members

• Personal and professional backgrounds

• Orientation

• On-going Board Formation

• Attitude of “nose in, fingers out”

Current realities of the school

• Student and faculty profiles

• Programs

• Facilities

• Finances

• Your concerns

• Competitive landscape

Telescope(not a microscope)

Crystal ball

• Clear vision for five years ahead

• Planning for next generation of students

Target—Goal Setting

Goals and Assessment Practices

• “Data-driven, measurable outcomes”

• Model by setting your own for the school and your job performance. Report on progress and ask for help.

Board Self-Assessments

• Do we have the right people with the needed expertise to move the school forward?

• How are we doing operationally?• Frequency, time, place of meetings, food• Materials and minutes• Meeting experience

Board Self assessments

• How are we fulfilling our responsibilities as a board and as committees?

• What are our goals and what progress are we making?

• How well do individual board members fulfill their responsibilities?

Head of School Assessment• Regular executive session with

management letter to head. Focus: how can we be supportive?

• Based on job description• Head sets yearly goals with performance

measures; reports periodically to the Board

• Self assessment• Chair appoints committee to get input

from board members; perhaps some focus groups of constituents.

Issues/Questions/Problems

• Membership: parents of current students, faculty representation

• Involvement in management issues; confusion of policy and procedures

• Head of school communication with board members between meetings

• Board minutes• Who else in the administration should

attend board meetings• What committee meetings should you

attend• Preparation for meetings; committee reports

sent ahead of time• What to do about ineffective board

members• How to show appreciation to board

Implications of Sarbanes Oxley

• Separate Audit committee

• Conflict of interest policy

• Whistleblower protection policy

• Review by-laws and Directors and Officers liability insurance

• Educate board in duty of care and duty of loyalty

If you found this presentation helpful or have additional questions, please contact me at pgarrahan@xaverianbrothers.org

Good luck!

Sister Pat Garrahan, SND