Interview Board President

Board President Interview

I interviewed the School Board President from Belmont.  She is new to the position this year but has served on the board for the past 3 years.  I tried to select questions that she would be able to answer about the board and their role with school governance.

Questions:

1.       When was the last Professional Development (training) that the board had completed?

The only training with the board has been local trainings with WASB.  New members are encouraged to attend the Regional Meetings and the board sends 1-2 representatives to the State Convention every year.  Those members bring back information but we do not have any formal trainings with what they bring back to us.

2.       What is the board’s relationship with the Superintendent? 

We have known the current Superintendent for a long time.  She was the Principal and has worked with all but the new members of the board for some time.  I believe the relationship is good and we are working together to make this the best district we can.  We have worked on the evaluation process the past two years and we will continue to work on that as we go forward.

3.       What do you see as the purpose of the School Board?

I see our purpose as one of governance with the district.  We are responsible to the taxpayers and we need to be aware of what is important for them and our students.  We set policy and oversee the administration.

4.       What is your role as Board President?

I see my role as the person who runs the meetings.  I work with the other board members and the superintendent to conduct our business during the meeting.  I am also responsible for seeting committee assignments.  I am learning about the role as president as I go.

5.       What are the board goals and initiatives for the next school year?

Our goal is to improve and make the district better.  We have completed some facility improvements this past year and will look at additional improvements for this coming year.  I am not sure what initiatives will be our focus for this this year?

6.        What have you learned in your first year as president?

I have spent the year learning about running meetings and developing an understanding of the role of board president.  I feel more comfortable in that role now and I am hoping to continue to grow as I go forward.

7.       Would you be open to having someone come in and work with the board on school governance?

I think we all would be open to having some additional information on how best to govern in our positions.

If I were in the role of superintendent I would work with the board to find training opportunities for growth in understanding board governance.  In a previous district we spent an evening with a representative from WASB working with board and administration.  We looked at setting the parameters for our interaction and how the superintendent would work between the two groups.  This was moderately successful but I remember thinking that one night was not going to be enough to make a difference.  If I were the superintendent in this situation I would push for more training for the board so that they could develop a better understanding of their role.

My current district has a board that is willing to trust the administration and work with them for the betterment of the district.  They work through their agendas and ask questions with information that may not be familiar to them.  I see the relationship with the superintendent as good and the work of the district is completed as a result.  I have been in districts that are bogged down by the minute details that are not items for the board to deal with and the business of the district gets lost.  I believe developing a sound understanding of the roles of both board and administration.