MASB Leaderboard Winter 2021 Edition

WE’RE GLAD YOU’RE HERE
By Jill Fennessy
Tri County Area Schools
Welcome to a new year and, for many districts, new faces at your
board table. January brings into focus the work of boards with
School Board Recognition Month, organizational meetings for
some, and onboarding of new members from the fall elections. It's a
busy time of year as we come out of the holiday season and return,
prepared to work, and to redirect our attention to the success of our
students.
First, I wish to express my sincere gratitude for everything you do
for your students and communities. Getting on board requires dedication,
commitment, time and a passion for kids. Staying on board
calls for even more. For those who are newly elected, congratulations
and welcome to board service! I encourage you to consider
planning for your own personal growth as a board member by
taking advantage of all the learning opportunities MASB is ready to
provide to you and your districts.
I recently attended a webinar titled “The Board's Role in Superintendent
Success,” and I was disheartened to learn that the No. 1
reason superintendents leave districts is due to a less-than-ideal
working relationship with board of education members. In my home
district of Tri County Area Schools, we believe in a team approach
to onboarding new members that includes the participation of our
superintendent. We believe this approach helps promote the culture
of board-superintendent teamwork that we have worked carefully to
maintain. Tri County's board uses the January work session meeting
just for this purpose—reviewing the orientation materials, answering
questions and offering pearls of wisdom to our newest members.
Our superintendent is part of this discussion, and new members are
encouraged to reach out to any of us as they begin their journey. We
especially want them to see our best work is done when we perform
as a team, and we are all there to help them be successful.
Finally, I believe all of this begins with a good governance model.
There are several models out there for districts to choose from, and
if your district doesn't already follow a particular model, MASB has
prepared a publication for you titled “The Board of Education Governance
Standards,” endorsed by Michigan's State Board of Education.
This document is a great place to start for districts reevaluating
current practices.
Thank you for your dedication to Michigan's future as we serve to
educate all students!
Jill Fennessy
Jill is MASB’s 2020-2021 President, and can be reached
at jfennessy@tricountyschools.com.
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION of SCHOOL BOARDS | LEADERBOARD WINTER 2021
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