School Board Membership

School Board Membership

Session I

How Do I Fit on the Board?

Larry Blackmer,NAD Associate Director of Educationwww.larryblackmer.com

OverviewOverview

• Session I - How do I fit on the board?

– Educational System Overview– Role and Function of the School

board– Administrative/Board Relationships– Who are you responsible to?– Code of Ethics

OverviewOverview

• Session II – Effective Board Membership

– Effective Meeting Protocol– Parliamentary Procedure – Is Roberts

still alive and well in your board?– Executive Session– Management Styles– Curriculum and Instruction– Q & A

Why We ‘Do’ Adventist Education

Why We ‘Do’ Adventist Education

• The primary aim of Adventist education is to provide opportunity for students to accept Christ as their personal Savior, to allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives, and to fulfill the commission of preaching the gospel to all the world.

Object of AdventistEducation

Object of AdventistEducation

• “The greatest object of education is to enable us to use the powers which God has given us in such a manner as will best represent the religion of the Bible and to promote the glory of God.”

Fund. of Education.

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Educational StructureEducational Structure

General ConferenceGeneral Conference

5,404 Schools5,404 Schools5,404 Schools5,404 Schools

906,755 906,755 StudentsStudents906,755 906,755 StudentsStudents 45,614 Teachers45,614 Teachers45,614 Teachers45,614 Teachers

North American Division

North American Division

966 Schools966 Schools 123 Academies123 Academies 164 Jr. Acad.164 Jr. Acad. 679 Elem.679 Elem.

60,542 Students60,542 Students 45,198 K-845,198 K-8 15,344 9-1215,344 9-12

5,077 Teachers5,077 Teachers

Lake UnionLake UnionLake UnionLake Union

105 Schools 77 Elem. 16 Junior Acad. 12 Academies

4193 Students

414 Teachers

Lake RegionLake RegionLake RegionLake Region

8 Schools 4 Elem. 4 K-12

594 Students

45 Teachers

NADNAD

GCGC

Union ExecUnion Exec Conf ExecConf Exec

NAD EducNAD Educ

Union EducUnion Educ

Conf EducConf EducUnion Bd of EdUnion Bd of Ed Conf Bd of EdConf Bd of Ed

SchoolConstituency

SchoolConstituency

SchoolBoardSchoolBoard

Sch. AdminSch. AdminSch. AdminSch. Admin ParentsParentsParentsParentsTeachersTeachersTeachersTeachers

StudentsStudentsStudentsStudents

Responsibility Flowchart

Responsibility Flowchart

The Role…The Role…

Of the School BoardOf the School Board

…and Function,…and Function,

Role of the School BoardRole of the

School Board

Organization of the school should be designed to meet the needs of the constituency.

Organization of the school should be designed to meet the needs of the constituency.

Parents and StudentsParents and StudentsSchool Administration

Functions of the School Board

Functions of the School Board

• Develop a clear, practical set of objectives• Ensure implementation of policies & plans• Keep official minutes of each meeting• Develop policies in the areas of local concern: (use of

school facility, purchasing procedures, tuition, admission, textbooks, dress and social behavior, short and long-range planning)

• Support the principal or head teacher • Receive the recommendations of administration in the

case of serious discipline- Serve as ultimate authority in dismissal of students- Consideration of student dismissal MUST occur in executive session!

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• Support Home and School – be there!• Consider appeals and answer questions

regarding the operation of the school.• Coordinate the process of school evaluations• Adopt or adapt the conference school calendar• Develop a proposed plan of school

administration- constitution, by-laws, admin. organization, basic curriculum plan – present to constituency for approval

Functions of the School Board

Functions of the School Board

2

• Authorize the preparation of a school bulletin.• Assume responsibility or the planning and

funding of an annual operating budget.• Consult the conference office of education

regarding hiring, or concerns with the principal or teachers. (Executive session/Office of Ed. present)

• Consult the conference regarding construction procedures.

• Cooperate with the union and conference in matters of curriculum development.

• Appoint subcommittees as needed. (personnel, finance, curriculum, and marketing/development)

Functions of the School Board

Functions of the School Board

3

Positive Administration-Board Relationships

• Perform your tasks as a board member and allow the admin. to manage day-to-day operations.

• Recognize that the educational training and experience of the admin. Has equipped him/her with the knowledge and skills to deal with most administrative matters.

• Give careful consideration to all suggestions.• The admin. Deserves prior knowledge of all concerns to

be discussed at the board meeting.• Discuss improprieties in private.• When making decisions, create a balance between

strengths and weaknesses. Analyze the problem, not the person.

Who Are You Responsible To?

Who Are You Responsible To?

• Conference Executive Committee

• Conference K-12 Board of Education

• Conference Office of Education

• Local School Constituency

Let’s look at each of these.

Conference Executive Committee

Conference Executive Committee

• Has the final authority, as granted by the conference constituency to oversee all aspects of the conference program.

• Has delegated selected functions relating to education to the Conference K-12 Board of Education.

Conference K-12 BoardConference K-12 Board

• This board oversees all aspects of the educational program within the conference.

• Has delegated selected functions to local school boards.

• CAUTION!!

Caution!!!

• Although the K-12 Board has delegated certain functions to the school board,

• It can’t divest itself of it’s inherent legal obligations.

• Inasmuch as the conference remains legally bound by the school board actions,

• It is imperative that close cooperation remain between the school board and the conference K-12 Board in school operation and personnel actions.

Conference Office of Education

Conference Office of Education

• The superintendent of schools work with the local school boards on behalf of the K-12 Board.

• The Office of Education ensures compliance with the policies, and procedures stated in conference and union policy.

• All personnel discussions or decisions must be made in the presence of the Office of Education personnel.

• Conducts NAD school evaluations of K-12 schools.

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

• Maintain principles of honesty, trust fairness, and integrity.

• Base decisions on the philosophy and mission of the SDA educational system.

• Demonstrate attitudes and personal conduct that reflect the principles of the Adventist church.

• Diligently work to improve the understanding and support of the Adventist educational system.

• Learn and practice the art of comprise without sacrificing principle.

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• Support and practice the civil rights of all members of the school community.

• Recognize that the authority of the board is only expressed by it’s actions as a board. Individual members may speak or act on behalf of the board only when authorized to do so by the board.

• Engage in no personal action that will compromise the school system, the board, or the administration.

• Avoid all conflicts of interest.• Base your decisions on facts and your

independent judgment.

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics 2

• Work with the board members in a spirit of unity, cooperation, and Christian courtesy.

• Uphold all board decisions, regardless of any personal disagreements.

• Maintain confidentially of all matters.• Recognize that your responsibility is not to

run the school but, together with your fellow board members to see that it is run well.

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics 3

• Refer all complaints to the school administration/head teacher.

• Be supportive in school programs by attending.

• It is the expectation that each board member, who has eligible children, should have them enrolled in the local Adventist school.

• A board member must be a member of the Adventist Church.

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics 4

See you this afternoon!