The document discusses strategies for engaging communities in difficult board decisions through shared governance. It provides an agenda and introduces a panel of school board members to discuss profiles of governance and examples of shared governance models from Aurora Public Schools and Sayreville Public Schools. The panel will take questions from the audience on topics relating to community involvement in board decisions.

1. Shared Governance vs.
Board Meeting Drama
Strategies for Engaging the Community in Tough Board
Decisions
2017 NSBA CUBE Conference, New Orleans
September 29, 2017 – 10:45AM - 12:00 PM

2. AGENDA • Introductions
• Context
• Panel Discussion
• Q&A

3. Our Panel
PANELISTS:
• Kevin Ciak, NSBA President & Board Member, Sayreville School District (NJ)
kciak@nsba.org
• Barbara Yamrick, Board Chair, Aurora Public Schools (Colorado)
byamrick@aps.k12.co.us
MODERATOR:
• Dottie Schindlinger, Governance Technology Evangelist, BoardDocs (Diligent)
dschindlinger@diligent.com | +1 (215) 450-9383

4. “In addition to oversight,
boards need to provide insight,
and, if possible, foresight.
− Nancy Axelrod, “Governing for Growth”
”

5. EXECUTIVE GOVERNANCE SHARED GOVERNANCE
GOVERNANCE BY DEFAULT GOVERNANCE BY FIAT
4 Profiles of Governance
LEVELOFSTAFFINVOLVEMENT
LEVEL OF BOARD ENGAGEMENT
Adapted from "Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Organizations," ©2007, Wiley Publishers, Richard Chait,
William Ryan, & Barbara Taylor.

6. Every Student Shapes a Successful Future
APS Demographics
53.7%
17.4%
18.1%
4.8%
4.5
%
<1% < 1%
Hispanic White
Black Asian
Two or more Native American
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
5th largest in CO
Our students:
39,000 +
130 countries
150 languages
67.8% free or
reduced lunch
34.6% English
language
learners
5,000+ employees
64 schools

7. Every Student Shapes a Successful Future
7 Members Elected At-
Large
Serve 4-Year Terms
Policy Governance
To Clarify Purpose, Job and
Role of the Board
To Distinguish Roles of the
Board & Superintendent
To Establish and Measure
Superintendent and
District Performance
BOE Information

8. Every Student Shapes a Successful Future
Strategic Plan Team
BOE Members
APS staff
Parents
Business Leaders
Community Members
Multilingual feedback
Students
Parents/Guardians
Staff
Community Members
APS 2020 Engagement

9. Every Student Shapes a Successful Future
Every student has unique abilities that
we must recognize and
engage.
A district with students at its center
provides an adaptable and
responsible foundation for learning.
Student and staff safety is essential to
our vision and mission.
Students, families, staff and community
members share the responsibility for
student achievement.
Student achievement and growth are
driven by a highly-effective and
respected staff working as a team.
Core Beliefs

10. Every Student Shapes a Successful Future
Core Beliefs
• Students take an active and
ongoing responsibility for their
learning.
• Families are our partners in
education.
• Community partnerships provide
vital resources and opportunities
for students and families.
• All students must have equitable
access to learning opportunities,
technology and environments that
support them in reaching their full
potential.
• Diversity is a strength in our
community.

11. Every Student Shapes a Successful Future
Vision: Every student
shapes a successful future.
Mission: In partnership
with our community, we
accelerate learning for all
students to develop the
knowledge, skills and
character necessary to
shape successful futures.
Strategic Plan
Every APS Student Will Have:
 Goal 1: A Plan for His or Her
Future
 Goal 2: A Set of Skills to
Implement His or Her Plan
 Goal 3: Credentials that
Open Doors

12. Every Student Shapes a Successful Future
 APS Interactive Map
 APS School Finder
 APS School Information
 APS District and School
Maps
 APS Fast Facts
 APS Videos and Webcasts
 APS 2020 Shaping the
Future
 APS Calendars
 APS Centralized
Admissions/Registrations
 APS Bond Information
 APS Community Update
 APS Policy Section A-AED:
Foundations & Basic
Commitment
Strategic Plan

13. Sayreville Public Schools
Once a Bomber …
Always a Bomber
Our Identity
Sayreville is a diverse community with a strong sense of tradition. Red, White and Blue street
signs line the borough in honor of those who gave their life defending our country. Our high
school is Sayreville War Memorial High School. Our graduates commence their journey into
adulthood with a commencement held on our football field - War Memorial Field. A small
cannon is fired after every touchdown in the hometown football game. We are a blue collar
middle-income working class community. As a Board-administrative team, we are committed to
all students offering comprehensive programs for students with disabilities, economically
disadvantaged, limited English proficient, and advanced placement students.
Our Schools
Our district serves our students in four elementary schools (grades K-3), one upper elementary
school (grades 4-5), one middle school (grades 6-8), and one high school (grades 9-12).
In pursuit of Vision 2030
For the past 4 years, the district has been in pursuit of Vision 2030 – the year in which our now
4th grade students will graduate college. While we recognize that not all students may choose to
attend college, the Vision 2030 concept focuses the district on preparing all students for the next
step – college, career, CTE, or military.

14. Sayreville Public Schools
Once a Bomber …
Always a Bomber
Our Students
Our K-12 school district has an enrollment of 6,100 students. 36% are eligible for free or reduced
school lunch. 1.8% are Limited English Proficient. Our high school graduation rate is 91%. 73% of
our high school graduates pursue higher education in either a 2 or 4 year college.
White, 40%
Black, 15%
Hispanic, 22%
Asian, 19%
Other, 4%
Enrollment by Demographics
White Black Hispanic Asian Other

15. About the Sayreville Public School Board
9 School Board Members
Operates with a committee system
Elected to 3 year terms
1 Member is in his 6th term;
2 Members are in their 4th term
2 Members are in their 3rd term
3 Members are in their 2nd term
1 Member is in his 1st term
Pictured above is the Board-Administrative team at a
meeting in April where selected 5th graders took on
the role of a school board member or administrator
and ran a real-life board meeting, with the school
board members functioning solely as a mentor and to
make the students’ votes official.

16. Panel Discussion
Join the Conversation!

17. Additional Resources
Articles on Shared Governance in Education:
• Schindlinger, Dottie, “On the Board’s Agenda: Strategies for School Board Leadership in Troubling Times,”
BoardDocs, August 29, 2017.
• Bahls, Steven, “How to Make Shared Governance Work: Some Best Practices,” Association of Governing
Boards of Colleges and Universities, March 2014
• Gross, Steven Jay, “Chapter 6: Shared Governance as a Crucial Democratic Forum,” in Promises Kept, ASCD
Publication, October 2004
Sample of a Shared Governance Model:
• Salt Lake City School District, Shared Governance Guidelines