2. Citizens often run for school
board and find when elected, they
know little regarding the actual
role of school board member.
They may possess a strong
knowledge about the district, but
have a limited background in
working with a governing board
and conducting business in a
public setting.
3. Or, they may have some
experience in working with
other boards, but have very
little knowledge of education
and many functions of a
district.
Each board member brings
different experiences and
knowledge to the position.
4. FSBA is here to help Florida
school board members learn to
use this diversity to become a
highly effective school board.
New board members as well as
experienced board members
can benefit from the advice
offered here.
5. Oftentimes, the question asked
of FSBA is, “What should I
do?”
Here is a compilation of some
of the best advice and
suggestions for board service.
6. What Should I Do?
Place children at the
center of your decision-
making process.
Balancing the interests of
taxpayers and employees is
important, but not at the
expense of the student.
7. What Should I Do?
Be an advocate for
children.
This involves more than just
attending school
events, although that is an
important aspect of your job.
8. What Should I Do?
Form
collaborative and
cooperative
networks among
the school
district, the
community, and
the legislature to
benefit children.
9. What Should I Do?
Put your own
political
agenda aside
and focus on
the students.
10. What Should I Do?
Become informed on state
and national matters
regarding education.
Understanding the big picture is
the first step in preparing for the
future.
11. What Should I Do?
Your homework!
Read the information that
you have been given to
prepare for the meeting.
Being prepared and
informed on issues helps
you make better
decisions.
12.
13. What Should I Do?
Ask questions!
Don’t make
assumptions!
and
14. What Should I Do?
Contact the superintendent
for clarification BEFORE a
meeting if there are
questions about an agenda
item.
This way there is ample time to
make sure the appropriate staff is
present at the meeting if necessary.
15. What Should I Do?
Take time to learn about
your district.
Research shows that boards from
high performing school districts
are knowledgeable about the
initiatives that are in place to
ensure optimal learning is
occurring.
16. What Should I Do?
Visit the schools and participate in
district and school activities.
• Your interest and visibility will be
appreciated.
• Be considerate of the
principal and staff.
• Don’t interrupt the
important business
they are conducting.
17. What Should I Do?
Understand that
individual board
members
represent the
entire school
system and, only
secondarily, repre
sent a
constituency.
18. What Should I Do?
Take advantage
of every
opportunity to
learn formally
and informally.
19. What Should I Do?
The Iowa Association of School
Boards conducted research to
find out what school board
members can do to impact
student achievement. One of
the five essential behaviors is
learning together as a board
team.
Never stop learning!
To see more on the research from the IASB, click here
http://www.ia-sb.org/StudentAchievement.aspx?id=436
20. What Should I Do?
Take some time for
personal reflection.
Look for ways to improve
and think about what you
want to accomplish during
your time on the board.
21. You can only get
things done with a
majority vote on your
board.
You can’t do it alone.
Remember
23. During your
term, some
decisions will go
your way and
some will not.
After a decision has
been
made, immediately
move on.
If the horse is dead, dismount.
27. Maintain a
thick skin.
If you “buy into”
the good things
that are said and
written about
you, you must
also pay
attention to the
critical things
that are said or
written.
What Should I Do?
28. What Should I Do?
Make the tough
decisions.
Don’t be afraid to take a
difficult stand. But, be
prepared with an
explanation as to why you
took the position.
29. It’s easy to make the
politically popular
decisions, but
sometimes you have
to pull up your boot
straps and do the
difficult—but right—
thing.
Your community elected
you to do just that.
Pull
30. What Should I Do?
Attend all regularly
scheduled board
meetings if possible
and become informed
concerning the issues
to be considered at
those meetings.
31. What Should I Do?
Always, always maintain
your integrity and be
ethical. It is Florida Law.
Familiarize yourself with the following:
“Ethics in Government”, Article
II, Section 8, Constitution of the State
of Florida
“Code of Ethics for Public Officers and
Employees”, Florida Statute 112.311
And, as an elected official, know that you are
always setting an example for others.
33. What Should I Do?
Ethics 101
Only make
promises you
can keep.
34. Oftentimes when
running for
office, promises are
made that can’t be
kept.
The reality of the situation is
that it takes a majority to
make things happen—one
person can’t deliver on a
commitment without the
support of a majority of the
board.
35. If you have made
a promise and
realize that you
can’t keep it, be
up front and
honest about your
inability to follow
through.
36. Always operate
under the
Sunshine Law.
Courts have found that
both the letter and spirit
of the law must be
followed to remain in
compliance.
What Should I Do?
Ethics 101
F.S. 286.011
37. In short, all of
the public’s
business and
discussion
about it must be
conducted in
public.
F.S. 286.011
38. Always operate
under the Florida
Public Record Laws.
As an elected school board
member, you MUST ensure
that documents and records
used during the transaction of
official business are
maintained and accessible to
the public.
What Should I Do?
Ethics 101
Article I, Section 24
Florida Constitution
F.S. 119
39. Regardless of
physical form, all
transmissions
made or received
in connection with
the transaction of
school board
business is
considered a
public record.
40. Remember
If you don’t want
to see
something on
the front page or
in the
headlines, don’t
write it in an
email, text, note,
blog, or letter.
41. Litigation and/or
criminal charges may
result from a failure
to comply with public
records laws or
Sunshine Laws.
School boards and
school board
members should
seek appropriate
legal advice on these
issues.
Article I, Section 24
Florida Constitution
F.S. 119
F.S. 286.011
42. What Should I Do?
Ethics 101
Avoid situations that
might put you in a
position that could
cause a conflict of
interest.
46. What Should I Do?
Ethics 101
Think about it...
Ethics is all about doing the RIGHT thing.
As an elected official, the public is watching
what you do in ALL situations. Once your
credibility is put in question, it is difficult to
gain it back.
Keep your actions above reproach.
47. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Understand your
role as a board
member and the
role of the
superintendent.
Board
Superintendent
1001.42, Florida Statutes
1001.51, Florida Statutes
48. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Focus on policy and
governance; avoid
micromanaging.
Board
Superintendent
1001.42, Florida Statutes
1001.51, Florida Statutes
Allow the
superintendent and
staff to manage and
administer.
49. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Micromanaging confuses staff
and puts them in an
uncomfortable position. It also
undermines the authority of the
50. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Learn the district’s
chain of command and
be sure it has been
followed before
stepping in to help
“solve” a problem.
51. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Respond to individual concerns
by asking for an opportunity to
check into the situation.
It is important that YOU use the
proper chain of command when
getting involved in an issue.
52. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Don’t expect to “fix” all the
problems (real or perceived)
people tell you about.
53. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Get all perspectives of a
situation before forming
an opinion or
determining that
someone is at fault.
54. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Avoid prejudging a
situation.
Listen to all sides, get the
facts, and then make your
decision.
55. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Offer to share what you
learn at professional
trainings or conferences
with your other board
members.
Be open to all opportunities to
learn.
56. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Try to make people
who appear before the
board feel welcome by
looking at them while
they speak.
57. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Try to keep an open
face, warm voice and
positive body language
when speaking to the
public AND to your fellow
board members.
It is often not “what” you say
but “how” you say it.
59. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Don’t get
involved in
personnel
matters.
It is the responsibility
of the superintendent
to direct all staff.
1001.51(7) Florida Statutes
60. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Keep your
comments positive
to the media, in
public or in private.
There is no such thing as “off
the record”.
61. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
One of your
most important
roles as a board
member is to be
an advocate for
your school
system.
Negativity from board
members is destructive.
62. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Be patient!
Things don’t happen
overnight.
63. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Answer emails, phone
calls, and all
correspondence.
Being responsive is key to being
an effective board member. You
serve the public and the
expectation is that their
concerns and requests will be
responded to in a timely manner.
64. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Pick your battles.
You can win the battle and
lose the war if every issue
becomes a fight.
65. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Be slow to
speak.
Once you say
something, you
can’t take it back.
66. What Should I Do?
Day to Day Operations
Find a balance
between your
duties as a
board member
and your
obligations to
your family.
67. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
The school board and the
superintendent comprise
the district leadership
team.
How this group of people work
together and interact will set the tone
for the district.
68. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Start with
the basics.
69. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Be a good listener.
Listen to the public, to the
staff, to the superintendent
and listen to each other
very carefully.
Practice active listening.
70. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Show respect to
fellow board
members when
they are speaking.
Side conversations, paper
shuffling, and disinterest
while they have the floor is
simply rude.
71. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Be aware of non-verbal
communications with
your leadership team
also.
Of all the things you wear, your
expression is the most important.
72. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Spend time getting to
know your leadership
team members.
Building a positive, personal
relationship based on trust and
respect will payoff in the long
run. You don’t have to like your
teammates but you do have to
create a successful working
environment.
I had no
idea! I
grew up in
Michigan, t
oo!
73. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Avoid surprising your
teammates.
Bombshell issues cannot be
satisfactorily resolved when
others are caught off guard.
74. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Advocate for your
position, then
support the
board’s majority
decision even if it
wasn’t what you
wanted.
75. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Always speak the
truth.
Don’t tell people what
you think they want to
hear. It isn’t fair to the
team.
76. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Hold on to your
beliefs and share
them clearly with
others.
77. “The man who pays an
ounce of principle for a
pound of popularity gets
badly cheated.”
78. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Be careful about
speaking on behalf
of the board.
YOUR opinion is not always THE opinion of the
board. Don’t speak for them unless you have been
delegated to do so.
79. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Don’t throw your
leadership team
members under
the bus.
Who is it going to be this week?
80. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Develop a
process with the
superintendent
for requesting
information from
staff.
I have three
board members
asking me for
five different
things. How will
I ever get my job
done?
81. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Always be mindful
of the amount of
staff time you are
using with your
calls, drop-in
visits, requests, et
c.
82. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Attack the
problem, not the
people.
83. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Take the high road.
Don’t put
down, criticize or
embarrass staff, fellow
board members, or
members of the
audience at a board
84. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Don’t allow others to
criticize or embarrass
staff, fellow board
members, or members
of the audience at a
board meeting.
85. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Focus on
developing
policy.
It is THE fundamental
part of a board member’s
job description.
86. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Be proactive with
your policies.
Don’t allow the
legislature to write your
entire policy manual.
87. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Have a plan in
place for those
board meetings
when controversial
issues will be
discussed.
How will the public’s
concerns be handled?
88. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Refrain from
responding to
citizens during
public comment.
This is the time to listen.
Make sure that a staff
person is designated to
handle someone who
needs immediate
89. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Let the district Chief
Negotiator do his or her
job.
Don’t try to be a “hero” and attend
bargaining sessions or contact
members of the union in an attempt
to individually settle the contract.
This can result in an unfair labor
practice (ULP) against the district.
90. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Set high
expectations.
92. What Should I Do?
The Leadership Team
Accept nothing
other than
improved student
achievement.
93. What Should I Do?
Final Thoughts
The school district
functions as a system.
There are many things to
consider when deciding how
to vote on an issue or when
making an alternative
motion.
94. What Should I Do?
Final Thoughts
Once you begin
altering one part of
the school
system, other
departments and
areas are impacted
as well.
95. What Should I Do?
Final Thoughts
Consult with the
professionals in
your district.
Ask how a
decision might
impact
operations.
Direct
impact
Indirect
impact
Induced
impact
96. What Should I Do?
Final Thoughts
You were elected to the
position of school board
member because your
community believes that
you can be trusted with its
most valuable assets—its
children and its money.
97. What Should I Do?
Final Thoughts
You have been
given an
absolute trust.
Do not violate it.
98. Earn points toward your
Certified Board Member (CBM)
distinction.
Now that you have viewed this
presentation, click the link below to fill out
the CBM Reflection form. You will be
awarded 1 point in Communications/
Public Relations once your form has been
received by the FSBA Board Development
Office.
http://fsba.org/cbm-program-reflection-forms/
99. What Should I Do?
Final Thoughts
If you need any assistance or
have any questions, please
contact the Florida School
Boards Association.
Phone 850-414-2578 www.fsba.org Fax 850-414-2585
203 S. Monroe Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301
