Ready, Set, Govern! New Board Member Onboarding Workshops

CALLING ALL APPOINTED OR NEWLY ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS! Our interactive Ready, Set, Govern! Workshops are designed to set you on the road to success. During each of these workshops, we will cover foundational elements of good governance, such as understanding the governance roles of the board, management roles of the superintendent and tips for fostering good communication to support an effective board-superintendent team partnership. We’ll also review policy and explore strategies for responding to questions or concerns from community members, families and staff. The application of engaging real-life scenarios will provide the opportunity to apply what we’ve learned and deepen your understanding of the vital nature of your governance work. We recommend registering for the workshop location closest to your district.
 

What to Expect

• Understanding Governance & Management Roles—What is a governance role and how do I get some? Not a simple task, but as a board member you will be setting direction and have ongoing oversight of the district from the 30,000-foot level! We will talk through fundamental board responsibilities and provide a framework for learning critical information. Identifying and differentiating the governance work of the board and the management work of the superintendent isn’t always easy. We will talk through how important all the work is and how the board sets direction and then passes that on to the superintendent for implementation.
   
• Learning Your Legal Role in Meetings & Board Policy—The work of the board occurs in meetings when the board is together. We will talk about best practices, as well as about transparency laws to ensure the board provides public access to meetings and allows the public to hear the deliberation of the board. As you learn about your legal responsibilities, you will also learn more about the important role board policy plays in decision-making at the table.
   
• Addressing Concerns & Complaints with Staff & the Public—From time-to-time board members may hear from staff or from members of the public with concerns or complaints. While board members may feel obligated to find an answer to every question or issue, that isn’t always necessary. Districts have policies around how communication with staff and the public work best, and those policies are often stated as chain of command. This is never meant to be a barrier to conversation, but rather a model of governance and the best way to help a staff member or a member of the public. You will have an opportunity to practice answering some sticky questions while following board policy and helping your public to better understand your governance role.

 

Workshop Locations & Details

Fee: $110 for IASB members. All sessions will run from 5:30–8 p.m., with a meal provided at 5 p.m.

Register Now
 

2023

• Dec. 5: Sheldon Schools
  Crossroads Pavilion Event Center, Prairie Queen Room, 301 34th Ave, Sheldon, IA 51201
   
• Dec. 6: Emmetsburg Schools
  Emmetsburg High School Library, 205 King St, Emmetsburg, IA 50536
  (Enter through fourth door)
   
• Dec. 7: Sioux City Schools
  Northwest AEA, Rooms 1 & 2, 5800 Discovery Blvd, Sioux City, IA 51111
   
• Workshop Cancelled Dec. 12: Forest City Schools
   
• Dec. 13: Fort Dodge Schools
  Central Administration Building, Learning Lab, 109 N 25th St, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
  (Enter through main door; receptionist will direct toward Learning Lab)
   
• Dec. 14: Marshalltown Schools
  Orpheum Black Box, 220 E Main St, Marshalltown, IA 50158

 

2024

• Jan. 3: Van Meter Schools
  Secondary Building, East Dining Hall, 520 1st Avenue, Van Meter, IA 50261
  (East side of building for parking and entrance)
   
• Jan. 4: Chariton Schools
  Chariton High School, Community Center, 501 N Grand, Chariton, IA 50049
   
• Jan. 9: Corning/Southwest Valley Schools
  Southwest Valley High School, 904 8th Street, Corning, IA 50841
   
• Jan. 10: Glenwood Schools
  Glenwood High School, Cafeteria, 504 East Sharp Street, Glenwood, IA 51534 
   
• Jan. 11: Carroll Schools
  Carroll High School, Media Center, 2809 N Grant Road, Carroll, IA 51401
  (East side of building, main entrance)
   
• Jan. 16: Clear Creek Amana Schools
  Tiffin Elementary, 104 N Park Rd ,Tiffin, IA 52340
   
• Jan. 17: Mount Pleasant Schools
  Mount Pleasant High School, Media Center, 2104 South Grand Avenue, Mount Pleasant, IA 52641
   
• Jan. 18: Maquoketa Schools
  Maquoketa High School, 600 W Washington St, Maquoketa, IA 52060
   
• Jan. 24: Decorah Schools
  Decorah High School, 100 Claiborne Dr, Decorah, IA 52101
   
• Jan. 25: Oelwein Schools
  RAMS Center, 1400 Technology Drive, Oelwein, IA 50662
  (Room Number TBA)