Ready, Set, Govern! New Board Member Onboarding Workshops

PRECON WORKSHOP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! 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.

Check out our workshop options list below to find the location that best suits you!
 

Workshop Options

PreCon Workshop at BoardCon

Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, 9–11:30 a.m. OR 1–3:30 p.m. (repeat offerings)
Iowa Events Center, Des Moines

Take advantage of the plethora of educational opportunities at this year's IASB BoardCon (formerly called IASB Annual Convention), including our Ready, Set, Govern! New Board Member Onboarding PreCon Workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 19!

Register Now

 

Regional Workshops

Can't attend our PreCon workshop? Let us bring the workshop to you! Our Ready, Set, Govern! workshop is also offered at 16 locations across the state of Iowa.
 

• Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025: Forest City Schools
• Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025: Fort Dodge Schools
• Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025: Northwest AEA in Sioux City
• Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025: Sioux Center Schools
• Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025: Emmetsburg Schools
• Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025: Marshalltown Schools
• Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026: Chariton Schools
• Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026: Van Meter Schools
• Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026: Mississippi Bend AEA in Bettendorf
• Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026: Mount Pleasant Schools
• Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026: Clear Creek Amana Schools
• Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026: Corning/Southwest Valley Schools
• Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026: Glenwood Schools
• Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026: Carroll Schools
• Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026: Decorah Schools
• Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026: Oelwein Schools

 

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.