Budget Reductions and Community Engagement
Since the joining the Alameda school board in 2003, our Board approved budget reductions in five out of six years. As a result, I can share some insights that maybe useful for your school district.
Your Bottom Line
Each board member should meet with their Superintendent individually prior to the development of staff recommendations. In that meeting as an individual Board member we should be prepared to identify those programs which we will not support eliminating or reducing. This is a crucial step in helping the Superintendent determine the parameters s/he will give staff in preparing recommendations.
Trust behaviors: Talk Straight, Clarify Expectations
Administration
Each of us as Board member needs to have a strong sense of the value we place on administration within our District. I am not talking about individuals in positions but the role each of the administrators plays in providing quality education in our district. If you have questions about the role of a position(s), meet with your Superintendent to discuss the value of that position(s).
Trust behaviors: Demonstrate Respect, Show Loyalty
Allow for Mutliple Chances for Communications
Depending on the existing infrastructure within your District, we need to provide multiple opportunities for all stakeholders to comment on the budget reductions. Individuals need a sense that their comments are being heard so the ability to make those comments public is important. Public broadcast of workshops and meetings and electronic publishing of comments received will help individuals feel their comments are being heard.
Trust behaviors: Create Transparency, Listen First
Effective Governance Teams
Filed under: Board Dynamics, Team Dynamics, Trust
In our role as a school board member have you ever wished for a place where you could reflect on being a school board member? A place where you collaborate with other school board members? A place to grow and learn to be a more effective board member?
Stephen Covey Sr defines effectiveness lying in the balance between P/PC balance. P stands for production of desired results. PC stands for production capability, the ability or assets that produces the desired results. Applied to school boards, effectiveness lies in our ability to improve student achievement while balancing the needs of students, employees and the community.
The governance team consists of the elected board members and the Superintendent. Individually, each of us provides our own set of values, beliefs and expertise. Collectively, our ability to agree on a common mission and extend trust by designing and aligning systems to oversee public education in our community will determine our effectiveness as a governance team.
With you active participation we can create a professional learning community that increases the effectiveness of our local governance team.