Demystifying the role of the school board director

Key points:

In the often stormy waters of public education, there’s an analogy I like to use to describe what school boards do: I think of each school district as a ship, not a smaller ship, but rather a transatlantic In a time when there is confusion about what school board directors do and do not do, this analogy can help clarify the role of the school board.

Think of the superintendent as the captain, the one responsible for steering the ship and making sure everyone is doing their job to ensure it is heading in the right direction. School board directors are similar to navigators. They are looking towards the horizon and pointing out where the ship should be heading. That direction must align with the desires of the community as well as the needs of the students. School boards set big long-term priorities, such as strategic planning, budget goals, and financial stability. They also support and evaluate the superintendent, who is their only employee.

However, ships can be blown off course due to storms like a pandemic or even less catastrophic factors, such as public opinion, demographic changes in the district, financial challenges, collective bargaining agreements, new board members, or a new superintendent. When that happens, the board’s role is to continue to look toward the destination and give the captain and staff the ability to right the ship and continue forward.

Functions and responsibilities

School board directors are elected to represent their constituents, but individuals can take different approaches to this role. Some believe they were chosen to promote a specific platform or position. This is often called the delegate representation model, in which they feel obligated to make decisions that closely align with their constituents without exercising their own judgment. Another approach is known as the trustee model, where the board member believes that the voters elected him to use his best judgment in a way that is in line with the overall needs of the entire community and student body.

The trustee approach has the advantage of allowing school principals to consider all available information, some of which may not be widely known to the general public because, for example, they do not participate in board work sessions that They allow you to delve deeper into all aspects of a problem. Additionally, following the steward model allows the board member to gather additional input from students, families, and the community as needed to make the most informed decisions.

Regardless of their approach, school board directors must act in the best interest of students. Here in Washington State, one of our school board standards states that the job of school board members is to create conditions for student and staff success.

Because the nature of their elected office is collaborative, school board directors are in constant communication with diverse audiences: families, taxpayers, district voters, students, legislators, local government leaders, and their peers in other districts or associations. . The form this communication takes may vary by district. For example, many boards have student representatives who can speak directly to their peers and have the ability to contribute their opinions on policies.

This extensive communication gives school board directors the opportunity to explain the nuances of their work, which are often misunderstood by the general public. The role of a school board director is one of governance rather than management. I often share the example that if you are a family member who is frustrated by something happening in your student’s classroom, you can call the school board director who lives in your neighborhood to file a complaint against a teacher. However, that is by no means the role of the school board.

School board directors must never forget that they are responsible for the overall strategic direction of a district. This ensures that they don’t become obsessed with a specific interest or devote too much energy to something that represents a small fraction of the district’s work. A best practice is to explicitly delegate authority to superintendents and provide them with sufficient resources and autonomy to do their jobs. This helps boards avoid diverting their attention from strategic issues.

Creating chaos versus being a force for good

People often wonder how much power school boards wield. The truth is that an individual school board director has no power; he only has the power to take any official action if he is part of a quorum.

Where it gets more complicated is the question of indirect power. Board members can have a lot of influence in their communities and each other, and a responsible board member must be very thoughtful about his or her role. Board members can be a positive force by correcting misinformation, supporting the district, and sharing how the community can engage in collaborative conversations with the district.

The highest qualification

I have 18 years of school board experience and when I joined the local school board, I thought I knew a lot about my school district. I did not. I was a parent, but I didn’t understand how the district worked and what the different factors were that go into educating students, and I am not alone in this assessment among other board directors.

One of the most important qualifications for being a successful school board member is having an open mind. You need the ability to listen, learn, and admit when you’re wrong. This is how I have witnessed several of my colleagues become successful board directors. Too often, I have seen board members step into the role focused on a particular issue, such as building infrastructure, only to quickly realize that there are hundreds of issues affecting the district.

Another important quality is focusing on what is best for students: not just their academic success, but are students seen and heard? Do they feel like they belong and can become who they were meant to be during their years of education? Ultimately, creating an environment where students can succeed is a board member’s top priority.

Focus on strategic vision

At a time when even education is more politicized than ever, knowing what school board members can and cannot do is critical to an effective school system that serves the needs of students while respecting the values ​​of the communities they serve. For optimal impact, the school board’s focus should be on the district’s overall strategic vision and ensuring students and staff have what they need to succeed.

Understanding that only responsible and informed school board directors can significantly contribute to the long-term success of a school district is the first step in fostering an environment where students can thrive.