Survival Guide Updated For MASB

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Survival Guide for School Boards

Essential Tips for Both Veteranand Novice Board Members

G A R Y L I S T E R

Special 2008 Edition  Revised and updated for the

Michigan Association of School Boards

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TIP 1 You have real power.

It’s in your words.

The two most powerful phrases in a board member’s arsenal are “Thank you” and “I believe in you.” Use them often; they are nearly always appropriate.

Even when forced to give guidance or correction, it’s appropriate to let your faculty, staff, students, parents, citizens – all your stakeholders know that your appreciate them and you have faith in them that goes far beyond the present circumstances. Try using these “power phrases” a little more frequently. You’ll be amazed at the difference they can make.

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TIP 2 Take your time.

Sometimes it’s better to answer later rather than sooner.Remember, you’re in charge. Unless it’s truly an emergency situation, you don’t have to answer right now. A well-researched response beats a “hip pocket” reply every time.

We mean well, we really do. Despite the opinions held by some of our stakeholders, we want to serve and please and contribute and all those things that made us run for school board in the first place. In fact, sometimes we’re so eager to address the issue that we misspeak. And misspeaking when you’re a member of a school board can cause you a whole lot of trouble.

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You can’t really have someone fired, move someone’s child, assure someone of a job, and all those other requests we get hit with. The quicker we learn that and begin to provide thoughtful, measured responses, the better off we’ll be.

Your inquirer (on inquisitor for some of you) in the interested party. He or she will wait for an answer. You might even find that they interpret your delay (while you are collecting your thoughts) after their question to be a sign that you were really listening to what they had to say instead of just waiting for them to finish so you could talk.

Sometimes, a pause is just what’s needed to allow tensions and emotions to ease. They’re nothing that makes an elected official look more unprofessional than snapping back at a constituent –even when provoked.

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TIP 3 When in doubt, ask.

You’ve got friends.

Our state associations are power advocates, allies, mentors, advisors, etc. They should be one of your first stops when you have questions.

Alabama www.theaasb.org 334-277-9700Alaska www.aasb.org 907-586-1083Arizona www.azsba.org 602-254-1100Arkansas www.arsba.org 501-372-1415California www.csba.org 916-371-4691Colorado www.casb.org 303-832-1000Connecticut www.cabe.org 860-571-7446

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Delaware www.edsba.org 302-678-2265Dist of Columbia no web address given 202-442-4289Florida www.fsba.org 850-414-2578Georgia www.gsba.com 770-962-2985Hawaii www.boe.k12.hi.us 808-586-3349Idaho www.idsba.org 208-854-1476Illinois www.iasb.com 217-528-9688Indiana www.isba-ind.org 317-639-0330Iowa www.ia-sb.org 515-288-1991Kansas www.kasb.org 785-273-3600Kentucky www.ksba.org 502-695-4630Louisiana www.lsba.com 225-769-3131Maine www.msmaweb.com 207-626-2968Maryland www.mabe.org 410-841-5414Massachusetts www.masc.org 617-523-8454Michigan www.masb.org 517-327-5900Minnesota www.mnmsba.org 507-931-1515Mississippi www.msbaonline.org 601-924-2001Missouri www.msbanet.org 573-445-9920Montana www.mtsba.org 406-442-2180

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Nebraska www.nebr-schoolboards.org 402-243-4951New Hampshire www.nhsba.org 603-228-2061New Jersey www.njsba.org 609-695-7600New Mexico www.nmsba.org 505-983-5041New York www.nyssba.org 518-783-0200North Carolina www.ncsba.org 919-841-4313North Dakota www.ndsba.org 701-255-4127Ohio www.osba-ohio.org 614-540-4000Oklahoma www.ossba.org 405-528-3571Oregon www.osba.org 503-588-2800Pennsylvania www.psba.org 717-506-2450Rhode Island www.ri-asc.org 401-272-9811South Carolina www.scsba.org 803-799-6607South Dakota www.asbsd.org 605-773-2500Tennessee www.tsba.net 615-741-4707Texas www.tasb.org 512-467-0222Utah www.usba.cc 801-566-1207Vermont www.vtvsba.org 800-244-8722Virgin Islands no web address given 340-774-4546Virginia www.vsba.org 434-295-8785

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Washington State www.wssda.org 360-493-9231Wisconsin www.wasb.org 608-257-2622Wyoming www.wsba-wy.org 307-634-1112

Also ……..

National School Board Association www.nsba.org 703-838-6722

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TIP 4 Carry these cards.

Your constituents (and you) need anoccasional reminderThe range of assumptions and expectations regarding the proper role and function is staggering. We are perceived as everything from an essentially powerless committee to an omnipotent group.

Although it’s often submersed in bureaucratic gobbledygook, the legal duties, responsibilities, and authorities of school board is defined in black and white by every state. And our empowerments and limitations are remarkably similar no matter where you serve. Exceptions exist, of course, but if you refer to these pocket guides when in doubt, it will clear up all but the most confusing situations.

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If they do nothing else, they’ll buy you a little time to think (see Tip 2). So keep these handy in your wallet or purse. You may be glad you did.

Improper Board Roles

• Govern the system• Develop and adopt policies• Prepare an annual budget• Serve as a liaison between the system and the community• Work together as a team during board meetings• Consider the superintendent’s assignment and employment recommendations• Represent the system in a courteous, professional manner at all times• Hiring and evaluating the superintendent• Functioning as an appellate court in student disciplinary matters• Adopting a plan for student assignment

Proper Board Roles

• Administer day-to-day affairs of the system• Directly supervise anyone other than the superintendent• Micromanage• Attempt to “unofficially” influence or provide guidance to system personnel• Have legal authority as individuals or outside board meetings• Meetings / discussions / correspondence that violates Open Meetings laws• Discuss confidential information from executive sessions• Minority circumvention of the will of the majority• Comment on rumors

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TIP 5 Facts before acts.

There are always at least two sides to every issue.You’ll be approached at supermarkets, at church, at sporting events, etc., with some very compelling and logical arguments. Don’t commit until you’ve heard all the facts.

I’ve done it. You have too, probably. So has anyone else who has spent any time at all serving on a board. Making a commitment before having all the information, even with the best of intentions, is a recipe for disaster. You’ll have to remain on guard against this particular mistake for your entire board career. My latest misstep occurred on the street in front of church. We’d just been dismissed

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(the preacher had gone a little long), the kids were hungry and eager to make it to the buffet line, I was half-asleep, having only moments before been awakened for the closing hymn, etc. I had plenty of distractions, but I knew better. I did it anyway. Two constituents, husband and wife, nabbed me and told me about the principal’s unilateral decision to eliminate all local supplements. Reading too much into “all” I replied, “That doesn’t sound right.”

My intended use of “right” was “factual” or “accurate.” The couple’s interpretation of my “right” was “morally correct.” Emboldened by my apparent support, they told the whole story – from their vantage point. They also slipped in a little dig about the saying that the board “encourage” his course of action. None of us like to be unfairly blamed with something, especially when we have nothing to do with the situation. So I did the deed. I commented without knowing all the facts.

I said something like “I work for a living too and I wouldn’t want an arbitrary salary cut. I wouldn’t want it to happen to me and I don’t want it to happen to you.” While I promised no specific remedy, the couple heard what they wanted and assumed I was on their side.

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Suffice it to say, that they didn’t convey all the facts. And my apparent support of their cause made a difficult situation much more painful and difficult than it had to be. I don’t ever want to be in that position again. Will I be? Probably. And you will too unless you remember “facts before acts.”

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TIP 6 Educate yourself.

Relentless improvement efforts will result in higher functioning boards.You weren’t born knowing how to be an effective member of a school board; you must be learn. And contrary to what some board members believe, you cannot learn by osmosis.

Do you really care about your board legacy? That’s not a rhetorical question. We’ve all witnessed members and boards who behave and govern as if they have absolutely no concern for the long-ranging effects on their districts and how people will remember them after they are gone. If you really care about your legacy, act like it.Make an effort. Keep reading. Keep listening. Keep learning.

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TIP 7 Make people feel good.

Stakeholders value boards that make them feel important and relevant.Do you dread every encounter with your constituents? If so, it shows. There are few secrets when it comes to school boards and how you feel about your stakeholders comes through loud and clear.

Truthfully, they CAN be trying. After all, they’re so hard to please. And they always want more. But if you embrace each interaction and view it as an opportunity, you just might find results.

For a bit of insight, watch how people tip the next time you are in a restaurant. Amazingly – and I’m not making this up – many studies

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have shown that most patrons do not tip any better for efficient and prompt service than they do for poor or slow service. People tend to tip better when their server makes them feel good. A brief touch, a warm smile, a polite greeting, or any other sign that says “I like you” equates to better customer satisfaction and bigger tips.

Now you’ll be a rare board member indeed if you get tips, but wouldn’t you like your constituents to be pleased with you? People value the way you make them feel. If you want to be valued and appreciated, you’ve got to value and appreciate your stakeholders. Greet them, listen to them, respond to them, tolerate them – all with a smile. Perhaps they’ll return the favor.

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TIP 8 Know yourself.

Who are you?The truth about you, well (and often) told, can establish your “brand” as a quality school board.

What is your story? How can you tell it best? Every board member should have at least two or three sixty-second stories they can recite (in their sleep, if necessary) to convey their message of dedication, hard work, good intentions, challenges, needs, etc.

Telling your story will often let you take charge of the encounter and influence the direction of the conversation. It has the potential to help defuse tense and unpleasant situations and will help dilute bad impressions even when dealing with difficult subjects.

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TIP 9 What difference do you make?

Ask yourself – and answer – this important question.If you can’t do this, how on earth do you expect your stakeholders to be able to do it? Plain and simple, if you can’t answer what difference you make by being a member of your school board, you should resign. Or become better at making a difference. If anyone could do what you do, perhaps you should let them.

Like some many other areas in education, board service should be a calling. You should contribute passion, excitement, innovation,

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TIP10 Respond promptly – always.

It will have a profound impact on your image.You will be contacted – by phone, by email, in person, via cards and letters, and probably every other way know to man, including smoke signals and carrier pigeon. You should decide now how you are going to respond.

None of us really like to wait. It’s a human condition and your constituents are not going to be immune to it. If fact, give the frequent emotion involved in their contacts with board members, they’re more likely to be hypersensitive to any perceived delays.

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TIP11 Maintain your dignity.

Someone has to be the adult; it might as well be you.Interactions with stakeholders will often be tense, difficult, emotional encounters. The right approach will always include professionalism and dignity.

Unfortunately, we make good targets – for parents, students, faculty & staff, taxpayers, and superintendents, just to name a few. You will sometimes have to deal with people at their very worst. Your attitude can help keep the situation from spiraling out of control. You can always fume and vent at home, after the meeting. Saving your harsh words for later will dramatically cut down on the amount of “crow” you have to eat.

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TIP12 Keep a “contact log.”

You’ll be glad you did – I promise.

You may feel like Superman or Superwoman, but you’re only human. Like the rest of us, you’re prone to the occasional memory lapse – make it easy on yourself. A contact log similar to the one which appears on the following page, can pay priceless dividends. And it doesn’t have to be burdensome to create or maintain. A small inexpensive note pad, kept by the phone or in your purse or briefcase is all it takes. Take the time to jot down a few notes when a stakeholder calls. If nothing else, it will be a nice memento of your board service when you end your term. You can look back, recall those difficult moments, and offer a little prayer of thanksgiving that you no longer have to suffer through such pain.

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TIP13 Don’t invite stakeholders to“kiss your butt.”

Don’t assume this tip is a “no brainer.” It happened.

A school board member in Texas told stakeholders to “kiss his butt.” Hmmmm, I believe that might possibly violate a board etiquette manual or two. His actual quote is as follows:

“If they don’t have children in the class, they can kiss my butt. They’re just looking to impose their beliefs and their views on everybody, and we don’t put up with that crap out here.”

Unfortunately, he made these remarks after the passing of his fellow Texan, Molly Ivins. I would love to hear her take on the subject.

Please don’t ever do this!!! Just trust me on this one!!

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TIP14 Share.

There you have it – a “baker’s dozen” plus one that might help you survive board service.

These tips will help you survive – and possibly even improve – but you’ve got to use them, especially this last one. I know each of you have a favorite tip; why don’t you share it with me? You can reach me at [email protected] . We can each use all the help we can get.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORGary Lister is the author of several books and article on leadership and school governance. His books, including his latest, Purest Democracy: Leadership and Citizenship Lessons Learned While Serving On A School Board can be found on www.amazon.com .

PERMISSIONSYou are granted the unlimited right to print this work and to distribute it electronically (via email, your website, or any other means). You can print out pages without restriction, but you may not alter this work in any way, and you may not charge for it.

infoP U R E S T

D E M O C R A C Y

G A R Y L I S T E R

Leadership and Citizenship Lessons Learned While Serving on a School Board

Foreword by Sally Zakariya, former Editor-in-ChiefAmerican School Board Journal

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COPYRIGHT INFOThe copyright in this work belongs to the author, who is solely responsible for the content. Please direct content feedback or permissions questions to the author: [email protected]

Portions of the contents may have previously been published in the American School Board Journal. Any reprinted material is done so with permission from the American School Board Journal. Copyright 2006 and 2007 National School Board Association. All rights reserved.

The bulk of this work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0 or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.

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