wise governance through policy -- james goenner, joseph urban and denise pierce -- the national...

Copyright, Texas Charter Schools Association 2014

Wise Governance Through PolicyAnnual Conference 2014

Copyright, Texas Charter Schools Association 2014Copyright, Texas Charter Schools Association 201

James N. Goenner, Ph.D.

[email protected](989) 239-2736

Joseph B. Urban

[email protected](248) 752-1207


Goals for Today

Share a Vision for Excellence

Review a Framework for Governing for Greatness

Discuss How to Leverage the Power of Policy

Answer Questions & Have Fun!

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Purpose of Governance

“To ensure, usually on behalf of others, that an organization achieves

what it should achieve while avoiding those behaviors and

situations that should be avoided.”

Dr. John CarverBoards That Make a Difference


Purpose of a Charter School Governing Board

“To ensure, on behalf of the public, that students are learning, money and

resources are well stewarded, and the organization passionately pursues

greatness, while modeling the highest legal and ethical principles.”

Dr. James GoennerNational Charter Schools Institute


The Road to Greatness

Good, Not Great

Inflection Point

Good, Not Great

Matched-Pair Selection

Comparison Cases

Good-to-Great Cases

GAP


The Flywheel


Building forBreakthrough


A Simple Way to Frame Roles

Governing Board

=

To Ensure

Management

=

To Execute


Would a Great Leader Want to

Serve on or Work for Your Board?

The First Thing the Board Governs Is Itself

“Know Thyself”


Level 5 Leadership Pyramid


What Level of Leader Do You Want?

Level 5 Leader

• Ambitious first and foremost for the cause, the organization, the work — not themselves.

• Displays a paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.

Level 3 Leader

• Organizes people and resources toward the effective and efficient pursuit of predetermined objectives.


Level 5 Leaders Want to Work for a Board That …

• Knows its purpose and why it exists

• Understands it is the highest authority in the organization

• Knows it represents the public

• Is disciplined in its role and behaviors and those of its individual members

• Is trustworthy and predictable.


Level 5 Leaders Want to Work for a Board That …

• Uses its authority to empower, not strangle

• Ensures the organization is effective and efficient

• Has high expectations and measures performance

• Is unafraid to judge, but does so fairly

• Continuously earns credibility.


How Leaders Earn Credibility

• “They practice what they preach.”

• “They walk the talk.”

• “Their actions are consistent with their words.”

• “They put their money where their mouth is.”

• “They follow through on their promises.”

• “They do what they say they will do.”

The Leadership Challenge


“ Wisdom is the beneficial use

of knowledge; wisdom is

information and knowledge

impregnated with higher

purposes and principles.”

Governing Wisely

Dr. Stephen CoveyThe 8th Habit


“We believe boards that

govern for greatness ask

wise questions and measure

things that really matter.”

Dr. James GoennerNational Charter Schools Institute


WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Ensuring all students are prepared for success in

college, work and life.


Wise Questions

HOW WELL IS OUR SCHOOL…

Preparing Students for College, Work and Life

Leveraging Resources

Fulfilling Its Commitments?


Wise Boards Structure Their Communications

• Communications with the public:

– Establish the board’s competency and integrity

– Earn the community’s trust.

• Communications with, and from, management:

– Ensure the board speaks with one voice

– Provide information promptly and equally to all board members.


The Benefits of Consistency and Structure

• Consistency and structure are linked to integrity, competency and trustworthiness.

• When you consistently behave in a structured manner, you are seen as more predictable by the community.

• As predictability increases, you earn more trust and goodwill from the community.

• Positive intentions are then assumed, giving you the benefit of the doubt when challenges arise.


TRUST

Consistency

Integrity

Competency

Predictability

MISTRUST

Inconsistency

Dishonesty

Incompetence

Unpredictability


Effective Policies …

• Are the key to consistency and structure!

• Are akin to the “social contract.”

– They are the rules we agree to before there is conflict or controversy.

– They are the rights we otherwise would hold, but cede to the organization for the common good.


Thomas Hobbes speaks about the condition of an organization without commonly accepted rules:

“During the time men live without a common

power to keep them all in awe, they are in that

condition which is called war, and such a war

as is of every man against every man.”

— Leviathan

Without Effective Policies


Hobbes also summarizes the impact of policies, or law, upon an organization:

“That a man be willing, when others are so too,

as far-forth as for peace and defense of himself

he shall think it necessary, to lay down this right

to all things, and be contented with so much

liberty against other men as he would allow

other men against himself.”

— Leviathan

With Effective Policies


Know Your Boards

See faces

See term

expiration

(if applicable)

History of officer roles

One location for

contact information

Notes on key activities

See officer role(s)


Questions?


Board Policy: Part II


Policy Development: Essential

Policymaking is essential to proper governance and

oversight of an open enrollment charter school.

It’s the local law of the charter school

Sound policies = good business practices

Often legally required

Need to be clearly written, up-to-date, and legally viable


Policy Development: Comprehensive

Sound policymaking addresses all issues critical

for effective school operations

Financial Operations

Governance & Organization

General School Operations

Students

Open Government

Human Resources


Policy Development: Sources

Charter Policy

Law

Charter Contract

Best Practices


Policy Development: Cycle

Charter Policy

Creation

Adoption

Implementation

Review & Evaluation


Policy Development:

Roles & Responsibilities

Charter Policy

Creation

Adoption

Implementation

Review & Evaluation

Board and Staff

Board

Staff

Board and Staff


Policy Development:

Making it Work

Policymaking conveys the board’s intent without

unduly limiting administrative discretion or

professional judgment.

Charter policy defines what the board intends, or

requires, leaving the “how will” of the implementation

to the school administrators


Policy Development:

Making it Work

Policymaking conveys the board’s intent without

unduly limiting administrative discretion or

professional judgment.

Charter policy defines what the board intends, or

requires, leaving the “how will” of the implementation

to the school administrators

Board of Directors:

Sets the Expectation

Administration:

Fulfills the Expectation


Policy Development:

Making it Work

Law

Policy

Procedure

Practice


Sample Model Policies


TCSA Model Board Policies:

Two Parts

Legal Authority: Charter Board

Policy:


You asked for

changes, we listened.Instead of offering the TCSA Model

Board Policies for $3,500 every two

years, we’ve moved to a subscription

model with a yearly renewal fee of only

$1000.

For your convenience, the yearly

subscription entitles your charter school

to continuous policy updates each year.


• Financial Operations

• Charter School Governance &

Organization

• General School Operations

• Students

• Open Government

• Human Resources

To review TCSA’s 2014 Model Board

Policies or Personnel Handbook in

hardcopy form, please see Lindsey

Gordon in the TCSA booth.

TCSA Model Board Policies

and Personnel Handbook


Think Break

GLOW

Write one area where you know your school is glowing in the area of governance. Consider what you have heard about Board policy essentials and wise governance.

GROW

Write one area where you see the opportunity for your school to grow in the area of governance. Consider what you have heard about Board policy essentials and wise governance.

wise governance through policy -- james goenner, joseph urban and denise pierce -- the national...

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