This session was presented at the 2019 NSBA Annual Conference by Dottie Schindlinger, Davelyn Smeltzer, and Julie Bacon. The session explored strategies for school boards to provide better new board member orientation, and how state school board associations can help.

1. Welcome to your District’s
Board Meeting – Now What?!
March 31, 2019

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 Julie Bacon, Leadership Development Specialist
Arizona School Boards Association, jbacon@azsba.org
 Davelyn Smeltzer, Senior Director of Governance Services
Pennsylvania School Boards Association, davelyn.smeltzer@psba.org
 Dottie Schindlinger, Vice President of Thought Leadership
BoardDocs (A Diligent Brand), dschindlinger@diligent.com
Presenters

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Two Types of Orientation…
1. ASBA’s New Board Member
Orientation
“Big Picture/30,000 Foot View”
2. School District Onboarding
“District Specific Information”

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Full day of training in December of election years covering:
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Legal Basis for Governing Boards
• Board Meeting Basics
• Open Meeting Law
• Public Education Funding in AZ
• Board Policies
• Your Team Member Style
ASBA’s New Board Member Orientation

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Engagement Tool: ASBA Roadmap
• Distributed to all newly elected or
appointed board members
• Gives them a “roadmap” of professional
development opportunities to attend
during their first 2 years of service
• Members who have visited every stop on
the map will receive special recognition
at the end of their first 2 years

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School District Onboarding
Training topics should include, at a minimum:
• District Demographic Information
• Board Information (including Code of Ethics, Board Norms
and Communication Protocols, Specific Policy Manual, etc.)
• Budget Specifics
• Facilities Information
• Human Resource Procedures
• Professional Development Plan

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 Team Transitions: Communication
– The 8 Characteristics of Effective
Boards
– Roles and Responsibilities
– Board Self-Evaluation
Recommended Trainings with New
Boards
Communication Protocols:
• Board-Superintendent
• Superintendent-Board
• Emergency Situations
• Agenda and Board Meeting
Preparation Agreements
• Board Meeting Protocols
• Post Board Meeting
Agreements
• Site Visit Agreements

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Team Transitions: Team Member Style
– Utilize HRDQ materials
– Gain understanding of each member’s
communication style
– Examine the styles that exist in the team
– Maximize the strengths in the team for
optimal performance
Recommended Trainings with New
Boards

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Team Transitions: Effective Meeting Protocols
– Rules and procedures
– Examine the before, during and after responsibilities
for each member of the team
– Meeting agenda
– Role of Board President/Chair
– Expectations of board members
Recommended Trainings with New
Boards

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PA School Boards Association
Orientation Opportunities
Five (5) orientation opportunities:
– New School Director Training
– Applied School Director Training
– Building a Better Board Culture
– Board Orientation Retreat
– Train the Trainer Board Orientation and Mentorship

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Second week in December (election years)
Teams of three - multiple locations:
• Principles for Governance and Leadership
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Advocacy
• Legal
• School Finance
• Board Policies and Administrative Regulations
 JeoP/ARdy Game
New School Director Training

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Advanced training for school directors in nonelection years.
Applied School Director Training
Board
Culture
Finance
Policy Review and
Update

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• Acknowledge challenges and learn how to disagree
• Provide scenarios – clarify role of board president
• Use policy and board operations to create common
expectations and accountability
• Move forward through facilitated discussion
• Identify behaviors that create distrust
• Provide collaborative and unified operations
Building a Better Board Culture
Customized Workshop

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Designed for boards who have a number of newly elected members.
• Reference materials provided
• Focuses on board policy that guides local board operations
• Key timelines:
• Comprehensive Planning
• Facilities Plan
• Board Budget Cycle/State Budget Cycle
• Labor Negotiations
• Policy Review Process
• Superintendent Evaluation
Board Orientation Retreat
Customized Workshop – Full Day

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Designed for boards who have a number of newly elected members.
• Establish strong board culture by:
• Setting communication expectations (internal, compliant, community)
• Board agendas and minutes
• Key legislation and implications for board members:
• Sunshine Act
• Ethics Act
• PA Public School Code
Board Orientation Retreat
Customized Workshop – Full Day

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Designed to help the local leadership teams conduct an effective local
board orientation program and on-boarding process.
• On-boarding sequence information, resources and activities
• Reference binder including:
• PSBA recommendations
• Local documentation
• Timeline for first year mentorship
• Builds skills for strengthening board culture during transition
Train the Trainer
Board Orientation and Mentorship

17. Discussion

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Exercise:
Greatest Board Orientation. Ever.
 You’re a new member of the school board. Your orientation was superb!
You feel fully prepared and supported to serve your upcoming term.
 Divide into groups, and discuss:
– What made the program so amazing?
– How long did it last? One session? Multiple?
– What support did you get from your state school board association
– Who was involved?
– How did you use technology tools to assist the process?
– What did you learn?

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 Julie Bacon, Leadership Development Specialist
Arizona School Boards Association, jbacon@azsba.org
 Davelyn Smeltzer, Senior Director of Governance Services
Pennsylvania School Boards Association, davelyn.smeltzer@psba.org
 Dottie Schindlinger, Vice President of Thought Leadership
BoardDocs (A Diligent Brand), dschindlinger@diligent.com
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20. THANK YOU!