West Virginia School Board Association

1. West Virginia School Board Association State Superintendent’s Presentation June 23, 2014 7:00 pm

2. Voices for Courage “Everyone has the desire to tell the truth But only a few have the courage to do so.”

3. A Foundation for a Common Voice • The Code • The Board • The Superintendent • Effective Boards • Effective Leadership

4. West Virginia Code §18-5 • Establishes a framework and organizational structure for school boards • Contradictory Responsibilities • As a policy making entity • As an administrative agency • As a democratic elected body

5. The Board Meeting • Authorized to adopt own procedures • Must keep accurate minutes • Notice of Meetings – open public meetings not necessarily open public forums • The work of the Board • Models for decision making

6. The Role of the Superintendent • To inform the board accurately • To recommend a course of action • To implement the Board’s decision

7. Effective Boards • Study and question the information presented • Analyze the recommendation • Analyze other alternative courses of action on a logical or systematic basis • Understand that boards are sometimes limited or constrained by law or state policies which are almost always initiated by state law

8. County Board Service Encumbrances • Don’t be too lawyerly. • Learn to acquire independent information but do so with sanction of the county board. • Don’t become bogged and paralyzed by informational overload.

9. County Board Service Encumbrances • Have a quarterly checkup. • Let the system solve problems. • Keep the superintendent on his or her toes. • Finally, have fun.

10. Effective Superintendent Leadership • The superintendent is Chief Executive Officer of the school district and the leader of the county board but should not act independently of the board’s vision • The superintendent must be the respected leader of the administrative staff • The superintendent is appointed by the county board of education • Each entity should work for the success of the other

11. 10 not so Secret Steps to Success • Appoint the right superintendent • Serve with integrity, perseverance, faith • Demonstrate the corporate nature of the board • Establish an effective policy making process • Actively involve yourself in the establishment of curricula and achievement expectations for students and adults • Encourage cooperation between the school system and the community • Encourage training for the board and the staff • Follow your policies • Monitor yourselves • Advocate for building capacity in your schools to improve student performance

12. Elements of Operation • Trust is measured in the vote • Your Most Important Appointment • Present / Act / Move On • Empowerment • Efficiency • Efficacy

13. Reality Checks • The Summer Storm • McKinney – Vento: Standing Strong • Friday Night Fight • Hurricane Sandy

14. Reality vs. Perception • Hiring Practices • Calendar Bill • Innovation Zones • BOE Authority - The Reality

15. Some Thoughts • Understand what micro management is or isn’t and stay out of it • Do Not Allow your Superintendent to opt out of the tough decisions • A-F school grading system will be a real opportunity to involve communities as a part of the solution • Will you be doing real work at your meetings?

16. Some More Thoughts • What will happen in the future with local boards of education? • What could be? vs. What will be? • It depends on your mentality. • What is the right thing to do is not always the most popular thing to do. • What is the most popular thing to do is not always the right thing to do.

17. One Last Thought • When you think as the new person on the board of whether you can make a difference… think of how the wolf changed a river.

18. Thank you and good luck! • What you are going to do for students is worth more than all the grief you will take for trying to do so. • This may be the hardest job you will ever love. • You are special if you remember what this job entails.