"You want to be on the school board, or you are on the board, but it is chaos and frustration. My time on a school board and my years in education have taught me some lessons in this book. I got there to do something, but then I found that I was only oneof nine and had no authority to tell anyone what to do. You must learn to work with the district administrator and other board members. Common sense is essential but insufficient to navigate the conflicting evidence and views on issues vital to student achievement"-- Provided by publisher.
Being on a school board is simple but not easy; just get elected and vote. Knowing how to avoid chaos and disruption is difficult. This book is about learning the system and being effective.
Foreword: Splinters and ChaosIndeed
William M. Reynolds
Preface
1 Introduction
2 Duties of a School Board
3 Why Become a School Board Member?
4 The VisionMission Statement
5 Great Ideas, Logic, and Reason on Mt. Everest
6 The Board and the District Administrator
7 Policy and Procedures
8 Association of School Boards
9 Roberts Rules of Order and Power
10 Chain of Command and Information
11 Micromanage vs 30,000 Feet View
12 Athletics
13 Expulsions
14 Mandates
15 Strategic Planning
16 BoardTeacher Relations
1 Teacher Effectiveness
17 Special Education
1 Money
18 Federal Government and School Boards
1 Title 1
2 The Common Core
3 Race to the Top and Every Child Succeeds
19 Facilities
20 School Choice
21 Chaos and Hope
References
Index
Daniel R. Paulson, D.Ed., has taught SLBP students, been the Director of Alternative Education, an assistant principal at a high school, and a school board member since 1973. He has written chapters in books edited by Bill Reynolds.