This document provides advice for school board members on how to effectively serve in their role. It outlines several things board members should do, such as placing students at the center of decision-making, being an advocate for children, focusing on policy and governance rather than micromanaging, maintaining high ethical standards, and answering correspondence from the public in a timely manner. The overall message is that board members should work to improve education, make informed decisions, and conduct business transparently and for the benefit of students.

1. What
SHOULD
I Do?
A Guide to School Board Member
Effectiveness
Florida School Boards Association

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.

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,
represent 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

22. What Should I Do?
Don’t take things
personally.

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.

24. What Should I Do?
Keep a sense of
humor.

25. “He who laughs,
lasts.”
Mary Pettibone Poole

26. Don’t take
yourself too
seriously.
What Should I Do?

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.

32. What Should I Do?
Ethics 101

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.

43. “There is no right way
to do the wrong thing.”

44. What Should I Do?
Ethics 101
Be trustworthy.
Maintain your word and
confidences, including
content shared during
executive sessions.

45. Action, indeed, is
the sole medium
of expression for
ethics.
Jane Addams

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 superintendent.

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.

58. Watch your non-verbal
communication!

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 LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
Start with
the basics.

69. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
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,
too!

73. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
Avoid surprising your
teammates.
Bombshell issues cannot be
satisfactorily resolved when others
are caught off guard.

74. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
Be careful about
speaking on behalf
of the board.
YOUR opinion is not alwaysTHE opinion of the board.
Don’t speak for them unless you have been delegated to
do so.

79. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
Don’t throw your
leadership team
members under
the bus.
Who is it going to be this week?

80. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
Always be mindful
of the amount of
staff time you are
using with your
calls, drop-in visits,
requests, etc.

82. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
Attack the
problem, not the
people.

83. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
Take the high road.
Don’t put down,
criticize or embarrass
staff, fellow board
members, or members
of the audience at a
board meeting.

84. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
Focus on
developing policy.
It isTHE fundamental part
of a board member’s job
description.

86. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
Be proactive with
your policies.
Don’t allow the legislature
to write your entire policy
manual.

87. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
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 attention.

89. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
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 LeadershipTeam
Set high
expectations.

91. have high
expectations of
EVERY student.

92. What Should I Do?
The LeadershipTeam
Accept nothing
other than
improved student
achievement.

93. What Should I Do?
FinalThoughts
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?
FinalThoughts
Once you begin
altering one part of
the school system,
other departments
and areas are
impacted as well.

95. What Should I Do?
FinalThoughts
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?
FinalThoughts
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?
FinalThoughts
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 blue button below the slideshare 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.

99. What Should I Do?
FinalThoughts
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